Originally operated by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), the BCA Pool League is now operated by CueSports International. The BCA Pool League serves as an umbrella membership organization for all pool leagues around the world. The organization has over 50,000 members and has over 500 leagues in eight countries.
The BCA Pool League is the oldest pool league sanctioning organization in the world. Originally operated by the BCA, the organization was sold to CueSports International in 2004. It has over 450 leagues throughout eight countries, and is a prominent presence in Canada.
BCA Pool League rules can be used to support team play. Teams have a maximum of eight players. Each team member may only play one to two games per round. The BCA must have all players. The organization also has an official Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement that all players must sign. The organization also has a Hall of Fame that honors great players.
The BCA Pool League was established in 1978 to unify independent leagues throughout the world. It was established to give pool leagues economies of scale. The organization is a strong force in pool with over 450 leagues across eight countries. The WPBA Tour is North America's most popular pool tournament. It has been a major sponsor.
The BCA Pool League rules were designed to allow for fair play and to promote good sportsmanship. Terry Bell, Larry Hubbart and others founded the league. They were also professional pool players. In 1981, they established the American Poolplayers Association. It has two international affiliates, The World Pool-Billiard Association WPBA and the Japanese Poolplayers Association JPA.
The BCA Pool League has nine-ball or eight-ball matches on regulation 9-foot tables. Points are the basis of nine-ball matches. To win, the player must score 2 or more points. To win the eight-ball, players need to be at least three levels of skill. Eight points are awarded to the player who wins more games in a round. If the match is postponed, the match must be played within three weeks. The match is forfeited if the player cannot play within the three-week deadline.
Players must register and pay dues to the BCA Pool League. All dues paid must clearly be indicated on score sheets. In order to count a player's scores, he or she must pay all the dues.
BCA Pool League rules include "Applied Rulings" that are derived from large-scale tournament management. These rules include the "lag timing rule", which stipulates that the ball must not be fired until the opponent's ball touches the foot cushion.
The league director can make placement decisions. He or she is also responsible to ensure that the competitive levels of all divisions are comparable. The league director also has to ensure that all players are treated equally.
The "Equalizer" APA handicapping system is also part of the BCA Pool League rules. This system was created to give every player a fair chance at winning.