Amateur pool competitions in America are managed by the American Poolplayers Association. The organization administers leagues and tournaments that are open to eight and nine-ball players and follows a set of standard rules. The APA offers a handicapped championship in a wheel chair. These tournaments provide a great way for pool players to get together and compete against each other.
APA's Standard Rules
The APA Standard Rules to Pool Tournaments includes a number helpful resources for players. These include an Official Team Manual (or Rule Booklet) and a Team Manual. The rules also include information on how to keep score and handicap information. You can also download the rules to a variety devices. There are many videos available online to assist you with the game.
APA nine-ball is different from Texas Express 9-ball in several aspects. First, balls 1-8 count for one point, while nine balls count for two. Also, pocket made on the break counts as two points. The rules require that objects are considered dead balls. The rack is completed and the winner is the player with more points.
The handicapping system by APA
The APA's pool championship handicapping system relies on a formula to balance skill levels. For example, a player who plays 6 balls needs to shoot 46 balls to win a game, while a player who plays 9 balls needs to shoot 19 balls to win. The formula, which is based on win/loss statistics, has been quite reliable.
NAPA handicapping does not have a cap. Instead, it assigns a level of skill to each match. The highest-skill 8-ball players and the best in nine-ball are rated respectively at 115 & 149. While the majority of players are between the 30s & 70s,
APA's Sportsmanship Award
World Pool Championships recognizes the winners of APA's Sportsmanship Award in Pool Tournaments. Nominations are required to receive the award. To be considered for this award, you must be a player in pool. Nominations will be made by APA staff. The tournament will recognize the winners and publish their names in the program.
The host of an APA tournament can't switch leagues. The franchisee does not have the authority to do so. The host location asked the League Operator to start an in-house division, but the League Operator denied the request because it was their business. The APA then contacted another local competitive pool league and arranged an in-house division.
APA's Wheelchair Championships for players in wheelchairs
The APA's Wheelchair Championship is a tournament for players with physical limitations. There are five skill tiers. The Blue Tier is for players with SL2 and 3 abilities, Yellow Tier is for players with SL4 and up, and the Red Tier is for players with SL5 or higher abilities. To qualify players must be APA Members and have at most 10 League match scores in the last two year.
APA's Junior Championships
The American Poolplayers Association (APA), hosts many important pool tournaments every year. The APA's Junior Championships is a great event for both juniors and teenagers. The event is open all ages, and it is held in Lake St. Louis. The U.S. Championships and Amateur Championships are two other major competitions held by the APA. The APA also hosts two major amateur competitions, the U.S. Amateur Championships in late April/early May and the World Championships in late August. Guinness World Records has rated the APA's world championships as the world's biggest pool tournament in 2010. The APA junior championships are open for young players. Each division is broken down into skill levels.
The APA Junior Championships offer two major competitions every year. The nine-ball World Championship attracts more than 500 teams. The event is attended by APA members from different countries. The APA also has two international affiliates: the Canadian Poolplayers Association, and the Japanese Poolplayers Association. WPBA Tour: The most widely televised pool contest in North America, is supported by the APA.