The American Poolplayers Association oversees all amateur pool competitions within the United States. The organization manages leagues and tournaments for eight- and nine-ball competitions. They also use a standard set to rules. The APA also hosts a handicapped player championship. These tournaments are a great way to meet other pool players and compete against the best.
Standard Rules of the APA
The APA Standard Rules for pool tournaments include a number of helpful resources for players. These include an Official Team Manual, and a Rule Booklet. You will also find information about keeping score and handicap information in the rules. You can also download the rules to a variety devices. There are many videos available online to assist you with the game.
APA nine balls differ from Texas Express 9-ball rules in several ways. First, balls 1-8 count as one point and the nine-ball counts as two. Pockets made during the break are also counted as two points. Rules stipulate that object balls are treated as dead balls. The player who has the most points wins after a rack is played.
The handicapping system at APA
The APA's handicapping system for pool championships is based on a formula that attempts to balance skill levels. A player who plays six balls must shoot 46 balls in order to win a game. However, a player playing nine balls must shoot 19 balls to win. This formula has been shown to be fairly accurate and uses win/loss statistics.
NAPA handicapping assigns skill levels to individual matches rather than a theoretical cap, which is unlike national pool leagues. The highest-skilled players for 8-ball and 9-ball are rated at 115 or 149, respectively. Most players fall in the 30s and 70s.
APA's Sportsmanship Award
World Pool Championships recognizes the winners of APA's Sportsmanship Award in Pool Tournaments. The award is based on a nomination process. To be eligible for the award you must be a member of a pool team. APA staff can nominate you. Winners will be recognized at the tournament and their names published in the tournament's programme.
The host location of an APA tournament cannot switch leagues. The franchisee does not have the authority to do so. The League Operator was not authorized to establish an in house division. The APA then contacted a local competitive pool league to arrange an in-house division.
APA Wheelchair Championship for players with wheelchairs
The APA Wheelchair Championship, a tournament for those with physical limitations, is the APA's Wheelchair Championship. It offers five skill tiers. The Blue Tier is available to players with SL2/3 abilities. The Yellow Tier is open to players with SL4+, while the Red Tier is reserved for players who have SL5 or more abilities. To qualify, players must be APA members and have at least 10 League match scores from the past two years.
APA Junior Championships
Each year, the American Poolplayers Association (APA) hosts several major pool tournaments. APA's Junior Championships are a major event for juniors, as well as teenagers. This event is open for all ages and takes place at Lake St. Louis in Missouri. The U.S. Amateur Championships is another major event held by 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 ranked APA’s world championships as being the largest pool tournament worldwide in 2010. The APA's junior championships welcome young players. Each division has been divided into skill level categories.
The APA's Junior Championships have two major competitions each year. The nine ball World Championship attracts more 500 teams. APA members from various countries compete in the event. The APA has international affiliates, the Canadian Poolplayers Association and the Japanese Poolplayers Association. WPBA Tour is North America’s most popular televised swimming competition.