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 offers a wheel chair championship for handicapped players. These tournaments offer a great opportunity to meet pool players and challenge the best.
Standard Rules of the APA
There are many resources in the APA Standard Rules for Pool Tournaments. These include an Official Team Manual and Rule Booklet. These rules provide information on keeping score and handicap information. These rules can be downloaded to a variety od devices. Many online videos can be accessed to help you learn the rules.
APA nineball is different than Texas Express rules 9 ball in many ways. First, balls 1 through 8 count as one point; nine balls count as two points. Also, pocket made on the break counts as two points. The rules also require that object balls are counted as dead balls. The rack is completed and the winner is the player with more points.
The handicapping system of APA
The APA's pool championship handicapping system is based upon a formula that attempts balance skill levels. For example, a 6 ball player must shoot 46 balls to win the game. A 9-ball player must shoot 19 balls to win. The formula uses win/loss statistics over time and has been proven fairly accurate.
NAPA handicapping is different from national pool leagues. It assigns a skill-level to individual matches, and not a theoretical maximum. 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 those who won the APA Sportsmanship Award For Pool Tournaments. The award is awarded based on nominations. To be considered for this award, you must be a player in pool. APA staff will submit nominations. Winners will be recognized at the tournament and their names published in the tournament's programme.
A tournament's host cannot change leagues. The franchisee has no authority to switch leagues. The League Operator declined to establish an in-house league for the host site. The APA then contacted another local competitive pool league and arranged an in-house division.
APA's Wheelchair Championship for players in 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 most 10 League match scores in the last two year.
APA Junior Championships
The American Poolplayers Association host several major pool tournaments each season. The APA's Junior Championships serve as a major event both for teenagers and juniors. This event is open for all ages and takes place at Lake St. Louis in Missouri. Two major amateur competitions are also held by the APA, the U.S. Amateur Championships, in late April/early might, and the World Championships, late August. The APA's world championships have been certified as the world's largest pool tournament by Guinness World Records in 2010 and are ranked as the largest in the world. The APA's junior championships welcome young players. Each division has been divided into skill level categories.
Each year, the APA's Junior Championships host two major competitions. The nine-ball World Championship draws more than 500 teams. The event sees APA members competing from many countries. The APA has international affiliates, the Canadian Poolplayers Association and the Japanese Poolplayers Association. WPBA Tour, North America's most widely televised and televised pool tournament, is sponsored by the APA.