The American Poolplayers Association oversees all amateur pool competitions within the United States. The organization runs leagues and tournaments for eight and nine-ball competitions and uses a standard set of rules. The APA offers a wheelchair championship for handicapped players. These tournaments allow you to meet pool players from all over the world and to compete against the best.
Standard Rules of APA
The APA Standard Rules to Pool Tournaments includes a number helpful resources for players. These include an Official Team Manual as well as a Rule Booklet. The rules also include information on how to keep score and handicap information. These rules can be downloaded to a variety od 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 through 8 count as one point; nine balls count as two points. Also, pocket made on the break counts as two points. Also, object balls must be counted as dead. The rack is finished and the player with most points wins.
APA's handicapping system
The APA's pool championship handicapping system is based upon a formula that attempts 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. The formula relies on win/loss statistics that has been proven to be very accurate.
The NAPA handicapping system, unlike national pool leagues assigns a skill level for individual matches and not a theoretical limit. The highest-skilled players in eight-ball and nineball are rated at 115 and 149 respectively, while most players fall between the 30s to 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 considered for the award, you must be a pool player. Nominations will be made by APA staff. The tournament will recognize the winners and publish their names in the program.
An APA tournament host cannot switch leagues. The franchisee has no authority to switch leagues. The League Operator refused to allow the host location to create an in-house division. This was because it was their business. 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 tournament is for players with disabilities. The tournament offers five skill levels. 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. Players must be APA members with at least 10 League match score from the last two years to qualify.
APA Junior Championships
The American Poolplayers Association (APA), hosts many important pool tournaments every year. The APA's Junior Championships serve as a major event both for teenagers and juniors. The event is held in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, and is open to players of all ages. The U.S. Championships and Amateur Championships are two other major competitions held by the APA. Amateur Championships (in the late April/early could) and World Championshipss (in the late August). Guinness World Records ranked the APA's World Championships as the World's Largest Pool Tournament in 2010. The APA's junior championships open to all players. Each division is divided into skill levels.
Each year, the APA's Junior Championships host two major competitions. The nine-ball World Championship attracts over 500 teams. The event sees APA members competing from many countries. The APA also has two 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.