The American Poolplayers Association oversees all amateur pool competitions within the United States. The organization has tournaments and leagues for 8 and 9-ball competitions. The APA also hosts a handicapped player championship. These tournaments are great for meeting other pool players and competing against the best.
Standard Rules for 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. These rules provide information on keeping score and handicap information. These rules can be downloaded to a variety od devices. You can also find a number of videos online that will help you play 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. Likewise, pockets made on the break count as two points. Rules also stipulate that objects balls count as dead balls. After a rack is played, the player with the most points wins.
APA's handicapping system
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 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 pool tournament winners who have received the APA Sportsmanship Award. The award is based on a nomination process. The award is open to pool players only. APA staff will make the nominations. The tournament recognizes the winners, and the tournament's program will publish the names of the winners.
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 another local competitive pool league and arranged an in-house division.
APA's Wheelchair Championship for players in wheelchairs
The APA Wheelchair Championship tournament is for players with disabilities. It offers five skill tiers. The Blue Tier allows players to play with SL2 and 3, while the Yellow Tier is only for players with SL4 abilities or higher. 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 (APA), hosts many important pool tournaments every year. The APA Junior Championships are a big event for teenagers as well as juniors. The event is open all ages, and it is held in Lake St. Louis. 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 allow young players to participate. Each division is separated into different skill levels.
The APA Junior Championships offer two major competitions every year. More than 500 teams compete in the nine-ball World Championship. The event is attended by APA members from different countries. The APA has international affiliates, the Canadian Poolplayers Association and the Japanese Poolplayers Association. WPBA Tour is North America's most popular televised pool competition. The APA is a sponsor of this event.