Team 8-Ball League Structure
 Central Virginia APA

INTRODUCTION

Two touring professionals, to allow amateur players of all abilities to compete in an organized fashion, founded the APA (American Poolplayers Association) in 1981. The APA is the Governing Body of Amateur Pool and it's trademarked Equalizer handicap system enables all players to be competitive. The APA currently offers an Open, Scotch Doubles 8-Ball Championship, an Open, Scotch Doubles 9-Ball Championship, a Jack & Jill (male/female) Scotch Doubles 8-Ball Championship, and a Triple Play (Top Gun) Championship. All events are held annually, in exciting Las Vegas!

THE LOCAL LEAGUE

  • Unless a Juniors league exists, each participant must be 21 years of age.
  • Each team captain will receive an APA rulebook and a copy of our local by-laws.
  • Teams consist of 6-8 players each (8 is recommended due to the handicap system).
  • Teams play in divisions consisting of 5-16 teams each. When applicable, and preferred, divisions can be separated (West End vs. Southside, for example, or an in-house league) and by table size (7’ & 8’ vs 9’ tables).
  • There are 3 sessions per league year (Summer, Fall and Spring) ranging from 12-16 weeks each.
  • Local playoffs are held at the end of each session.
  • Playoff winners advance to a Tri Cup Tournament held at the end of each session (3 Tri Cups per year).
  • The top finishing teams from each Tri Cup are then qualified for the Vegas Cup Tournament held at the end of each league year.
  • The Vegas Cup Tournament winner(s) advance to the National Tournament in Las Vegas!
  • Various awards (patches, trophies & cash) are earned throughout the league year.

WEEKLY PLAY/PLAYOFFS/TRI CUPS AND THE VEGAS CUP

  • Each team selects a participating APA location to be their home base.
  • Schedules tell you whether you will be home or away from week to week (unless you are playing in an in-house league).
  • Most schedules will have each team alternating from week to week with an even split between home and away matches.
  • Five matches are played per night. Each match is a "game race" to some number of games (depending on your handicap). The player who wins each match will receive one team point. So, the most points a team could earn per match is 5 (a 5-0 win), although the majority of matches tend to result in a 3-2 win or loss.
  • At the end of each session, the top 3 overall points winners, and a wild card, from each division, will compete in local playoffs.  The winner of the playoffs will gain free entry into that sessions' Tri Cup.
Note: The team winning total points can by-pass the playoffs and gain direct entry into the Tri Cup by paying $100.00. So, in this instance, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and a wild card vs. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and a wild card would compete in the local playoffs. The benefit of "buying your way in" is that   there’s no risk of losing in the playoffs. This is important because a team must first qualify for one of the Tri Cups in order to have a chance to compete in the Vegas Cup.
  • Depending on the number of teams in your division, at the conclusion of the playoffs, one additional team within each division will be drawn as a wild card directly into the Tri Cup. This team would also pay $100.00.  So, if the total points winner were to "buy their way in," each division would advance 3 teams to the Tri Cup (total points winner, playoff winner and the wild card winner (when applicable)).
  • There is no money earned during the regular session that includes the local playoffs. Teams are playing for the opportunity to compete in each Tri Cup where every team receives money and hopes to place high enough to advance to the Vegas Cup Tournament.
  • The APA is not a money league. Therefore, in order for the teams to receive the travel fund money, they must compete in the Nationals.  Over $1 million is currently paid out at the National level in various formats (over $470,000 in the Open 8-ball division, with a $25,000 first place prize!), and your team is already in the money just for getting there! 

HANDICAPS - (YOUR SKILL LEVEL (SL)

  • Players’ SL’s will range between a 2 and a 7 (7 being the more highly skilled player)
  • 5 of the 8 players per team will play each league night. Those 5 players’ SL’s (in the Open 8-ball Division) cannot exceed 23 points (19 in the Ladies only Division).

            Ex.            7, 5, 5, 3, 3 = 23 (Legal)        6, 6, 6, 3, 3 = 24 (Illegal)
                             5, 5, 5 ,4, 2 = 21 (Legal)        6, 5, 5, 5, 3 = 24 (Illegal)

  • This type of structure not only encourages, but actually requires beginners to play and be as important to the team as the more highly skilled players.  Each match is a "race" to some number of games you must win. The scoresheets contain a matrix to tell you that number.

            Ex.    SL2    vs    SL2    =    A race to 2 games (whoever wins 2 first, wins)
                     SL7    vs    SL3    =    The 7 must win 6 games before the 3 wins 2
                     SL5    vs    SL4    =    The 5 must win 4 games before the 4 wins 3

  • Unless you are a known, highly skilled player, new male players will start as a 4 SL and new female players will start as a 3 SL.
  • This beginning SL is only in effect for your first match.
  • Established 2 and 3 SL's will receive 2 time-outs per game (to receive coaching).
  • Established SL 4's and above will receive 1 time-out per game.
  • Two time-outs per game will be allowed in each players' first ever APA match.
  • SL’s can change based upon many factors related to your weekly play. Players should concentrate on having a good time and shooting pool, not worrying about their handicaps.
  • It generally takes approximately 10 matches played for your SL to more adequately reflect your true shooting ability.  Skill levels are updated weekly, prior to match play.

LOCAL OFFICE/LEAGUE OPERATORS

  • Dawn Buchanan and Marguerite Rueger are the League Operators.  They can be reached from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, at 804-740-7225 or by mail: 1405 Westshire Lane, Richmond, VA 23238.

DUES

  • To join the APA, each person pays $20.00 per year.
  • This enables a player to participate in 8 or 9-ball, on as many nights as he/she chooses.
  • A membership card and kit (containing discounts, etc.) is mailed directly to each player. 
  • The 5 players who play each night pay $8.00 each in weekly dues (totaling $40.00). Out of this $40.00, $10.00 per team (in most instances), is given to the location to cover the table time. The balance of $30.00 per team will be turned in to the league.

SINGLES QUALIFIERS