Amateur pool competitions are overseen by the American Poolplayers Association (APA). The organization has tournaments and leagues for 8 and 9-ball competitions. The APA also has a handicapped champion in wheel chairs. These tournaments provide a great way for pool players to get together and compete against each other.
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 (or Rule Booklet) and a Team Manual. These rules contain information on how to keep score as well as handicap information. In addition, you can download these rules to a variety of devices. There are many online videos that can help you with the game.
APA nine-ball differs from Texas Express rules 9-ball in several ways. First, balls 1 through 8 count as one point; nine balls count as two points. Pockets made during the break are also counted as two points. Rules stipulate that object balls are treated as dead balls. After a rack is played, the player with the most points wins.
The handicapping system by APA
The APA's handicapping system for pool championships is based on a formula that attempts to balance skill levels. For example, a player who plays 6 balls needs to shoot 46 balls to win a game, while a player who plays 9 balls needs to shoot 19 balls to win. The formula relies on win/loss statistics that has been proven to be very 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 players in 8-ball and nine-ball are rated 115 and 149, respectively, while the vast majority of players fall between the 30s and 70s.
APA's Sportsmanship Award
World Pool Championships recognizes those who won the APA Sportsmanship Award For Pool Tournaments. Nominations are required to receive the award. To be eligible for the award you must be a member of a pool team. APA staff will submit nominations. The tournament honors its winners. Their names will be published in its program.
An APA tournament host 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 contacted a local pool league and arranged a division in-house.
APA's Wheelchair Championship: For players in wheelchairs
The APA Wheelchair Championship caters to those who have physical limitations. There are five skill tiers. The Blue Tier is for players with SL2 and 3 abilities, Yellow Tier is for players with SL4 and up, and the Red Tier is for players with SL5 or higher 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 hosts many major pool tournaments each year. The APA's Junior Championships serve as a major event both for teenagers and juniors. It is open to all players and takes place in Lake St. Louis. The U.S. Amateur Championships and the Amateur Championships are held at the 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 the APA's World Championships as the World's Largest Pool Tournament in 2010. The APA junior championships are open for young players. Each division is broken down into skill levels.
The APA's Junior Championships have two major competitions each year. 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 is North America’s most popular televised swimming competition.