American Poolplayers Association

The American Pool Players Association (APA ) was founded in 1979 as the National Pool League ( NPL) of the billiard professionals Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart before 1981 received its current name. The APA operates a franchise system for local amateur leagues in the Pool, including both 8- ball and 9- ball with a unified through the APA rules.

Organization

The APA organized regional tournaments whose winners qualify for the annual international APA competition, which takes place in Las Vegas. The organization claims to be the world's largest pool league and refers to a list of members with about 265,000 players.

The normal APA team matches consist of 5 Series sprints one-on -one, just like the matches in the USA Pool League and very different from the round -robin format of the BCA Pool League and the VNEA. The APA organizers at the local competitions are often organized so-called non - team competitions, Scotch Doubles and other formats. The annual championship includes both individual and team matches.

The APA uses a handicap system, called "the equalizer " which allows players of all abilities to play on an equal basis against each other.

9-Ball Equalizer

In APA 9-Ball to measure two players until one reaches the defined score depending on his skill level ( skill level ). In scoring a point for punching the balls 1 to 8 and two points will be counted for the ball 9 each. For example, if Player A is on the train and two balls punches ( 9-ball is not there ), he gets 2 points. If the player is clearing the table ( all the balls in one pass punches ), he gets 10 points - the maximum - as it receives one point each, plus two points for Ball 9 per ball 1-8.

The game ends when a player reaches the points needed for his skill level. The table below lists the number of balls for players of all skill levels to win the game.

The lowest skill level in the APA is Level 1, the highest level 9

From the above table it is evident that if Player A was assessed as Level 2 and competes against Player B, who plays on level 6, would win Player A as soon as he has 19 points before Player B has 46 points. In reverse, so players would need B to winning 46 points before player A has reached 19 points.

Since APA 9-Ball is based on points and not on games won (eg, is at the BCA League is the player of the winners, has punched the ball 9 ), a game can end even before all balls have been punched. Staying with our example Player A vs. Player B on Level 2 to Level 6: If Player B just 44 leads to 16 and the table is set up anew, Player A would need 3 points to win or Player B 2 points. The game ends when one player has reached the required score, no matter how many balls still on the table.

8-Ball Equalizer

In APA 8-ball is played until one player ( not points ) obtained at Siegen according to his skill level its required number. The following table lists the required number of victories on the basis of their own skill levels and the skill level of the opponents are visible.

The lowest skill level in APA 8-Ball is 2 while the highest is 7.

As an example, the understanding of the table, we assume that Player A has a skill level of 2 and plays against player B with skill level 6: First, in the left column of the Level 2 is selected and in the corresponding row then to Skill Level 6 herübergschaut. There is 2-6, which means that the game ends when either player A or player B wins 2 games 6 games.

Partnerships

The APA has two international partnerships: The Canadian Pool Players Association (CPA ) and the Japanese Pool Players Association (JPA ). Members of both non-US associations can win seats for the annual APA Championship.

The APA is also a major sponsor of the Women's Professional Billiard Association Tour, the most commonly shown on TV Pool Competition of North America and thus an important place for APA advertising.

Others

In October 2010, Bell and Hubbart were inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Billiard Congress of America.