Possible Change to APA Scoring...

here's the link that takes you to Lee's forum - which has the info I mentioned . . .

Did none of you League Operators think to ASK if this had been tried before , or did you just ASSUME it was brand-spankin' new ??

Here's a quote from the thread where Lee mentions the previous test markets:

"In addition, I feel like I must add to this conversation the following: Several years ago, we tested a 2-1-0 scoring system for 8B and our test Divisions were in Front Royal, Virginia. After 1 year of statistics were compiled, the APA called off the test. When I informed Breaktime Billiards that the test was over, they insisted that we keep that scoring system in place, they liked it so much. And so it has been there for the past several years. A player left Front Royal, went to Winchester and opened a pool room there ... and brought the 2-1-0 scoring system with him! They all feel it makes everyone play harder, not just 'go thru the motions' when it's their turn to play. Call it: Honest Effort, if you will."

As I suspected, it was 2-1-0. This is 3-2-1. And you forgot to mention that although the APA called it off, the PLAYERS liked it so much they made Lee keep it. Interesting...
 
Mmmm Hmmm - so the new scoring system isn't , as APAOperator has been aguing , "just a scoring system" - it will require teams to develop new strategies , new styles of play , to stay competitive . No longer will simply BEING ABLE TO WIN A GAME OF POOL be sufficient . . . . . those new strategies will be much like my 'Chess' analogy above - the game will look the same , but the players will be playing it differently , looking for a different end result .

There's no evidence that new strategies would make teams any more competitive under this system. Why do you assume that new strategies will be required? Why not try it out and see if new strategies change anything? By the way, in case you haven't gotten it yet, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST MARKET EFFORTS. The test market will be considered a success if the new strategies CHANGE NOTHING. It will also be considered a success if the new strategies CHANGE EVERYTHING. Different answers, and you might be surprised at APA's decision to implement or not based on how much things are affected.

I am still dumbfounded at your suggestion that in-game strategy would change. What would you do differently in any single game to increase the benefit to your team? Are you saying you're not trying your best to win every game now?

The only ones who MIGHT play differently are the sandbaggers, and they would have to show more to get any benefit. What's wrong with making a sandbagger show more?
 
I am still dumbfounded at your suggestion that in-game strategy would change. What would you do differently in any single game to increase the benefit to your team? Are you saying you're not trying your best to win every game now?

The only ones who MIGHT play differently are the sandbaggers, and they would have to show more to get any benefit. What's wrong with making a sandbagger show more?

Great point. If your game strategy isn't already to win every game you play, you're just trying to play the system.

All out, every game is the only way I know how to play!

Steve
 
And how is that different from coaching him to dump during the session? If the team is going to put him through a compressed coaching session to raise his ability, then he should be certifying himself at the higher ability at the beginning of LTC. That is an overt act intended to hide the player's true ability.


Because the PLAYER isn't experienced enough in APA play to know that his coach is doing it to him . He'd KNOW if the coach was tellin him to dump , but he'll never know that the coach didn't tell him how to get out of a bad situation . ( although he might remember , and realize it a few sessions down the road . . . )The coach simply says to him "great ! We made the LTC ! Now we really need to buckle down & practice . . . ."
The coach is well aware of what he is doing . He now has a rated s/l3 capable of playing at a higher level - and as I said , unless you're capable of watching 20 matches simultaneously , you may not catch it at LTC . This is WHY people get raised in Vegas . . . . .


It's one of many reasons why, and it's still cheating. Cheaters will cheat, some will get caught, some won't, and it has nothing to do with how matches are scored.


We both agree that cheaters will cheat, and that they can get creative at times, and that it's sometimes hard to catch them. I'm not talking about cheaters. I'm talking about honest teams who want that three to be a three and play like a three and never get any better. That way, the six and the seven on the team can both play. This team clearly wouldn't put the three through a compressed coaching session.


Knowing that the 6&7 could possibly be beaten by equally skilled 6s & 7s (or the 6 could even be jumped by a 7) at LTC gives them the motivation to have the "improved 3" as a secret weapon . Clearly.


Except winning LTC is not their motivation. Playing together and having fun is their motivation. If they happen to win, good for them. Since they are an honest team, they will not try to gain an unfair advantage.



Good points, but you're mixing two groups now. There's the first group, players who are true beginners, who want to win but can't and for whatever reason don't improve enough that first session or two. For them, the choices are improve or quit. We want to reduce the chances that they will choose to quit.


Maybe that "whatever reason" is their coaches 'not coaching' as you suggested to establish them at a lower s/l . . . those first 10 matches are the critical ones , and as an LO , I'm sure your aware of that - they determine whether that new player stays at s/l4 where they started , drop to s/l 3 , or rise to s/l5 . If they drop to s/l3 during the 1st 10 matches , it may take quite a while for them to get to s/l5 . . . . or even back up to s/l4 . . . even though they'll deserve it after 'just a few' things are explained to them . . . like playin' defense isn't nig_ _r pool !


And what if it's not? Either way, they have the same decision, improve or quit. Actually, it's a three-way choice. Improve, quit, or accept things the way they are and continue. Our goal remains the same, reduce the chances that they will quit.



Then there's the other group, the one I brought up in response to your comment that people who can't learn from coaching must have terrible coaches. These people don't need to feel they are contributing. For them, it's a priority choice - improving and winning are not priorities for them. Yes, they try their best every time out, but the priority for them is having a good time.


Well , if they TRULY don't care , then they don't need a new scoring system to make them feel better , do they ??


I think that's what I said. I'm glad you agree. Now we can just focus on that first group.



When I typed "we", I meant all of APA. All teams at NTC would have used the multi-point system in the regular session, and the race-to-three system in playoffs, tricups, and LTC.


So , as APA LO was nice enough to point out , they would need to learn a whole different strategy in order to be able to compete in higher level competition ?
Seems that would be a handicap to newer teams who might not have had to play that system before . . . and I'd hate to be a new team trying to learn strategy at LTC - that's a rough proving ground . . .


Or maybe not. Maybe they could just try to win every match. All the time. Maybe that would work everywhere just as well as trying to manage points. But how will we ever know that? I got it - let's try it and see what the impact is, but instead of just switching wholesale, let's try it in just a few areas first. We might get our answer without disrupting everything, sort of like testing that spot remover on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't change the color of the garment...


And it's not like teams would suddenly start trying to lose three matches but score more points to advance. It can happen, but the vast majority of teams will still be winning three matches, even if we use the multi-point system in playoffs and tournaments.


Why wouldn't they ? I have PERSONALLY seen MANY teams using this strategy in 9ball competition to 'protect' the handicaps of their mid-level players


Again with the cheaters. You seem to be preoccupied with cheaters. I certainly hope you are reporting ALL of the cheaters (by name) to your league operator. If you are, good for you.

Do you know of any HONEST 9-Ball teams who try to lose ANY matches?



We may in fact find out that the players hate it and it doesn't work, in which case we certainly wouldn't implement it. That's why we're doing the work.


Well , from the posts I'm seeing on Lee's forum , his players certainly don't like it . . . .


Actually, it looks like the ones who HAVEN'T tried it are reacting just like you are, while those who were willing to TRY a different system ended up liking it A LOT...



This means if we assign 5 points for winning the match, and give one point for a shutout or for losing on the hill, we wouldn't have the win-three-and-lose syndrome. A match could end 15-15, but the tiebreaker would be three matches.


still seems like an awful of work when the '1point per match' system isn't broken . . .creates more work for volunteer scorekeepers who already feel 'burdened' by having to keep score at all.

That probably depends on how you define an 'awful lot of work'. If asking the questions "was it a shutout?" and "did the losing player get to the hill?" are too much work, then you're right, I guess. Oh, and asking them to add numbers bigger than 1 - are you suggesting that's too hard for them? We'll find that out when we talk to teams at the end of the test market period.
 
They already did!

If they are going to make rule changes, I strongly feel that eliminating the "23 Rule" is where they need to start! It's the insidious part of the league that punishes players for improving. JMHO

They already did that and it is called Masters! Masters is the best league format available, bar none!

The only change I would make to Masters is to eliminate the 8 ball choice...LOL.
 
I'm trying to PREVENT sandbaggin' . . .

I am still dumbfounded at your suggestion that in-game strategy would change. What would you do differently in any single game to increase the benefit to your team? Are you saying you're not trying your best to win every game now?

The only ones who MIGHT play differently are the sandbaggers, and they would have to show more to get any benefit. What's wrong with making a sandbagger show more?

Actually , "I" wouldn't do anything differently - in match . It might/may/would influence my player selection . . .
My teams DO try to win every match now . . . and always .
But the new scoring system WILL benefit the sandbaggers . That's WHY I'm opposed to it . You think the sandbaggers will have to show more - I say they will have to show LESS . If they are rewarded with a point for getting to the hill , they'll get to the hill - and no farther . Thus , their point will benefit the team (much like an 8point loss in 9ball) without raising their win ratio .
As in my previously listed 9ball example , a team can win 2 matches , win the overall match with a 51 , and still hold their win ratios down around 40% . . . keeping them way OFF the radar . . .

Maybe you haven't caught on yet - my motivation in opposing this scoring system is to PREVENT making it easier on sandbaggers - they will rapidly find the way to manipulate it - especially if they've ever played APA 9ball !


Great point. If your game strategy isn't already to win every game you play, you're just trying to play the system.

All out, every game is the only way I know how to play!

Steve

I'm with you there , Steve ! My motivation in opposing this scoring system is that IT WILL make it easier for the sandbaggers to cheat - exactly the way they do in 9ball.

That probably depends on how you define an 'awful lot of work'. If asking the questions "was it a shutout?" and "did the losing player get to the hill?" are too much work, then you're right, I guess. Oh, and asking them to add numbers bigger than 1 - are you suggesting that's too hard for them? We'll find that out when we talk to teams at the end of the test market period.

C'mon - honest answer time : how many 9 ball sheets have you seen where the ball count is correct , but the scorekeeper has followed the chart wrong , and awarded the wrong number of points ?? Maybe you see the scratched out numbers where the other team corrected them at the end of the match ?
I've seen this countless times - I know how prevalent that particular mistake is !


Oh , and I do report sandbaggers , and under-rated players . On occasion , I've even reported OVER-rated players , if a newer player gets bumped to s/l5 after their first few weeks , but really doesn't have the ability to play at that level . . .
(certain of those sandbagging teams will throw their weakest player at the other teams new player to insure that new players get raised prematurely , and thus pose less threat to them at LTC)

AGAIN , my opposition to this scoring system is that it BENEFITS the sandbagger.

Have you caught on yet that the "Sandy Bagger" in my header is more of that
SARCASM Stuff ? :rolleyes:
 
Actually , "I" wouldn't do anything differently - in match . It might/may/would influence my player selection . . .
My teams DO try to win every match now . . . and always .
But the new scoring system WILL benefit the sandbaggers . That's WHY I'm opposed to it . You think the sandbaggers will have to show more - I say they will have to show LESS . If they are rewarded with a point for getting to the hill , they'll get to the hill - and no farther . Thus , their point will benefit the team (much like an 8point loss in 9ball) without raising their win ratio .
As in my previously listed 9ball example , a team can win 2 matches , win the overall match with a 51 , and still hold their win ratios down around 40% . . . keeping them way OFF the radar . . .

Maybe you haven't caught on yet - my motivation in opposing this scoring system is to PREVENT making it easier on sandbaggers - they will rapidly find the way to manipulate it - especially if they've ever played APA 9ball !


Seriously, I think I need to stop and wait for you to catch up. I COUNT ON the cheaters not being able to resist the temptation. Do you think I don't already have a report that shows me which 9-Ball teams are in the top half of their division while winning less than half their matches? I have a leg up on the sandbaggers because they expose themselves when they try to take advantage of this "loophole". They're not way OFF the radar, they've placed themselves right smack in the cross hairs!

The current 8-Ball scoring system doesn't lend itself to this form of detection. It would be nice if we had another scoring system that did, without drastically changing the standings for the honest teams.


C'mon - honest answer time : how many 9 ball sheets have you seen where the ball count is correct , but the scorekeeper has followed the chart wrong , and awarded the wrong number of points ?? Maybe you see the scratched out numbers where the other team corrected them at the end of the match ?
I've seen this countless times - I know how prevalent that particular mistake is !


Yep, that happens. We're not talking about a chart here, though. That chart has 81 different cells in it - of course it's gonna be misread. We're talking about a 5 or a 6 for the winner, and a 0 or a 1 for the loser.


AGAIN , my opposition to this scoring system is that it BENEFITS the sandbagger.

Only if the league operator isn't paying attention. I will HAPPILY give the sandbagger another way to cheat, if it means I get to find out who they are. 'Cause in my area, once I know who you are, you are neutralized.
 
Only if the league operator isn't paying attention. I will HAPPILY give the sandbagger another way to cheat, if it means I get to find out who they are. 'Cause in my area, once I know who you are, you are neutralized.

That's all well and good, if ALL the LO's "neutralize" the sandbaggers. But I think you and I can both agree that doesn't happen consistently everywhere. And thus the concerns of many of us when the system is potentially changed to a point where the cheating is easier to get away with.

Again, my hope is that cooler heads prevail, and realize "simpler is better".
 
unfortunately , all areas ( and sometimes the NTC) aren't like that . .

Only if the league operator isn't paying attention. I will HAPPILY give the sandbagger another way to cheat, if it means I get to find out who they are. 'Cause in my area, once I know who you are, you are neutralized.

Ah , but if only all the areas operated that way - this year , you have the uproar over Chumba's All-Stars winning the LTC - right after coming off a two-year suspension for sandbagging . Think their LO in Topeka was aware that there might be some manipulation on that team ??

In 2003 it was Baton Rouge - could it be a simple coincidence that a single team could win the 8ball NTC , the 9ball NTC , and their female team with player commonality came in 2nd in Ladies ? Or is there something darker lurking beneath the surface in Louisiana ?

You may ( and I believe you try to , from our conversations) weed out the sandbaggers in your region . But other LO's seem to endorse , perhaps even encourage it in theirs .
Then we have to deal with trying to get past those teams at NTC .
I'm not looking at this from a regional perspective - I'm looking at it from a national perspective . My teams play in the NTC , they travel to major 'dream team' events such as Biloxi, and my players compete in singles and mini's , where we watch the sandbaggers EXCEL due to their artificially low handicaps .

I'd prefer not to give them another weapon in their arsenal
 
Ah , but if only all the areas operated that way - this year , you have the uproar over Chumba's All-Stars winning the LTC - right after coming off a two-year suspension for sandbagging . Think their LO in Topeka was aware that there might be some manipulation on that team ??

In 2003 it was Baton Rouge - could it be a simple coincidence that a single team could win the 8ball NTC , the 9ball NTC , and their female team with player commonality came in 2nd in Ladies ? Or is there something darker lurking beneath the surface in Louisiana ?

You may ( and I believe you try to , from our conversations) weed out the sandbaggers in your region . But other LO's seem to endorse , perhaps even encourage it in theirs .
Then we have to deal with trying to get past those teams at NTC .
I'm not looking at this from a regional perspective - I'm looking at it from a national perspective . My teams play in the NTC , they travel to major 'dream team' events such as Biloxi, and my players compete in singles and mini's , where we watch the sandbaggers EXCEL due to their artificially low handicaps .

I'd prefer not to give them another weapon in their arsenal

BP says they've cleaned up the dark stuff lurking beneath the surface in Louisiana :grin-square:

It doesn't matter how many weapons they have, really. One is enough, if the guy driving the bus is asleep at the wheel.

The problem with trying to handle sandbaggers with rules and formats is twofold. First, you're never going to get them that way. Cheaters will cheat, no matter what the rules are. Second, you affect everyone when you try to legislate sandbagging out of the league. You make rules that seem stupid to the honest players, you deny teams and players a format they might really enjoy because somebody might cheat. Stuff like that can make the league more enjoyable for everyone, but everyone misses out because of the cheaters. In the end, not only do you have a product that could be much better than it is, but the cheaters are still there! All the legislation in the world won't get rid of them. It all becomes a dance, and the sandbaggers LOVE the dance...

The only way to handle sandbaggers is to catch them and punish them. Sometimes that might not even be enough. But it's really all you can do, so you do it to the best of your ability. Anyone who doesn't put forth the effort should face consequences (and they do), up to and including loss of their franchise.
 
Slop

The major rule change that has to happen in APA 8Ball is call your fricking pocket. End off
uhoh.gif

I'm so tired of evryone that cries about slop. I'm a skill level 7 in eight ball. It happens in 9 ball too. When 2 higher skill level players play, you typically don't see slop. Its almost like another handicap for lower rank players. If you big bad, so called better league players are so great, then a lucky shot shouldn't be the difference between winning and losing. BCA 9 ball is slop too. The system is there to promote the sport for players that otherwise wouldn't have a chance. My only concern about the possible changes are that I think it would promote teams to low ball higher players even more. The lower players are needed to make the handicap and are valued for that. My lower players understand that I put no pressure on them to win. Its a bonus when they do. I do expect my higher players to perform. I try to match them up against players around their level that they should beat. I'll get off my soap box, but whats the difference? A good shot keeps you off the table and you lose or one lucky shot keeps you off the table and you lose. Its NO different than 9 Ball. Quit wineing!
 
Its NO different than 9 Ball. Quit wineing!

Hmmmmm , you're right .
It's no different than 9ball.

WAIT ! They're SUPPOSED to be DIFFERENT games . . . :confused:

RunoutJJ is right - APA should stop playing 8ball by 9ball rules - but that's a whole different thread . . .
 
My only concern about the possible changes are that I think it would promote teams to low ball higher players even more.

I think it would actually do the opposite. Your lower ranked players are more likely to get bombed by a higher ranked player. For example, let's say you had a 5 and a 2 left on your roster, and my team is putting up. We have a 7 that is a lock against both of your players. Who do you send in? Most likely your 2. They'd most likely lose anyways, so you may as well sacrifice them, as your 5 would most likely lose as well.

With the new scoring system, now you have to worry about the 3 point skunk. If you send your lamb to the slaughter, you may end up down 3-0 as a result of that match. I think the new system would put more value in matching up. I love the idea.
 
I think it would actually do the opposite. Your lower ranked players are more likely to get bombed by a higher ranked player. For example, let's say you had a 5 and a 2 left on your roster, and my team is putting up. We have a 7 that is a lock against both of your players. Who do you send in? Most likely your 2. They'd most likely lose anyways, so you may as well sacrifice them, as your 5 would most likely lose as well.

With the new scoring system, now you have to worry about the 3 point skunk. If you send your lamb to the slaughter, you may end up down 3-0 as a result of that match. I think the new system would put more value in matching up. I love the idea.
Nope , you still use the s/l2 on the s/l7 . She only has to capitalize on 1 mistake by the 7 to get 1 game and be on the hill , PLUS it frees up 5 handicap points that can be used in the other 4 match ups .
If I use the s/l2 , I can back her up with
s/l6
s/l5
s/l5
s/l5
They might be able to Match one of those , but they can't trump 'em . Even if they throw off on the s/l6 with their s/l2 , you're still 1 number up , and that can mean all the difference .
with their s/l 7 gone , if I have the firepower on my roster , I can even do
s/l6
s/l6
s/l6
s/l3
The '3 sixes' strategy is a rockin' bear to get past . . . .
And having those options only requires a roster of 6,6,6,5,5,5,3,2
Most people consider that roster way to heavy - but it's not , if you know how to use it . . .

Down 3-0 after the first ? with that roster , that's clearly recoverable !
 
Back
Top