Question for TAP players/members/Etc.. about Nationals

Rain-Man

Rain-Man

Team Deplorable
Silver Member
This question is for anyone involved in the TAP pool league who may know the answer to this, because I get nothing when I post a question on the TAP website....

If a team is already qualified for the National Tournament in Chicago (can we PLEASE just go back to VEGAS again for NATIONALS from now on?!?!?) by winning the fall session, what is their incentive to win the Spring session? I ask because the teams are required to play in order to stay qualified for Nationals, and of course are still paying their $30 per week to play. But I was lead to believe there is nothing to gain from winning?!? I cannot believe that could possibly be true? If it is, A.- How is that fair and B.- Wouldn't that just encourage a team to do some sandbagging if they have no incentive to go out and play to win every match? I realize TAP gives an amount of flexability to the local LO's, but Id like to know if anyone out there knows the answer to this...

*For the league haters: I worded the header specifically so that you would have absolutely no reason to even click on this link. I know you hate league pool, and have heard all the reasons before as to why it sucks and we should just not play in a league..... But Im a business owner that relies upon the money that the league players bring in to my establishment. If I had to rely upon the money from the shortstops and hustlers I'd be forced to sell my 3 Diamond tables and either bring back the junk tables, or bring out the beer pong.. So please, you guys complain about everything and every nickel and dime. I even saw one of you complain about FREE water one time....
 
You can still win the titleholder cash in your bracket.First brackets are usually around 4k so thats worth playing for I would think.

You could also change 3 players and try for a new trip.LO's may have flexibility on how many new players constitute a new team but I think it's 3 as a general rule

Mike
 
we have sorta the same scenario in our local apa league. my 8 ball team made it to the finals in our cities this year, we automatically qualify for cities next year. my 9 ball team won cities this year and went to vegas, it automatically qualified for cities next year.

neither team has to come in 1st each session, win playoffs each session or win tri cups held 3 times a year to reach cities like all the other teams do.

does such a scenario promote sandbagging? i suppose it could.
 
MikeLikesPool said:
You can still win the titleholder cash in your bracket.First brackets are usually around 4k so thats worth playing for I would think.

You could also change 3 players and try for a new trip.LO's may have flexibility on how many new players constitute a new team but I think it's 3 as a general rule

Mike
Click to expand...

Thanks, but Im not sure how it is done around here exactly, as far as that goes...
I know LO's have flexibility in how they run things as far as who goes to National, and how. The TAP league that a few teams from my place play in has a normal regular season, with the top 8 teams qualifying for playoffs. The top 4 get a home playoff match, and the higher seed is the home team for the next round. Finals are played at a neutral location with a 7ft Diamond (every location in our league plays on a Diamond table now, and all bars, no poolhalls). They win a paid entry into the tournament, hotel lodging (usually either 4 rooms 3 days, or 3 rooms 4 days), and transportation is usually either fully paid or at least partially paid for (gas money, as long as at least 3 teams members are in the vehicle(s) ). Our local TAP just recently changed to this format within the last few sessions, and I have to really commend the LO for doing it. They used to just play the regular session then have a tournament at the end (always at the same place, in which there was usually at least 2-3 teams that played out of there as their home location). I think the new way is much better for a few reasons: A - its unfair that the same host location always received the extra business. B- It was unfair that those teams that played out of that location always got a "home" advantage. And C- lastly, but most importantly (IMO), the regular season now has more meaning to it (playing for home field advantage based upon where you finish). You would be amazed at how much this seems to have cut down on the 'perceived' sandbagging. More priority is placed upon winning every season match now, every night, and not having a team 'coast' through the regular season and keeping their handicaps down while doing so... Plus, it makes the regular season league night that much more fun for everyone!

Yes, I do realize that they are sort of hurting their chances at Nationals, where it is basically (for the most part, but not all) the best of the sandbaggers there. But if this could somehow be implemented nationally somehow, it really would reduce the number of sandbaggers...

But to answer the second part of your question, the team Im referring to actually DOES have a different roster (by one less person, but nonetheless considered different..). They would get a second paid berth into the tournament, but as far as I know, thats it? Taking cash has NEVER been offered as an option (which is the root meaning for this question in the first place). I just would think cash would be offered in lieu of the money that isnt going to be used for rooms and transportation since they are already getting it from the previous session...? I know the team players had mentioned it in the beginning of this session, that it would be nice to win again and get a few hundred bucks or so each to take with them to Chicago. They were understandable pissed after they won their home semifinals match last week, and they were told thats not the case.. I didnt know what to tell them because it didnt make a whole lot of sense to me either..

Am I wrong in my line of thinking here?
 
lorider said:
we have sorta the same scenario in our local apa league. my 8 ball team made it to the finals in our cities this year, we automatically qualify for cities next year. my 9 ball team won cities this year and went to vegas, it automatically qualified for cities next year.

neither team has to come in 1st each session, win playoffs each session or win tri cups held 3 times a year to reach cities like all the other teams do.

does such a scenario promote sandbagging? i suppose it could.
Click to expand...

We have APA teams out of my place also (one just came back from Vegas from the APA Nationals out there). . TAP is a different animal (around here), you have to win 1st place in the playoffs (used to be a single day tourny), or pay you own way completely to participate in Nationals.. I personally think TAP's way is better. I played APA years ago, and because of what you just said, it was WAY too easy for teams to bag and still go to nationals. Way too easy!

I actually think (for any league), you reward a berth into Nationals for 2 teams per session. One for whoever wins the regular season, and one for the team who wins the playoffs. It provides incentive the whole way through.. If a team wins both, then they should get the cash equivialant of what would be given/spent to send the second team...
 
Rain-Man said:
We have APA teams out of my place also (one just came back from Vegas from the APA Nationals out there). . TAP is a different animal (around here), you have to win 1st place in the playoffs (used to be a single day tourny), or pay you own way completely to participate in Nationals.. I personally think TAP's way is better. I played APA years ago, and because of what you just said, it was WAY too easy for teams to bag and still go to nationals. Way too easy!

I actually think (for any league), you reward a berth into Nationals for 2 teams per session. One for whoever wins the regular season, and one for the team who wins the playoffs. It provides incentive the whole way through.. If a team wins both, then they should get the cash equivialant of what would be given/spent to send the second team...
Click to expand...

we actually do send 2 teams.

i may be missing a team or 2 but here is what i do know our area sent.

2 8 ball teams

2 9 ball teams

2 masters teams


1 womens team

1 9 ball doubles team

1 8 ball doubles team.

the same team won both 8 and 9 ball doubles .
 
Here we pay $10 a match and we play double jeopardy. We have our 'regionals' once a year and here is what we send
1 - 9 ball
3 - 9ft 8ball
1 - bar table 8 ball (different table sizes/divisions)

We have to stay active only after we win a trip. I talked to my league operator yesterday about it and they said they try to promote someone not coming in, playing the minimum and winning a trip.

Personally, if someone qualifies for nationals or regionals, I think they should have to stay on the upper half of their division to keep eligible. I've know many teams to get qualified and then finish dead last and have no handicaps change.

Oh, I'll be in Chicago if anyone wants to have a beer or shoot a few games. Just ask around, someone will be able to point me out.
 
If your team came in first three times you should have three spots in the nationals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top