BCA League Format

moneytalks

moneytalks

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What's up boys?! Had to raise some kids, but I'm back in action.

I joined a BCA 8 ball league. Great team with old friends that have been dominating while I've been away. My first day was a league meeting to help balance and grow the league because my team was winning every session and teams were quitting. They lowered the fargo cap, and increased the dues to $15 per player per week to help pay for "marketing".

I think the league us failing because the round robin format - play all 5 competitors 1 game each. Who plays 1 game?? It changes your whole strategy, and doesn't relate to any other BCA tourney play. I'm new to this, so I'm sure it's already been criticized. APA Masters was a 3 man team and you raced to 7 with a mix of 8 ball and 9 ball. Best format ever, but at the crappiest bar tables in town.
 
Every VNEA or BCA league I play in uses that format. Bca where I play has over 20 teams every session. I play in a ACS in house league same format that has 10 - 14 teams every session, we win it or are top 3 every session, nobody drops out. It's like the more we win the more they step up their games. Maybe the players in your area aren't serious enough for that style of play. No time to lolly gag around in a 1 game format like you can in a 5-5 race and still win. Anyway,welcome back to the game.
 
moneytalks said:
I think the league us failing because the round robin format - play all 5 competitors 1 game each. Who plays 1 game?? It changes your whole strategy.....
Click to expand...
I can't see how it changes your strategy aside from the need to modify your strategy in response to the skill level and specific weaknesses of your opponent/s, but aside from that I mean your basic strategy should be to win every game you can (any sandbagging considerations aside) and that doesn't change whether you play 5 guys 1 game each, or 5 games all with the same 1 guy, or anything else. What "whole strategy" change are you referring to?
 
Poolplaya9 said:
I can't see how it changes your strategy aside from the need to modify your strategy in response to the skill level and specific weaknesses of your opponent/s, but aside from that I mean your basic strategy should be to win every game you can (any sandbagging considerations aside) and that doesn't change whether you play 5 guys 1 game each, or 5 games all with the same 1 guy, or anything else. What "whole strategy" change are you referring to?
Click to expand...
Learning your opponent and adjusting your game like you would throughout a race IS my whole strategy. It's nothing like playing 5 games with the same guy IMO. We also don't play continuously.. you end up waiting at least 15 minutes between each game. I'm still having fun...so whatever.
 
This is typical for BCA. If you don't like it you should probably try to find another league.

"my team was winning every session and teams were quitting"

Well that sounds fun :rolleyes:
 
skip100 said:
This is typical for BCA. If you don't like it you should probably try to find another league.

"my team was winning every session and teams were quitting"

Well that sounds fun :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
LOL! You sound like a bucket of fun yourself. Of course I'm having fun playing pool with my friends... it's just a stupid format IMO. Winning is always fun.
 
moneytalks said:
What's up boys?! Had to raise some kids, but I'm back in action.

I joined a BCA 8 ball league. Great team with old friends that have been dominating while I've been away. My first day was a league meeting to help balance and grow the league because my team was winning every session and teams were quitting. They lowered the fargo cap, and increased the dues to $15 per player per week to help pay for "marketing".

I think the league us failing because the round robin format - play all 5 competitors 1 game each. Who plays 1 game?? It changes your whole strategy, and doesn't relate to any other BCA tourney play. I'm new to this, so I'm sure it's already been criticized. APA Masters was a 3 man team and you raced to 7 with a mix of 8 ball and 9 ball. Best format ever, but at the crappiest bar tables in town.
Click to expand...
The first time I played that format I didn't care for it.

But the more I've played it the more I like it. You play everyone on the other team and you don't have to give up games or balls to them.

You just play your best and try to win every game. No BS. No handicapping shenanigans.

Like you I took a bunch of time off and came back to a BCA league. Now I'm in an area that has mostly APA leagues and the thought of going back to the other format doesn't do much for me. I've already had people try to recruit me and tell me they have a plan to keep my handicap low so we can go to Vegas. No thank you. I just want to play all out and let the handicap figure itself out.

Also, I think it's more social. You meet and play everyone on the opposing team and where we shot there are enough tables that we use two tables per match so we get done early and then usually match up for fun or small $ with our new friends. A few sessions in that league and I had 20 new friends.
 
sixpack said:
The first time I played that format I didn't care for it.

But the more I've played it the more I like it. You play everyone on the other team and you don't have to give up games or balls to them.

You just play your best and try to win every game. No BS. No handicapping shenanigans.

Like you I took a bunch of time off and came back to a BCA league. Now I'm in an area that has mostly APA leagues and the thought of going back to the other format doesn't do much for me. I've already had people try to recruit me and tell me they have a plan to keep my handicap low so we can go to Vegas. No thank you. I just want to play all out and let the handicap figure itself out.

Also, I think it's more social. You meet and play everyone on the opposing team and where we shot there are enough tables that we use two tables per match so we get done early and then usually match up for fun or small $ with our new friends. A few sessions in that league and I had 20 new friends.
Click to expand...
That's a really good point about making friends. It's only 8 now, and I'm getting to know everyone. I'm not quitting, so maybe it will grow on me!
 
sixpack said:
The first time I played that format I didn't care for it.

But the more I've played it the more I like it. You play everyone on the other team and you don't have to give up games or balls to them.

You just play your best and try to win every game. No BS. No handicapping shenanigans.

Like you I took a bunch of time off and came back to a BCA league. Now I'm in an area that has mostly APA leagues and the thought of going back to the other format doesn't do much for me. I've already had people try to recruit me and tell me they have a plan to keep my handicap low so we can go to Vegas. No thank you. I just want to play all out and let the handicap figure itself out.

Also, I think it's more social. You meet and play everyone on the opposing team and where we shot there are enough tables that we use two tables per match so we get done early and then usually match up for fun or small $ with our new friends. A few sessions in that league and I had 20 new friends.
Click to expand...
Sounds like our two leagues in Sydney.

One, VNEA counting balls, sandbagging etc...
The other, BCA league, play to win, less sandbagging and people hang back afterwards to have challenge matches.

I don't bother with VNEA anymore.
 
Poolplaya9 said:
I can't see how it changes your strategy aside from the need to modify your strategy in response to the skill level and specific weaknesses of your opponent/s, but aside from that I mean your basic strategy should be to win every game you can (any sandbagging considerations aside) and that doesn't change whether you play 5 guys 1 game each, or 5 games all with the same 1 guy, or anything else. What "whole strategy" change are you referring to?
Click to expand...
The strategy in a tough BCA league is to break and run every chance you get. The "1 game against each opponent" works, because it puts you under IMMENSE pressure if the other team jumps ahead, and you HAVE to win the game against a run out player. The wheat is separated from the chaff quite often in this format. A race to 5 against a single opponent? Not the same sense of urgency. And also prevents you from just getting an automatic win against an opponent whose style does not match up favorably against yours. Playing five separate opponents means you are gonna have to generally use AWLLLLLLL THE SKILLLLZ!
 
Our BCA league basically pays out for every point (ball) you make. The round scores (totals) are handicapped, but this does not affect the ball count. So there is zero reason to sandbag.
 
Our BCA League has 3 man teams. You play each player twice during the match. First round the home team racks & breaks, 2nd round "visiting" team racks & breaks. 14 teams and we play every Tuesday night. There are a few dominating teams, but they can and do get beat on occasion.
 
BCA here is similar, 4 rounds, 4 man team, play each player once. Handicapped by Fargo. I love my team and we have fun for sure. It can be a challenging format for me because I like getting up and getting in to a rhythm so to speak. So time between racks (and beers) lol..can take you out of rhythm but that's part of challenge. I enjoy both BCA and APA and play both.
 
moneytalks said:
What's up boys?! Had to raise some kids, but I'm back in action.

I joined a BCA 8 ball league. Great team with old friends that have been dominating while I've been away. My first day was a league meeting to help balance and grow the league because my team was winning every session and teams were quitting. They lowered the fargo cap, and increased the dues to $15 per player per week to help pay for "marketing".

I think the league us failing because the round robin format - play all 5 competitors 1 game each. Who plays 1 game?? It changes your whole strategy, and doesn't relate to any other BCA tourney play. I'm new to this, so I'm sure it's already been criticized. APA Masters was a 3 man team and you raced to 7 with a mix of 8 ball and 9 ball. Best format ever, but at the crappiest bar tables in town.
Click to expand...

For a round robin setup, I played in one that I liked, it was two games per player, alternate breaks. But it was 3 players, so 6 total games per night per person. 5 players round robin may be a while for 2 games with each player, that is likely the change that is needed, smaller teams.
 
hang-the-9 said:
For a round robin setup, I played in one that I liked, it was two games per player, alternate breaks. But it was 3 players, so 6 total games per night per person. 5 players round robin may be a while for 2 games with each player, that is likely the change that is needed, smaller teams.
Click to expand...
I like this much better. And it is nice not playing until 11:30pm on a Monday night.
 
Having played both leagues, I can say that the BCA format is a MUCH better and fairer way to play a team vs team event.
The round-robin play separates the men from the boys.
In APA a team can manipulate the line-up because you only play one of the other team's players. Frankly it's a joke.
So hearing someone whine about the BCA's format tells me that they are mad that they can't pick who they want to play lol.
 
hang-the-9 said:
For a round robin setup, I played in one that I liked, it was two games per player, alternate breaks. But it was 3 players, so 6 total games per night per person. 5 players round robin may be a while for 2 games with each player, that is likely the change that is needed, smaller teams.
Click to expand...
My BCA masters league uses 3-player teams. Round robin playing each player 3 games. A total of 9 games per player. Great format.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top