APA, BCAPL, VNEA, WPA rule differences

To support my FOULS IN POOL … Everything You Need to Know video, I recently created a resource page where I try to summarize all important rules differences among APA, BCAPL, and VNEA rules, as compared to standard WPA rules. Here it is:


Please let me know if you think anything important is missing or if you disagree with anything I currently have there.

Thank you,
Dave

dr_dave said:

To support my FOULS IN POOL … Everything You Need to Know video, I recently created a resource page where I try to summarize all important rules differences among APA, BCAPL, and VNEA rules, as compared to standard WPA rules. Here it is:

differences among APA, BCAPL, and VNEA league rules​

Please let me know if you think anything important is missing or if you disagree with anything I currently have there.

Thank you,
Dave

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For convenience, here is what I currently have as the list of differences from WPA rules:

APA 8-ball
- Slop counts (i.e., you don’t need to call your shots).
- If you pocket solids (or stripes) and no stripes (or solids) on the break, you must “take what you make.”
- On the break, you must hit the head ball or a 2nd-row ball first.
- A slow/soft break is not allowed.
- Pocketing the 8 on the break is a win (unless you also scratch, in which case it is a loss).
- You cannot hit the 8-ball first when the table is open.
- When hitting an OB frozen to a cushion, the OB must be driven to a different cushion if nothing else hits a cushion or is pocketed.
- Jump cues are not allowed.
- Any OBs jumped off the table are spotted.
- You must mark the pocket where you intend to make the 8.

CSI, BCAPL, USAPL 8-ball
- When hitting an OB frozen to a cushion, the OB must be driven to a different cushion if nothing else hits a cushion or is pocketed.
- If an impeding ball moves during a jump or massé shot, whether it is hit by the CB or not, it is a foul.

VNEA 8-ball
- When hitting an OB frozen to a cushion, the OB must be driven to a different cushion if nothing else hits a cushion or is pocketed.
- Any OBs jumped off the table are spotted.
- You must mark the pocket where you intend to make the 8 (unless it is agreed to ahead of time that marking is not required).

Celophanewrap said:

Hello Dr. Dave, not to nit pick, just a couple of things. These are the APA rules as I have
been told and as I understand them.
Of course, these are things that just might be assumed anyway.

APA 8-ball
- Slop counts (i.e., you don’t need to call your shots).
- If you pocket solids (or stripes) and no stripes (or solids) on the break, you must “take what you make.”
- On the break, you must hit the head ball or a 2nd-row ball first.
- A slow/soft break is not allowed.
- Pocketing the 8 on the break is a win (unless you also scratch, in which case it is a loss).
- You cannot hit the 8-ball first when the table is open.
....You may not hit the 8 ball first at any time unless you're shooting the 8 ball at the appropriate time
- When hitting an OB frozen to a cushion, the OB must be driven to a different cushion if nothing else hits a cushion or is pocketed.
.... The OB may be driven to the same cushion, ie. - the OB may be driven from the cushion and strike the cue ball again or another ball and return to and make contact with the same cushion
- Jump cues are not allowed.
.... Jump cues are allowed in the Masters Division
- Any OBs jumped off the table are spotted.
.... after your turn at the table is over
- You must mark the pocket where you intend to make the 8.

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Thank you for the suggestions. I just added clarifications to the website to address the points you made.

Thanks again,
Dave

Toxictom said:

I'd also add that in APA a scratch on the break requires ball in hand in the kitchen whereas BCA it is ball in hand anywhere on the table. I think VNEA might be the same as APA on this rule but not positive. I'm going to watch the video as the answer is probably in there.

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Thank you for pointing this out. Both APA and VNEA agree with WPA on this point. I just added the following under the BCAPL section on the website:

"If you scratch on the break, your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table."

Thanks again,
Dave

buckshotshoey said:

Our Valley league was call ball and pocket, no marking the 8.

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Our VNEA league used to be "mark the pocket for the 8;" but after much complaining, the rule was eliminated. I hope VNEA decides to eliminate this entirely (in Vegas also) at some point. Pocketing the 8 should be no different than pocketing any other ball. The pocket must be called unless it is totally obvious.

Regards,
Dave

heisenbug said:

dr_dave said:

- If you pocket solids (or stripes) and no stripes (or solids) on the break, you must “take what you make.”

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I would add "legally" pocket the ball. If you scratch or foul in any way "ex. cue ball foul", it's still open.

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Excellent point. I just added "legally" to the statement on the rules differences page.

Thanks,
Dave

FYI, somebody on YouTube just correctly pointed out that you are allowed to hit the 8-ball first when the table is open only under VNEA rules. I have updated the pool rule difference page to reflect this.

Regards,
Dave

buckshotshoey said:

Correct...In Valley, and in some Texas Express rule sets. In BCA, the 8ball is never neutral

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Please let me know if you or others spot any other discrepancies or errors.

Thanks,
Dave

sam74 said:

Having only played apa and bca one big difference to me was the ability to call timeout in apa for a teaching moment vs no option in bca.

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Thank you for pointing this out. I've added an APA bullet for coaching on the rule-differences page.

Regards,
Dave

heisenbug said:

dr_dave said:

Thank you for pointing this out. I've added an APA bullet for coaching on the rule-differences page.

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Also if you are ranked three or lower you get an additional time out per rack.

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I don't want to clutter the rules-difference page with this level of detail. I have links to the full rule sets for each organization for people who want detailed info.

Thank you for pointing it out though. I was not aware of it since I have never played in an APA league.

Regards,
Dave