APA Membership Sob Story

[the chicken]

I went to APA's web site and tried to join. However, I was not able to get past the first step . When I click on the "Search" button on the New Player Signup page, all I get is a google "ERROR."

This may be some form of Karmic payback for all the times that I've (inwardly) sneered at my opponent and played safe, or perhaps it's just that APA's web site is broke.

Please APA, let me join so I can find out what my handicap is!

Shoot safe.

John

 

[WoodyMPW]

Working fine here.

 

[Nullus]

The APA website is just, well, bad. There is no transparency on players, their records or anything else. They are behind times on scoring apps as well. I wouldn't expect much. That said, contact your local LO and they probably have a membership application you can fill out. You'll also have to get access info thru the aforementioned LO to log in on the website after you join. I'm still surprised that in 2014 they aren't more transparent but if the masses don't complain and allow it, it will never change. Good luck to you. The APA is a nice league for entry level amateurs based on it's double reduction system, and the '23' rule. More importantly, it does still offer Vegas, albeit it's not easy to get there with all the sandbagging and bad LO's out there.

 

[justadub]

There may very well be an issue with the website, and there might be an issue with the PC/ISP on the op's end....

Alternatively, you could just fill out the form that the LO's provide, and they will enter it all in on their end.

 

[Celophanewrap]

It knows your a sandbagger and is confused - your real skill level, or your sandbagger skill level

 

[the chicken]

Thanks for the info, Nullus. My primary intent was to join an organization that supported billiards/ pocket billiards as a means of providing support to our sport. You know, like a NRA type organization.

I guess when it comes to pool/billiards, a support organization does not exist. Too bad...

 

[the chicken]

Celophanewrap - Where I play (in a rural area), it's considered MANLY to try and make a ball, even if Earl (the Pearl) himself couldn't pull a shot out of his you know what given the ball setup.

If playing a perfectly convenient safe is considered as sandbagging, then I'm guilty. I'm happy as long as my opponent thinks I'm just lucky and being blessed by the Gods of pool rolls.

Play safe!

 

[Celophanewrap]

Easy chicken, it was a bit of levity. I play safe too

and I think you may be right,depending on what you're looking for - a support organization may not exist

 

[APA Gene]

Website seems to be working just fine.

Nullus- what is the double reduction system you are referring to? I've been in the APA for 17 years and am not familiar with it. Also, the LO does not need to give the player any type of "code" to access the website. Once you sign up you will be able to view your stats on the various teams you play on. As far as the APA being a beginner league...yes, I'll give you that. The APA is the only league that provides a real chance for beginner players to play and progress. But, to say that it is only for beginners is either naive or a deliberate attempt to mislead. How many times have you won the higher level 8 or 9-ball APA Singles Championship? How about Masters? I think players like Mark Coats, Ray Linares, Javier Chirino, Dave Uwate, Jeannie Seaver, Robert Hall, Brian Parks, Ed the Barber, David Weaver, Ricky Charles, Curtis Thornton, Rich Shmeigel...the list goes on, may object to you calling them beginners. But if you want to spot any of those guys a few games on the wire I'm sure they will be happy to get in the box with you. LOL

 

[Banks]

When I first signed up, I had a problem with my ID/PW. Just give them a call at the HQ and they're usually pretty good about taking care of things. The website issue is most likely a national issue, as I don't think the LO can control anything but the content on their local site and some of the stats that show up, etc.

 

[Nullus]

Website seems to be working just fine.

Nullus- what is the double reduction system you are referring to? I've been in the APA for 17 years and am not familiar with it. Also, the LO does not need to give the player any type of "code" to access the website. Once you sign up you will be able to view your stats on the various teams you play on. As far as the APA being a beginner league...yes, I'll give you that. The APA is the only league that provides a real chance for beginner players to play and progress. But, to say that it is only for beginners is either naive or a deliberate attempt to mislead. How many times have you won the higher level 8 or 9-ball APA Singles Championship? How about Masters? I think players like Mark Coats, Ray Linares, Javier Chirino, Dave Uwate, Jeannie Seaver, Robert Hall, Brian Parks, Ed the Barber, David Weaver, Ricky Charles, Curtis Thornton, Rich Shmeigel...the list goes on, may object to you calling them beginners. But if you want to spot any of those guys a few games on the wire I'm sure they will be happy to get in the box with you. LOL

I played 11 years plus of APA dating back to when it was the Camel, Miller Lite, etc league. I was there when they implemented the reduction system which happens more often than not to be a double reduction for us 7's and in some instances 6's. Don't get me wrong, I have some good memories of Vegas and league play in general but the APA has lots of problems and it starts with a lack of transparency on the website in general. I actually ran a league for 8 years and fully understand the handicap system where many just guess and think they do. I will never disclose it because it will simply breed more sandbaggers. As for the Masters division, yes, I played in it for a few sessions, won both of those with our team, but in the end I simply decided to part ways with the APA. I didn't care for the new 3 pt scoring system which also favors the beginner level players in regular league play. It was just another move away from the skilled players. If your system is so flawed that rather than fix it and come up with a new one that doesn't use innings and doesn't take 20 matches to catch up with sandbaggers, instead you simply put more weight on your upper level players, then you're catering to a select group of your players. It's something APA has been doing since the early to mid 90's. I had hoped when I started playing again a little over a year ago, that things had changed. This 3 point change quickly pointed out that they haven't. I will give them this though, they're a great league for beginners, and they've added several divisions for Vegas, which is nice. Eventually most of the top players will gravitate away from it. It's a matter of time. Again though, I do recommend it for the average weekly league player that enjoys the social atmosphere of league play. Just don't get your hopes up too much on the Vegas selling point. Not many teams make it and most that do go out and get beat by a sandbagging team that later gets DQ'd....all too late for the teams they beat early on to get any compensation for it. (And before you go there, yes, I've been to Vegas several times (4), and cashed once, albeit at the lower end of teams in the money.) Good luck to the OP, hope you enjoy the APA.

 

[lorider]

there have been a few times i have received that error message when trying to pull up the website. not very often though it happens.

as for the stats they keep for you goes...i can live with what they record.

i do love napa and they keep all kind of stats that you would not beleive. do you really need to know you have a better record under a full moon than a half moon. ?

do you really need to know you have a higher win percentage in the fall vs spring ?

i thought where you can pull up how you would fare against a certain opponent based on each players records was pretty neat. however it dont mean crap if he has more b&r's than me, more 8 on the break than me, more rackless than me and i still will 5-1 when we face each other lol.

 

[buckshotshoey]

I played 11 years plus of APA dating back to when it was the Camel, Miller Lite, etc league. I was there when they implemented the reduction system which happens more often than not to be a double reduction for us 7's and in some instances 6's. Don't get me wrong, I have some good memories of Vegas and league play in general but the APA has lots of problems and it starts with a lack of transparency on the website in general. I actually ran a league for 8 years and fully understand the handicap system where many just guess and think they do. I will never disclose it because it will simply breed more sandbaggers. As for the Masters division, yes, I played in it for a few sessions, won both of those with our team, but in the end I simply decided to part ways with the APA. I didn't care for the new 3 pt scoring system which also favors the beginner level players in regular league play. It was just another move away from the skilled players. If your system is so flawed that rather than fix it and come up with a new one that doesn't use innings and doesn't take 20 matches to catch up with sandbaggers, instead you simply put more weight on your upper level players, then you're catering to a select group of your players. It's something APA has been doing since the early to mid 90's. I had hoped when I started playing again a little over a year ago, that things had changed. This 3 point change quickly pointed out that they haven't. I will give them this though, they're a great league for beginners, and they've added several divisions for Vegas, which is nice. Eventually most of the top players will gravitate away from it. It's a matter of time. Again though, I do recommend it for the average weekly league player that enjoys the social atmosphere of league play. Just don't get your hopes up too much on the Vegas selling point. Not many teams make it and most that do go out and get beat by a sandbagging team that later gets DQ'd....all too late for the teams they beat early on to get any compensation for it. (And before you go there, yes, I've been to Vegas several times (4), and cashed once, albeit at the lower end of teams in the money.) Good luck to the OP, hope you enjoy the APA.

Play in the APA Masters division. Call those guys "beginners" and see what happens to you! Lol. Try the masters division. You can even use a jump cue.

 

[Nullus]

Play in the APA Masters division. Call those guys "beginners" and see what happens to you! Lol. Try the masters division. You can even use a jump cue.

Try reading my entire post. I played in the Master's division for two sessions. Won both. Competition was better and I enjoyed the format quite a bit. As stated in my earlier post, I decided to cut ties with the APA completely (both regular league AND Master's) and simply move on to another league. I don't believe at any time did I call the Master's players beginners and I also don't believe you did anything more than troll this thread based on your response. Thanks anyhow.

 

[buckshotshoey]

Try reading my entire post. I played in the Master's division for two sessions. Won both. Competition was better and I enjoyed the format quite a bit. As stated in my earlier post, I decided to cut ties with the APA completely (both regular league AND Master's) and simply move on to another league. I don't believe at any time did I call the Master's players beginners and I also don't believe you did anything more than troll this thread based on your response. Thanks anyhow.

Just another way of saying "kiss my ass". Ok I get it. Lmfao!
What I didnt understand was you said Masters division and 3 pt format in same context. Didnt know Masters used the 3 pt.

 

[Ctwitty]

Former League Operator?

I played 11 years plus of APA dating back to when it was the Camel, Miller Lite, etc league. I was there when they implemented the reduction system which happens more often than not to be a double reduction for us 7's and in some instances 6's. Don't get me wrong, I have some good memories of Vegas and league play in general but the APA has lots of problems and it starts with a lack of transparency on the website in general. I actually ran a league for 8 years and fully understand the handicap system where many just guess and think they do. I will never disclose it because it will simply breed more sandbaggers. As for the Masters division, yes, I played in it for a few sessions, won both of those with our team, but in the end I simply decided to part ways with the APA. I didn't care for the new 3 pt scoring system which also favors the beginner level players in regular league play. It was just another move away from the skilled players. If your system is so flawed that rather than fix it and come up with a new one that doesn't use innings and doesn't take 20 matches to catch up with sandbaggers, instead you simply put more weight on your upper level players, then you're catering to a select group of your players. It's something APA has been doing since the early to mid 90's. I had hoped when I started playing again a little over a year ago, that things had changed. This 3 point change quickly pointed out that they haven't. I will give them this though, they're a great league for beginners, and they've added several divisions for Vegas, which is nice. Eventually most of the top players will gravitate away from it. It's a matter of time. Again though, I do recommend it for the average weekly league player that enjoys the social atmosphere of league play. Just don't get your hopes up too much on the Vegas selling point. Not many teams make it and most that do go out and get beat by a sandbagging team that later gets DQ'd....all too late for the teams they beat early on to get any compensation for it. (And before you go there, yes, I've been to Vegas several times (4), and cashed once, albeit at the lower end of teams in the money.) Good luck to the OP, hope you enjoy the APA.

You said you were an APA League Operator for 8 years. May i ask what area you owned? Just curious

 

[Nullus]

Just another way of saying "kiss my ass". Ok I get it. Lmfao!
What I didnt understand was you said Masters division and 3 pt format in same context. Didnt know Masters used the 3 pt.

At no point did I put Master's and 3 pt system together. Sorry, but I'm still wondering if you read the entire post. Regardless, what was meant about the 3 pt system is that when used with the reduction system they already use, it puts 2's, 3's and in some cases 4's in a situation where they only need to win ONE game to get a point for their team. In most cases, 6's need to win a minimum of 3, sometimes 4 games to get that same point and us 7's have to win a minimum of 4 games for that point. One mistake and the lower level players have a point for the team. Mistakes aside, there are a lot of 4's out there (nm the sandbagging ones) that can run racks and easily get that point if they can get to the table. It was just another move to cater to the lower level players when the 3 pt system was implemented and it was something I personally didn't care for. That was all I meant by mentioning it. Has nothing to do with the scoring at the Master's level. I had zero problems with the Master's level division I played in. There are other issues, such as the 23 rule limiting how often teams can play 7's compared to other skill levels. It's not a slam on the APA, it's just a simple fact that their league caters to the lower level beginner players a bit more than it does to the higher handicapped players. I just decided at the time that I would break ties with APA on all counts. Hopefully, should you read this entire post, you'll get my meaning now. I'm done with this thread regardless.

(As for the other question, I never said I was a LO. I ran the league for a LO that lived in another area. I was the division rep, handled paperwork, fees, helping organize teams, run meetings. Pretty much everything for the actual LO, who came to town once or twice per session. Was proud of my time running it. Had a junior program we ran once a month with instructional sessions for any kids that wanted to come out and learn to play. Most ended up playing later as adults Started with 16 open teams and by the end of our time with him owning and me running it, we had 64 combined open and women's teams.)

 

[buckshotshoey]

With your quote cut out, now you can see the confusion. A new paragraph maybe?
I am trying to figure out how the thee point system (that you despise so much) affected you in any way in Masters division. Or maybe you were going back to handicap team?
I don't see it.

My response was strong....sorry. But don't call me a troll.

 

[Nullus]

With your quote cut out, now you can see the confusion. A new paragraph maybe?
I am trying to figure out how the thee point system (that you despise so much) affected you in any way in Masters division. Or maybe you were going back to handicap team?
I don't see it.

My response was strong....sorry. But don't call me a troll.

Sorry, my apologies for my poor English. I did state in the sentence 'regular league play' but perhaps the meaning was lost in the writing. It's all good.

 

[buckshotshoey]

Sorry, my apologies for my poor English. I did state in the sentence 'regular league play' but perhaps the meaning was lost in the writing. It's all good.

Cool. If you weren't so far away, I would by you a beer right now. Since I can't, Ill crack one open right now in your honor! Lol