APA "Quarter Sharks"

Years ago I gave up smoking, replacing smoking cigarettes with eating Tic Tacs, just about the same time I returned to playing pool after a very long exit. Started playing regularly in several weekly NYC 9 ball tournaments at the time when smoking was still permitted in the rooms and whenever I finished shooting I would sit down, take out my Tic Tacs, remove and have one during my time in the chair and have another before I resumed shooting again. Did it all the time, never gave it a thought until one of my opponents said to me: "hey, Jim, please stop shaking those damn Tic Tacs". :sorry:

Honest, never ever entered my mind that it would have bothered anyone, of course, I still had my Tic Tacs, but i did it much quieter from then on.
 
In the APA where I play (NE Florida), the room owner has to open the tables up for league play, so no quarters are involved. Not sure why the rules would be different where you are playing, but it's in the official rule book and everything. It says if the owner won't open the tables up, to let the league operator know and they will take care of it. If we did use quarters and someone did that to me, I would definitely ask them to stop because not only is it rude it's also distracting.
 
The quarters thing is obviously a shark move. I did the same thing when I was learning to play at age 15 and played challenge matches with a certain guy for $1 a game. If he was shooting the 8-ball I'd put the dollar on the rail, trying to rattle him. Today I'd consider this is jerk move and I don't do any sharking.

I had a teammate in APA that would get so down on himself for missing, that if it was late in the case game he would break down his cue, walk over to his case, and put his cue away. I saw him do it several times over a month. Once I saw his opponent miss, and my teammate put his cue back together and started playing again. At first I though he did it out of disgust (he was always hard on himself for choking), but once I overheard him say he did it to shark his opponent! Geez…
 
The rest of the world the table is surrounded by people betting and talking... chickens walking around by your feet but y'all can't handle someone getting out quarters. You deserve to lose if that sharks you.
 
jeffj2h said:
The quarters thing is obviously a shark move. I did the same thing when I was learning to play at age 15 and played challenge matches with a certain guy for $1 a game. If he was shooting the 8-ball I'd put the dollar on the rail, trying to rattle him. Today I'd consider this is jerk move and I don't do any sharking.

I had a teammate in APA that would get so down on himself for missing, that if it was late in the case game he would break down his cue, walk over to his case, and put his cue away. I saw him do it several times over a month. Once I saw his opponent miss, and my teammate put his cue back together and started playing again. At first I though he did it out of disgust (he was always hard on himself for choking), but once I overheard him say he did it to shark his opponent! Geez…
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In APA isn't unscrewing a forfeit just like any other sanctioned event?
 
A few other stories…

The most annoying thing I've seen is a guy that wanted to shake hands after every game, in a league race to 5. Not the match; I mean every game. I play left handed, so shaking hands gets their grime all over my bridge hand. After the second game I said "hey, I'll shake hands after the match". I felt like a jerk a little, but could not let this go on. I don't think he was sharking; he just seemed to want to be a 'good sport' and complement me for winning a game.

Grady Matthews appears to have been a big anti-sharking advocate. During the commentary for TAR 1 (CD vs SVB), he says that when he was playing at his pool hall he didn't even allow his opponent to say "good shot".
 
No no don't wait until he's done clacking. You should turn around and shake his hand and then go over and give your teammates fist bumps. If he honestly asks what the hell is going on, say that getting your quarters for the next game is a concession, which of course it is.

edit: I don't know about APA, but that would definitely be a concession in BCA:

1-43 Concession of Game
1. You must not concede any game at any time for any reason. “Concede” means that, as a result of any verbal or non-verbal action, you lead your opponent to believe that you are awarding them the game before its normal conclusion on the table. Before a game has ended, you must refrain from making any statements such as “good game”, etc., or any other verbal inference that the game is over or that your opponent is certain or likely to win. You must also refrain from any similar non-verbal action, such as putting away your cue or accessory items, beginning to mark a score sheet, changing clothes, retrieving or juggling coins or tokens, etc. Whether or not you have conceded a game is determined solely by the referee’s judgment.
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BmoreMoney said:
In APA isn't unscrewing a forfeit just like any other sanctioned event?
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Well, I just looked it up. I can't find anything in the APA Team Manual about breaking down a cue stick. However in my local league's by-laws (Plano, TX), it says this:

"BREAKING DOWN CUE STICK – Breaking down a cue stick during a match is not considered concession of the match. However, if a player verbally concedes a match to his/her opponent and the opponent continues to shoot and misses, the player who conceded WILL be allowed to continue to play, even if they have broken down their cue stick. "

This makes sense if you realize that every rule in APA is written to avoid arguments. They probably don't want two players arguing over whether a guy unscrewing his cue 1/2 turn is 'breaking down his cue'. Just like marking the 8-ball pocket (an insult that my opponent and I always agree not to do). There is not even a push (double hit) shot rule in APA, because any rule would just create arguments.

Oh well, I've been playing APA for years and the BS is easy enough to ignore.
 
jeffj2h said:
The quarters thing is obviously a shark move. I did the same thing when I was learning to play at age 15 and played challenge matches with a certain guy for $1 a game. If he was shooting the 8-ball I'd put the dollar on the rail, trying to rattle him. Today I'd consider this is jerk move and I don't do any sharking.



I had a teammate in APA that would get so down on himself for missing, that if it was late in the case game he would break down his cue, walk over to his case, and put his cue away. I saw him do it several times over a month. Once I saw his opponent miss, and my teammate put his cue back together and started playing again. At first I though he did it out of disgust (he was always hard on himself for choking), but once I overheard him say he did it to shark his opponent! Geez…
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I bet he looks even worse when he puts it back together and misses the 8.. But I'm confused how he gets away with that, It's a forfeit it you take your cue apart


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BRussell said:
No no don't wait until he's done clacking. You should turn around and shake his hand and then go over and give your teammates fist bumps. If he honestly asks what the hell is going on, say that getting your quarters for the next game is a concession, which of course it is.
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I agree, it shouldn't shark you but taking you money out, to me means your conceding the game


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sixajd said:
In the APA where I play (NE Florida), the room owner has to open the tables up for league play, so no quarters are involved. Not sure why the rules would be different where you are playing, but it's in the official rule book and everything. It says if the owner won't open the tables up, to let the league operator know and they will take care of it. ...
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It's possible this is a regional thing. Where is this in the rule book, I'd love to point it out to some people.

jeffj2h said:
Well, I just looked it up. I can't find anything in the APA Team Manual about breaking down a cue stick. However in my local league's by-laws (Plano, TX), it says this:

"BREAKING DOWN CUE STICK – Breaking down a cue stick during a match is not considered concession of the match. However, if a player verbally concedes a match to his/her opponent and the opponent continues to shoot and misses, the player who conceded WILL be allowed to continue to play, even if they have broken down their cue stick. "

Oh well, I've been playing APA for years and the BS is easy enough to ignore.
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I believe this is correct, though it's widely accepted that breaking down your cue is concession. However, this is the APA and I am often surprised how many APA members aren't aware of simple etiquette and basic rules, or have basic common sense, so even though you may not agree with how it might be, if you're going to play in the APA it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the APA rules.
 
I agree

cleary said:
The rest of the world the table is surrounded by people betting and talking... chickens walking around by your feet but y'all can't handle someone getting out quarters. You deserve to lose if that sharks you.
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Until you have played in a two table tin shack in the PI , that is packed with 75 Filipinos , all talking and betting , no AC hotter than be damned . getting your tail handed you by a kid with no shirt and flip flops , Trust me ratteling quarters is not that big an issue
 
Where are you playing with a three quarter table set up? Only place I can think of around here is Rudy's in Aurora.
 
They shouldn't be near the table when you're shooting. As for being excessively noisy away from the table, I've had that happen. Usually it's more of a comment on my focus if I can't tune it out. I won't shoot, just get out of my stance and look over. Sometimes I'll politely say something, other times just a smile does it and they get the hint. If it happens again in the same match a polite but firm conversation is in order. But, unless it's obviously intentional and very loud, it's something that shouldn't matter if you're focused.
 
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RJ,

I completely agree with you. It's a move that shows poor sportsmanship.

I was playing a cheap set with a buddy, it was hill-hill and he was down on his second-to-last shot and I pulled the money out of my pocket. I was 15 feet away from him and not directly in his line of sight, but he flubbed the ball. I immediately knew that he had noticed me pulling out the money, so I swept the balls and handed them to him...and apologized.

To everybody who says that this shouldn't affect a person because others can play with chickens running around and loud louts around: This would affect me more than a lot of things because I have respect for my opponents. I respect them enough to expect for them to respect me and the game enough to not interfere while it is my turn. I can forgive someone who is ignorant, but once I've educated them, there is no excuse.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
RJ,

I completely agree with you. It's a move that shows poor sportsmanship.

I was playing a cheap set with a buddy, it was hill-hill and he was down on his second-to-last shot and I pulled the money out of my pocket. I was 15 feet away from him and not directly in his line of sight, but he flubbed the ball. I immediately knew that he had noticed me pulling out the money, so I swept the balls and handed them to him...and apologized.

To everybody who says that this shouldn't affect a person because others can play with chickens running around and loud louts around: This would affect me more than a lot of things because I have respect for my opponents. I respect them enough to expect for them to respect me and the game enough to not interfere while it is my turn. I can forgive someone who is ignorant, but once I've educated them, there is no excuse.
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As far as I'm concerned, if you pull your money out or start to unscrew your stick before the last shot is made you are conceding the match. No grey area there. You have physically conceded and I would reply as such and go shake your hand.
 
Kevin Trudeau had a whole chapter on this in his book "APA stuff they don't want you to know".
 
I started apa league back up last session and little over half way this session . I have found that this is usually not a problem . Last session we traveled and this session is in house .

Usually music and talking and its loud so have not noticed it . I would say its about half and half when you do see it. Half trying to distract and half just were never taught good pool etiquette .

Either way if it did happen and it was bothering me I would say something being much nicer to people I feel didn't realize they were doing it the other half not so much .

In my area breaking down your cue is a loss !
 
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