APA.........You Do the Math.

Scott Lee said:
Do not believe all you hear about either APA or BCA. Make your OWN judgement call. You say you have both available to you, and you want to play, so why not join both leagues, for a session?
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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Good advice for any subject.

Since she watched an "open" league and was a little intimidated by the level of play, a handicapped league will probably suit her needs better. For low level players, the APA does provide an opportunity to compete. I think most of the frustration of the APA comes from the mid and upper level players. I was so in my case.

In any case, people are looking for different things from pool leagues sometimes. Some care about the competition, some the payouts, some the social aspect, some just like to play.

For me, the APA lost its appeal very early.
 
If I remember correctly, her initial concerns were being able to play alot, and to not have to spend a lot of $$$ to do so if possible. And also to meet new (pool-playing) people, and to learn more about the game.

To me, that indicates a league (any league) is a great option, at least initially, until she gets her feet wet and knows more about the game, and what she wants out of it. And at what level she is playing at.

Sadly, she gets bombarded with the usual "don't play APA" stuff right out of the shoot, which might just be perfect for her at this stage of her pool-playing development. Maybe it isn't for her, either. Maybe it is run poorly where she lives, and has a bunch of selfish people playing in it to make it less-than-fun. But who knows, maybe the other leagues have those same issues, where she lives. Unless there is someone from that area making the suggestions to her based on real-life experience, she would be better served getting generalized advice, with perhaps what to look out for as a potential issue that might come up. I somehow doubt that any of those giving advice here live in her area, or they would have already posted rooms to play in, and days/times to play there.

Maybe there is a room there with an in-house league that will cater to new players. That would be cool, too. Or any of the alphabet soup of leagues (APA, BCA,TAP, e-i-e-i-ooooooooh). But those situations should give her the most table time for the lowest buck, and the ability to play with lots of folks that might be able to help her develop her game.

Best of luck, skiergirl.
 
Is my summary wrong here?

APA:
Pay lot of money
*(Subjective issue but getting all sorts of different #'s)
Not a lot of payout
HC system is not stable
*(Not sure if that's the right word)
You can't be in the same team with your friends
A lot of sandbaggers or need to sandbag because of HC system
Trying to satisfy every player?


BCA
Better players
Better competition


I like to join a league if I didn't have to travel so much for my job.
May be this year.
 
kyo1128 said:
Is my summary wrong here?

APA:
Pay lot of money
*(Subjective issue but getting all sorts of different #'s)
Not a lot of payout
HC system is not stable
*(Not sure if that's the right word)
You can't be in the same team with your friends
A lot of sandbaggers or need to sandbag because of HC system
Trying to satisfy every player?


BCA
Better players
Better competition


I like to join a league if I didn't have to travel so much for my job.
May be this year.
Click to expand...


Yes your summary is wrong - very wrong

Lets break it down shall we

1) pay a lot of money - I say $6-8 for a night out with my friends is not alot of money - therefor WRONG

2) Not a lot of payout - I have been to Vegas 3 times plus won money from cash tournaments. Seeing as I play in the league for fun and not money - in my opinion you are WRONG

3) Handicap system not stable - I know players and play in tournamnts in many different areas and have seen very few issues and complints plus in my area 99% of the players are accurately handicapped - In my opinion you are WRONG here as well

4) you can't be on the same team with your friends - If all your friends are really good pool players then maybe you have a point. However the people that are on my team I consider my friends - Therefor you must be WRONG

5) A lot of sandbaggers - as I said I think the people that are in my area and the ones that I see at tournaments are properly handicapped. Maybe that is not the case in you area - I don;t know about your area - but if you trying to describe the APA in my area - you are WRONG again

6) Trying to satisfy every player - last time I checked, the players the APA looks loke they are trying to satisfy are the players who want to play for fun. It is not a league to satisfy people who want to play for money. Therfore the league is not trying to satisfy everyone - Which makes you WRONG AGAIN

BCA - better players better competetion

Better players as a whole yes. better competition - depends on your definition.
If you define better competeion as getting your ass handed to you session after session and knowing full well when you start a session yo have no chance to win, then yes I guess you are correct.

Otherwise - you are WRONG here as well.

The point is if you don't like the APA - then don't play. But stop posting wrong information. If the APA is a problem where you live, then I feel sorry for you because in my area people love it and have a great time.
 
LeagueGuy said:
Yes your summary is wrong - very wrong

Lets break it down shall we

1) pay a lot of money - I say $6-8 for a night out with my friends is not alot of money - therefor WRONG

2) Not a lot of payout - I have been to Vegas 3 times plus won money from cash tournaments. Seeing as I play in the league for fun and not money - in my opinion you are WRONG

3) Handicap system not stable - I know players and play in tournamnts in many different areas and have seen very few issues and complints plus in my area 99% of the players are accurately handicapped - In my opinion you are WRONG here as well

4) you can't be on the same team with your friends - If all your friends are really good pool players then maybe you have a point. However the people that are on my team I consider my friends - Therefor you must be WRONG

5) A lot of sandbaggers - as I said I think the people that are in my area and the ones that I see at tournaments are properly handicapped. Maybe that is not the case in you area - I don;t know about your area - but if you trying to describe the APA in my area - you are WRONG again

6) Trying to satisfy every player - last time I checked, the players the APA looks loke they are trying to satisfy are the players who want to play for fun. It is not a league to satisfy people who want to play for money. Therfore the league is not trying to satisfy everyone - Which makes you WRONG AGAIN

BCA - better players better competetion

Better players as a whole yes. better competition - depends on your definition.
If you define better competeion as getting your ass handed to you session after session and knowing full well when you start a session yo have no chance to win, then yes I guess you are correct.

Otherwise - you are WRONG here as well.

The point is if you don't like the APA - then don't play. But stop posting wrong information. If the APA is a problem where you live, then I feel sorry for you because in my area people love it and have a great time.
Click to expand...

WOWOWOW.. Easy there chief.
I just summarized the 15 pages of b****ing and whining.
Like I posted, I've never joined a pool league before, don't have a side to pick here. APA and BCA are just letters to me. All I see on this site is that APA sucks and BCA rules. Stories are blown out of proportion for sure.

I got a question tho, you are saying 6~8 bucks a night.
So $25 per year for membership and it's only going to cost 6~8 per night?
System is so unclear from the site, and I'm just looking for info here.
 
kyo1128 said:
I got a question tho, you are saying 6~8 bucks a night.
So $25 per year for membership and it's only going to cost 6~8 per night?
System is so unclear from the site, and I'm just looking for info here.
Click to expand...

$25 per session here, $8 per week. The $8 per week is for the 5 people who play on the team, not all 8 team members. In other words, the team has to send in $40 each week. I suppose it could be spread out between all 8 players, but that's not how we do it. Just those who play that week pay the $8.

All of us, playing that week or not, get free table time to practice, the whole evening. No table fees at all. (Depending on open tables, and we all share where necessary. Everyone gets table time each week if they want it.) No free drinks here, dammit. ;)

Still very reasonable for a night of fun. Rent a table anywhere for $8 an hour, give or take a little.
 
justadub said:
$25 per session here, $8 per week. The $8 per week is for the 5 people who play on the team, not all 8 team members. In other words, the team has to send in $40 each week. I suppose it could be spread out between all 8 players, but that's not how we do it. Just those who play that week pay the $8.

All of us, playing that week or not, get free table time to practice, the whole evening. No table fees at all. (Depending on open tables, and we all share where necessary. Everyone gets table time each week if they want it.) No free drinks here, dammit. ;)

Still very reasonable for a night of fun. Rent a table anywhere for $8 an hour, give or take a little.
Click to expand...

I'm not getting session, but I assume it's kind for the duration of how long league plays for?

You pay $25 at the start, $8/night when you play?
 
kyo1128 said:
I'm not getting session, but I assume it's kind for the duration of how long league plays for?

You pay $25 at the start, $8/night when you play?
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There are three "sessions" in one calendar year. It's a $25 membership fee per year, plus weekly money if you play.
 
kyo1128 said:
I'm not getting session, but I assume it's kind for the duration of how long league plays for?

You pay $25 at the start, $8/night when you play?
Click to expand...

You are correct. Sorry I didn't make that clear. There are three sessions per year. So it isn't $25 per year. Actually, if I remember it correctly, it's $25 for the first session, then $15 for each of the last two sessions you play in. The more I think about it, that has to be it.

I think of the $25 (or $15) as the price to be a member, which allows me to play that period of time (session). Then I pay the $8 on the weeks that I am in a match, and I get to play all night regardless of whether I am one of the five that are actually competing that week. Save for the time when I take a turn at keeping score.

Darned reasonable.
 
So....
25/year, 25/session, 8/if you play.
You play 3 sessions per year, $100/per year and 8/night?
How does APA payout with that little buy-in.
 
kyo1128 said:
So....
25/year, 25/session, 8/if you play.
You play 3 sessions per year, $100/per year and 8/night?
How does APA payout with that little buy-in.
Click to expand...


In my area (Chicago) it's $25 per year. That covers all three sessions, and $6 per week when you play.
$25/year
$6/night

Pretty much everywhere we play gives a free drink to both teams also (as long as your buying some drinks).
 
ball-banger said:
In my area (Chicago) it's $25 per year. That covers all three sessions, and $6 per week when you play.
$25/year
$6/night

Pretty much everywhere we play gives a free drink to both teams also (as long as your buying some drinks).
Click to expand...

That's exactly the way it is in my area.

Maniac
 
kyo1128 said:
WOWOWOW.. Easy there chief.
I just summarized the 15 pages of b****ing and whining.
Like I posted, I've never joined a pool league before, don't have a side to pick here. APA and BCA are just letters to me. All I see on this site is that APA sucks and BCA rules. Stories are blown out of proportion for sure.

I got a question tho, you are saying 6~8 bucks a night.
So $25 per year for membership and it's only going to cost 6~8 per night?
System is so unclear from the site, and I'm just looking for info here.
Click to expand...

I think it's more accurate to say you MIS-characterized 15 pages of posts. There have been plenty of posts that painted the APA in a more flattering light. You seem to have skipped those.

And it is $25 per year for APA. (only $20 for TAP - play TAP!!!:thumbup:)

Mike
 
MikeM said:
I think it's more accurate to say you MIS-characterized 15 pages of posts. There have been plenty of posts that painted the APA in a more flattering light. You seem to have skipped those.

And it is $25 per year for APA. (only $20 for TAP - play TAP!!!:thumbup:)

Mike
Click to expand...

No, I summarized all the attacks against APA.;)

I got everything cleared up, thanks all for the help.
Kyo
 
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