For me it looks like joining a league is the best way to get me out & playing more often. Right now my best option is a weekly 9-Ball 'chips' tournament but that is not enough for my needs/wants. It looks like I have a choice to join either an APA or a BCA league. I have not heard back from the BCA contact yet. The local APA group has my info.
I've been reading a lot about these leagues here with the pros & cons of each (& league play in general) but I'd like to get some direct input before I make a decision.
So, what do I need to know about the differences to help me make a decision?
I've played both, but bear in mind I'm speaking from a place wherein I'm a dominate player in either org.
Social Aspect:
-APA coins itself as a social league. However I found I played the same handful of players session after session. You may or may compete against those with a similar SL. Match ups are a shell game played by captains to gain an advantage.
-In the BCA format, you will literally play everyone on the opposing team. SL doesn't matter in this regard. Some may be well above you weight class. Others you may destroy.
Match Format:
-APA is a set a racks to a defined race based on SL comparison. Strong players enjoy this format because they can drop a rack and still win the match. I really liked the set format because of this but simply grew tired of the org.
-BCA is a single rack against each member of the opposing team. This can be torturous because there is a good possibility that you may never touch the table. If you cannot handle a zero beside your name on the score sheet, then you may want to consider APA. Max individual score is 85, lowest possible 0. I know of one player who floats on the higher end of the spectrum that as the current record for lowest score, at 3 for the entire night.
Rules:
-As mentioned above. The APA "take what you make" break rule can make the game harder. Allowing for slop makes it easier. Having breathing room in match play makes it very forgiving. Something not mentioned on the "which is easier" list above. You can completely launch the CB off the table during the APA break and get a redo. IMHO, the rules in APA are scripted for the entry level player.
-The BCA "open" break rule makes for a follow up shot almost a guarantee, but that doesn't translate to an automatic win. Call ball, call pocket makes the game tighter and in comparison I can't count the amount of times I've seen APA players "spray and pray" into wins.
Scoring:
-BCA is simple math. You get 10pts for the win and an additional point for each ball your opponent has left on the table.
-APA counts innings, defensive shots, score etc... They have online tutorials on how to do it correctly. The player scoring is forced to monitor the action at all times to perform scoring correctly.
Overall and in my experience with both. BCA is a more social league with generally a higher standard of play. Although BCA is more competitive, I have found that APA tends to have more low brow players looking to stand on their mother's throats to get a better view to see if they can call some kind of foul to gain an advantage. Arguments abound within the local APA leagues. Whereas the BCA version seems to be more even keel and newb friendly.
The good thing about both leagues is that you don't need to sign a contract that holds you to playing an entire season. Try one, and move on if you don't like it.
Enjoy