Bill Rowsey’s “ALL THE BALLS” One Pocket Tournament Guidelines
On November 5th, 2021, the Southaven, Mississippi REC hosted a onepocket.org members tournament where I spoke with former establishment owner, Bill Rowsey. Bill gave me permission to use his name in the title and shared with me his very successful method for hosting extended duration one pocket tournaments. I want to share this with other players, poolroom owners, and spectators.
If you have input or questions about this type of tournament, perhaps the input and questions could be entered/answered in these forum threads.
The many BENEFITS for poolroom owners, players, and spectators are listed:
*The joy/challenge of playing one pocket.
*The excitement of one pocket tournaments.
*Competition.
*Owners benefit by players practicing to ready themselves for their matches.
*Owners can have 1-3 or even 4 of these tournaments per year.
*Observers/customers come to the pool room to watch matches.
*Tournament winnings and calcutta can be in the thousands of dollars.
*Positive advertisement for poolroom owners.
*Others.
Setting up the Tournaments
*Tournament takes 2 to 4 months to complete; 16 or 32 players.
*Sign-up and draw is similar to other tournaments, players meeting, calcutta, etc.
*Players have 14 days to complete their match from the time match is set. If they do not finish within 14 days (this could be 10 days) culprit player loses match (see problems/solutions below).
*Double elimination but could be single.
*Entry fee can be whatever the poolroom owner wants it to be-$50 to $150 is common. Added money is common, but not necessary.
*A team of 3-5 pool players/poolroom owner determines each player’s handicap. The team sets handicaps considering the player’s “best playing abilities”, i.e., the player is playing his/her best.
*Each player is handicapped from 15 to 90/100. Top Pros would be 80 to 100 (maybe somewhat less?). Imagine Efren, Alex, Tony, matching up against a very capable strong player who is handicapped for example 55.
*Players are given a list of each player’s phone number so they can communicate and set their match dates/times.
Matches
*Flip/alternate breaks.
*Race to handicap.
*Shoot all 15 balls, not 8. When last ball is pocketed, incoming breaker continues.
*Object ball fouls, ball on the break, other rules can be determined by poolroom owner/team.
Players not completing their match with in the 14 day time limit. It is recommended this not be tolerated, AT ALL. According to Bill this was a significant problem. The culprits were usually the same 1 to 3 people. Please do not allow these 1 to 3 players detour you from having these tournaments. Please see Pareto’s 80/20 Rule-used in management as 80% of management problems come from 20% of the employees.
SOLUTION-As a former manager, I believe poolroom owners/teams need to be very, very, tough on these culprits. If a match is not completed within time allotted, a loss is given. No exceptions/no favoritism. Similar to employment, I recommend the only rational excuse/reason would be a VALIDATED death in the immediate family or proof of being in a hospital, (possible other rational reason). Documented proof must be given to owner/team. I know this sounds harsh but these 1 to 3 players slow up the tournament process and can be aggravating for other players, owners, and spectators.
Written by Lanny Charles-Chicago/Memphis 11/18/21
On November 5th, 2021, the Southaven, Mississippi REC hosted a onepocket.org members tournament where I spoke with former establishment owner, Bill Rowsey. Bill gave me permission to use his name in the title and shared with me his very successful method for hosting extended duration one pocket tournaments. I want to share this with other players, poolroom owners, and spectators.
If you have input or questions about this type of tournament, perhaps the input and questions could be entered/answered in these forum threads.
The many BENEFITS for poolroom owners, players, and spectators are listed:
*The joy/challenge of playing one pocket.
*The excitement of one pocket tournaments.
*Competition.
*Owners benefit by players practicing to ready themselves for their matches.
*Owners can have 1-3 or even 4 of these tournaments per year.
*Observers/customers come to the pool room to watch matches.
*Tournament winnings and calcutta can be in the thousands of dollars.
*Positive advertisement for poolroom owners.
*Others.
Setting up the Tournaments
*Tournament takes 2 to 4 months to complete; 16 or 32 players.
*Sign-up and draw is similar to other tournaments, players meeting, calcutta, etc.
*Players have 14 days to complete their match from the time match is set. If they do not finish within 14 days (this could be 10 days) culprit player loses match (see problems/solutions below).
*Double elimination but could be single.
*Entry fee can be whatever the poolroom owner wants it to be-$50 to $150 is common. Added money is common, but not necessary.
*A team of 3-5 pool players/poolroom owner determines each player’s handicap. The team sets handicaps considering the player’s “best playing abilities”, i.e., the player is playing his/her best.
*Each player is handicapped from 15 to 90/100. Top Pros would be 80 to 100 (maybe somewhat less?). Imagine Efren, Alex, Tony, matching up against a very capable strong player who is handicapped for example 55.
*Players are given a list of each player’s phone number so they can communicate and set their match dates/times.
Matches
*Flip/alternate breaks.
*Race to handicap.
*Shoot all 15 balls, not 8. When last ball is pocketed, incoming breaker continues.
*Object ball fouls, ball on the break, other rules can be determined by poolroom owner/team.
Players not completing their match with in the 14 day time limit. It is recommended this not be tolerated, AT ALL. According to Bill this was a significant problem. The culprits were usually the same 1 to 3 people. Please do not allow these 1 to 3 players detour you from having these tournaments. Please see Pareto’s 80/20 Rule-used in management as 80% of management problems come from 20% of the employees.
SOLUTION-As a former manager, I believe poolroom owners/teams need to be very, very, tough on these culprits. If a match is not completed within time allotted, a loss is given. No exceptions/no favoritism. Similar to employment, I recommend the only rational excuse/reason would be a VALIDATED death in the immediate family or proof of being in a hospital, (possible other rational reason). Documented proof must be given to owner/team. I know this sounds harsh but these 1 to 3 players slow up the tournament process and can be aggravating for other players, owners, and spectators.
Written by Lanny Charles-Chicago/Memphis 11/18/21
