Captain wont share scoresheet or info on opponent

L

LongGreen73

Registered
Hi I have been playing in a 9 ball league for the last two years. I moved and joined team closer to my house 6 months ago. Im trying to figure out how to handle this situation, Ill just tell you what happened.

Its time for me to shoot so I grab my cue and ask the Captain what skill level is he? He answers just shoot, you don't need to know. I shoot because the other guy is waiting to get started. So I come back and try to look at the sheet and he grabs it and says why do you need to know, just shoot. I told him the more I know about the opponent the better, that's way I was taught playing all sports since I was 5 years old. This crap has been going on since I started playing with this team.

Ive been in the league almost 2 years and Im a 4 skill level, hes been in the league for 19 years and he is a 4 skill level. I don't shoot nearly as well as I do on my other team because this Captain likes to play childish power and control games. He wonders why I often beat higher skill levels on my other team he is not a part of and then lose to same skill level players on his team. I told him this is my recreation and I come to win and have fun. He tells me its not about recreation its all about winning. If the rest of the guys weren't cool I would just leave the team. Guys on my other team have left his team because they say if I wanted to argue they would of stayed home with their wives. Any suggestion would be great. I like rest of the guys on the team and the bar which is why Im trying to figure out how cut out the crap. Thanks for any suggestions and advice.
 
Well i'm with you, the more information a player has the better.

This coming from a fellow crummy shooting team captain (rank 4).

In your situation it seems that this guy likes to run "his" team with an iron fist. Most likely you won't change his ways and you will end up disliking your time with his team. I would start making friends on other rosters and if a spot opens up on a team which you think is more to your liking then ask to join them. I always encourage my players to give me as much notification as possible if they are leaving, regardless of the situation. Because when it comes down to it, we're just amateurs, we play APA because it is competition we can handle and it's more fun than just banging balls. So you might as well enjoy the team you're shooting with!
 
Life is too short for drama filled pool league b.s. Get on a team with people you enjoy being around and have some fun.
 
LongGreen73 said:
Hi I have been playing in a 9 ball league for the last two years. I moved and joined team closer to my house 6 months ago. Im trying to figure out how to handle this situation, Ill just tell you what happened.

Its time for me to shoot so I grab my cue and ask the Captain what skill level is he? He answers just shoot, you don't need to know. I shoot because the other guy is waiting to get started. So I come back and try to look at the sheet and he grabs it and says why do you need to know, just shoot. I told him the more I know about the opponent the better, that's way I was taught playing all sports since I was 5 years old. This crap has been going on since I started playing with this team.

Ive been in the league almost 2 years and Im a 4 skill level, hes been in the league for 19 years and he is a 4 skill level. I don't shoot nearly as well as I do on my other team because this Captain likes to play childish power and control games. He wonders why I often beat higher skill levels on my other team he is not a part of and then lose to same skill level players on his team. I told him this is my recreation and I come to win and have fun. He tells me its not about recreation its all about winning. If the rest of the guys weren't cool I would just leave the team. Guys on my other team have left his team because they say if I wanted to argue they would of stayed home with their wives. Any suggestion would be great. I like rest of the guys on the team and the bar which is why Im trying to figure out how cut out the crap. Thanks for any suggestions and advice.
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I suspect your captain wants you to focus on the table and not your opponent. However, I am not sure why he would fight you on that. If you want to know, even after he has expressed his opinion, he should tell you regardless.

I would actually argue that in many cases your should know the skill level of the person you are playing. For example, if you are playing a SL2 you might want to play more tight and try and move your balls closer to the pocket before attempting to run out.
 
I'd tell the captain to suck it. Life is too short to play pool with a captain that's a total moron. JMHO
 
One solution is printing your own score sheet. Every APA member has access to the site. If you have a smart phone you can even login and see the handicap of all the members of the opposing team without printing anything.
 
1. Find a new team
2. If the league has a web site or national site, check before you go write down names and skill levels of other team
 
LongGreen73 said:
Hi I have been playing in a 9 ball league for the last two years. I moved and joined team closer to my house 6 months ago. Im trying to figure out how to handle this situation, Ill just tell you what happened.

Its time for me to shoot so I grab my cue and ask the Captain what skill level is he? He answers just shoot, you don't need to know. I shoot because the other guy is waiting to get started. So I come back and try to look at the sheet and he grabs it and says why do you need to know, just shoot. I told him the more I know about the opponent the better, that's way I was taught playing all sports since I was 5 years old. This crap has been going on since I started playing with this team.

Ive been in the league almost 2 years and Im a 4 skill level, hes been in the league for 19 years and he is a 4 skill level. I don't shoot nearly as well as I do on my other team because this Captain likes to play childish power and control games. He wonders why I often beat higher skill levels on my other team he is not a part of and then lose to same skill level players on his team. I told him this is my recreation and I come to win and have fun. He tells me its not about recreation its all about winning. If the rest of the guys weren't cool I would just leave the team. Guys on my other team have left his team because they say if I wanted to argue they would of stayed home with their wives. Any suggestion would be great. I like rest of the guys on the team and the bar which is why Im trying to figure out how cut out the crap. Thanks for any suggestions and advice.
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There is nothing good that will come from you playing on this team. Quit as soon as possible. Find another team with like minded players and have some fun.
 
ElLeon said:
Well i'm with you, the more information a player has the better.

This coming from a fellow crummy shooting team captain (rank 4).

In your situation it seems that this guy likes to run "his" team with an iron fist. Most likely you won't change his ways and you will end up disliking your time with his team. I would start making friends on other rosters and if a spot opens up on a team which you think is more to your liking then ask to join them. I always encourage my players to give me as much notification as possible if they are leaving, regardless of the situation. Because when it comes down to it, we're just amateurs, we play APA because it is competition we can handle and it's more fun than just banging balls. So you might as well enjoy the team you're shooting with!
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^^^ this.

Of course, if you really wanna eff with him, log onto the APA website, and print your own scoresheet. After he puts you up, introduce yourself to the other player so you can get his name, say excuse me a moment, pull out your scoresheet to see what you're up against. :p

That ought to provide a laugh or two, except for your captain.
 
To be honest he's sort of right.
He's just trying to make a point and it's a good one -

If you're thinking about anything except the shot in front of you, you're just sharking yourself.

Pool is pool, you can't compare it directly to every other sport.
It's not like chess or boxing where you need to read the opponent's moves
and learn all about them. Once their turn is over, they're not relevant.

You're simply playing the table and making decisions based on your skills,
not their skills.

All that being said, your captain sounds like kind of an ass.
Sometimes being nice to other people is more important than being right.
 
do you think the cap'n thinks you're sandbagging on him?? or do you think he has your best interests at heart?

you can always go and look at the other teams sheet.
 
ScottK said:
Quit his team and take the other six guys with you.
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^^^what he said

I wouldn't put up with it, but I might also tank a match just to piss him off. When you lose 4 games straight and don't make a ball, then lose, tell him you were just playing with the opponent because you thought he was a 15 skill level (I know there isn't a 15 in APA) and thought you had more time.

I would talk to the other teammates and see what their opinion of the captain is. If they don't care for him either, then create a mutiny like others have suggested.

Anyone who is a 4 and has been playing for 18 years and only cares about winning is an idiot. Anyone who is a 4 and has been playing for 18 years should take up golf.

Have fun and tell him to go #!@#$ himself.

Just my opinion! ;)
 
CreeDo said:
.

You're simply playing the table and making decisions based on your skills,
not their skills.
.
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This would normally be correct except in a situation where the handicaps can influence your strategy. I know I play different depending on whether I think someone can run a few balls or run out or if they'll have a hard time running 2. In that sense I don't think you can treat every opponent exactly the same.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
One solution is printing your own score sheet. Every APA member has access to the site. If you have a smart phone you can even login and see the handicap of all the members of the opposing team without printing anything.
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Agreed, or just ask your opponent what their S/L is. If they give you any attitude for asking just tell him that your prlck captain won't tell you. You should both get a good laugh
 
This a problem often i find...is that often the biggest tools (often, not always) want to be captain. I don't know why. I did it for awhile and never would again. It's kind of a catch 22 though, if you don't have captains then you can never have leagues. And then the problem can become the opposite with some people. In that they don't care about the rest of the team, they care about their own game. They don't keep score, they always ask to play right away, etc. So again, a catch-22. But I digress...
 
Celophanewrap said:
Agreed, or just ask your opponent what their S/L is. If they give you any attitude for asking just tell him that your prlck captain won't tell you. You should both get a good laugh
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That! Or the next time he answers like that, just walk over and look at the opponent's sheet. Some people like to know, some don't.. it sounds like he's imposing his views on everybody else.
 
You should be able to guage your opponent's speed in about 5 shots or two innings at most...but if you don't like the way your captain is captain'ing, then I'd look for another team. League is supposed to be fun, it's not worth it otherwise.

I tend to play my strongest when I have no idea who/how good the other guy is. I play in the Action Pool Tour; I played Shawn Wilkie on the TV table a couple of weeks ago and got smoked 6-1 in BB 8 ball (which was my game back before Wilkie was even born)...because it was Shawn f'ing Wilkie! Got in my head and the result was what I made it (that, and he's pretty damn strong). Three months ago I was in the middle of a match tied 3-3 (10 ball) and had my opponent on the run...I was playing about three balls ahead of him and was going to close the set out (race to 7), when the TD came up and informed us we were playing the wrong players by mistake and ended the match. That was Josh Brothers and I had no idea...had I known, I'd no doubt have sharked myself into banger-dom and been easily white-washed. You just gotta play your game, your opponent can't beat you if you don't let him out of his chair. My biggest weakness at the moment is worrying too much about my opponent...and the loss of confidence.
 
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