How do you view the CPA/APA/JPA?? What is it like for you?

[D_Lewis]

I play in the CPA here in Canada. Its a decent league, its pretty big, we can play almost every night in a decent pool room with 15 9' tables.

I think the biggest problem here is people complaining/sandbagging. Here, having a 6 or a 7 next to your name doesnt mean anything because you will just dump on lesser players to try and get your handicap down, then you will complain about being beat and the very player that you dumped to will be raised in handicap because of you.

How do the majority of US players view the APA as a whole? Does the complaining happen there too? Sandbagging? Dumping?

-dan

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I play in the CPA here in Canada. Its a decent league, its pretty big, we can play almost every night in a decent pool room with 15 9' tables.

I think the biggest problem here is people complaining/sandbagging. Here, having a 6 or a 7 next to your name doesnt mean anything because you will just dump on lesser players to try and get your handicap down and then you will complain about being beat and the very player that you dumped to will be raised in handicap because of you.

How do the majority of US players view the APA as a whole? Does the complaining happen there too? Sandbagging? Dumping?

-dan

Almost every league has this sort of gossip. Honestly, it's a good thing. If people are spending their free time talking about sandbagging and dumping, they obviously don't have serious problems to attend to.

I think, as is the case with most leagues, it's important to be surrounded by friends. The APA especially so since the nights can go so long. For me, I spend so much time at the poolroom (non APA territory) that going to a bar to hang out with a group of non-poolroom friends is nice.

It's rare that I really listen to what people have to complain about. I so much more enjoy joking around and/or really discussing 8-ball.

 

[jimmy-leggs]

Almost every league has this sort of gossip. Honestly, it's a good thing. If people are spending their free time talking about sandbagging and dumping, they obviously don't have serious problems to attend to.

I think, as is the case with most leagues, it's important to be surrounded by friends. The APA especially so since the nights can go so long. For me, I spend so much time at the poolroom (non APA territory) that going to a bar to hang out with a group of non-poolroom friends is nice.

It's rare that I really listen to what people have to complain about. I so much more enjoy joking around and/or really discussing 8-ball.

Jude,I have always wondered what are you are shooting at?(avatar).

 

[ajohnson13]

These are all problems that I have seen in the APA. I started playing APA strictly to improve my play under pressure.

My APA division has 6 teams and about 30 or so players. I am the only player rated higher than a 5 (I am a 6) and there are only 3 or 4 players that are a 5. So the division is pretty weak. Several people accused me of sandbagging when I was a 5, saying I was trying to go down to a 4, but I think it was more that i was subconciously "playing down" to the lesser skilled players level. I never miss on purpose, or use any other sandbagging technique. I usually won my matches, but most were close. In last session's playoffs, I matched up against a good friend who is a 5, and I whooped him 4-1. The start of this session I was a 6...go figure.

I now view my APA night as a chance to have fun with my teammates/opponents rather than to play competitively. Because of this I tend to have one or two more drinks than I would normally. Is it considered sandbagging if I don't try as hard, because I am trying to have fun (or because I am more buzzed)? I don't think so, but others may see it differently. I guess the kicker here is that once the playoffs come along, there is more pressure to win, and I focus harder, and play better.

Just my .02

 

[iba7467]

Any handicapping system that does not focus on an individual player's performance will have sandbagging. That's just how it is.

View it as a time to have fun as others have said. If you are in it for competition, play cheap sets with a better player. If you are in it for money, get everone in your APA division to switch to an in-house league and the payouts will triple.

 

[Bigdogbret]

I used to play APA but do not any longer. The league in my opinion rips off the players. They boast about paying out a million dollars in prize money, but they also claim to have over 250, 000 members. At $5 per week (in our area, I know of areas that charge $7-$8) that is $1,250,000 a week they are bringing in! My teams payed in a lot of money and got nothing in return. At our regional tournament the 1st place team won $3,250 to go to nationals, we got $100 for second place!

 

[D_Lewis]

I currently play as a SL5 could maybe be a 6 soon.

There is NO action at all where we play, none.

I was very new to the league and we have a really mouthy arrogant guy on our team that thought he could beat me, said he could beat me, claimed how good he was, we played ONE set and he'll never play me again. Even if I offer him 2 games to 5 he wont play. Im not really good either!

 

[Dawgie]

I enjoy league play nad have fun doing it. I don't worry about the sandbaggers b/c I'm there to play the best I can and I play for - #1 the sake of the team - #2 I play for me.

Is there an alterantive to these leagues? Not if you enjoy league play, which I do. No matter which league to play in someone or losts of some ones will have complaints about something. So just enjoy what you have and ignore all the *****ers and complainers. They rarely add anything to the game. They are like welfare queens, nothing is ever enough.

 

[D_Lewis]

I used to play APA but do not any longer. The league in my opinion rips off the players. They boast about paying out a million dollars in prize money, but they also claim to have over 250, 000 members. At $5 per week (in our area, I know of areas that charge $7-$8) that is $1,250,000 a week they are bringing in! My teams payed in a lot of money and got nothing in return. At our regional tournament the 1st place team won $3,250 to go to nationals, we got $100 for second place!

Currently I play on three teams, two of which are for double jeopardy (8 and 9 same night)

I pay $37 a week in league fees......... 52 weeks a year........... wow, I better make the most of my singles regionals coming up........

I prefer leagues that pay out after the season and playoffs myself. WAY better money, less complaining.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude,I have always wondered what are you are shooting at?(avatar).

I'm not posing. The pic is from a set I was playing with a friend so I can't remember. I do know that the action is sorta cut-off from the pic so you can't really tell.

 

[daphish1]

I play in an APA league and for the most part its just a night to get out and play pool with friends. I've met alot of great people who i'll play against when i'm at the pool hall on non-league nights.

There might be one or two teams that aren't playing their true speed. I don't hear too many people complaining of sandbagging.

 

[Dawgie]

I used to play APA but do not any longer. The league in my opinion rips off the players. They boast about paying out a million dollars in prize money, but they also claim to have over 250, 000 members. At $5 per week (in our area, I know of areas that charge $7-$8) that is $1,250,000 a week they are bringing in! My teams payed in a lot of money and got nothing in return. At our regional tournament the 1st place team won $3,250 to go to nationals, we got $100 for second place!

First off all members are not playing all year and some don't play every year. Although each team is allowed 8 players, only 5 play on league night and only five pay. What you haven't factored in is the APA doesn't get all of the money paid in. Some goes to the room owner, some to the franchise owner, some to the APA on-site rep. that is usually paid by the franchise owner.

The APA also has overhead, expenses, salaries, benefits, etc. that must be paid no matter how much money comes in or doesn't. They have mailing, magazine, advertising, promotions, website, and now Myspace. Then there are the local play-offs along with the city tournament and then Vegas. All of this takes money. If you aren't playing league pool b/c the APA and its franchisers are making money you are only hurting yourself. Would you be more willing to play if they DIDN'T make money? If they didn't make money there would be no APA!

It kills me when people think that the organization that supports their sport shouldn't make money. Then they cut off their nose to spite their face by denying themselves the pleasure of their chosen sport. These people aren't hurting anyone but themselves.

 

[bsmutz]

I started out playing regular APA. I liked it, but there were things about it that I didn't like. Specifically they were: the amount of time it took, some nights I didn't get to play, and having to play people who were nowhere near my speed and couldn't beat me even with the handicap. I've since switched to APA Masters and enjoy it a lot more. Most nights we're done in an hour and a half to two hours, I'm almost always playing someone who is at or above my level, and I get to play every time. The races are longer, too, which means more time playing and a lot less time sitting. The quality of play is higher, so I'm learning while I watch instead of being bored. All in all, it's a much better experience for me. It's a little more serious, but we still have fun.

 

[Bigdogbret]

First off all members are not playing all year and some don't play every year. Although each team is allowed 8 players, only 5 play on league night and only five pay. What you haven't factored in is the APA doesn't get all of the money paid in. Some goes to the room owner, some to the franchise owner, some to the APA on-site rep. that is usually paid by the franchise owner.

The APA also has overhead, expenses, salaries, benefits, etc. that must be paid no matter how much money comes in or doesn't. They have mailing, magazine, advertising, promotions, website, and now Myspace. Then there are the local play-offs along with the city tournament and then Vegas. All of this takes money. If you aren't playing league pool b/c the APA and its franchisers are making money you are only hurting yourself. Would you be more willing to play if they DIDN'T make money? If they didn't make money there would be no APA!

It kills me when people think that the organization that supports their sport shouldn't make money. Then they cut off their nose to spite their face by denying themselves the pleasure of their chosen sport. These people aren't hurting anyone but themselves.

I do play league pool. I play BCA which pays out to the top teams at the end of each session as well as at the regional levels. Also, any team that wants to can go and experience the atmosphere only found at a National tournament.

 

[Bigkahuna]

Apa

I think it is great! More people playing and interested in the sport is great. The people who whine,,, I just blow their attitude off and play because that is what I love to do.

 

[Jack Flanagan]

First off all members are not playing all year and some don't play every year. Although each team is allowed 8 players, only 5 play on league night and only five pay. What you haven't factored in is the APA doesn't get all of the money paid in. Some goes to the room owner, some to the franchise owner, some to the APA on-site rep. that is usually paid by the franchise owner.

I think we need a poll of APA members. I don't think the 'only 5 pay' is happening elsewhere. In our league (Mississippi), if you have 7 team members; all seven pay and only 5 play.

Is it possible that we're being ripped off. the thought has crossed my mind. let's here how it works in other states.

.....j

 

[James]

I think we need a poll of APA members. I don't think the 'only 5 pay' is happening elsewhere. In our league (Mississippi), if you have 7 team members; all seven pay and only 5 play.

Is it possible that we're being ripped off. the thought has crossed my mind. let's here how it works in other states.

.....j

In San Diego only the 5 players pay...

 

[ajohnson13]

I think we need a poll of APA members. I don't think the 'only 5 pay' is happening elsewhere. In our league (Mississippi), if you have 7 team members; all seven pay and only 5 play.

Is it possible that we're being ripped off. the thought has crossed my mind. let's here how it works in other states.

.....j

In Seattle only 5 players pay.

However in my in-house BCA league all players pay whether they play or not.

 

[Scott Lee]

It is more likely that you're mistaken. It states right in the rulebook that only the players who play each week pay the weekly fee. There is ZERO chance that the league operator would do this, as they would lose their franchise. IF, in reality, it is happening where you are, it is your team captain (or whoever is collecting your teams weekly fees) who is collecting too much, and pocketing the difference.

Scott Lee ~ former APA L.O.
www.poolknowledge.com

I think we need a poll of APA members. I don't think the 'only 5 pay' is happening elsewhere. In our league (Mississippi), if you have 7 team members; all seven pay and only 5 play.

Is it possible that we're being ripped off. the thought has crossed my mind. let's here how it works in other states.

.....j

 

[D_Lewis]

It is more likely that you're mistaken. It states right in the rulebook that only the players who play each week pay the weekly fee. There is ZERO chance that the league operator would do this, as they would lose their franchise. IF, in reality, it is happening where you are, it is your team captain (or whoever is collecting your teams weekly fees) who is collecting too much, and pocketing the difference.

Scott Lee ~ former APA L.O.
www.poolknowledge.com

MAYBE that is why they only pay $5 instead of 7 or 8???