League - first night in years.

trustyrusty

trustyrusty

I'm better with a wedge!
Silver Member
I'll preface last night with previous experience....

I played APA 8ball in fall of 06 (first time ever playing in a league). Had a good team and made it to the team championships in Vegas in the summer of 07. Stopped playing league after that.

I've had a few folks ask me to play in league again, and finally decided to try again this fall. Two of my teammates are from the team that went to Vegas. The twist is NO MORE APA.

This league is a semi-local thing (Peoria/Pekin), still 8ball, and has MUCH stiffer competition in it. No being APAed (slop) since it is call pocket. The only other thing that is different is LOSER breaks. Looks like it'll be about half and half as far as tables (Diamond and Valleys) if I remember correctly what's in the places we'll be playing.

Last night I was required to play as a 4 (must win 4 games to win match), and had to play another 4. To give you an idea....4's in this league range in player ability compared to APA ratings; I'd hazard a guess at a good SL5-SL6 is a 4, below that is a 3. SL7s in 8ball would likely be a 5 or 6 in this league, while 7s and 8s are pretty darn strong (stronger than most APA players altogether). Back to me - I won 4-1, and hope this new league will not only give me an excuse to play more, but will get the competitive juices flowing again, outside the local weekly tourneys I play on ocassion.

Anyone else have a league that's not APA, BCA, VNEA, ACS, etc. related that somehow attracted very strong players from your area?? I found it a bit strange, but can't wait to play with/against some of these guys/gals. :grin:
 
We have what is called a Metro League here in Detroit area. The format is as follows 1 Womens singles, 2 Mens singles, 1 Mens doubles and 1 Mixed Doubles. Each match consists of 3 games. From October to June it is 8ball. During the summer it is 9ball which consists of 5 games. It is a handicapped league. But the LO gives the team a handicap rating instead of individual ratings. Usually 10-12 teams in the group I play in (B league which would be equivalent SL5 thru SL7). It is played on barboxes. The race at the end of the seeison is pretty tight but everybody still b!tches about handicaps. But I have never been told to throw a match in this league
 
Good that you are playing again and enjoying it.

If every league was like this one that you are now enjoying, a local league where you play only amongst the same few or many players, there would be far fewer problems with -- and really no need for -- sandbagging and other problems that plague the APA and other handicapped national and international leagues. Even if there are a lot of players in your city league, you come to know them and their strengths and weaknesses, and their relative level of skill. Since it's a handicapped league, there will be some people who try to beat the system, but on a local basis, it can usually be identified and stopped.

On the other hand, the national leagues offer some things the local leagues can't. The leagues like APA and TAP are designed to bring new people in to play pool. Because it's a handicapped league, those new players and also those with lower skill levels feel they have a chance to win something. Also, players get the chance to meet and play new people from across the world. That's good. The bad that comes with it is that the handicaps of your team's players is based on your peer group of players and the handicaps of those unknown people from remote places are based on their peer group of players, and that group may be very different from yours. It's a problem waiting to happen, and I don't think any system can offer an even playing field when you have a national league based on local handicapping.

I imagine most every city of any size will have at least one local league. Some people prefer them, and others don't. Some people play in multiple leagues and enjoy each of them for what they are.
 
there's also VNEA, BCA, ACS affiliated leagues in my area, but I wasn't sure which to try, so I decided to try this one (called Shooters). I'm sure I'll come across players that play in other leagues, so I can find out the pros and cons of each, and maybe try one of the others as well. The APA left a bad taste in my mouth a little (not really due to the 'bagging, but the 23 cap that broke up teams/friends just to make MORE teams). Like I said, so far so good, and maybe it'll get me out (and playing) a bit more....so that's good.
 
We have a 8ball league around here called the Brunswick League which was named after the county it's mainly played in. It was started by alot of high SL players from APA who disliked it and left to form their own league. About 80% of the players are 6/7sl's from APA. It is a money league, no made in China patches or trophies, just $$$. It is opened to all, there is even a former WPBA player on the league that isn't allowed on APA. Handicaps go up to 10 and it's format is based off of Valley, I believe. Five players, not four, call pocket only, ball in hand fouls and everyone plays everyone 1 game. No matching a 7 against a 2.:mad: There is a $$$ award for every category, #1 team(biggest $), highest player %, most perfect (50)games/nights, most B&R"s, most 8ob's and most improved player. I'm an 8 and last year split $300 with the WBPA player(Christy Norris a 10) for most perfect nights:grin: I really like this league because everyone has to bring their best game and usually does. We are hopefully going to get BCA here soon and I can't wait to try that. Sorry for the book.:grin: Ron
 
It sounds like others have done non-associated leagues and have worked....cool. There is no reason to lay down in this league either, and I think that's what I'll end up liking the most. Once I figure out some of the other subtle differences from other leagues I'll post, but so far I like the sound of how this one is run. Thanks for the replies.
 
trustyrusty said:
there's also VNEA, BCA, ACS affiliated leagues in my area, but I wasn't sure which to try, so I decided to try this one (called Shooters). I'm sure I'll come across players that play in other leagues, so I can find out the pros and cons of each, and maybe try one of the others as well. The APA left a bad taste in my mouth a little (not really due to the 'bagging, but the 23 cap that broke up teams/friends just to make MORE teams). Like I said, so far so good, and maybe it'll get me out (and playing) a bit more....so that's good.
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Isn't there an ACS league out of Pekin (Boardwalk)? They ususally have a few teams at State Championships in Bradley, IL. Historically they have played very well.
 
custmqs said:
Isn't there an ACS league out of Pekin (Boardwalk)? They ususally have a few teams at State Championships in Bradley, IL. Historically they have played very well.
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yep, Pekin and Peoria. Buddy of mine's team did pretty well this year (his name is Rich Barto). Bobby won the singles this year...not sure who's team he plays on, but he plays in the league too. That may be a league I hafta try just for that tourney - been to spectate, never to play....
 
From what I could tell most of the guys on strong teams don't play singles... there are limits on the number of Masters you can have on a team and the way you get on the Master list is to do well in the singles tournament. ;)
 
Hey....

custmqs said:
Isn't there an ACS league out of Pekin (Boardwalk)? They ususally have a few teams at State Championships in Bradley, IL. Historically they have played very well.
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Where u from? I used to play for one of Duke's teams in the 90's out of the Boardwalk...Play mostly at Dave's pool hall just for giggles these dayz...Fellow Illini!! AJ :grin:
 
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