League players

mvp

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
this question is coming from another thread about the possibility of letting a handicapped player win for his or her pleasure. If I new how to make a poll I would..

League is for???

A)League is for staying in stroke with no regard to match outcome?

B)win at all cost,cut throat competition with vegas title in mind?

C) something to do on a Thursday night with buddies (social drinker,fun)

D)a place to play against better players, pick up on pointers and climb the league standings?

E) the nessary evil needed to participate in state,national and other various tourneys as a single (which most cases you sub to get matches earned to qualify)
 
For me it was once all of those things...

...now it is none of them.

I quit leagues 6 years ago.
 
F) It's for some players that have a life, career, kids, commitments, etc, that cannot stay up until all hours of the night playing marathon sets, and can't take a weekend away from their families or other activities, and still enjoy playing and competing at a decent level.

I love pool. But I cannot eat, sleep and breathe it. League allows me one to two nights where I can get out and compete, yet still have balance in my life.
 
I look forward to league two nights a week. Monday night 8 ball and Thursday night 9 ball. It's an in house league, not APA or TAP. We play BCA rules. No teams. Mano y Mano plyed on 9 foot GC's. Twelve week sessions capped by a session ending cash tournament.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons are set aside for any action I want unless there is a tournament going on.
 
It's a spot to play competitive pool, do your best to crush your opponent, and have fun at the same time with team mates and friends. For me it is a mixed bag.

Of course there are those that feel it is life and death, I'm just not one of them.
 
Leagues

Played in leagues a lot at first I now run two weekly tourneys. Leagues helped me get better really quickly I had the luxury of having a monster player on my 2nd team and was a quick study. A lot of people enjoy the night out others want and crave the competition. I believe neither is wrong, I have acted badly lost my temper and cursed at myself, I have also seen others act badly. Can't judge someone on a bad day, tho I'm guilty of it. I'm a 7/9 in apa and once coached a 5 I was playing against who needed help as they had no high level players to coach, she ended up winning which my team didn't like but neither team was in a position to make the playoffs. You can learn from all just be open minded still trying to work at that. Funniest thing the monster lost his temper and broke his shaft over his head, the area was really quiet til a friend asked " wanna gamble some" awkward pause then a lot of laughter!!! Play well endure and have fun!
 
Can't really play golf with freezing temps and snow on the ground.

Payback league, so you better play your best - points and rounds won = $$$$$

Some tournament play requires sanction and min of nights / games played.
 
I simply have no idea what I would do without my league nights.
Its something I look forward to every week. Wife, adult kids, friends; everyone is involved. Once played 3 leagues a week but now two is plenty.

I play to win, losing isn't the end of the world but beating myself hurts.
I even like to handicap practice against lower level players so both play to win.
That said, I spend a lot of time in the coaching role on my teams and have lost countless practice games coaching team mates into a win...always a competitive team from it though.
We win more than we lose, Vegas a few times for APA and many times for BCA, and it's always a good time.
Can't remember a day when someone wasn't hitting a few balls, installing a tip, cleaning a shaft, etc..

Yeah, we do league... tournaments when time permits.
 
I would have to say it is a little of all the reasons you posted plus a process of elimination of other pool environments.

Since I quit drinking several years ago I dont care to play in bars anymore.

I have no.interest in going to a pool hall and just practice drill after drill by myself.

I have no interest in going to a pool hall and gambling.

I do enjoy playing in non handicapped tournaments from time to time but they are few and far between in my area . Even if there were some held more often around here I would not play very many. I have no interest in paying 30.00 - 40.00 for the privilege of being some body's rack boy.

I do realize that not having much of an interest in all of the above will relegate to me being just a step above a banger the rest of my life but I can live with it .

So what outlet is left for me to enjoy playing pool but leagues. Leagues are not perfect but then again we dont live in a perfect world do we.

I have gotten to where I feel burnt out sometimes with the team environment. Perhaps its due to being captain of 3 teams.

I really enjoy masters and wish it was more than once a month in our area.

I can't wait till the new singles division starts up in our area . Which I heard will be soon.
 
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F) It's for some players that have a life, career, kids, commitments, etc, that cannot stay up until all hours of the night playing marathon sets, and can't take a weekend away from their families or other activities, and still enjoy playing and competing at a decent level.

I love pool. But I cannot eat, sleep and breathe it. League allows me one to two nights where I can get out and compete, yet still have balance in my life.

Exactly the same for me.
 
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