I'm a member of the board of our state-wide league, the APPA (Arkansas Pool Player's Association). Arkansas is generally pretty rural and the league isn't that huge and the satellite locations are spread out. Here are the details of our league, just so you have a little background.
I need some suggestions to see where we stand in regards to other places around the country. I'd like to suggest at our next board meeting things that would try to align us with the rest of the country in regards to skill level. I know that's truly impossible, but it would be nice to get us realistically close.
1. Between 225-250 league members total.
2. We currently have 9 satellite locations spread throughout the state.
3. It's a singles league that uses BCA rules 99.95% of the time.
Our overall season is split in two. The first half is 8-ball that begins with our Kick-Off tournament in August, to regular season tourneys through the beginning of December. Most of December is spent having each individual division's 8-ball State Championship tournament.
After the holidays, we have a 9-ball Kick-off tournament at the beginning of January. Regular season tournaments run through the end of March or so. Then we have our respective division 9-ball State Championships in April. We end it all in late April/early May with one big final Memorial tournament, where plaques are handed out and the money added is the highest of the season. Then we all part ways for the summer.
I guess my big question is: how are most leagues, similar to this one around the country, rating their players? Here is what our rulebook states:
Rank Expected Ability of Player
10 Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 25% of the time.
9 Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 20% of the time.
8 Plays all phases of the game well with better than average ability. Run-out threat at all times. Breaks and runs-out 15% of the time.
7 Above average player consistently runs 5 to 7 balls. Breaks and runs-out 10% of the time.
6 Above average knowledge and ability consistently runs 4 to 6 balls. Ability to break and run-out occasionally (less than 10% of the time) plays 2 of 3 phases of the game well.
5 Average knowledge of the game consistent 2 to 5 ball run. Seldom breaks and runs-out.
4 Basic knowledge of the game. Consistent 1 to 3 ball run with occasional 4 ball run. Never breaks and runs-out. Knowledge of the game but lacks necessary skills to execute proficiently.
3 Beginner player with little or no knowledge of the game. 1 to 2 ball run with occasional 3. Never breaks and runs-out.
"Master's" division: 8-10
"A" division: 6-7
"B" division: 3-5
I have a few concerns. We have a handful of players that are 10's in our league. And they're great pool players. But, if they were to go a major tournament, such as the DCC/Tunica, etc., they'd (in most liklihood) get smashed. Maybe not if they got a good draw early, since people like me play in the event too (I'm currently a level 5, but going to a 7, for next season). But, it wouldn't take too long for the bug to hit the windshield.
For example, I've played Jeremy Sossei in 9B at the Southern Classic. I was obliterated. One of our league 10's played Shane Winters at the White Diamond Calcutta 9B event and was eviscerated. Players of their caliber would be like a 12-13 in our league.
So, should the very top spot in your league be reserved for the sport's elite or just THAT league's "elite"? I mean, sure Joe Blow is a 10 here in Arkansas, but what if someone eventually moves to the area that's head and shoulders above your current 10's/maxed out players? Like a Chip or Joey-type speed, where they could probably give the 7-out to your league's best? Your league ratings are already maxed out, so if they're a 10.....dominating and winning pretty much every tournament, obviously participation will dwindle, which is the death knell to a league.
But, say you expand the ratings and allow it to be a rating of 3-12. So, you keep your current 10's where they are and tell them that they would have to get better and hit damn near world-class speed before they move up. At this point, you do have some breathing/growing room for a player that may (or may not) ever move to your area that could throw the ratings into turmoil.
Yet, there's a problem with all of this. See, if a 10-speed player from your area goes to a different region of the country and plays in a tournament and shows their local card for ratings purposes and says, "Yeah, I'm a level 10.....out of 10." Well, people would assume they're at least strong shortstop speed or better, but then go on to get pummelled. Because your 10 is really only an 8 in Dallas or Houston or New York or wherever.
But, if you say that your league is based on a 3-12 scale, but it doesn't match up with some out-of-state league's way of doing things, then things could get confusing. Obviously you want everyone to be competitive and have close matches.
This was my first year on the league board and really nothing surprised me. There were gripes and a few complaints. Actually not as bad as I figured it would be. I always made sure people knew I was open to suggestions.
One of the big things that I see is that there are a handful of players that regularly cash/win tourneys, but if you watch their game......the skill level doesn't seem to correlate to their rating, but they know how to win. For me, that's big. Your results are your results. If you're a winner, even if you win ugly, you're still the winner. To a point. But, if you're a big fish in a little pond......well, that lack of "traditional skills for your level" gets exposed when you go out into the ocean.
We'd talked about breaking it a little farther down into 4 divisions, but I'm not sure that'll work, since it would make each division smaller than they already are.
Perhaps we could simply keep it as is, but institute a "High Speed Rule" that allows the board to deem someone an 11 or a 12 or whatever it will take to make it competitive, if the situation arises?
It's just that (going back to some players that seem to win a bit ugly despite their skill level), if they've asserted a certain level of success and maintained it........should they be moved up, even though they don't "appear" to be worthy of a higher rating, when you see their game with your eyes, instead of a tournament results sheet?
I hope some of this makes sense to someone out there. I know there are members of my league that will read this, so I'm sure they're interested in the responses as well.
And, fwiw, I'll be honest and say that I hate handicapping. I wish matches were straight up. But, in the "real world" of a league such as this, well, it wouldn't exist without handicapping. No one would show up except a handful of Masters and pool junkies who are gluttons for punishment, such as myself.
I'm not looking to punish anyone for success. Moving someone up should be considered a reward, even tho it might cause them to struggle for a while to adjust. If they truly love pool, then they'll make the adjustment.
I'm just concerned that our ratings may be a bit out of whack for the rest of the country, now that I've been to places such as White Diamonds, the Southern Classic and watching all these streaming events where you see players that aren't even in the top 20 U.S. players in the country.....and they could wipe out anyone in your league.
Btw, what is the run-out percentage in 9B for a typical shortstop/world class player?
I need some suggestions to see where we stand in regards to other places around the country. I'd like to suggest at our next board meeting things that would try to align us with the rest of the country in regards to skill level. I know that's truly impossible, but it would be nice to get us realistically close.
1. Between 225-250 league members total.
2. We currently have 9 satellite locations spread throughout the state.
3. It's a singles league that uses BCA rules 99.95% of the time.
Our overall season is split in two. The first half is 8-ball that begins with our Kick-Off tournament in August, to regular season tourneys through the beginning of December. Most of December is spent having each individual division's 8-ball State Championship tournament.
After the holidays, we have a 9-ball Kick-off tournament at the beginning of January. Regular season tournaments run through the end of March or so. Then we have our respective division 9-ball State Championships in April. We end it all in late April/early May with one big final Memorial tournament, where plaques are handed out and the money added is the highest of the season. Then we all part ways for the summer.
I guess my big question is: how are most leagues, similar to this one around the country, rating their players? Here is what our rulebook states:
Rank Expected Ability of Player
10 Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 25% of the time.
9 Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 20% of the time.
8 Plays all phases of the game well with better than average ability. Run-out threat at all times. Breaks and runs-out 15% of the time.
7 Above average player consistently runs 5 to 7 balls. Breaks and runs-out 10% of the time.
6 Above average knowledge and ability consistently runs 4 to 6 balls. Ability to break and run-out occasionally (less than 10% of the time) plays 2 of 3 phases of the game well.
5 Average knowledge of the game consistent 2 to 5 ball run. Seldom breaks and runs-out.
4 Basic knowledge of the game. Consistent 1 to 3 ball run with occasional 4 ball run. Never breaks and runs-out. Knowledge of the game but lacks necessary skills to execute proficiently.
3 Beginner player with little or no knowledge of the game. 1 to 2 ball run with occasional 3. Never breaks and runs-out.
"Master's" division: 8-10
"A" division: 6-7
"B" division: 3-5
I have a few concerns. We have a handful of players that are 10's in our league. And they're great pool players. But, if they were to go a major tournament, such as the DCC/Tunica, etc., they'd (in most liklihood) get smashed. Maybe not if they got a good draw early, since people like me play in the event too (I'm currently a level 5, but going to a 7, for next season). But, it wouldn't take too long for the bug to hit the windshield.
For example, I've played Jeremy Sossei in 9B at the Southern Classic. I was obliterated. One of our league 10's played Shane Winters at the White Diamond Calcutta 9B event and was eviscerated. Players of their caliber would be like a 12-13 in our league.
So, should the very top spot in your league be reserved for the sport's elite or just THAT league's "elite"? I mean, sure Joe Blow is a 10 here in Arkansas, but what if someone eventually moves to the area that's head and shoulders above your current 10's/maxed out players? Like a Chip or Joey-type speed, where they could probably give the 7-out to your league's best? Your league ratings are already maxed out, so if they're a 10.....dominating and winning pretty much every tournament, obviously participation will dwindle, which is the death knell to a league.
But, say you expand the ratings and allow it to be a rating of 3-12. So, you keep your current 10's where they are and tell them that they would have to get better and hit damn near world-class speed before they move up. At this point, you do have some breathing/growing room for a player that may (or may not) ever move to your area that could throw the ratings into turmoil.
Yet, there's a problem with all of this. See, if a 10-speed player from your area goes to a different region of the country and plays in a tournament and shows their local card for ratings purposes and says, "Yeah, I'm a level 10.....out of 10." Well, people would assume they're at least strong shortstop speed or better, but then go on to get pummelled. Because your 10 is really only an 8 in Dallas or Houston or New York or wherever.
But, if you say that your league is based on a 3-12 scale, but it doesn't match up with some out-of-state league's way of doing things, then things could get confusing. Obviously you want everyone to be competitive and have close matches.
This was my first year on the league board and really nothing surprised me. There were gripes and a few complaints. Actually not as bad as I figured it would be. I always made sure people knew I was open to suggestions.
One of the big things that I see is that there are a handful of players that regularly cash/win tourneys, but if you watch their game......the skill level doesn't seem to correlate to their rating, but they know how to win. For me, that's big. Your results are your results. If you're a winner, even if you win ugly, you're still the winner. To a point. But, if you're a big fish in a little pond......well, that lack of "traditional skills for your level" gets exposed when you go out into the ocean.
We'd talked about breaking it a little farther down into 4 divisions, but I'm not sure that'll work, since it would make each division smaller than they already are.
Perhaps we could simply keep it as is, but institute a "High Speed Rule" that allows the board to deem someone an 11 or a 12 or whatever it will take to make it competitive, if the situation arises?
It's just that (going back to some players that seem to win a bit ugly despite their skill level), if they've asserted a certain level of success and maintained it........should they be moved up, even though they don't "appear" to be worthy of a higher rating, when you see their game with your eyes, instead of a tournament results sheet?
I hope some of this makes sense to someone out there. I know there are members of my league that will read this, so I'm sure they're interested in the responses as well.
And, fwiw, I'll be honest and say that I hate handicapping. I wish matches were straight up. But, in the "real world" of a league such as this, well, it wouldn't exist without handicapping. No one would show up except a handful of Masters and pool junkies who are gluttons for punishment, such as myself.
I'm not looking to punish anyone for success. Moving someone up should be considered a reward, even tho it might cause them to struggle for a while to adjust. If they truly love pool, then they'll make the adjustment.
I'm just concerned that our ratings may be a bit out of whack for the rest of the country, now that I've been to places such as White Diamonds, the Southern Classic and watching all these streaming events where you see players that aren't even in the top 20 U.S. players in the country.....and they could wipe out anyone in your league.
Btw, what is the run-out percentage in 9B for a typical shortstop/world class player?
