Exerpt from the APA Game Rules Booklet:
32. NO PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ALLOWED - This league is intended for amateurs, and the APA reserves the right to reject or cancel the memberships of those individuals whom the APA deems to be professionals. The APA has a variety of criteria for determining professional or amateur status. They include a touring (tournament) membership in any men’s or women’s professional billiards organization, winning tour points from any of those organizations, being a nationally known money player (a judgment call), or otherwise being recognized as a billiards professional, billiards celebrity or entertainer (noted performers of exhibitions, retired professionals, etc.). The APA reserves the right to rule on the amateur/professional status of any member, and we may consider all, some, or none of the above criteria. Just remember, if you enter a professional event, perform exhibitions, or otherwise behave as a professional, you risk your amateur standing in our association. Locally, the League Operator and/or the Board of Governors has the option of disallowing participation by an individual who has consistently demonstrated professional characteristics. An individual who is a known money player and is perceived by the League Operator/Board of Governors to make a substantial portion of his living playing pool, rather than having other employment, could fall into this category. An individual who gives exhibitions or lessons for money may fall into this category. A highly skilled individual who is employed as a manager/ assistant manager of a billiard room may be categorized as a house pro and could be ineligible for amateur play. The APA does not wish League Operators/Boards of Governors to disallow participation based strictly on ability. There are many skilled amateurs and they are welcome to play in the League.
"What is an amateur player"? vs. "What makes someone a pro player?" Here's the A-D scale from Capelle's "Play Your Best Pool" (p.386):
D: A beginner or someone who plays so infrequently that their game remains in the beginner category.
C-: A below average player - this denotes a player with some recognizable skills who has definitely risen from the ranks of beginners. This is the first major milestone.
C: An average player - describes a large section of pool enthusiasts with experience whose games perhaps have leveled off, or that only play occasionally.
C+: Above average player - this group plays a very acceptable game of pool. They tend to dominate their level of competition.
B-: This is perhaps the biggest hurdle, as a good number of players peak at the C+ level. A B- is a good player who is quite capable of running a rack of Eight Ball or Nine Ball. However, they usually lack consistency.
B: A solid, advanced player - these players can run out fairly regularly, but lack a little consistency.
B+: Players at this level are often mistaken for lower level A players when they are playing well because they play a very tough, well-rounded game. They can run out from nearly anywhere at anytime.
A-: Another big jump is required to break through to the "A" level. This group of players could be classified as semi-pros or top amateurs. They are very skilled in nearly all facets of the game. They run out easily and very often.
A: A professional quality player who can compete with and occasionally beat all but the best players. Very skilled, solid, and consistent. Runs multiple racks quite often. Tough to beat.
A+: Touring Pro - the best. Skilled in every area of the game. Breaks and runs out multiple racks regularly. Definitely in a class by themselves.
The simple interpretation of the A-D rating system of players:
A: a good player capable of running most racks or playing lock-up safeties.
B: a decent player capable of running racks and playing effective safeties periodically.
C: an average player who doesn’t run racks very often and doesn’t have much of a safety game.
D: a novice player who makes many mistakes, can’t run even an easy rack, and never even considers playing safe.
This being said, Brian Parks qualifying & playing [repeatedly] in pro events of course makes him now a pro. He is disqualified from participating in any further amateur tournaments. Not just the US Amateur but ALL amateur tournaments. Level the playing field, amateurs should play amateurs, pro should play pros. UNLESS it is an Open tournament, open to all players, amateur & professional.
All other sports & tournaments do this. There is no argument here.
32. NO PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ALLOWED - This league is intended for amateurs, and the APA reserves the right to reject or cancel the memberships of those individuals whom the APA deems to be professionals. The APA has a variety of criteria for determining professional or amateur status. They include a touring (tournament) membership in any men’s or women’s professional billiards organization, winning tour points from any of those organizations, being a nationally known money player (a judgment call), or otherwise being recognized as a billiards professional, billiards celebrity or entertainer (noted performers of exhibitions, retired professionals, etc.). The APA reserves the right to rule on the amateur/professional status of any member, and we may consider all, some, or none of the above criteria. Just remember, if you enter a professional event, perform exhibitions, or otherwise behave as a professional, you risk your amateur standing in our association. Locally, the League Operator and/or the Board of Governors has the option of disallowing participation by an individual who has consistently demonstrated professional characteristics. An individual who is a known money player and is perceived by the League Operator/Board of Governors to make a substantial portion of his living playing pool, rather than having other employment, could fall into this category. An individual who gives exhibitions or lessons for money may fall into this category. A highly skilled individual who is employed as a manager/ assistant manager of a billiard room may be categorized as a house pro and could be ineligible for amateur play. The APA does not wish League Operators/Boards of Governors to disallow participation based strictly on ability. There are many skilled amateurs and they are welcome to play in the League.
"What is an amateur player"? vs. "What makes someone a pro player?" Here's the A-D scale from Capelle's "Play Your Best Pool" (p.386):
D: A beginner or someone who plays so infrequently that their game remains in the beginner category.
C-: A below average player - this denotes a player with some recognizable skills who has definitely risen from the ranks of beginners. This is the first major milestone.
C: An average player - describes a large section of pool enthusiasts with experience whose games perhaps have leveled off, or that only play occasionally.
C+: Above average player - this group plays a very acceptable game of pool. They tend to dominate their level of competition.
B-: This is perhaps the biggest hurdle, as a good number of players peak at the C+ level. A B- is a good player who is quite capable of running a rack of Eight Ball or Nine Ball. However, they usually lack consistency.
B: A solid, advanced player - these players can run out fairly regularly, but lack a little consistency.
B+: Players at this level are often mistaken for lower level A players when they are playing well because they play a very tough, well-rounded game. They can run out from nearly anywhere at anytime.
A-: Another big jump is required to break through to the "A" level. This group of players could be classified as semi-pros or top amateurs. They are very skilled in nearly all facets of the game. They run out easily and very often.
A: A professional quality player who can compete with and occasionally beat all but the best players. Very skilled, solid, and consistent. Runs multiple racks quite often. Tough to beat.
A+: Touring Pro - the best. Skilled in every area of the game. Breaks and runs out multiple racks regularly. Definitely in a class by themselves.
The simple interpretation of the A-D rating system of players:
A: a good player capable of running most racks or playing lock-up safeties.
B: a decent player capable of running racks and playing effective safeties periodically.
C: an average player who doesn’t run racks very often and doesn’t have much of a safety game.
D: a novice player who makes many mistakes, can’t run even an easy rack, and never even considers playing safe.
This being said, Brian Parks qualifying & playing [repeatedly] in pro events of course makes him now a pro. He is disqualified from participating in any further amateur tournaments. Not just the US Amateur but ALL amateur tournaments. Level the playing field, amateurs should play amateurs, pro should play pros. UNLESS it is an Open tournament, open to all players, amateur & professional.
All other sports & tournaments do this. There is no argument here.
