What is missing from leagues
- Thread starter rocky
- Start date
It makes me say wow that i pay twice as much to play 4 games (plus 2 maybe 3 doubles games) in league than i pay to get a table for the whole night and play as much as i want.
Ben
I think there is actually quite a bit missing from leagues depending the nature of your play. If you are looking for serious, competitive challenges where you can grow as a player, then leagues aren't always a great place for this. The primary reason being that the matches are too short and a player usually only plays one match a night. The emphasis with most leagues is TEAM play and not individual play, so the focus is not on improving one person's game, but in doing what is best for the team.
All of this being said, while many take league play quite seriously, the main idea is to compete while still trying to keep things light and fun. If this is what you are looking for from pool, then it very well could be just what the doctor ordered so to speak.
Hope I didn't offend anyone.
Yours,
Mia
AA Councilors? :killingme:
Too many leagues (including my BCA league), make you play 5 games a night, each game is a match. 8 ball is a brutal game when played this way. I would like to see at least a race to 3...Preferably a race to 5 or 7.
If that were the case, my record may be a lot better than it is...
If that were the case, my record may be a lot better than it is...
Etiquette
Etiquette!!!
Etiquette!!!
One of the house leagues near me does the race thing in 8 ball, you race to your skill level, with levels going up to 9. If there's a big difference in handicaps then the weaker players also gets a pick (they can take any 1 ball off the table one groups are established). Seems like a nice system.
Here is the single biggest thing I might want to change in my VNEA league: More clarity in the rules in terms of how many people per team, who can sub, do the subs HAVE to play or are they just fillers for when someone can't make it, how do they get handicapped, etc. To this day I dunno if I play on a 4 man or a 5 man team with alternates. Sometimes I hear vague rules about "such and such has to have more games before they can play in the states" or "such and such has to sit out at least one or two more matches". I guess this stuff is spelled out somewhere but it'd be nice if the LO explained them and the reasoning behind them.
Other than that ...I like my league. I pay 8 bucks and I play 4 matches. That might be double what you'd normally expect but you'll get some free practice and that makes up for it.
I am having trouble thinking of anything else I'd change in my league. Maybe more accurate record keeping... but who likes to fill out paperwork? Nobody. I don't like the low quality equipment I end up playing on sometimes, but it all evens out and it's nice to travel and play in a variety of venues.
Here is the single biggest thing I might want to change in my VNEA league: More clarity in the rules in terms of how many people per team, who can sub, do the subs HAVE to play or are they just fillers for when someone can't make it, how do they get handicapped, etc. To this day I dunno if I play on a 4 man or a 5 man team with alternates. Sometimes I hear vague rules about "such and such has to have more games before they can play in the states" or "such and such has to sit out at least one or two more matches". I guess this stuff is spelled out somewhere but it'd be nice if the LO explained them and the reasoning behind them.
Other than that ...I like my league. I pay 8 bucks and I play 4 matches. That might be double what you'd normally expect but you'll get some free practice and that makes up for it.
I am having trouble thinking of anything else I'd change in my league. Maybe more accurate record keeping... but who likes to fill out paperwork? Nobody. I don't like the low quality equipment I end up playing on sometimes, but it all evens out and it's nice to travel and play in a variety of venues.
Same story here... :frown:
Well first you got leage fees, then you got to have a boat load of quarters. I am jsut very biased. Why are the tables coinop's in the first place during league nights. I can understand using them as coinop's on the off nights but for league players to have to fork up so much extra cash to play it just dosen't sit well with me. I will stick to my big tables and my little game and enjoy myself knowing the only two coins I have to worry about is under the rail and the one I flip....
First of all you have to remove the vendors from the picture.They suck too much money from room owners and players and the leagues.
If the league has no handicaps then there is no reason to sandbag. Sandbagging is the single biggest problem I see.
If you are using handicaps then I think the players should match up by handicap. The top rated player on my team has to play the top rated player on your team. This would not completely eliminate sandbagging, but I think you could get a better idea of people's skill level.
Keep the prizes small. We are playing for the fun. If at the end of the season I win $100 and a gift certificate for table time I would be happy. Make the prize money large and you bring out the avarice in people.
If you are using handicaps then I think the players should match up by handicap. The top rated player on my team has to play the top rated player on your team. This would not completely eliminate sandbagging, but I think you could get a better idea of people's skill level.
Keep the prizes small. We are playing for the fun. If at the end of the season I win $100 and a gift certificate for table time I would be happy. Make the prize money large and you bring out the avarice in people.
What is a typical prize payout fund? do you have any idea how much of your money goes toward the prize fund?
Leagues
I quit playing leagues 4 years ago, and now just play tournaments and for money. When I played in the Advanced BCA league, it was 5 man teams and match play. That is, you played just 1 person on the other team 5 games. The advanced leagues have advanced players, and they are usually nicer to play with than the novice type leagues. Subs always present problems, and it sometimes depends on whether the team is going to go to Vegas or not.
For normal leagues, especially beginner leagues, I think the LO should have a meeting at the beginning of the session, go over rules, and what is expected from the team, including proper etiquette, and that players should not drink themselves drunk when playing.
I quit playing leagues 4 years ago, and now just play tournaments and for money. When I played in the Advanced BCA league, it was 5 man teams and match play. That is, you played just 1 person on the other team 5 games. The advanced leagues have advanced players, and they are usually nicer to play with than the novice type leagues. Subs always present problems, and it sometimes depends on whether the team is going to go to Vegas or not.
For normal leagues, especially beginner leagues, I think the LO should have a meeting at the beginning of the session, go over rules, and what is expected from the team, including proper etiquette, and that players should not drink themselves drunk when playing.
IMO the LO makes a huge difference.
Try figuring ways to give back to the players without it costly a fortune.
Maybe a free tournament for each level if handicapped. Small prizes (some might even be local businesses donating them).
It doesnt have to be big prizes just something. Everyone might not play a freeroll tourney but those that do would get alot out of it.
I hate the one game at a time format that one league I was in used. i understand why but its a drag. Others did not seem to mind.
If theres a national event make it like a combination of the BCA and APA.
Some teams qualify for the MAIN event others can register and come play a side event if they want. That way they get to Vegas. Many teams would be willing to foot their bill to come play.
Bottom line is that leagues are extremely tough to run in a manner to include everyone and to keep everyone happy.
Try figuring ways to give back to the players without it costly a fortune.
Maybe a free tournament for each level if handicapped. Small prizes (some might even be local businesses donating them).
It doesnt have to be big prizes just something. Everyone might not play a freeroll tourney but those that do would get alot out of it.
I hate the one game at a time format that one league I was in used. i understand why but its a drag. Others did not seem to mind.
If theres a national event make it like a combination of the BCA and APA.
Some teams qualify for the MAIN event others can register and come play a side event if they want. That way they get to Vegas. Many teams would be willing to foot their bill to come play.
Bottom line is that leagues are extremely tough to run in a manner to include everyone and to keep everyone happy.
Issues
I can only speak of me experience with APA as it was the only league I was ever involved with. The was a serious lack of integrity with the particular league operator. He would change rules in the middle of sessions, never disciplined teams for unsportsmanlike conduct, and was basically only concerned with his bottom line. There was horrendous behavior in all sorts of areas and he just let it continue. Yes there was blatant sandbagging and the 23 rule just killed any oppurtunity to keep a team together if they all improved. I found it sad and frustrating at the same time, some of my team members were really interested in learning so I helped them with coaching and telling them some ways to improve and ultimately we had to brake up the team because the numbers no longer worked. I became a 9 so I rarely played anymore which is when I realized is was time to leave, to bad really because there were many fun matches but overall it was time to move on.
Dan
I can only speak of me experience with APA as it was the only league I was ever involved with. The was a serious lack of integrity with the particular league operator. He would change rules in the middle of sessions, never disciplined teams for unsportsmanlike conduct, and was basically only concerned with his bottom line. There was horrendous behavior in all sorts of areas and he just let it continue. Yes there was blatant sandbagging and the 23 rule just killed any oppurtunity to keep a team together if they all improved. I found it sad and frustrating at the same time, some of my team members were really interested in learning so I helped them with coaching and telling them some ways to improve and ultimately we had to brake up the team because the numbers no longer worked. I became a 9 so I rarely played anymore which is when I realized is was time to leave, to bad really because there were many fun matches but overall it was time to move on.
Dan