What to expect in a BCA League

zman1974

zman1974

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I have been in plenty of bowling leagues going back to YABA in the 7th grade, but the pool league world is a complete unknown to me. There is a local BCA league, but dearth of online info about said league. I did read the rules on the BCA site and there appears to be a couple of handicap systems that leagues can use.

Question: In your experience, is a BCA league good for someone who is looking to move on from decent casual player to novice amateur? I do intend to contact the local league rep myself, but I thought it would be interesting to get members experiences and input.
 
zman1974 said:
I have been in plenty of bowling leagues going back to YABA in the 7th grade, but the pool league world is a complete unknown to me. There is a local BCA league, but dearth of online info about said league. I did read the rules on the BCA site and there appears to be a couple of handicap systems that leagues can use.

Question: In your experience, is a BCA league good for someone who is looking to move on from decent casual player to novice amateur? I do intend to contact the local league rep myself, but I thought it would be interesting to get members experiences and input.
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Just my $.02 here but if you want to get better you're better off playing tournaments. I've done the BCA thing and it seemed more like a social outing as opposed to really competitive pool. That being said, getting on a good team and going to Vegas for nationals is pretty cool.
 
zman1974 said:
I have been in plenty of bowling leagues going back to YABA in the 7th grade, but the pool league world is a complete unknown to me. There is a local BCA league, but dearth of online info about said league. I did read the rules on the BCA site and there appears to be a couple of handicap systems that leagues can use.
Question: In your experience, is a BCA league good for someone who is looking to move on from decent casual player to novice amateur? I do intend to contact the local league rep myself, but I thought it would be interesting to get members experiences and input.
Click to expand...
If you're single, the leagues are a great places to meet women....of all ages. Even the younger ones will go out and party with you.
(most aren't looking for a 'sugar daddy'...they're just tired of their boyfriends 'borrowing' money and sleeping at their place while they trudge off to work every day).
It's a lot of fun. Some of those guys shoot some good pool too.
 
zman1974 said:
I have been in plenty of bowling leagues going back to YABA in the 7th grade, but the pool league world is a complete unknown to me. There is a local BCA league, but dearth of online info about said league. I did read the rules on the BCA site and there appears to be a couple of handicap systems that leagues can use.

Question: In your experience, is a BCA league good for someone who is looking to move on from decent casual player to novice amateur? I do intend to contact the local league rep myself, but I thought it would be interesting to get members experiences and input.
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My BCA league is decently competitive. The handicap system is 5-13 that goes towards the overall handicap (this is 8-ball) and you get to play 4 matches a night if you have 5 people playing. It's a good mixture of socializing and serious play. We have about 11 teams and a new caveat this season was on top of the Vegas trip for the top team, we now have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd regular season cash prize that prevents dumping and non-competitiveness.
 
You need to find out more details from your BCA league operator. I feel fortunate that my favorite poolhall have the resources to offer 7 days of league (all BCA sanctioned), and 3-4 different formats (Team 8-ball, Team 9-ball, Individual 9, and 14.1) catering to different skill sets and interests. This allowed me to try out different game and handicap formats.

When I played Team 8-ball, I ended up as 7 on a scale from 2-10. 10 being a C. Going from Team 8-ball where I used to give up to 4 balls to a 3, I was barely competitive as D+ in Team 9-ball. Last couple of years I played solo, 14.1 or Individual 9-ball.

A BCA sanctioned league means that as a BCA member, you can participate the in BCA nationals in Las Vegas on your own dime if you don't win a trip.
 
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Low500 said:
If you're single, the leagues are a great places to meet women....of all ages. Even the younger ones will go out and party with you.
(most aren't looking for a 'sugar daddy'...they're just tired of their boyfriends 'borrowing' money and sleeping at their place while they trudge off to work every day).
It's a lot of fun. Some of those guys shoot some good pool too.
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I can't tell if this is a serious post, but I love everything about it.

Freddie <~~~ waiting for Black Balled's thoughts
 
Alas, I am happily married lol. I don't bowl anymore, and I am looking for a way to scratch the competitive itch while still having fun. It sounds like the BCA leagues are exactly what I am looking for. I found the organizers email, and will be contacting him.

Thanks for all the great feedback.
 
Bca league is soooo different from other leagues. 100 times less drama and sandbagging. You will love it.


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Luxury said:
Bca league is soooo different from other leagues. 100 times less drama and sandbagging. You will love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Do you really believe what you typed ? If so ignorance is bliss as they say :D
 
Cornerman said:
I can't tell if this is a serious post, but I love everything about it.
Freddie <~~~ waiting for Black Balled's thoughts
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It's a true post.
A few 'conditions' apply though. A guy won't get very far with the younger women if he's an overweight slob. A few pounds is no biggie, but being a pig won't get there.
This isn't a dating site, I know. (you'd be surprised at how many younger women want to run around with a man who isn't on drugs, isn't violent, and actually has a job.)
Just thought I'd throw that out as a fun benefit of pool league for older single guys.
The pool shooting is a lot of fun too. No hassles from gamblers trying to make a score.
 
I've played in BCA league for the last few years, and I've found it particularly good for a few things:

1) Being competitive. Even as one of the better players in the league, I have to play well if I want to win consistently and help my team. Putting yourself in a competitive situation is good practice for anyone. And you'd be surprised how hard it can be to bring your game up when the person you are playing against has no clue what they are doing.

2) Being social. The BCA league members are a different set of people than the ones who come for our weekly tournaments, so I get to play with a bunch of folks I wouldn't otherwise. This exposure is good both from a social/friend-making context as well as a good way to experience playing with lots of other people.

3) Having fun. If you approach it with the right mindset - namely that this is a team event and supposed to be enjoyable - you can have a really good time. This isn't the U.S. Open, you aren't gambling, the cost is fixed, and playing on a team is a different experience. Loosen up, have a couple beers (or sodas), and have fun!
 
Do you guys find many individuals that do not have a team and/or friends that simply want to join up? Or is it more of a group of friends/let's make a team and/or group at work/let's make a team? I don't know a living soul that wants to do this with me so I am relying on a league atmosphere that welcomes lone wolfs.
 
In my view league is for 2 things, competition and having fun. The league I'm in is very competitive, yet, we still have fun. Yes, there are some weaker teams, but the deal with that is you are giving them so many balls, you can't relax and end up losing a game, or you might lose the round. There are also other teams that if you miss, you lose. I enjoy it quite a lot, have a lot of fun, and enjoy the competition. It will also give you an idea of what your speed is (if you aren't sure) once you have played some of the better teams/players.
 
zman1974 said:
I have been in plenty of bowling leagues going back to YABA in the 7th grade, but the pool league world is a complete unknown to me. There is a local BCA league, but dearth of online info about said league. I did read the rules on the BCA site and there appears to be a couple of handicap systems that leagues can use.

Question: In your experience, is a BCA league good for someone who is looking to move on from decent casual player to novice amateur? I do intend to contact the local league rep myself, but I thought it would be interesting to get members experiences and input.
Click to expand...

The simple answer to your question is yes, A league using BCAPL guidelines will give you more competition on average than APA or TAP. Generally you will play a variety of skill level players each week rather than a single opponent selected specifically to challenge you at your skill level. Remember the guiding principle. HAVE FUN! What a novel idea! The down side is, unlike APA or TAP, you will have to be there at the beginning of the team match and under normal circumstances, stay till the end. DO IT!

Lyn
 
There's know better way to answer your question than to jump into the pool and see if you enjoy it. No different that test driving small cars when your looking to buy. Impossible to tell from on-line info. Just do it, and while in the pool your able to ask and find out questions about other leagues. What's good for you is not necessarily good for another.
 
Not sure if you have Facebook but I see lots of players posting they are looking for a team or teams looking for players.

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I have been Captaining teams for over 12 years...and BCA is a good league to play in, the way different areas/league Ops run their individual leagues can vary but overall the competition is tougher than in APA or TAP, less "baggin" to control #s... And BCA is by far the best league to play in if you desire to go to a high level local or a national event either as a single or team... When you get there you will find phenomenal competition and for the most part good mannered people, ( of course there is always a few bad eggs when you are amongst a few thousand players), .... I strongly suggest you give it a shot and have fun.
 
lorider said:
Do you really believe what you typed ? If so ignorance is bliss as they say :D
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I played in leagues for years where players could sandbag by missing a lot and even lose some games but they would still win the race. In Bca the only way to sandbag is to lose the game and almost every game you lose hurts the team.

I think the drama from other leagues comes from the fact that the players are much much weaker outside of the BCA and they're ignorant to the way the pool is supposed to be played with class.

Also when you're playing a race to three or more there's going to be a lot more drama when it goes hill hill over some foul or rule where is in the BCA no one really gets too upset if they lose one game to a guy and you only play one game against each player in the weekly league format.


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ShakesSea said:
This is true of my experience. APA had regular booze fueled (verbal) fights when I played it and some, but not rampant, sandbagging. In my BCA division neither is an issue.

You do encounter sandbagging once you get to the regional tournaments but I blame there being no real handicapping system at the divisional level, at least in my division.
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I play on 5 apa teams. 4 handicapped divisions and masters. On 4 of the teams no one drinks. One team has one player that drinks a few beers during the night and I have no problem with it. The one that has a few beers just happens to have the bed record on the team. I believe his record is 12-3 so far this session.

There is a team that has mostly drinkers on it. Some of them order beers by the bucket. none of them have ever had an issue with anyone ...as far as I know. At least none did during the time I played on that team. They are all pretty much laid back fellas. Odd thing is ....that team seems to go to Vegas more often than any other team

In my opinion the term sandbagger gets thrown around way too much. Maybe I have that opinion because I have lost track of how many times I have been called a sandbagger lol.
 
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