why don't YOU play in a league

[SpiderWebComm]

Overall...

I think pool leagues are a good thing. They get more novices involved, more revenue for league rooms, etc.

Personally, I don't like "team pool." I don't like high-fives, screams of encouragement, handicaps, etc. I'm not a fan of leagues that play by non-BCA rules. Why would an organization not play by published rules?

I recall I subbed for a friend in his pool league. I was on the 8 and my opponent snookered me behind one of his balls. With my playing cue, I jacked-up and jumped the 8 in. "FOUL!" the guy screamed and said it was a loss of game... all the while everyone on that team was high-fiving each other. I asked what I did wrong and they said jumps weren't allowed. "But, it was a legal jump," I pleaded. Nevertheless, it was a loss.

Rolling my eyes, I vowed to never play in an 8-ball league again. What made it worse was that guy's entire team had the 7... and the high-fives made me sick.

I won't play on another team unless it's the Mosconi Cup.

 

[ez2h8]

I have played in leagues and can find them enjoyable but to answer the question at hand about why I am very picky about playing in them now.

1. Time. Can be a challenge with work and also don't like having to stay out past 11PM when I am done shooting at say 8 or 9PM, just to show respect to the rest of the team. Doesn't make the following morning/day at work much fun.
2. Money. You pay your session fee, weekly fee and quarters for each game. By the time you get something to eat, couple of drinks and if you are nice, 1 or 2 for the team, gas money if you have to drive far and you spent $30-$40 or so dollars all for just playing 3-7 games of pool. Over a session, that adds up and you think about what you could have done with all that money verses what you got out of it and makes you realllllly think.

The first league I played in, the home bar would always buy pizza or some appetizers for both teams out of respect. They would also sometimes give a discount on drinks during league play. Both of which were nice gestures I thought and really helped make going to play more enjoyable. Even if you hated the bar or lost, you would stick around afterwards, because everyone was friendly.

ez

 

[shinobi]

I recall I subbed for a friend in his pool league. I was on the 8 and my opponent snookered me behind one of his balls. With my playing cue, I jacked-up and jumped the 8 in. "FOUL!" the guy screamed and said it was a loss of game... all the while everyone on that team was high-fiving each other. I asked what I did wrong and they said jumps weren't allowed. "But, it was a legal jump," I pleaded. Nevertheless, it was a loss.

Rolling my eyes, I vowed to never play in an 8-ball league again. What made it worse was that guy's entire team had the 7... and the high-fives made me sick.

Agreed, what's with the high fives? "Haha! The guy made an incredible shot but we win on a technicality! We rule!"

If that happened to me, I'd feel genuinely bad for the guy who made such a nice shot and just happened to be ignorant of the league rules. If he was a sub like you, I might even set up the shot again and let him off with a warning.

Of course, if he was a league regular who should have known better, and a friend of mine, then I'd have to let him take the loss, and laugh in his face. Schadenfreude. Heh.

 

[ez2h8]

Agreed, what's with the high fives? "Haha! The guy made an incredible shot but we win on a technicality! We rule!"

If that happened to me, I'd feel genuinely bad for the guy who made such a nice shot and just happened to be ignorant of the league rules. If he was a sub like you, I might even set up the shot again and let him off with a warning.

Of course, if he was a league regular who should have known better, and a friend of mine, then I'd have to let him take the loss, and laugh in his face. Schadenfreude. Heh.

I would think that the captain would see he was about to jump and warm him jumps are illegal. Even if he had to use a time out. Also, if the other team knew he was a sub, I think some common courtesy and mention jumps are illegal would have been nice. Had both things happen to me. CC is rare these days.

ez

 

[jgpool]

I loved league play

I loved playing on a team in a "SCRATCH" (no pun) league. There was no handicap sytem! I liked the team format because it taught me to play for something other than my own pride. My teamates were counting on me like I was on them. It also was a way of putting pressure on my game without gambling. I'm not a gambler. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind stealing(if you know what I mean and I know most of you do.) But to answer the original question, I don't play because it runs too late I have to be at work at 5AM and I like Coors way T much to be driving home at night. If there was an afternoon weekend league I would be there!

 

[Purdman]

That's Mr. BallBanger to your, sir!

And you got it wrong; It's where guys like me show up with a Samsara and can't run three balls consecutively get beat down by corner bar local drunk dead ender go nowheres who can barely hold their Cuetech or their liquor.

I'm awaiting your apology as you stand corrected, and incorrect on many fronts.

Dam it, who told you about me. The thing I really hate about leagues is that when the ball bangers don't show up, I gotta pay! That burns my Samsara, Scruggs, Bluds, Joss's and the rest of my collection up.
I did say I was just kidding ya but I apologize if you were offended. I actually thought your post was kinda offensive but didn't wish to call you on it.
Peace, Purdman
Fug Em if they can't take a joke!

 

[jimmy-leggs]

Every time one of these *****-about-leagues threads comes up, I realize a little more how lucky I was that the APA division I happened to join is so different from most. Good equipment, nice people, friendly environment, reasonable gender and age balance, not the most talented players in the world but quite a few of us are really dedicated to improving our game, VERY little sandbagging (really only one or two players in the whole division), not too crowded most of the time, free practice tables all night (on an average Thursday night, I play one hour-long match give or take, but at least 4 hours of pool total), and most people seem to be enjoying themselves.

There's still the drawback of the handicap system itself, the rules could use improving (I'd be happier with BCA 8-ball rules rather than APA), it'd be nice if the overall level of play were higher, and success is dependent on the lesser players on my team. But I wouldn't try to trade in any of those downsides by switching to a different league, because everything I ever hear about those leagues is negative! And I don't want to trade it in for action, because I don't have a lot of money to lose (with minimal exceptions the only players around here who play for money have the nuts playing me, and I don't like getting weight). I suppose I could become a tournament player, but I'd miss out on playing pool with my friends in my league.

-Andrew

Very well said.The reason i play pool in leagues is to sociallize with my buddys and to win trips to vegas for pool.If i did'nt play league I probably would'nt play too much pool.As for sandbagging,maybe join a B.C.A. league,there does'nt seem to be AS much of that there(around here anyway).I'm NO pro player and never want to be.
I play league for the following reasons........night out with the boys,have a few drinks,laughs,socialize,try and win a trip to vegas(if we don't we still go on our own dime)after vegas the cues go in the closet and the golf clubs come out til september and we start all over.
Pool is strictly a sociall thing for me and if it was'nt for league i'd probably be playing more poker and give up pool.

 

[I'mdoingit]

When you win you still have to pay/