The USA Pool League (USAPL) is a social amateur handicapped 8-Ball league designed to accommodate all players from beginner through top amateur level.
Free to Join – There is no annual membership until June 1, 2012
USAPL National Championship - In May 2012 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada the USAPL will host the Second Annual USAPL National 8-Ball Championships. Further information TBA.
Free Protected Territory – USAPL Managers will have a protected geographical territory provided by the USAPL at no charge. Each Manager will have a one year license agreement that gives them exclusive rights to operate the USAPL within that territory. This agreement will renew every June 1st, provided that all obligations are met.
"Fairplay" Handicap System – We are the only league outside of the M-8 League (Minneapolis), to have exclusive use of this handicap system that has been in use in Minnesota for about 20 years.
Player Ratings – Players ratings will range from 30 – 125. Each player will race to their rating number in a “1 on 1” match play format. Players of unknown ability will start the league by “racing to 50” for three weeks, and then will be given an official rating number by the Fairplay handicap system. The USAPL Manager will be able to assign temporary ratings for players of known ability. The same three week time frame will apply until they are an official rating number.
Game Scoring - Players will get 1 point for each ball pocketed in their group and 7 points for the 8-ball. Consequently, the winner of the game gets 14 points, and the loser gets 1 point for each ball pocketed. Once a player gets within 14 points of their rating number, they are “on the hill” because winning one more game win will put them over their rating and win the match for them. Also, if both players are on the hill, the winner of the last game is the winner of the match, regardless of which player goes over their rating further.
The M-8 League has approximately 2.4 million matches on file, with approximately 70% of the matches or sets, ending up in a “Hill-Hill” conclusion.
LeagueSys Online League Management System – This is a “real-time” state of the art pool league management system that all USAPL’s have access to 24/7. All USAPL players can view team standings, MVP point standings, schedules, rosters, every match score sheet from every match ever played, player histories and stats,….plus much more. LeagueSys is interfaced with the Fairplay handicap system and players ratings will be updated and changed as soon as that weeks score sheets are entered.
Flexible Team Formats - Teams may have 3, 4, or 5 player teams on the local level. The nationals will be 5 player teams. You may have 10 players on a 5 player team roster, 8 on a 4, and 6 on a 3.
Three Divisions – By offering three separate divisions, league managers can assure that players have the opportunity to compete in an environment that they are comfortable with. Open Division has a 300 team rating limit, Advanced is 400, and Master is 500 (Corresponding #’s for 3 and 4 player teams). Unlike some other pool leagues, the USAPL has incorporated a system that gives teams the flexibility to go over the team rating limit and still compete on a weekly or national basis, without having to forfeit matches or recruit new players during the season. There are penalty points involved to keep teams from “stacking” a team with highly skilled players with the hopes of player in a lower rated division and gaining an unfair advantage. In 2011, the USAPL National 8-Ball Championships will offer an Advanced 400 Division. In future years we will offer all 3 divisions at the national championships.
Prize Money - On the local level, the USAPL pays out a minimum 50 % of the player’s weekly dues. This will be monitored and
supervised by the USAPL national office, but ultimately the USAPL Manager will determine the manner in which these funds are
distributed, (prize $, trophies, team shirts or jackets, expenses and entry fees to the National Championships, end of season party, …) as long as the league players directly benefit from these monies.