DFWNAPA - League Comparisons

League Comparisons

OVERVIEW

NAPA leagues are specifically designed to provide fair matches for all levels of players. Its advanced skill level system, combined with electronic, simplified score keeping make the league enjoyable to play. Every league has its own handicap system, some more convoluted than others.

Most every league gives out trophies, few give out cash prizes, and even fewer certificate awards. NAPA's payout structure is transparent, and the payouts are larger than the other leagues and generally deeper (more places). Rather than having league operators run qualifiers and regional events; NAPA itself operations a regional tour - bringing higher dollar tournaments close to the player.

At the end of the session, and it is close as to which team(s) will be "in the money" or win - you will always want to know the statistics of the teams. NAPA provides near real time statistics, standings, and player information - you will always know where you and your team stands.

Some leagues have you qualify to play in larger events - with NAPA, simply play in the league (10 matches or more) to qualify to play in the larger tour stop tournaments and national championships.

Every league has sandbagging problems - generally these programs are centered around the score keeper or captain. Marking additional innings, defensive shots, leaving more balls on the table when you lose, etc. No league can completely eliminate these types of problems - but NAPA comes close because it does not keep track of all of these additional things - pure and simple wins and losses determine your skill level and hence your handicap when playing other players.

LEAGUE FEATURE MATRIX

	NAPA	APA	BCA	TAP
Annual Dues (per person)	NONE	$25	$25	$25
Call 8-ball	YES	YES	YES	YES
No-Slop 8-Ball	YES	NO	YES
9-Ball point system	NO	YES	NO	NO
Playoffs	NO	YES	NO	YES
Payout Transparency	YES	NO	NO	NO
Cash Payouts and end of season	YES	NO	YES	NO
Player/Sponsor Trophies, Player MVPs	YES	Depends	Depends	Depends
League Operator adjusts handicap	NO	YES	NO	NO
Range of Handicap	0-150	2-7 or 1-9		2-7
Races based on Handicap	YES	YES	NO	YES
Hill-to-Hill Matches (50% or better target)	68%	unknown	unknown	unknown
Results and Scoring known next day	YES	NO	NO	NO
Complete Player History available?	YES	NO	NO	NO
Player Statistics Web Page	Individual	YES, from 1993	NONE	NONE
Certificates for achievement	YES	Patches	NONE	NONE
Player Local Ranking	YES	YES/Top Gun	Yes/By Div	NO
Player National Ranking	YES	NO	NO	NO
Local Large Tour Stops	YES	NO	NO	NO
National Championships	Distributed	Vegas	Vegas	Varries
Customized Leagues	YES	NO	DEPENDS	NO
1-2-3-4-5 person teams	YES	NO (2/3/5)	NO (3/5)	NO (3/5)
Scotch Doubles available	YES	YES	NO	NO
Scotch Triples available	YES	NO	NO	NO
Electronic Payment for Fees	YES	DEPENDS	DEPENDS	DEPENDS
Varied formats (8,9,10)	YES	8/9	YES	NO

HIGHLIGHTED RULE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEAGUES

Breaking

APA - make a solid or stripe then that is your group. If you make one of each, open table. If you make the 8 (or 9) on the break you win. (EDIT: if you scratch on the break in 8 ball, the opponent shoots from behind the line. 9 ball is ball in hand.)
BCA - open table after the break. If you make the 8 on the break then it gets spotted or you re-rack. Recent rule change for 9 ball: if you make the 9 ball on the break in the back 2 pockets then it is NOT an instant win and you either spot the 9 or re-rack. (EDIT: if you scratch on the break in 8 or 9 ball, the opponent gets ball in hand.)

Shooting

APA - put a ball in a pocket. The only one you have to call/mark is the 8-ball.
BCA - you have to call a ball and a pocket on every shot. Most players do not call obvious shots, but banks/kicks/combos/caroms should always be called.

Defenses

APA - you can call a defense, but if the ball goes in then you have to keep shooting.
BCA - call a safe shot and sink a ball, the other player shoots.

Push out or roll out (9 ball)

BCA & APA Masters - if you break in 9-ball and don't have a good shot on the lowest ball, you can call "push" or "roll out" and shoot another ball. It is then the other players option to take the shot presented or force you to shoot the lowest ball again.

Shooting the 8 ball

APA - if you are shooting the 8 ball and scratch (cue ball goes in a pocket or off the table), you lose. If you foul in the process of making the 8 ball then you lose. This even applies to the break; if you get the 8 on the break AND scratch then it's an instant loss
BCA - if you are shooting the 8 ball and scratch then it's ball in hand. If you MAKE the 8 ball and scratch then it's a loss.

Match Play

APA - you have to win the number of games dictated by your skill level. If two 3s play, then the first to 2 games wins. If it's a 3 and a 5 playing, then the 3 has to win 2 and the 5 has to win 4. In 9 ball there is a points race based on your skill level. The points are 14/19/25/31/38/46/55/65/75 for skill level 1-9.
BCA - Each player (5) on a BCA team plays 2 games against each player on the other team, so each player has 10 games per night for a total of 50 games. Your team wins 20 games, you get 20 points. There is no skill level or handicap system.

Jumping (new)

APA (normal) - you can jump but you cannot use a shortened jump cue. If you have a 3-piece jump/break cue, you cannot break down the cue to make it shorter. You must do a proper jump (30-45 degree down angle) and no scooping. This tends to discourage jumping since it's a pain to jump with a full length cue, but it can be done.
APA Masters - you can use a shortened jump cue or break down a jump/break cue.
BCA - you can use a shortened jump cue or break down a jump/break cue.