It was the mid-1980s, Bellingham, Washington. I was playing pool the way most people do back then, casually, in bars, for fun. Then someone asked me to join their team. Just like that, I started to play league pool.
I knew there was a pool league, I just didn’t know anyone who was playing in one until I was asked to join their team.
Things Have Changed Since Then
When I was younger, I played pool every day at the local bar. Each bar seemed to have a set of ‘unspoken bar rules’, yet for the most part, they were the same. The challenger added their name to the names on the chalkboard and waited their turn to play.
The winner held the table until the challenger won the game. Sometimes, the winner would change the game, usually 8 ball, but they would play call shot instead of slop. For the most part, a cue ball scratch resulted in shooting in ‘the kitchen’, behind the head string. Pretty standard play rules, bar rules would be specific to the bar itself, and any conditions placed due to the pool table’s location in the bar.
moved away, and didn’t play much pool anymore. The next time I played, again I was asked if I wanted to play on a league team. That was from 1997 to 1999 in West Hollywood, California.
However, it wasn’t until 2021 that I got back into league play seriously, this time through the APA, the American Poolplayers Association. A few years after that I joined the BCA league play as well.
How Do You Find a Team?
If you’re new to organized pool or returning after a long break, the APA and BCA are the two most established league systems in the country.
The APA has been around since 1979 and uses a handicap system that levels the playing field for all skill levels. You can find a league near you through their locator at poolplayers.com.
The BCA Pool League, run by CueSports International, rates its players via the FargoRate, a system that tracks the players’ wins and losses. Their rating system provides a handicap level so you play in tournaments against those in your range.
The Old Ways Still Work
Walk into any pool hall or bar with tables and look around. Flyers on the bulletin board, trophy awards hanging on the walls, you get the idea. If you see those things, ask the bartender or the person racking balls who runs the league, or ask where you can sign up to play.
Word of Mouth Is Underrated
Not long ago, a family member of mine decided to join a league team where they live. We played pool growing up, and they just wanted to try something new. She knew I was in APA, so she found a local APA team, and is now playing within a week.
That’s how it still works in a lot of places. Tell people you’re interested. Post in a local Facebook group. Check Reddit for your city plus the word ‘billiards’ or ‘pool league.’ You’d be surprised how active those communities are.
What to Expect When You Join
Most leagues play one night per week, against rotating opponents. In APA, you can play either 8 ball, nine ball or a combination of 8/9 in one night. Each match pits 5 players of the home team against the 5 players of opposing team. Depending on game, and skill levels, matches can last 3-9 games until a winner is declared, games depending on the format.
Handicap systems mean your skill level is rated and adjusted so you’re always playing someone at a comparable level. As a new player, your lower skill level helps your team even if you’re still learning.
Some leagues feed directly into regional and national tournaments. The APA World Pool Championship and BCA nationals draw thousands of players every year. You don’t have to be a pro to qualify, you just have to play in the local league.
Just Get in the Room
The hardest part isn’t finding the league. It’s walking through the door the first time.
Pool attracts all kinds of people, retired folks, working adults, serious competitors, and people who just want a reason to get out of the house once a week. Most of them remember what it was like to be new.
To find an APA league near you, go to poolplayers.com/locator
To find a BCA league near you, go to playcsipool.com