About the APA             

The APA is the world’s largest amateur pool league with more than 250,000 members competing in 8-Ball and 9-Ball Leagues throughout North America. Click here for more information about the history of the APA.
 
Talk to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers. You'll find that they either play in the APA or know someone who does. It'll surprise you! Clerks, secretaries, janitors, lawyers, chiropractors, doctors, waitresses, truck drivers, bank tellers, and even school teachers ... all play pool in the APA Pool League. Over one fourth of APA members are female.
The APA is the World's Largest Amateur Pool League with more members than all other amateur leagues combined. Nationally, the APA currently boasts over 250,000 members (and growing). Think you're not good enough to play in the APA? Consider this: 75% of APA members are beginner to intermediate players, meaning you don't have to be a Pool Pro to play. And with the APA's Equalizer® Handicap System everyone has a nearly equal chance of winning.
 

APA Pool Leagues

More than 250,000 APA members compete in sanctioned APA Pool Leagues throughout North America. The APA Pool League was previously known as (and sometimes referred to as) the Camel, Bud Light, Busch or American Pool League. At the local level, APA teams compete weekly in 8-Ball or 9-Ball with a division consisting of 6 to 16 teams. There are three sessions of APA League Play-Spring, Summer and Fall. Teams competing in APA weekly League play can advance to their Local Team Championships and then to Las Vegas for the APA National Team Championships in August. All APA league and national championship play is conducted utilizing the Equalizer handicap system.

*APA members who are currently playing on an active 8-Ball or 9-Ball team, and have attained at least ten League match scores during the past two years in their respective format(s), are eligible to participate in the National Singles Program with the opportunity to advance to the Regional Level and the opportunity to compete in the National Singles Championships also held in Las Vegas in April.

History Of The APA

The American Poolplayers Association was founded in 1979 by professional poolplayers Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart. The two men realized the popularity of the sport and knew that, unlike other sports, there was no existing recreational league system. Back then the league was called the National Pool League. The name was changed to American Poolplayers Association (APA) in 1981. Over the years, the APA Pool League has gone by many names, including The American Pool League, Busch Pool League, and Bud Light Pool League. Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart maintain positions on the APA's Board of Directors, and strive to create continued interest and growth in the sport of pool.                                            
 
Renee Poehlman has held the position of APA President since April of 1995. As President, she has total responsibility for overseeing the daily operations and future growth of the League. She was appointed to her position by former APA President Terry Bell, when he stepped down to assume a position on the Board Of Directors.

 

The APA Nationally

Today the APA has grown to over 250,000 members. The league boasts more members than all other "national" leagues combined. APA Pool Leagues are administered locally by a network of Franchise Operators. These League Operators conduct weekly leagues in both 8-Ball and 9-Ball team formats. The APA currently has franchise opportunities available in other states for those who wish to be their own boss, and promote the sport of pool. APA leagues play across the United States and in Canada. Teams compete weekly in 8-Ball and 9-Ball leagues with all teams having the opportunity to advance to the APA's National Team Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the national level, the APA guarantees more than $1 Million in national tournament prize money. This consists of the APA National Team Championship, the $200,000 APA 8-Ball Classic, the $100,000 APA 9-Ball Shootout, and finally the MiniMania Tournaments, that paid out over $200,000 during the 2005 National Team Championships. The APA also conducts the U.S. Amateur Championship, the world's most prestigious amateur tournament. It is the only tournament conducted by the APA that is open to members and non-members alike.
 

APA Membership Information

While some membership cards require you to be able to jump the cue ball, bank it off three rails and sink the 8-Ball blindfolded, getting an APA Membership Card is much easier.

Simply fill out the Membership Application below and forward it to your local APA League Operator at greaterwichita@apaleagues.com

Having fun, meeting new people and playing pool is what the APA is all about.. You don't have to be a pool shark, because in the APA -- everyone can play and anyone can win. The APA caters to beginners and novices, because it is the AMATEUR Poolplayers Association. No other organization in pool gives ordinary players a chance to win a share of nearly $1.5 MILLION guaranteed cash and prizes paid out through its national tournaments. 

How does the APA do it? It uses The Equalizer® handicap system to determine the amount of games a player has to win in order to capture the match. It allows a novice to win less games than a more-skilled opponent to win a match.

Click here to download an APA Membership Application (134k, pdf.) Must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view

Why join the APA?

  • $1 Million in guaranteed prize money for national events.
  • You can choose your game and your division!  Team 8-Ball (Open Division or Ladies only) and Team 9-Ball; singles formats are available.
  • The Equalizer® handicap system allows players of all abilities to compete on an equal level.
  • Men and women welcome at all levels of competition.
  • APA membership makes a weekly fun night out for friends, families and coworkers.
  • APA membership costs just $25 (plus sales tax if applicable).
  • Save big with APA national discounts.
  • You will receive The American Poolplayer, published three times yearly, the most widely read publication in the  pocket billiards industry.
  • Receive a discount off the entry fee in the U.S. Amateur Championship.

After you join, you will receive the following membership materials: Official APA patch, 8-Ball and 9-Ball rules, APA sticker, an APA membership card and much more.

Membership in the American Poolplayers Association entitles you to:

  • Receive official membership materials.
  • Qualify for APA League play wherever an organized APA League is active.
  • Play in any APA sanctioned League or League Tournament for which you qualify, including the Team and Singles Championships.
  • Receive trophies and other awards for which you qualify.
  • Receive the official APA League publication, The American Poolplayer, published three times yearly, with League news, articles on the sport, tips from the pros and more.
  • Receive national and local participating merchant discounts.
  • Participate in other special events for APA members