CueSports International has taken over the operation of the Billiard Congress of America's Pool League. The BCA Pool League is an umbrella membership organization for pool leagues worldwide. The group has over 50,000 member and more than 500 leagues in 8 countries.
The BCA Pool League was founded in 1897 and is the oldest sanctioning pool league organization in the entire world. The BCA originally managed the organization. CueSports International purchased the company in 2004. The organization is active in Canada and has over 450 leagues in eight different countries.
BCA Pool League rules have been designed to facilitate team play. Each team may have up to eight players. Each player can play one to two rounds per round. Players must be members. All players must also sign an official Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement. A Hall of Fame is also available to honor great players.
To unify leagues around the globe, the BCA Pool League was created in 1978. It was intended to provide pool leagues with economies of scale. It has grown to become a significant force in pool. It is also a major sponsor of WPBA Tour, the top pool tournament in North America.
BCA Pool League rules promote fair play and sportsmanship. The league was founded by Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart. They were pool professionals. They established the American Poolplayers Association (APA) in 1981. It also has two international affiliates: the World Pool-Billiard Association, (WPBA), and the Japanese Poolplayers Association, (JPA).
The BCA Pool League has nine-ball or eight-ball matches on regulation 9-foot tables. The nine-ball matches are scored on points. To win, each player must score two points or more. To win the eight-ball, players need to be at least three levels of skill. The player who wins eight games per round is the winner. Matches must be played within 3 weeks of being postponed. If the opponent is unable or unwilling to play in the scheduled time, they will lose the match.
Players must register with the BCA Pool League and pay BCA member dues. All dues paid must be clearly indicated on score sheets. Non-payment of all dues by a player will result in his or her score not being counted.
BCA Pool League rules also include "Applied Rulings" from large-scale tournament administration. These rules include the lag timing rule, which states that the ball must be shot after the opponent's ball contacts the foot cushion.
The league director can make placement decisions. He or she also has to ensure that competitive levels are similar between divisions. The league director has the responsibility of ensuring that all participants are treated equally and that no player is favored over another.
BCA Pool League rules also contain an APA handicapping method known as the "Equalizer". This system was created to give every player a fair chance at winning.