Originally operated by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), the BCA Pool League is now operated by CueSports International. The BCA Pool League, an umbrella membership organization that supports pool leagues all over the world, is operated by CueSports International. The group has over 50,000 member and more than 500 leagues in 8 countries.
The oldest pool league sanctioning body in the world is the BCA Pool League. The organization was originally operated by the BCA. In 2004, CueSports International purchased it. The organization operates in Canada through more than 450 leagues and is well-known in other countries.
BCA Pool League rules are designed to accommodate team play. A maximum of eight players can be in a team. Each member of the team can only play one or two rounds. Players must be members. All players must sign an official Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement. The organization also has a Hall of Fame that honors great players.
To unify leagues around the globe, the BCA Pool League was created in 1978. It was established to give pool leagues economies of scale. The organization boasts more than 450 leagues and eight countries. It is now a formidable force in pool. The WPBA Tour is North America's most popular pool tournament. It has been a major sponsor.
BCA Pool League rules promote fair play and sportsmanship. The league was founded by Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart. They were both professional pool players. They founded the American Poolplayers Association in 1981. It has two international members, the World Pool-Billiard Association WPBA (World Pool-Billiard Association) and Japanese Poolplayers Association JPA (JPA).
The BCA Pool League has nine-ball or eight-ball matches on regulation 9-foot tables. Points are the basis of nine-ball matches. The player needs to score two or more points to win. To win the eight-ball, players need to be at least three levels of skill. Eight points will be awarded to the player with the highest number of games won. Matches must be played within 3 weeks of being postponed. If the player is unavailable for three weeks or more, the match is forfeited.
Players must register and pay dues to the BCA Pool League. Score sheets must clearly indicate all dues paid. If a player does not pay all dues, his or her scores will not be counted.
BCA Pool League rules contain "Applied Rules" from large-scale tournament admin. These rules include the "lag timing rule", which stipulates that the ball must not be fired until the opponent's ball touches the foot cushion.
The league director can make placement decisions. He or she is also responsible to ensure that the competitive levels of all divisions are comparable. The league director is also responsible for ensuring that all players are treated equally and that no team is favored over another.
The BCA Pool League rules also include an APA handicapping system known as the "Equalizer". This system is intended to give all players a chance to win.