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What nights and formats will West Michigan BCAPL be offering?

What options do you offer for Junior players?

We offer Sunday Junior Leagues in a team format 8-Ball and Lagger’s Option, ages range from 7 to 20.

The last few sessions we have had 4 Teams of 4 Players with subs. We almost have enough registered for the fall session to have 6 3-Player Teams.

Juniors may also participate in leagues on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights if accompanied by a parent and if the teams play at Sands West or Sands East.

West Michigan BCAPL Juniors may also participate in KREWE events or become members of The KREWE.

What is the Laggers Option Format?

Players will lag and the winner of the lag either selects the game format (9, or 10 ball) or chooses to break. If the winner of the lag chooses the break then the opponent chooses the format. If the winner of the lag chooses the format then the opponent get to break.

Singles Leagues

Each week you are scheduled to play one opponent in both 8-Ball and Lagger’s Option

Being a committed player is very important being that you have no substitute if you are unable to make it to your match. Make-up matches are allowed given that you notify your opponent in a timely manner. Matches may also be rescheduled ahead of time or even completed ahead of the schedule if you have some scheduling conflicts. Please resolve scheduling issues with the opposing player and notify a League Operator of the new match date and time.

At the end of the session payouts are determined by a Playoff Tournament scheduled for the Saturday following the last day of league play.

Singles Playoff Tournament (Eligibility Requirements)

• All matches must be completed by the Wednesday Night before the tournament.
• All league dues and membership dues must be up to date by the Wednesday Night before the tournament.
• If you forfeit or are unable to complete your matches by the Wednesday for the Playoff Tournament then you will be ineligible to compete.
• Finish in the top half of the league for combined points for 8-Ball and Lagger’s Option
• Finish as Top Shooter of either 8-Ball or Lagger’s Option (1st Place)
• Wildcard Entries are drawn for players that complete all of their scheduled matches by the Wednesday Night before the Playoffs. The number of wildcard entries is determined by the number of players (Typically 1 to 3 wildcard entries)
• Fargo ratings are subject for review half way through the session and before the playoff tournament begins

How do the Scotch Doubles Leagues Work?

Matches are scheduled for every other week on Sundays with some adjustments to avoid holiday weekends.

Being a committed team is very important as substitutes are not allowed if you are unable to make it to your match. Make-up matches are allowed given that you notify your opponent in a timely manner. Matches may also be rescheduled ahead of time or even completed ahead of the schedule if you have some scheduling conflicts. Please resolve scheduling issues with the opposing team and notify a League Operator of the new match date and time.

Team rating is determined by both players combined divided by 2 (The Average)

To calculate the race, you need to get your teams handicap, and the opposing teams handicap and compare them to the chart on the About FargoRate page here

The race will be the same for both the 8 Ball match and the 9 Ball match.

New players without established Fargo rating may be adjusted at any time throughout the session.

Team ratings will remain the same throughout the session unless the League Operator deems it necessary to adjust the overall rating of a team. As we begin our first session with Fargo, we will be monitoring player ratings more closely.

How many players are allowed on a roster for team nights?

One less than double the number of matches. i.e. If the night is a 3-Match Division then the team is allowed no more than 5 players.

Can players be added to roster at a later date?

Yes, Players can be added through week 5. Our League Operator may allow exceptions however in special circumstances. Playbacks are allowed.

Is there a skill level max for teams?

There is no max skill level per team or individual. However a fargo rating of 720 or above is considered a professional rating and is not eligible for the amatuer level divisions at the National Championships. Nevertheless the player ranked 720+ would be eligible to play in the Open events ie 8-Ball Challenge, 9-Ball Challenge, 10-Ball Challenge, US 8-Ball Open and US 10-Ball Open. The 720+ rated player would also be eligible to compete in the travel fund at the end of the year which awards travel expenses to the top finishers of each respective divisions.

What is cost for playing leagues?

$15 annual membership fee valid from June 1 through May 31

Nightly dues are $7 per player per match played for Teams

Nightly dues are $14 per player for Singles Leagues ($7 per match)

Nightly dues are $14 per player for Scotch Doubles ($7 per match)

Are there payouts at the end of the session?

Yes, Payouts are based on the number of teams, matches played, and number of weeks completed and forfeits. We will be increasing the amount paid to the Top Teams and Travel Fund that were previous paid out by West Michigan NAPA. However where the funds get applied are yet to be determined, please note however this will not be less than how we operated in the past.

Will there still be a Top Shooter, Top Male Shooter or Top Female Shooter?

Yes, We will still award Top Shooter for Singles and Top Male and Female Shooter for teams. Note that playbacks will not count towards overall top shooter points.

What is a Bylaw?

Why are there Bylaws?

Do these rules apply elsewhere?

Match Dues

• Each Team Captain is responsible for making sure that their players pay their weekly dues.
• Should a member of the team fail to pay their weekly dues, either in cash/check, or online within 7 days of the played match, the team captain is responsible for these fees.
• Failure to remit the full amount due within 14 days of the played match will result in forfeiture of points for the match that is not paid in full.
• Inability to field a full team does not excuse the team from remittance of all dues for that night/formats matches. If a team utilizes a playback, schedules a make-up, or forfeits a match, that team is still responsible for those match dues.

Sanctioning Fees

• Players are responsible for remitting their sanctioning fee on the same night that they play their first match in a calendar year.
• In the event a player fails to pay their annual dues, it is the responsibility of the Team Captain to correct this by either reminding the player to correct this, or to remit the payment themselves.
• Failure to remit the full amount due within 14 days of the first played match will result in forfeiture of points for any matches that have been played.
• Players will also be suspended from the league, and will only be able to return once their sanctioning fee has been paid.
• Forfeited points will not be returned, even after remittance of the sanctioning fee.

Fielding a Team

• Team Captains need to ensure that they have an adequate number of players to play all matches for the evening.
• In the event that the Team is unable to field enough players to play all matches, the Team Captain is responsible for coordinating with the Team Captain of the opposing team to identify the need for utilizing a playback, scheduling a make-up match or matches, or forfeiting a match or matches entirely.
• Failure to notify the opposing Team Captain BEFORE the night starts that you will need an accommodation will result in a forfeiture of any match that is unable to be played. (See Below for more information)

Playbacks

• Teams may utilize ONLY 1 PLAYBACK per format for each night.
• Teams may NOT utilize a playback in the last 2 weeks of a session.
• Teams who cannot field enough players in the last 2 weeks of a session will forfeit those matches.
• Choosing a player for a Playback
• When only 1 team needs to field a player for a playback, the opposing team captain will be permitted to choose the player that will play the playback match.
• In the event that both teams need to utilize a playback for the same night, each team may choose the player from their team that they wish to field for the playback match.
• When a playback is required in both formats in double play leagues, the same player may NOT play the playback in both formats. It MUST be a different player for each format.
• If the team starts the night with enough players, but cannot finish the night with enough, it is at the sole discretion of the opposing team captain whether they wish to allow a playback, schedule a make-up, or take a forfeit win for that match.

Make-Up Matches

• In the event that a team is unable to field enough players, and ONLY if the opposing team is agreeable, the teams may schedule a day/time to Make-Up those matches.
• In the interest of sportsmanship, teams are asked to be accommodating (within reason) to teams that are unable to field a full roster, but it is at their discretion whether or not they wish to do so.
• Make-up Matches MUST be completed no later than 14 days after the date the match was supposed to take place, and must take place no later than 2 weeks before the end of the session. This means no Make-Ups for the last 2 weeks, and if it is the 3rd week before the end of the session, you only have 6 days to complete your Make-Ups.
• The team that has enough players present MUST identify the players that will play the Make-Up matches by writing their names on the scoresheet, and MUST make payment for those matches with the nights envelope. Should the matches later turn into forfeits from the team that could not field players, this will complete the paperwork for that night.
• Any Make-Up match that is not completed by the 14 day mark, or is not completed prior to the 2 week blackout for the end of the session, will automatically become forfeits for the team that could not field the players.

Substitutes/Alternates

A substitute player is one that plays games/matches for a team, but is not part of their permanent roster.

An Alternate Player is one that is part of the permanent roster, but takes over mid-match for a different player. (Only applicable in Rotation Format)

• Players from Opposing Team – You may not use a player that is part of the core roster of the team you are scheduled to play against that evening.
• Players with no Fargo Rating – You may not use a player that just walks in off the street and has no established Fargo Rating as a sub. You may add them to your roster as full time players and get them established, but you must clear this with the league operator first.
• Players Who Are Not Sanctioned – You may not use a player that is not a sanctioned player, UNLESS they pay their sanctioning fee on the West Michigan BCAPL website PRIOR to their match.
• Suspended or Banned Players – You may not use a player that has been suspended or banned from the league.

• End of Session – Substitue players may not be utilized in the final 2 weeks of a session.

• Sandbagging – Intentionally losing a game or match, either to maintain a lower handicap, boost an opponent handicap, or gift points to an opponent.
• Manipulating/Omitting Match Data – Incorrectly recording wins/losses or recording a match against an incorrect opponent (IE: Player A played Bob Smith, but didn’t want Bob’s handicap to go down, so during the recording of the scores, identified that the match actually took place against John Doe).
• Delaying Data Entry – Purposely delaying the entry of match data to maintain a skill level or point level, most commonly used to keep a handicap lower.

• Forfeiture of points, ranging from the affected match – up to all points for a session.
• Suspension of the players membership to West Michigan BCA Pool League for a time period determined by the league operator.
• This suspension could be either temporary or permanent, and will be decided based on the severity of the offense.
• Suspension of the players membership to the national BCA Pool Leagues domestically, internationally, or both
• This suspension could be either temporary or permanent, and will be decided based on the severity of the offense.

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*Page Last Updated 08/27/2020

What is the FargoRate Rating System?

FargoRate uses a simple mathematical approach to accurately measure a pool player’s ability relative to everyone else in the world. Whether you are an elite professional or a beginner in a local league, you can be accurately and fairly rated based on your performance rather than the old outdated methods.

How do I lookup a players rating?

You will need to download the FargoRate app on your favorite iOS or Android device. Both phones and tablets will work. You can click on the links below to take you to the respective app store for your preferred device.

What is Robustness?

Robustness is a measure of the reliability of a player’s Fargo Rating. For now, it is simply the number of games a player has played that contribute to his or her rating. A robustness of 200 is a minimum standard for us to consider a rating “established.” In general, a rating is more reliable not only by being based on more games but also by more of those games being recent and by more of those games being against opponents with established ratings. Robustness will likely incorporate these latter two factors in the future, and that is why we don’t simply call it number of games. Players with a robustness under 200, i.e., those with an unestablished rating, have an official rating that is influenced by a starter rating.

What if I don’t have a Fargo Rating?

If you do not have a current FARGO rating, you will be assigned one by a League Operator. Unknown players (those who have never played in a league before) will be assigned a starter rating*. Men will be assigned a starter rating of 400, while women will be assigned a starter rating of 300.

For those players that are known, they will be assessed by the League Operator, either by obtaining information from other reputable players opinions, or will directly assess the new players performance by engaging them in play on one or more occasions and comparing their performance to other players in the league to determine a fair starter rating.

For those players who play in other leagues that do not use the FargoRate system, they will be compared to the chart below to determine a starter rating. Should a player be a member of multiple leagues (IE: APA and MIPPA), the higher of the handicaps will be used to determine the FargoRate starter rating unless there are extenuating circumstances such as having a rating in one, but not having played in that league for an extended period of time.

What if I disagree with my rating, or the rating of another player?

A formal form can be submitted and a handicap review will be completed. We will not and can not guarantee you will be satisfied with the result. We are limited in the input of player’s rankings especially if the player has a substantial robustness.

What matches are calculated in a players Fargo Rating?

Fargo ratings are based on the results of 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball games played on either 9-foot or 7-foot tables. Matches played in league as well as many tournaments go into a player’s Fargo rating.

How will races be calculated?

For Match-Play Teams, Scotch Doubles and Singles we will use a version of the chart depicted below. An online race calculator is coming very soon.

To calculate your race, take the skill level of the higher level player, and subtract the skill level of the lower level player. Take that number and locate the bracket below that the higher level player falls into, and find where that difference is noted. The higher level player will go to the number on the left, and the lower level player will go to the number on the right.

For Example: Player A has a handicap of 475 and Player B has a handicap of 325. The difference between the players is 150. In the bracket of 400-499, a difference of 150 makes the race 5 to 2. Player A will race to 5 games, while Player B will race to 2.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS RACE CHART IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

More Information:

For more information about FargoRate, please visit the FargoRate.com website. There is a large amount of information about the system, how it works, and how handicaps are calculated.

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