Players pay a $10 league membership fee to each local league the player joins during the year.

Unfortunately, the old policy of paying only once cannot be effectively administered. In spite of the good intentions of the majority of League Operators, membership information is all too often delayed or incomplete, which prevents the national office from being able to verify that the player signing up for one league is the same player that already joined in another league.

In the past, a player might renew membership in one league in January (for example) and then decide to join a team in a nearby league during February or March. The League Operator in the 2nd league may be unable to verify the membership, especially if the first League Operator had not yet sent the membership to the national office. In reality, if the first Operator delays sending the membership fee, then the player is not yet a sanctioned league member, even though he may have paid for his membership weeks ago. This constant verification problem consumes hours of research.

We hope and believe that LeagueSys (the BCAPL league management software) will provide an effective tool for verifying player membership status on a timely basis at some future point – as LeagueSys becomes more universal. In the meantime, the BCAPL will find a way to reward our most active players for their multiple membership fees.

______________________________

Open teams are allowed one (1) Master or Grand Master player per team in the BCA National 8-Ball Championships.

______________________________

Women’s Teams no longer need (3) original players.

Women’s teams are allowed and encouraged to form a team from anywhere in their league and are no longer required to have three (3) original players from a qualified team to play in the BCA National 8-Ball Championships.

______________________________

Protection of Night Policy:

• BCA Pool League (BCAPL) does not grant geographical protections as we are not a franchise system.  However, we do protect a night of play within the locations that an existing League Operator serves, and the area these locations serve.  This means if an existing operator has a Monday night league, a competing operator cannot offer league play on the same night in the same market.  The new operator MUST offer play on a different night, provided the existing League Operator is properly serving the market.

• In some particular situations, league play may be on the same night if they are a different style of play in a different portion of the market.  Each situation would be looked at individually and the existing operator would be consulted and be part of the decision making process.

• Many factors will be taken into consideration.  Some of the more obvious would be size of the town, competing similar leagues (e.g. scratch vs handicap, 8-ball vs 9-ball etc.).  Length of being an operator is important as well as the personal history between the League Operators.  All will be considered.

• Keep in mind the purpose is to grow the BCA Pool League system.  Adding new operators without adding new players is not necessarily good for the league system.  We need to protect existing League Operators, just as the new operators would wish to be protected in the future.

• Separate “in house” league play is usually exempt from these protection of night restrictions.

• A League Operator is expected to observe the spirit of this rule.  Giving current BCAPL players and locations a league option on another night can be beneficial, but competing for the same players and locations on the same night is not allowed.

This policy is strictly a guideline and will be applied according to an overall evaluation of the facts in each market.  

Important:  Before entering a new market, it is the responsibility of each League Operator to first find out which nights and locations are already active in the BCA Pool League.  The "Find a League" feature on playbca.com is a valuable starting point -- http://www.playbca.com/Default.aspx?tabid=101  Then, consult with the existing League Operator (or BCAPL headquarters) to answer any questions that may arise.

How is this policy applied?

The purpose of the policy is to keep market competition fair and equitable for the players and locations.  Totally free and open competition could result in putting the players, teams and locations squarely in the middle of countless battles between League Operators.  We need some mechanism to protect the divisions that a League Operator has established from a frontal assault by another League Operator, and the Protection of Night Policy serves that purpose.

The single most important factor in our ability to enforce the policy is how quickly the League Operator acts when a competitor first begins to contact locations and teams.  If a division is against our policy, then we want somebody to call us before it gets established so that we can enforce the policy.  But we have to hear from an established League Operator right away.  Once a division gets established, it is very difficult to tell the locations and players that they can’t continue.

Any grievance should be documented.  It can be submitted in writing up front, or we can discuss the specifics over the phone.  Both have value.  Writing keeps the focus on the facts, and a discussion allows for additional information to be requested by us.

During the resolution process, we apply our guidelines to an overall evaluation of the facts in any given situation.  Therefore, we need to ask a League Operator to be specific regarding their questions about the application of the policy.  We always need to consult with the other party, and we occasionally have to communicate with locations or teams to confirm the facts.

So, what can the BCAPL actually do to help a League Operator compete? 

We cannot ...

... tell a League Operator what to charge a location, a team, or a player

... protect a geographical “territory” for you.  Your best protection is your ability to attract and keep players and locations.

... tell a location owner that they can’t start their own in house league.  In house leagues have normally been exempt from the protection of night restrictions.  If we tell a location owner that they cannot install a new League Operator, they will probably continue but they won’t be BCAPL.  That would make it doubly difficult for you (or us) to get the players to rejoin your league.

We can ...

... say no to a League Operator who thinks they can walk into your location on your league night and directly solicit your teams to play in a different league (especially on the same night) next session.  That would be unacceptable.  Keep in mind, however, that our ability to stop such a rogue League Operator is directly proportional to the time it takes the established League Operator to get us involved.  We would need to nip that in the bud. 

Once a division gets established, it is very difficult to tell the locations and players that they can’t continue.

... influence any League Operator who appears to be skirting the spirit of the protection policy.  However, we would need the FULL cooperation of the established League Operators in the area to be effective, and there is only so much we could do from here.  You are there, and we are here ... you are in command of the facts we need in order to enforce our policy, and we can’t do it without a lot of help from you.  Also, we must carefully differentiate between what is “competition” and what is “undermining” or policy violations.

______________________________

Dual Sanctioning Policy:

• Any league sanctioned with another recognized national league system may sanction with the BCAPL (dual sanctioning) as long as its intention is not to undermine the BCAPL national league system. The applicant for dual sanctioning may be required to offer a separate BCAPL sanctioned league or division. Leagues with existing dual sanctioning may continue sanctioning annually with no restrictions on a consecutive year basis only.

• The BCA Pool League will continue to reserve the right to accept dual sanctioning from any league it feels is sanctioning with the BCAPL for the express purpose of offering its players extra benefits, and not for the purpose of undermining an existing BCA Pool League within its area of administration.

What this means is that the league can truly “dual sanction” with the BCAPL.  This policy helps insure that all League Operators are treated equally.

The BCAPL’s position is to make available to all league players the opportunity to benefit from being affiliated with the BCAPL whether purchasing from BCAPL member store or participating in the largest pool tournament in the world every May in Las Vegas, NV. and regional tournaments throughout the country.

Join the BCA Pool League experience!

______________________________