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This Summary will take a chronological approach from first
creating the Pool League through to the conclusion of its first Session.
Additional, more detailed information is provided elsewhere in the League
Operator Manual.
The most common game played is 8 Ball which will be used in all
examples. For those interested in 9 Ball Team play, contact the CCS National
Office for assistance.
Anyone can be a League Operator and sanction their League
with the CCS. All Pool Leagues are encouraged to sanction with the CCS so that
their Players and Teams are eligible to compete in Singles and Team 8 Ball
Championships held annually across Canada (BC, Westerns, Ontario, Atlantic and
Nationals). They can even go to Las Vegas and compete in the US Nationals. Not
only is it great fun, but pool is one of the rare sports that Amateurs get to
play for huge Prize Funds. No Pros allowed in any CCS Championship.
Leagues that do sanction with the CCS are not required to follow
these guidelines. While the principles and tasks involved in running a
successful League don't change, everyone's situation is unique and in the end
you do what works. The CCS doesn't interfere, we're only there to help and to
promote the sport.
WHO WOULD WANT TO FORM A LEAGUE?
The most common are:
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A group of Players who've gotten together and want to do their thing, their
way.
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A Billiard Club owner who wants to increase his Business while providing a
value added service to his regulars and new patrons.
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A Pool Table Vending company who wants to increase his Business by providing a
value added service to his locations.
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An Individual who wants to create a Business by providing league services to
the players.
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WHERE DO I START?
Non-profit or not, you're trying to create a Product. Many decisions need to be
made and there'll be some trial and error along the way. Remember that, above
all, the playing of Pool is considered ENTERTAINMENT by the Players. If they're
not having fun, they won't stay. They want a situation that's friendly,
provides fair competition and whatever is supposed to happen, actually does.
Your first step should be talking to as many Players as possible to find out
what will interest them enough to get them and others to join. When a pattern
emerges, call a Formation Meeting of key Players and finalize what it is that's
being offered. The Product and who's offering it must be credible. Then you're
into Advertising and Recruitment
You don't have to be huge. The CCS accepts the sanctioning of Pool Leagues that
have a minimum of 4 Teams comprised of a minimum 20 Players who play a minimum
8 week Schedule. Although 8 Ball is the most common and all the
Championships are 8 Ball, any game of Billiards is okay; providing it is
organized on a Team basis. The average size of a CCS Pool League is between 12
to 16 Teams. There is such a thing as Singles Leagues. Contact the CCS National
Office for more information.
Here's what you'll need to finalize your Team based League:
1. Where
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Pool Leagues are one of two types – 'In House' or 'Traveling'.
'In House' means that all League Play is in one Location. 'Traveling' means
that all League Play' is at 2 or more Locations. Generally Teams will play one
half their Matches 'away' and one half their Matches at 'home'. Every Pool
Table available to the League can support two Teams regardless of League type.
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The type is generally determined by who's organizing it. The
most common 'In House' is by a Billiard Club. The most common 'Traveling' is by
a group of Players.
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2. When
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Pool Leagues generally play in the Evening during the week or
less commonly on the weekend; usually Sundays. The evenings of Monday, Tuesday
or Wednesday are generally favored because that it is often the slowest nights
for the Host Location when they need the business the most. Check around. It's
usually not good to choose a night that conflicts with another Pool League.
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Match start times can vary depending on the Match Format
selected. Generally it will be between 7 to 7:30PM and usually you shoot for
finishing around 11PM or sooner. Some Players do work Graveyard and others may
have early starts to their workday.
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3. Match Formats and Team Rosters
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The most common Match Formats are 4 Player - 16 Games or 5
Player – and either 15, 20 or 25 Games. All call for Rotating Play meaning
that, in the 4 Player – 16 Game Format for example, all the Players on each
Team play all the Players on the other Team a single game, for a total of 16
games played.
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All of the above Match Formats work well. 4 Player Teams may be
easier to recruit. If you're going with 5 Player Teams, then whether you choose
15, 20 or 25 games will depend on the average skill level of the Teams involved
and the time they'll likely take to finish. A 'Masters' Team will average 6
minutes per game and a 'Novice' level Team will average 12-14 minutes per game.
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All Team play in all CCS 8 Ball Championships involve 5 Player
Teams playing a 25 game rotating Match Format.
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It is suggested that Team Rosters not exceed 10 players, which
is the same limit at all CCS Championships. That means that although 10 players
are on the Team Roster, only 4 or 5 of them will actually play at any one time
depending on the Match Format you're using. Substitutions of players during a
Match are allowed at CCS Championships.
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4. Scoring and Handicaps
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Every League has Team Standings. You'll need to decide how Matches get won or
lost.
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Some Leagues simply record Games Won or Lost and the one with the most wins. If
the number of games played in your Match Format is an even number, you'll need
a tie-breaker rule. You'll also need to decide how much the win is worth for
Team Standings.
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By far the majority of most Leagues use Handicaps of some sort. Difference in
Team skill levels is inevitable and you want all Teams to have the feeling that
they at least have a chance. If they don't, you run the risk of Teams getting
discouraged and quitting.
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In 8 Ball, the most common form of Handicapping involves a Point System whereby
1 point is awarded for every object ball sunk and 3 points for the 8 Ball for a
total of 10 points, should you win the game. A player's Total Points scored to
date divided by the number of Games Played to date, then gives them an Average.
This Average can then be used to provide a Handicap expressed in Points which
is awarded to the Player with the lower Average. Now every Team has a chance. A
full explanation of this suggested Scoring and Handicapping Point System is
shown in a later section.
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Using Handicapping does involve the recording and preparation of additional
statistics and reports, but it's pretty straight forward. Even though Handicaps
are not used in any CCS Championship, it is highly recommended that you use
some form of Handicapping in your local League.
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The decision that's needed is Handicapped or not and if yes, how.
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5. The Rules
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All CCS Championships are played using the Official World Rules for 8 Ball as
published by the World Pool-Billiard Association. They are available on the CCS
website and, upon League Sanctioning, every League Member is provided a Member
Handbook that also has them.
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We highly recommend that your League follow them in their entirety. They are
very good rules (the same on 5 continents) and use of them will eliminate any
confusion when your Players and Teams are competing in CCS Championships.
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6. The Schedule
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The most common are 'Summer' Leagues (June to August), which run for 8-12 weeks
and 'Winter' Leagues (September to March), which run for 24-30 weeks. Some
Leagues run year around in 3 to 4 Sessions of 10-14 weeks each.
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Your Schedule can start at any time of the year and be of any length. The CCS
'League Year' runs from June 1 to May 31. Any League who sanctions must have a
Schedule that runs at least 8 weeks after which all the League Players and
Teams will then be eligible to play in all CCS Championships for the League
Year.
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A perfectly 'balanced' Schedule is one that every Team plays every other Team
exactly once or twice, etc with alternating 'Home' and 'Away' Matches. Even if
the League is In House, because of the rotating Match Format, there is a
difference in the order of play and who 'breaks' depending on whether you are
designated as the 'Home' or 'Away' Team.
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Your Schedule does not have to be 'balanced'. Sample 'balanced' Schedules
appear elsewhere in this Handbook for a League who has from 4 to 16 Teams. You
just 'cut-off' any portion you don't need and 'add-on' for any additional
needed. If you have an odd number of Teams, one of the Teams listed becomes a
"Bye" Team.
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7. Fees and Prizes
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Now we're talking about how you're going to entice them to play in the first
place and at what cost. The variations are endless.
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There is usually one or more of the following - Registration Fees,
Administration Fees, Table Fees and Prize Fund Fees.
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If the League is to be sanctioned with the CCS, there will be a Registration
Fee to cover the CCS League Member Fee which is $20 for the 2005/06 League
Year. How much you charge for Registration is up to you.
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Some Leagues charge Administration Fees. Leagues do require Administration
which is somebody's time and there definitely are costs involved. Scenarios
range from (i) No Charge – League is being run and offered free by a Business
who gets a return elsewhere, (ii) Actual costs only are charged plus a stipend
to the 'League Secretary' or (iii) A straight Fee – The League itself is a
Business to the person running it.
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The Table Fee is the cost charged by the Host Location to play a game on their
Table. Some Host Locations will provide use of their Tables either free of
charge or discounted in lieu of other returns they get from the additional
drink and food sales. Keep in mind that they are a Business and if they're
going to host you, then they have to make money somehow.
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The biggest variance is in Prize Fund Fees. Some Leagues have none. Players
join, play, get sanctioned and then later pay their own way to CCS
Championships. In some Leagues, Players pay a nominal amount which is enough to
cover the cost of Awards and a Banquet at the end of the Schedule. The most
common is that the Players pay anywhere from $5 to $20 per Match played which
will build up a significant Prize Fund. This Prize Fund can be paid out in Cash
or other Prizes purchased by the League. Such Prizes often consist of Paid Team
Trips to attend a CCS Championship. The Trips usually cover the cost of the
Entry Fee, Lodgings and a Travel Allowance. Others may pay out their Prize Fund
in 'Point Money' based on some formula involving Player or Team Performance.
Some go out and get donated Prizes of all sorts for giveaway at the end. There
is no one right approach. It's a balance between what kind of a League do you
want versus what will attract the Players in the first place.
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No matter what approach is taken on all Fees, it is extremely important that it
be documented and made known to all, in advance.
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If there is a Prize Fund, that money belongs to all the Teams involved. Someone
is just holding it in trust for them. It is highly recommended that a Meeting
be held with all the Teams to let them decide exactly what they want it to be
used for. It is even more highly recommended that once that occurs, that it not
be allowed to change later. And finally, that at the end, a Prize Fund
Financial Statement is made available to everyone that's simply shows all the
ins and outs.
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8. Teams Must Have A Chance
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It is competition and although Teams may join, they won't stay if they don't
have a chance; both at winning Matches and at winning whatever Prizes are
available. Here's what you can do:
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It starts with the initial Recruiting. If you have an overly 'Stacked' Team
compared to the others, you may consider either not accepting their entry or
insisting on a Team Roster change. It's up to you; you have that right. What's
the point of accepting such a Team, if six others won't join because of them.
The best is always when all the Teams are roughly the same overall Skill Level.
The fastest way to kill a League is when everyone knows in advance who the best
Team is and even worse the majority of the Prizes go to the 'top'.
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Use Handicaps in League Play. It doesn't ensure a win for the lesser skilled
Team but it does go a long way in leveling the playing field. Even if they
don't win, they at least had a shot at it. And the higher skilled Team will
have to play closer to their ability to win.
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Most Leagues have a Play Off of some kind at the end of the League Schedule
where all or a majority of the Prize Fund gets won. Extending the use of
Handicaps in the Playoffs is highly recommended especially if everyone is
playing in a single group. Some Leagues split the Teams into two Play Off
groups - Top Half / Bottom Half, based on Final Team Standings coupled with a
pre-determined split of the Prize Fund as determined at the start of the
Schedule. That approach works well as Teams then know they don't have to be the
best to win something. The 'Top' Teams shouldn't complain as their share of the
Prize Fund wouldn't be as big as it is without those 'Bottom' Teams being in
the League in the first place.
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Some Leagues award a portion of the Prize Fund through Blind Draw. What is
always good is to spread the Prize Fund as much as possible, even to the extent
that every Team wins something.
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9. The Executive
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The most common consists of a President, Treasurer and a Secretary. These
positions are usually elected if the League is formed by a group of Players and
are usually appointed if the League is business related.
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Together they will establish League Policies and Rules, handle the Money, take
care of Administration, settle Disputes and otherwise transact League Business
as required.
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The President runs the League. That person is ultimately responsible for
everything that happens or doesn't happen. All Meetings are chaired by the
President.
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The Treasurer looks after all the money in and out. It is highly recommended
that a separate Bank Account be set up for all League Funds that requires at
least two signatories of the Executive. This Bank Account should be open to
verification at any time by any Member of the League in good standing.
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The Secretary is the one who processes all the Match Score Sheets and prepares
Statistical Reports on Player and Team Standings. Duties also include the
Sanctioning of the League, the processing of League Entries into CCS
Championships and the handling of all general correspondence.
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Some Leagues also establish Player Committees to help run the League such as
Tournaments, Banquet or Board of Governors (for dispute resolution).
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ADVERTISING and RECRUITING
You now have a Product that you think will work. If it was developed in
collaboration with key Players, you probably already have a number of Teams
ready to sign up. To get more, here are some suggestions:
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1. Posters, Flyers and Team Roster Sign Up Sheets
They don't have to fancy. They do need to include the essentials of what you're
offering along with whom to contact for further information and to sign up.
Pretty easy if it's to be an In House League. If it's to be a Traveling League
then you need to distribute them to all the suitable potential Host Locations
but be sure to get their permission first. The CCS provides Posters for all
their Championships free of charge including one for Team Recruiting.
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2. The Host Locations
They can assist greatly in Team Recruiting and it's in their interest to do so.
Ask the owner to have the staff promote the League amongst the 'regulars'. Now
instead of just having them on the weekends, they'll be there during the week
too, all on a guaranteed basis for the whole Schedule.
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3. The Players
You don't actually recruit Players; you recruit potential Captains of Teams.
Everyone has a couple of close Friends (or Family) that they'd like to play
with and those People have other Friends and Family. Now you have a Team. The
best advertising is always word of mouth. Tell everyone that if they want to
have a League, then they should tell as many others as possible. Some Leagues
may even offer incentives in this regard.
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4. Sign Up Meeting
Announce at least one in your Promotional Materials. This will give you a
chance to explain what is being offered and to answer any queries and concerns
that anyone may have. This is where interested Players who aren't already on a
Team can be put on one. This Meeting can also be used to either elect or
announce the League Executive.
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5. Late Start
You've announced a Sign Up Deadline and a League Start date. There's nothing
wrong with letting another Team start after the League Start Date providing
they play Make Up Matches for those missed and of course pay all related Fees.
Alternately, some Leagues only allow a Team to come in late to replace a Team
that has quit or had to fold for whatever reason.
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LEAGUE START
You have a number of Teams ready to go. Here's
what you need to do before the League Start Date:
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1. Rules Clinic
It's a good idea to announce and hold a Rules Clinic for all the
Captains and interested Players who are not familiar with the World 8 Ball
Rules or the Match Format and Scoring System that your League will be using.
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2. Schedule
It needs to be finalized and distributed to all the Team Captains
and the Host Locations.
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3. Team Handbook
It's always a good idea to prepare a Team Handbook for all the
Captains that describes:
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What the purpose of the League is.
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Who's running the League and how they can be contacted.
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A listing of Key Dates – League Start/Finish, Captain's Meetings,
Playoffs, Awards Banquet, CCS Championships.
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All Fees, how they are to be paid and when due.
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What they can expect back in return.
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Team Rosters, Match Format and Scoring System.
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General League Policies.
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Good Sportsmanship.
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FIRST LEAGUE NIGHT
If possible, all the League Matches on the first night should
be visited by a representative of the League who can answer all the questions
that the Players are sure to have. By definition, Handicaps cannot apply as no
Player has an Average yet.
AFTER WEEK 1
Now the cycle starts. Matches have been played and Score Sheets and
Fees have been turned in by all the Team Captains. The League Secretary will:
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Record the Fees paid by each Team and get the money deposited into the
League Bank Account.
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Record the Team Points won by each Team and prepare a
Team Standings Report
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If the League uses Handicaps, the Points scored by
each Player will be recorded and an Average computed for use in week 2 and
later in the Schedule.
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Arrange for the Team Standings and Player
Statistics Report to be distributed to each of the Team Captains before next
week's match.
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AFTER WEEK 4
The Teams should have settled down by then. Now is the time to take care of:
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1. The Prize Fund
If there's to be one, the total amount can now be computed.
The League needs to determine exactly what the Prizes are to be and
exactly how they are to be won. This would include any Administration cost,
Awards or Banquet that's to come out of the Prize Fund. If the League Secretary
is being paid a Fee out of the Prize Fund, make sure that everyone knows and
exactly how much. It is suggested that the League Executive prepare
recommendations but that the final deciding be done by Team vote at a Meeting
of all the Captains. This process should only be repeated and the Prizes
changed if the size of the League changes. A summary of all the Prize Payouts
and how they are to be won should be clearly documented and made known to all
the Players in the League. It is recommended that the League have a Play Off
after the end of the League Schedule and that all or a majority of the Prize
Funds gets won at that time. It gives all Teams an additional incentive to
finish the entire Schedule.
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2. CCS Sanctioning
After the 4th week of League Play, The CCS League Sanction
Policy Agreement calls for the submission of a copy of the Team Standings and
related Player Statistics along with the Member Fee of $20 for every Player who
has played more than one Match. Submission of additional Member Fees for
Players who join later can be sent in on a monthly basis. A full re-submission
of Reports and any outstanding Member Fees is required one month prior to any
CCS Championship that the League has Players or Teams competing in. If a Player
plays in more than one League Session or more than one League Division in a
League Year, they only have to be sanctioned once.
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TEAM ROSTER FREEZE
It's a good idea to freeze all the Team Rosters at some
point, generally around the halfway mark in the League Schedule. This avoids
Teams adding stronger Players near the end to scoop up larger Winnings from the
Prize Fund. It's not fair to the Players already on the Team who may not get to
play now and it certainly isn't fair to the other Teams. What is suggested is
that after the Roster Freeze Date, Team Roster changes can only be made to keep
a Team active that's in danger of folding, that the new Player must be the same
or of lesser Skill Level than the Player being replaced and that Prior Approval
must be obtained from the League Executive.
JUST PRIOR TO LEAGUE END
It's also a good idea to hold another Meeting of all
Team Captains a couple of weeks before the end of the League Schedule. The
purpose is to:
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Review the status of the Prize Funds. Are they there and in
the amount expected? Is the cost of any purchased Prizes within the expected
amount? Any adjustment at this time should be minor and represent fine tuning.
If the adjustment required is major, a Special Meeting should have been
immediately called when the need for same first became known.
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Review the Play Off arrangements – When and Where?
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Review the status of Awards Banquet arrangements.
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PLAY OFFS
Nearly every League has one that involves all the Teams. They can be
held all at one Location on one weekend or at several Locations and held on the
normal League Night. What's important is that every Team knows well in advance
that there is one, that they're in it, when it's to be and what the Format of
play will be. The most common Play Off Format is Double Elimination whereby a
Team has to lose two Matches before they are done. Sometimes a 'Round Robin'
Format will be used if there are eight or fewer Teams involved. Examples of
Tournament Charts and a suggested summary of General Tournament Policies
appears elsewhere in this Handbook.
AWARDS BANQUET
This is the wrap up. Getting Teams to join a League is actually
not that hard. Getting all the Teams to finish the whole Schedule and
delivering on all the commitments and promises made is much harder. Having an
Awards Banquet or special Function at the end can help. You know you've run a
good League if, when it's all over, the last place Team is still there and they
all have smiles on their faces.
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1. Who Pays
If there is to be a Banquet or special Function, the cost of same
may come from the Prize Fund or from Tickets sold. Some Leagues go all out and
rent a Hall, arrange for a caterer and provide entertainment. Others may simply
hand out the Awards at their Play Offs. Sometimes the owner of a Billiard Club
who has an 'In House' League will provide a special Function either free or
with nominal charge as a way of showing customer appreciation.
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2. Awards and Prizes
Try to have as many Awards that you can think of or your
League can afford - for League Play and Play Offs and for both Team Performance
and Individual Player Performance, etc. Players love free draws of donated
Prizes. Raffles too. For Cash Prizes out of the Prize Fund, payment by cheque
is recommended.
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ATTENDING A CCS CHAMPIONSHIP
The whole purpose of sanctioning the League in the
first place was so that the League Players and Teams would be eligible to
attend A CCS Championship somewhere.
Many CCS sanctioned Leagues offer paid Team Trips from their Prize Fund which
usually include the Entry Fee, Lodging and a Travel Allowance. Regardless of
whether a Team has won a Trip or not, every Player and every Team is still
eligible to pay their own way and compete in whatever CCS Championship they
want.
No matter where your League is based, the CCS Canadian Championship Program has
an Annual Regional Championship that the Players and Teams can drive to and
Team Play is always on the weekend. This makes competing there much more
affordable and convenient. Also available to everyone is the CCS Canadian
Nationals held in mid July in Toronto and the ACS US Nationals held in mid June
in Las Vegas.
Every one of those Championships offer Singles, Scotch Doubles and Team Events.
Every Event is also divisionalized on Skill Level so that all competitors have
a better chance of competing and winning. Full information on every
Championship including On Line Event Entry and Status is available at the CCS
web site www.cdnqsport.com
For CCS Championships, Hard Copy of all Team Entries along with the Fees must be
submitted in advance by the League Secretary. Hard Copy of Singles Entries
along with the Fees can be submitted directly by the Player, also in advance.
Scotch Doubles Entries are done entirely on site at the Championships. For the
ACS National Championships, Hard Copy of all Entries – Team, Singles, and
Scotch Doubles along with the Fees are to be submitted in advance to the CCS
who will forward them on to the ACS Tournament Staff.
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Its importance cannot be overemphasized. It's only Good
Sportsmanship that makes League Play and Play Offs the fun and enjoyable
experience that it's meant to be. The Players must not feel that being
threatened or intimidated in any way is somehow okay. The League must make it
known that such unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated; ever. An
excellent write-up on Good Sportsmanship and how to properly resolve Disputes
appears elsewhere in this Handbook.
PRIZE FUND FINANCIAL REPORT
Everyone has a calculator and people will talk. Even
if everything was above board and proper, it is always wise and highly
recommended to have the Treasurer compile a simple summary of all the Prize
Fund Ins and Outs. All the Outs should reflect exactly whatever the Captains of
all the Teams decided on in the Meeting(s). Make it available to all the
Players in the League and make it known that any Player in good standing is
more than welcome to examine whatever they want. Carrying over a Surplus is
generally not recommended. It really belongs to those who paid it in the
current Session and, if all else fails, find some appropriate way to give it
away at the Awards Banquet or special Function at the end.
CONGRATULATIONS
You have now successfully completed your first Session. It
wasn't easy and I'm sure you learned a lot along the way. The hard work has
been done in getting it off the ground. Although there's always fine tuning,
the next Session will go much smoother, with less effort. The Players know the
League exists, what it's all about and had a great time playing in it and the
CCS Championships.
NEED SOME HELP?
Just contact the CCS National Office. They'd be more than happy
to answer any queries you may have and help you find solutions. The CCS Board
is made up of Directors from across Canada who are all successful League
Operators. They can also be contacted and are able to provide valuable
assistance.
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