Download the USAPL HANDBOOK and CSI RULEBOOK to get up to speed.

  • 1: JOIN THIS LEAGUE

    Complete our player application to indicate your interest in joining NoCo USAPL.

    2: FORM A TEAM

    Shoot pool with your friends, family, or co-workers. Remember, the USAPL is a handicapped league that is fair and fun for everyone. No experience is necessary. Your first step is to form a team with people whose company you enjoy. If you’re new to an area or cannot form a team yourself, then simply text or email your League Manager. to see if individual players are available from their recruiting efforts. USAPL is a great way to make new friends!

    3: SELECT A DIVISION

    Many leagues have multiple divisions that play different games on different nights. For example, there may be a Monday night 8Ball division or a Wednesday night 9Ball division. We are currently forming our first division — STAY TUNED!

    4: REVIEW THE SCHEDULE

    Once you’ve joined NoCo, formed a team, and selected the right division for you, your League Manager will develop a session schedule and distribute it to captains.

    5: PLAY YOUR FIRST MATCH

    After receiving your schedule, it's time for the most important step of all — having fun!

  • USAPL is designed specifically for players who want a fair and fun experience without the intense pressures found in other leagues. No experience is necessary. All are welcome to join. For these reasons and more, many view it as an excellent “developmental” league.

    USAPL solves many problems that are common in other leagues: all players have a chance to win, player ratings are accurate, scoring is easy, league prizes are mandatory, and so much more.

    USAPL plays head-to-head matchups. Each player on a team plays multiple games (called a set) against one player from the opposing team. There are four sets in a match, all powered by FargoRate. A race-to number is generated for each player in the matchups based on both their Fargo ratings.

    TEAM + MATCH SPECS

    4-player teams (max. roster: 6 players), 1900 Fargo cap per round. Double-play: one team vs. another team. Two different matches (called “double-play” or “double jeopardy,” one 9Ball and the other FastRack 8Ball. Sets are played back-to-back, by format, on one table. While the schedule is shared between the two formats, the two divisions with standings and stats are separate.

    IN-GAME RULES

    9Ball is CSI Rules (see rulebook below).

    FastRack 8Ball is a call-shot game that uses a 9Ball diamond rack but with four solids, four stripes, and the 8Ball racked at the center (where the 9Ball usually would be). The object of the game is to legally pocket your suit of balls then legally pocket the 8Ball. Races tend to be longer, since the games can be won more easily.

    CSI Rulebook
    USAPL Player Handbook
    USAPL on Facebook

  • TBA

    If you arrive early on league night to practice, then please let the bartender know you’re with league to request a set of balls for practice. At the end of the night, return the tray of balls to the bar.

  • Below are some of the more important details from the USAPL Player Handbook. Please download and become familiar with it, since we can’t list everything here.

    FORFEITS

    If your team will miss a night of regularly scheduled league play, then it’s your responsibility to arrange a pre-play or makeup match by communicating directly with your opponent and notifying the league. Negligence with timely communication and/or no-shows may result in a forfeit. Other forfeit rules are contained in the USAPL Player Handbook.

    STANDINGS

    Players can view the division’s team standings through the online league management system (LMS). The League Manager has some flexibility in determining how team standings are determined. For example, some divisions may use wins and losses as the first criteria while others may use total points. Consult your local league bylaws or ask your League Manager how your division’s team standings are determined.

    COACHING

    Coaching provides a great opportunity for newer players to learn from more experienced teammates in a competitive environment. Coaching is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. A distinction must be made between coaching and other communication. When it’s not your turn at the table, you may engage in quiet conversation with teammates. This is considered normal team communication. When the opponent's turn is over and all balls have stopped rolling, all communication concerning the match must stop promptly. No person in the area around the table (except the opponent), may call a foul, tell a player that they’re shooting the wrong ball, or offer other advice or instruction of any kind regarding the match. Any communication with your teammates during your turn at the table is considered coaching. All rules regarding coaching are available in the USAPL Player Handbook.

    POST-MATCH PLAY

    Tables are closed at the end of the match, but you can continue to rent any table if you’d like to keep playing.

  • SCOREKEEPING

    Good scorekeeping is essential for accurate league standings and player ratings. The following is a list of recommendations for paper scorekeeping:

    • Anyone may score, and they don’t have to be on the team. However, team members are encouraged to share scorekeeping responsibilities.

    • Both teams should score each set to help ensure accuracy. Scorekeepers should pay close attention to each game. Copying the opponent's scoresheet is not recommended.

    • Check with the other team’s scorekeeper frequently to prevent errors. The League Manager will resolve any discrepancies.

    • Always list complete player names and ratings on score sheets. Using only first or last names is not acceptable.

    • Team captains must sign both scoresheets at the end of the match.

    USAPL scoring system is fair and fun. It offers many major advantages over other systems such as:

    • Points are awarded for balls pocketed. Even if you lose a game, you still have the opportunity to score points for your team.

    • Scoring incentivizes everyone to play their best.

    • All games should be played to conclusion. A game is never suddenly stopped because someone reached a certain score.

    • Simple scorekeeping — there’s no need to count missed balls, innings, safeties, or any other statistic!

    GAME DIFFERENCES

    In 9Ball and FastRack 8Ball, the winner of each game receives 14 points — regardless of how the game is won.

    in FastRack 8Ball, the loser receives two points for each ball pocketed in a group (i.e. solids or stripes), and can never earn more than eight (8) points.

    In 9Ball, the loser receives one point for each ball pocketed. Making the 9Ball on the break in any pocket without committing a foul is a win and is scored as 14-0. Committing three successive fouls results in loss of game. The winner receives 14 points and the loser receives the points for his or her balls made up to that point in time. When scoring on a paper scoresheet, balls legally pocketed are indicated with an “X.” Balls illegally pocketed are called dead balls and are indicated with an “O.” No points are awarded for dead balls.

    SCORING SETS

    Games are played consecutively until one player reaches the race-to number. If a player reaches this milestone before the end of a game, the game must still be completed.

    Since the winner of each game is awarded 14 points, if both players are within 14 points of their race-to number at the start of the next game, both players are considered to be "on the hill" and the winner of the next game is the winner of the set — regardless of who reaches their race-to number first or how far each player exceeds their race-to number.

    SCORING MATCHES

    The winner of the set receives 100 points while the loser receives the number of points he or she actually scored during the set. The winner of each set earns additional margin of victory points based on how far he or she holds the opponent under their race-to number. These points are calculated as the margin of victory multiplied by 2. This provides an incentive for everyone to always play their best.

    TEAM PENALTIES

    If the sum of the members’ ratings who actually play exceeds the limit, the team incurs one (1) penalty point for every point over the 1900 Fargo limit.

    TEAM BONUSES

    Your division manager may award 50, 100, or some other number of bonus points for timely completion of scoresheets, submission of team fees, etc. Check the league’s bylaws or ask your division manager if bonuses are rewarded.

    BREAKING TIES

    Although it’s very rare, a match may be tied after all sets are completed and all penalty and bonus points are applied. Below is the order in which ties are broken:

    • The team who won the most sets
    • The team with the most margin of victory points
    • The lower-rated team

    SCORING BYES

    If a division has an odd number of teams, one team will have a scheduled bye each week. Byes rotate through the division schedule until each team has had one bye and then the cycle repeats.

    No points are awarded for a bye. However, if a cycle is incomplete at the end of the session, causing some teams to have more bye weeks than others, then each team with an extra bye will be awarded the average number of points per match that they scored up to that point in the session.

    LMS/FARGORATE

    USAPL leans on LMS, a modern league management software system that’s complete with a mobile scoring app. League data flows automatically into FargoRate and player ratings are updated each and every day.

    Players can login any time to:
    • View team standings
    • View individual standings
    • View player ratings
    • View past scoresheets
    • Score league matches right on your phone or tablet!
    • Best of all – IT’S FREE!

    It’s your responsibility to input accurate scores from your weekly matches. Download the “FargoRate” and “USAPL Scoring App” apps today. Register and login before your first match. Sometimes you have to send a follow-up email to get your account activated, so don’t leave until the last-minute. Paper scoresheets will be available at the venue, should you experience technical difficulties.

    How to Score USAPL
    Get to Know FargoRate

    If you encounter issues with the FargoRate app, then email support@fargorate.com directly. NoCo USAPL can’t assist with your personal FargoRate account.

  • No CSI membership is needed.

    MATCH FEES

    At the end of each match, please give your envelope with $60 match fees (4 players x $15 each) directly to your division manager or drop it off at the bar for pickup later by the division manager. Tables are closed at the end of the match, but you can continue to rent any table if you’d like to keep playing.

    You can also pay with one of the below cash app options to the league operator directly.

    PAY BY CASH APP

    Venmo, PayPal: @ericstownsend
    Cash App: $ericstownsend

    Look for the 8Ball icon!

    PRIZES

    USAPL offers local prizes and awards. Prizes can include travel and/or entry into the USAPL National Championships, state, or regional events.

    League Managers submit monthly payments for the prize fund. The prize fund is then held in an escrow account by the USAPL National Office until it’s needed for league prizes.

    One or more teams from every league will win a trip to the USAPL National Championships in Las Vegas.

    We’ll send a minimum of one out of every 12 teams (based on 40 weeks of league play). We may send members to compete in singles divisions as well, TBD.

    ELIGIBILITY

    8 weeks of regularly scheduled league play during a single session in a single division with the same team that qualified, and all players must remain active. This means players must play a minimum of 2 weeks in the calendar year of the event they are attending.

    During a qualifying year, a player can receive credit for one match played as a member of their team for a forfeit received during a match. No more than one match may be credited regardless of how many times that player has received forfeits.

    Each team competing in the USAPL National Championships must include two (2) original players. Each must compete in eight (8) regularly scheduled weeks of league play with the same team during the same session. Other players must play eight (8) regularly-scheduled weeks of league play with the same team that qualified during any single session in the calendar year.

    Important Note: Even if your team doesn’t win a prize, USAPL players are always free to pay their own way to compete in the national championships. This is a key difference between our league and others, and one of the first reasons why players add our league to their weekly commitments or make the switch entirely from another league to playing only USAPL/CSI pool.

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