What started as a typo turned into quite a little social experiment.

Before a new session begins, I generally contact the Host Locations to see if they need or would like anything changed in the agreement, we (GMAPA) have with them, in exchange for us having a place to play. This can include start times, cut-off times, "problem" players, nights of play, greens fees, or if we will continue to have league at this location.

When I approach an owner to discuss them becoming a Host Location, we go over several different topics. It ultimately comes down to whether GMAPA and the owner can come to an agreement. APA has no control over what an owner would like to see and what they would like to get in return for allowing us to play there.

The two most important things I tell a potential new location, and remind the current locations, is that APA has no say over how they run their business and that APA should NEVER cost the location money. Our job is to help bring business into that establishment, helping to keep them open, in return for us playing there. Without these locations, we would not have pool tables to play on!

When a Host Location is not satisfied, if they want or needs a change, I need to decide if what they want and what we need will still work. Sometimes it is me that needs or wants a change. If that is the case, we both then need to decide if we can continue to work together. If I feel the equipment is subpar and the HL doesn't want to fix it, we may just move on. If a location can't afford to upgrade or fix their equipment, I usually find a way to help them. That is when I call in favors, hold tournaments, anything we can do as a League to help.

One thing my typo has done is get a bunch of people who haven't read the League Night Expectations in a long time, or if ever, to READ THEM!! Thank you! I put information together for Captains and players to have so they can keep themselves informed. Absolutely everything you need to navigate a league night is at your fingertips. When players, especially Captains, do not keep themselves informed, this causes friction between a host location and APA. This can no longer continue.

Directions on where and how to pay your greens fees at VTPB are straight forward. APA has been told many, MANY, times where greens fees are to be deposited. It has also been made clear that the only people who have access to the safes are those who own them. This means if you drop your envelopes in the wrong box, you will be UNPAID for the other business.

Past due players/teams are not allowed to play. This follows you as a player. For example, you played VTPB Wednesday 8-Ball, and your captain didn't pay or didn't put it in the right box. The whole team is UNPAID. This means you, as part of that team, are not allowed to play in any APA event, league night or tournament, until its PAID. Hopefully, people can start seeing and understanding how important this is.

Circling back to the VTPB cutoff time.

Page 8 of your APA OTM gives you the speed of play guidelines for every format that APA offers. This includes the complete APA 8-Ball match time of 4 hours. VTPB allows for an early start time of 5:30pm with a regular start time of 6pm.

4 hours from 6pm is 10pm. Scott and I had agreed on a 10:45pm cut off time. (4 hours and 45 minutes for all 8-Ball, 7ft table play.) This means no rack is to be struck after 10:45pm. Teams should keep track of this on their own. VTPB should not be going around after 10:45pm and reminding teams of this. Teams should not be asking if they can "just finish the last rack" or "we only need one more ball". This is the only location where this seems to be an issue. This leads me to believe it is not a time issue but more that we’ve become complacent in our speed of play.

At some point, Captains and players need to start accepting responsibility for when matches run late. It is not the other team’s fault when you just sit there and allow it to happen. If it is your own team that is not maintaining the speed of play, say something. Nobody needs to be rude about this, but people can and are allowed to say something if, after timing a rack (both shooters), people are playing too slow. Captains have the next player ready to go before the actual end of the match. This is where the restroom should be used. Stop running to the bar when you should be lagging... ask a teammate! Obviously, if you have been keeping score and you need to use the restroom before playing, please do!

Let’s all face it, there will be nights where matches do run long. This usually means that people are just missing their shots. As a result, there will be a high number of innings. In matches where there are not more than 30/35 innings, they should not last over an hour.

I was asked if there was a spot where match times can be seen. I know that you can see the time as you play, but once you end the match, I'm not sure if you can? I can! So, if you'd like to know, ask me. In the meantime, I have sent that question in to be answered.

I was asked about "sudden death". Sudden death is not allowed in regular league play. This also includes playoffs. Playoffs are considered an extension of regular league play, not a HLT.

For future, those who have a question about something, I would appreciate it if you just ask it. Drama, temper tantrums, or any other BS isn't really needed or appreciated by me or anyone at league. We should be acting like adults, in adult places.

802-370-5037. Text is best.