Hello Jacksonville APA Members,

We are writing to provide an update regarding the serious incident that occurred during league play on Tuesday, January 13th, which involved a physical altercation between multiple players.

Following a comprehensive investigation, the Jacksonville APA League Office submitted the findings and Board of Governors’ recommendations to the APA Corporate Office for review. All recommended sanctions have now been approved, including membership terminations and suspensions where applicable.

The review process included first-hand witness statements, written submissions, phone interviews, and video evidence. A six-member Board of Governors panel composed of Jacksonville APA members in good standing convened as a group to review the evidence, discuss the incident, and vote on disciplinary recommendations. Those recommendations were unanimous and were made with careful reference to the APA Official Team Manual and published conduct standards.

We want to be very clear about how the APA rulebook treats this type of conduct.

Under APA rules, physical altercations, verbal threats of violence, racial hostility, and weapon-related conduct are strictly prohibited. Threats of violence are treated with the same seriousness as physical acts themselves, as they create fear, escalate situations, and compromise the safety of players, spectators, and venues. The rulebook further makes clear that any player who incites, escalates, or participates in a brawl is subject to termination of membership, regardless of who “started it” or how long the physical contact lasted.

This incident did not begin as a fight. It began with a disagreement over a rack.

Concerns about racking are a normal part of league play and are addressed directly in the rules. Players have multiple appropriate options available long before emotions rise: requesting and accommodating a re-rack properly, involving the team captains, asking for assistance from another team member, or calmly addressing the issue through other established league procedures. None of those options require raised voices, personal attacks, or confrontation. Every one of them aligns with the spirit of APA league play.

Instead, opportunities to de-escalate were missed, words escalated unnecessarily, and choices were made that turned a league night into a situation that required serious disciplinary action. That outcome was entirely avoidable.

We also recognize that league play occurs in public venues, and we are not the language police. However, hostile and excessive foul language undeniably played a significant role in this situation, and it serves as a reminder that words can escalate tensions just as quickly as actions. The APA rulebook is clear that members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that maintains a respectful, safe, and controlled environment. Players who cannot manage conflict without hostility, intimidation, or violence place others at risk and will face consequences.

The Jacksonville APA League exists so adults can enjoy competitive pool in a fun, respectful setting. That requires personal responsibility, emotional control, and accountability. We expect our members to handle disagreements like adults, to disengage when situations heat up, and to protect the integrity of the league for everyone involved.

The unanimous BOG decisions to impose suspensions and, in several cases, terminate memberships underscores just how seriously we take the safety concerns voiced by our members after this incident. We’ve listened carefully, and we stand behind our Board of Governors for making the difficult but necessary call to protect everyone’s right to feel safe and respected when they come out to play. To the players who served in this important role, thank you for your commitment and leadership.

We appreciate the cooperation of all our members throughout this process and expect everyone to move forward with a renewed commitment to sportsmanship, respect, and the standards outlined in the APA rulebook.

Sincerely,
Jacksonville APA League Office
Mike & Kelly Moore