LIVE BRACKETS & ROSTERS 

2025 NW DALLAS COUNTY APA 8-BALL WORLD QUALIFIER

WIZARD'S SPORTS CAFE - RICHARDSON, TX

JUNE 21-22, 2025

SATURDAY JUNE 21 DOORS OPEN AT 9AM - TOURNAMENT STARTS AT 10AM

SUNDAY JUNE 22 DOORS OPEN AT 11AM - SEMI-FINAL ROUND 4 STARTS AT 12NOON

CAPTAIN'S CHECK LIST (MANDATORY TO COMPLETE ALL TASKS)

1. READ THIS POST IN ITS ENTIERTY
2. Skill Level Certification Form - ALL players must sign BEFORE they play (these are being emailed AND taken out to the captains)
3. WATCH (and have a few other players) the 8-Ball Paper Scorekeeping Video  
4. Ensure ALL players WATCH the 8BWQ Meeting Video (this will be posted no later than Thursday, June 19th). This video will detail the logistics - such as how we will handle seating, etc. It is MANDATORY.
5. Text 214-281-6650 once ALL of these tasks are complete

This is a WORLD QUALIFIER event, governed by APA National & Championship Rules.

ALL APA play rules in the Official Team Manual apply, with enhancements as outlined below:

SKILL LEVEL CERTIFICATION FORMS

This is a form that EVERY eligible player on the roster MUST sign and officially declare their highest ability skill level (see form for criteria). The Certification forms will be taken out to you in person this week, but for teams playing on Wednesday or later, it may be easier to get started sooner. So they are also being emailed to the captains to print themselves and have players sign.

This is a NATIONAL event. In any National tournament or event (includes Singles Boards), male players may not play any lower than skill level 3. Locally, and during all local events, they may play lower, but this is a NATIONAL tournament and any males playing locally at a 2 will be moved to skill level 3. There is NOTHING we can do about this.

Rosters with MINIMUM starting skill levels are posted (link above). ALL players will start at the HIGHER of any of the following by default:

• Their current skill level
• Their session-ending skill level in the session that they originally qualified in
• Their session-ending skill level in any session following the session they originally qualified in

However, if a player is competing in another area at a higher level than the above - OR - they believe their true ability to be higher (see Certification form for full list of criteria), then they MUST certify higher and will play at that skill level. While this may not feel ideal to you as a player, trust us, you absolutely want all of your opponents to be held to this standard. So please - certify with integrity.

The League Office will be continually reviewing players between now and the tournament and we reserve the right to make further adjustments. We will notify captains if we do, and we may also alert captains to any potential tournament skill level movement that YOU may want to pre-emptively account for in your team's skill level certification statements. Please note that ONLY the player may certify and sign for their skill level, but captains can and should be having these conversations with their players.

Players who have not signed 30 minutes prior to the start time of the tournament will NOT appear on the roster for that round. If they sign during any round already in progress, they will be eligible to play in the NEXT round - NOT the round in progress when they signed. This is non-negotiable.

SEATING & COACHING DURING MATCHES

Up to THREE (3) people per team are permitted at the match table. This is (1) The Player, (2) A Scorekeeper, and (3) A DESIGNATED Coach.

The Coach and the Scorekeeper are NOT INTERCHANGEABLE during a match. The Coaches must DECLARE themselves to one another and prior to each match. ANY coaching by the non-designated Coach is an immediate Ball In Hand by rule (this doesn't require a warning).

In between individual matches (not "racks' within a match), substitutions can be made in an orderly and quick manner.

Scorekeepers and Coaches will sit on the outside of the play tables and the players will stand or sit on the opposite side in between shots. They are not permitted to speak with their coach in-between shots and will not be standing near them in order to avoid any confusion whatsoever.

There will be ONE time out permitted per rack regardless of player skill level. During a designated time out, the opposing team coach and player may speak to one another but must stop whenever the other team ends their time out. Speaking to players is also permitted during racking. Racking cannot be stalled to stretch this time.

The coach and the scorekeeper may speak quietly with each other during the match as long as NO player (theirs or their opponents) can hear.

ANY form of non-verbal coaching, such as signaling or body gestures, is cheating. Period. If the Tournament Director finds a credible reason to believe this is occurring, the National Office will be contacted immediately to officially disqualify the team. Teams should note that as a National Tournament, if your team is disqualified for this or any other reason, it will be for a minimum of 2 years and it will impact EVERY member of the team, regardless of their direct knowledge or involvement.

The coach and the scorekeeper may (and should) use their phones for non-phone call communication (text, PM, social media), as they should be in contact with the rest of the team to ensure the next match is set promptly and those players are ready when called.

RULES OF CONDUCT (TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE APA CHAMPIONSHIP RULES #26)

APA has established, and will strictly enforce, the following Rules of Conduct which are applicable at all APA Championship Tournaments and all Higher Level Tournaments: 

a. No loud, abusive or profane language will be tolerated. You became an APA member to have a good time and to enjoy some friendly competition. If you experience a problem, one of the Tournament Officials will address it. Simply bring the matter to their attention. Remember that nearly every ruling will be seen as favoring one side or the other. Each team and player are required to accept official rulings without causing a scene. 

b. Unsportsmanlike conduct directed toward an opposing player, team or a Tournament Official will not be tolerated. 

c. Anyone involved in an incident that involves either physical abuse, violence, or the throwing of an item will be disqualified immediately, and immediately banned from the Tournament site. 

d. Anyone caught hitting a cue against a table, wall, floor, etc., or recklessly swinging a cue will be disqualified immediately and be banned from the Tournament site. 

e. Abusive behavior directed to the Tournament Director or any of their designees, including Tournament Officials, will not be tolerated and will be grounds for penalization, disqualification and/or a ban from the tournament site. 

f. Excessive slow play will not be tolerated. If your excessive slow play becomes a problem, and remains a problem after you are warned about it, you may be penalized.

The penalties for violating any of the Rules of Conduct detailed above are as follows:

Except for incidents of slow play, a warning may or may not be given, and the Tournament Director can issue any of the four penalties below, regardless of whether any penalty has been previously issued, depending upon the severity of the situation.

Penalty Level 1: Your opponent will be given ball‐in‐hand. If your opponent is still shooting, or already has ball‐in‐hand, then that player will be allowed to shoot until missing, and then be given ball‐in‐hand again. 

Penalty Level 2: Your opponent will be granted the game in 8-Ball. In 9‐Ball, your opponent will be granted the game, along with points for all balls remaining on the table. 

Penalty Level 3: Your opponents will be granted the match. 

Penalty Level 4: You will be ejected and/or disqualified (see above note on what disqualification means at a National Tournament).