Originally operated by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), the BCA Pool League is now operated by CueSports International. The BCA Pool League, an umbrella membership organization that supports pool leagues all over the world, is operated by CueSports International. The group has over 50,000 member and more than 500 leagues in 8 countries.
The BCA Pool League was founded in 1897 and is the oldest sanctioning pool league organization in the entire world. The original organization was operated by the BCA. It was sold to CueSports International, in 2004. It is a significant presence in Canada with more than 450 leagues across eight countries.
BCA Pool League rules have been designed to facilitate team play. There can only be eight players in a team. Each member of the team can only play one or two rounds. Players must be members of the BCA. The organization also has an official Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement that all players must sign. The organization also has a Hall of Fame that honors great players.
To unify leagues around the globe, the BCA Pool League was created in 1978. It was intended to provide pool leagues with economies of scale. With more than 450 leagues in eight countries, the organization has become a powerful force in pool. It is also a major sponsor of WPBA Tour, the top pool tournament in North America.
BCA Pool League rules are designed to encourage fair play and good sportsmanship. Terry Bell, Larry Hubbart and others founded the league. They were also professional pool players. 1981 saw the founding of the American Poolplayers Association. It also has two international affiliates: the World Pool-Billiard Association, (WPBA), and the Japanese Poolplayers Association, (JPA).
The BCA Pool League is a nine-ball and eight ball league that plays on 9-foot tables. The nine-ball matches are based on points. To win, the player must score at least two points. The eight-ball requires players to have a skill level at least three. Eight points are awarded to the player who wins more games in a round. The match must be played within three week if the match is delayed. If the player is unable to play within three weeks, he or she loses the match.
Players must register and pay dues to the BCA Pool League. All dues must be clearly indicated on scoresheets. A player who fails to pay all dues will have his scores removed.
BCA Pool League rules also incorporate "Applied Rulings", which are large-scale tournament administration. These rules include the "lag timing rule", which stipulates that the ball must not be fired until the opponent's ball touches the foot cushion.
The league director can make placement decisions. The league director is responsible for ensuring that all divisions are competitive. The league director is responsible for making sure that all players are treated equally, and that no one team is preferred over the other.
BCA Pool League rules include the "Equalizer", an APA handicapping system. This system is designed to give each player a fair chance to win.