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League Operator - John Ervin
League Operator - John Ervin
At age eighteen, while serving in the Navy, I started playing pool and became an enduring enthusiast. In 2011, I became an American Poolplayers Association League Operator. I’m a husband and a father to one daughter and one dog. I have called East Texas home since early childhood and it’s a nice place to raise my family and enjoy life.
At the heart of East Texas APA is family and friendship, not just a scoresheet. It’s about people who walk through the door every week as friends, teammates and mentors. We celebrate each other’s successes, lend support when needed, make memories and develop relationships that extend beyond the table. This sense of belonging is what makes our billiards community special in my opinion. I enjoy bringing the love of pool to everyone and encouraging growth in the game – whether you’re sinking your first ball or chasing new levels of competition. It also serves as an avenue for our players to contribute to East Texas in a positive way through various charity events that we host throughout the year.
If you’re looking for a place to learn, compete and grow, East Texas APA welcomes you with open arms. A great pool family based on fair play, good sportsmanship and fun. If you’re interested in joining or learning more, reach out through our East Texas APA page or contact me directly to get involved. Text/Call 903-780-6893
History of the American Poolplayers Association (APA)
History of the American Poolplayers Association (APA)
The American Poolplayers Association (APA) was founded by professional poolplayers and Billiard Hall of Famers Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart in 1979 as the National Pool League, which became the American Poolplayers Association in 1981. The two realized the popularity of the sport, but knew, that different from other sports, there was no existing recreational league system.
Today, the APA, also known as the Canadian Poolplayers Association in Canada, the Japanese Poolplayers Association in Japan, and APA of Singapore in Singapore, and has grown to more than 275,000 members and boasts more members than all other “national” leagues combined. The League is administered locally by a network of Franchise Operators, called League Operators, and is conducted weekly in a variety of both 8-Ball and 9-Ball team formats. There are nearly 300 APA Leagues throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan.
APA League teams have the opportunity to advance to the APA World Pool Championships each summer in Las Vegas. In 2010, Guinness World Records recognized this event as the World’s Largest Pool tournament. In addition, the APA also hosts a second tournament, the APA Poolplayer Championships, in Las Vegas each spring. APA pays out a combined $2 Million annually at these tournaments.
The APA also conducts the U.S. Amateur Championship, the pool world’s most prestigious amateur tournament, which is the only competition open to APA members and nonmembers alike. The tournament began in 1994 and has grown significantly over the years, as players across North America battle for a spot in this coveted event.
The APA is has also been recognized as one of the top small business and home-based franchise opportunities in the world. In 2010, Forbes magazine ranked the APA as the #2 “Top 20 Franchises to Start.” APA is ranked a “Hall of Fame” franchise with the Franchise Business Review for having been named a Top 200 franchise for 10+ years. Click here to view more APA franchise honors.
One of the keys to the success of the American Poolplayers Association is The Equalizer®, the unique handicapping and scoring system that makes it possible for players of different playing abilities — especially novices and beginners — to compete on an equal basis, much like they do in golf and bowling. The Equalizer® uses a formula that measures a player’s ability. The result is a handicap of how many games a player must win to capture a match in 8-Ball or the number of points a player must earn to win a match in the 9-Ball format.
Everyone Can Play – Anyone Can Win!®
Everyone Can Play – Anyone Can Win!®
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