While some membership cards require you to be able to jump the cue ball, bank it off three rails and sink the 8-Ball blindfolded, getting an APA Membership Card is much easier.
Having fun, meeting new people and playing pool is what the APA is all about. You don't have to be a pool shark, because in the APA -- everyone can play and anyone can win. The APA wants beginners and novices, because it is the AMATEUR Poolplayers Association. No other organization in pool gives ordinary players a chance to win a share of over $1.5 MILLION guaranteed cash and prizes paid out through its national tournaments.
Here's a typical (2012) breakdown of payouts at the National level for various events:
Honestly... how does your league compare at the national level (if it even has a national level)?
APA differs from other leagues in the Sacramento area in that you must earn your way to the national stage through the performance of your team (or you as an individual, if you want to compete in the singles program). Once you've earned that right to compete nationally, the majority of expenses to get you there are covered. Comparing leagues is not always an apples-to-apples comparison, so be sure to weigh all factors fairly and completely.
Sacramento APA spent over $4,000 per team to send an 8-ball team and 9-ball team to the APA National Team Championships in 2014. The team's entry and administrative fees were covered and they were given a budget of $3,500 for travel expenses. Their plane tickets and hotel rooms came in under budget, so they received the rest in cash in Vegas for a little extra spending money!
The number of teams sent to APA Team Nationals each year is based on a ratio of the total number of teams in an area - so as the local league grows, we'll be sending more and more teams to Vegas, all with similar benefits that the team we sent this year received.
If you or your team don't earn your way to Vegas in a given year, you still have the opportunity to travel there on your own and compete in the immensely popular MiniMania cash tournaments being run almost around the clock during the national events. As you can see in the list above, payouts for MiniMania events were over $250,000 in 2012.
The APA is a national organization with a time-proven system and well-established rules. It's run by professional operators who went through a thorough screening and training process. This means as a player or host location, you can have some assurance that the league organizer is taking his business seriously and has your best interests in mind.
The APA National Office combined with a network of over 260 local league operators work closely together to bring players and hosts the best possible pool league experience. The APA National Office is also an available resource for players and hosts, if necessary.