Several checks from the fall prize fund are still outstanding as of January 31, 2003. Below is a list of captains who have not cashed team checks. Please cash them and distribute them to your fall team as soon as possible. Thanks for your prompt action.

We realize that many teams chose to save up the money for whatever reasons (like maybe going to VegasJ ), but it is to be a team decision. Regardless, the checks need to be cashed. Thanks.

Changes to schedules have finally slowed down. All schedules on the website should now be accurate and each captain should have a good schedule. Most teams are ending their 7^th week and so far this has been a good session. Your home bars were also sent schedules to post. Some of them may not be accurate. If not and you can make a copy to post at your bar, please do so. Or call the league office and we will get a new one out to your bar.

If there is an asterisk by a player's name, it does not necessarily mean we are missing the address. It may mean we are missing a home phone number or birth date. The new software is more sensitive to what is needed for each player's record than in the past.

Because we have gotten several notes regarding that players have given us their addresses several times and we should get things right, we have started going into player records and

We also have teams that are not filling in the scoresheets completely. Some problems we are encountering are:

1. score is not being filled in for the players.
2. Wins are not being filled in for the players.
3. Total points for matches are not being filled in.
4. Games must win are not being figured correctly, so wins are not correct.
5. Players who win lag are not being listed first for given matches.
6. Wrong player numbers are being written down for the players.

Correction these 6 issues will help us tremendously in entering scoresheets. Plus they are required in order to receive bonus points. We have been very lax in giving bonus points. Accuracy in entering is dependent many times on the scoresheets we receive.

It is very important that the scorekeepers pay attention to defensive shots. There have been reports in all divisions regarding coaches telling players to run up innings to keep handicaps down. We are watching these teams being reported. However, we need your help. When we get a call about running up innings and no defensive shots have been marked against the player running up the innings, it is difficult for us to make a judgement call. A defensive shot means no intent to pocket a ball. If someone is running up innings, then there must be defensive shots in the game. Defensive shots do not have to match on scoresheets. We also look at the amount of defensive shots marked against the opposing team and your own team. If you only mark against the opposing team, then we will question your fairness in determining defensive shots.

We have been watching very closely at new players and whether or not they play in other leagues around the city. These players may be raised accordingly.

We are working very hard to make this a fair league and feel it has improved greatly over the last couple of sessions. But we also need your help. Marking defensive shots, hearing that a coach is encouraging players to run up innings, and anything else a team is doing to cheat needs to come before the league office.

We have immediately implemented bonus points in 9-ball. For envelopes postmarked on time, each team will receive 20 bonus points. Because 9-ball is done on a mail-in basis, we are requiring that 9-ball envelopes (scoresheets and fees) be postmarked the day after play in order to receive bonus points. Bonus points can make a big difference in division standings for both 8 ball and 9 ball. Bonus points can be the determining factor in wins.

Our updated website has a lot of information on it for you to review. Log on to apacolumbus.com to see the enhancements. You can obtain division schedules, division standings, weekly team points, and top gun/performance (previously MVP). The duplicate player numbers have been resolved, so all divisions are now updated weekly.

These reports are updated on the website by Friday noon with the exception of divisions 241, 242, 637, 046, and 871. These divisions will be updated by Monday noon. This will be with whatever information we have. We will not be updating any other times.

The Spring Singles Regional tournament will be held at the Golden Eight Ball on March 1^st and 2^nd. All contestants should have received a letter of invitation from the National APA by now (another reason to have current and complete addresses on players).

The following players will represent the Central Ohio APA Pool league at the regional tournament:

Central Ohio is being represented with 18 out of 49 players in the region. If you have time either day, please stop in at the Golden 8 Ball to support these players.

We are starting a new session for singles boards. If anyone would like to run one, please call the office and we will mail the forms to you. If you set dates, we can get the information out to players in your area. If you still have one that wasn't used from before, please either return or set up a singles board and use it. The more singles boards run, the more representation your league will have at regional tournaments!!! If you commit to run a singles board and information has been sent to players, please follow through. It is discouraging to have players show up and no one to run the boards.

Nothing has been reported for this month, so no news. Except I think we are all ready for spring!!!

Richard Whaley

PH: (614) 833-1009

e-mail: apacolumbus@hotmail.com