The rules
of the game
The numbers you’ll ask about
Official rules & regulations
Equipment
Table
- Tables shall be made of high-quality, smooth, and non-porous materials approved by the APL.
- Table max dimensions: 24" wide x 48" long x 36" high.
- Target Marker Position: Centered both front to back and left to right on table.
- Tower Position: Placed in the front right corner - The center of the Tower to be located exactly 4.5 inches from the front and right side edges of the table.
Darts
- Players shall use APL-approved Popdarts-branded darts for all sanctioned events. Pro Darts are the only approved darts until Season 3 begins. Season 3 Elite Darts and Target Markers will be the sanctioned darts for play.
- Players shall not alter darts after purchase, including modifications to suction cups or weights.
- Players shall have two different colorways ready for use.
Court Layout
Court
- The court shall be set up with two adjacent player boxes; The player boxes shall each be no larger than 3 ft wide and 4 ft deep. The front edge of each box shall be located 17 ft from the Target Marker. The center line between the player boxes shall be in line with the center line of the table. These boxes define the designated throwing zones for the 2 players during gameplay.
Vertical Clearance
- Indoor or covered play shall provide a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet. Greater than 12 ft of vertical clearance is recommended.
Pre-Game
Practice
- Players may complete practice throws during open play sessions before the game begins. Not to exceed 6 darts per player. Once the game begins, no practice throws are allowed.
- Opportunity for Warm up time prior to league or tournament play must be fair for all competitors.
Match Setup
- Begin with a Coin flip or Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine a winner. (Side or Honors)
- The winner may: 1. Choose to go first or second (Honors) or 2. Choose the Player Box they will throw from. Either to go first or second, or which side to throw from.
- The loser then receives the remaining choice.
- Each player shall use three Popdarts of a single colorway; Opposing players may not use the same colorway during the game.
Gameplay
Throwing Protocol
To start the game, the player that chose to go first throws the first Popdart.
- Players must alternate throws within a round to maintain a consistent rhythm of play.
- When it is a player’s turn to throw, the throw shall be made from within the designated player box, with both feet remaining in the designated player’s box. The player may leave their designated player box during the round to examine dart placement once calling timeout.
- The non-throwing player must remain inside their designated player box while their opponent is throwing.
- Players shall alternate throws until all 6 darts have been thrown.
- Once the final dart is released, both players may immediately leave their player boxes.
- The player who scores points in the previous round throws first in the following round. If the previous round results in a tie (wash), then honors change, and the player that threw second in the previous round now throws first in the following round.
- If a player leaves the box during the round they get a 1 point deduction - Exceptions: Specialty shot celebration or time-out has been called.
Shot Clock
- Shot clock: A player has 10 seconds to throw the next dart.
- Shot Clock Violation: Results in a “dead dart” for the next dart. Play continues to the next player to throw.
Timeouts
- Each team is allowed one timeout per round.
- The shot clock resets after a timeout.
Gameplay Penalties
- Early Exit Violation: Leaving the players’ box before the final dart is released results in a 1-point deduction for the offending player.
- Throwing Out of Bounds: A dart thrown from outside the players’ box is declared a dead dart and removed from play.
- Challenge Timing: All challenges regarding infractions (e.g., early movement, illegal throws) must be made before the next throw occurs.
- Shot Clock Violation: Results in a “dead dart” for the next dart. Play continues to the next player to throw.
Scoring
- After all 6 Popdarts have been thrown, points are awarded using Cancellation Scoring.
Cancellation Scoring
- The points of one team cancel out the points of the opponent.
- Example: The blue team scores 5 points, and the green team scores 2 points; the blue team wins 3 points and honors for the round.
Scoring breakdown
Note: Specialty Points are stackable (Lippy & Fender Bender = +2)
- Landed dartsOnly darts that are either stuck to the table, the tower, the target marker, another dart, or standing upright without leaning against any other object or surface are considered landed and therefore counted for points.
- T-NobberA Popdart lands on top of the Target Marker. This dart automatically becomes the closest landed dart; therefore, all other landed darts are worth 1 point (there is no 3-point dart for the closest landed dart)10points
- The dart that lands closest to the target markers3points
- Every other dart that lands1point
- Any Popdart that sticks and is touching the Target Marker (“Kiss aka Lippy”)+1additional point
- Wigglenobber™Double the points of the dart it sticks to, whether it’s your dart or the opponent’s dart.2×double the points
- Fender BenderA Popdart touches or is lodged against the Target Marker.+1additional point (can stack with Kiss)
- Tower ShotA Popdart lands on a tower5points
Rounds & the win
- The team that was awarded points in the previous round starts the next round.
- The first player to reach or exceed 21 points wins the game.
Advanced Rulings
- If the target marker becomes unsecured during a round, the round is immediately nullified, and the player with honors in that round forfeits honors for the next round. All darts that have been thrown are picked up, and the next round begins.
- If neither player lands a dart in a given round, the player with honors in that round forfeits honors for the next round.
- Tie Rule: If the closest dart from each player is equal distance from the Target Marker, the two tied Popdarts must be re-thrown, beginning with the team that originally threw first. Important: All other darts remain in play during this re-throw. Once the re-throw is complete, scoring is determined based on the landed darts on the table after the re-throw.
- Wash Round: If the round ends with zero points awarded for either player, the player with honors in that round forfeits honors for the next round.
- Measurements are made by the ref using the official Popdarts Wyre™ from the closest edge of the Popdart’s suction cup to the Target Marker.
Dart Policy
Darts
- Players are responsible for ensuring their equipment complies with APL regulations.
- Equipment challenges must be resolved before the game begins.
Player conduct
Player conduct is governed by the APL Player Conduct rules in the league format document, not by this gameplay rulebook. For a conduct question, contact your Organizer or team@iplayapl.com.
Broadcast Policy
Player Appearance
- Players on broadcast matches must wear approved APL jerseys.
- Sponsors must be approved by Council
Fan Conduct
- Fans are encouraged to cheer but must avoid personal attacks or profanity.
- Violations may result in removal from the venue.
Terms and Definitions
Unique Shots
- Wigglenobber™A Popdart sticks to another Popdart’s opposing suction cup.Point Value: Double the points of the Popdart it lands on
- T-nobberA Popdart lands on top of the Target Marker.Point Value: 10 points
- Kiss (aka Lippy)A Popdart touches the Target Marker while standing upright.Point Value: 1 additional point
- Fender BenderA dart touches or is lodged against the Target Marker (seperate from a kiss).Point Value: 1 additional point (can stack with Kiss)
- Inch WormA Popdart suctions to the Target Marker and the playing surface.Point Value: 11 points
- Tower ShotA Popdart lands on a designated tower shot.Point Value: 5 points
- T-BoneA Popdart rests on top of a live dart or target marker.Point Value: 0 points
- Dogbone (aka Dead Dart)A Popdart not standing upright. Dead darts remain in play until the round ends.
Gameplay Terms
- Live DartA Popdart is eligible for scoring only if it stands upright without leaning on any other object or surface.
- HonorsThe team going first in a given round
- CaptainThe team member designated to make decisions and provide coaching.
- Shot ClockThe time allowed for a player to throw a Popdart. The clock starts when the previous dart sticks or comes to rest.Time limit: 10 seconds
- TimeoutsEach team is allowed one timeout per round. The shot clock resets after a timeout.Penalty for exceeding time: Loss of next dart
Game Pieces
- Popdart®A double-sided suction cup dart.
- Target MarkerA double-sided target marker for Pro scoring.
- Wyre™Official measuring device.
Doubles (Rule D-1)
All format rules from singles apply to doubles format (2 players=1 team)
Doubles Play
D-1 Doubles Play
- Doubles play will consist of two players paired together as follows:
- Random top half seed and Random bottom half seed( known as Switcholio)
- Players will each have two darts for a total of four per pair to be thrown in the alternating format as listed:
- Throwing order:
- Doubles teams can choose their pairs throwing order each round
- One player of the pair with the round honors will throw their pairs first dart and leave the box.
- One player from the opposing pair will throw their pairs first dart and leave the box
- The second player of the pair with honors will throw their pairs second dart and leave the box
- The second player of the opposing pair will throw their pairs second dart and leave the box
- Repeat steps 1 thru 4 for remaining darts
- Players can enter the throwing box after their partner has vacated
- Doubles teams can choose their pairs throwing order each round
- Throwing order:
- All standard APL sanctioned gameplay applies including scoring and specialty shots
Wheelchair Policy
APL’s accessibility rules for players who use a wheelchair, verbatim from the Competition Format document.
The APL, through its leagues, tournaments, events, and access, offers a competitive, challenging, and welcoming environment for players with disabilities who use a wheelchair to participate in the APL, whatever their skill level.
To support the sport and the camaraderie among its members, these rules apply to wheelchair competition in addition to all other APL rules where applicable.
ADA Compliance and Accommodations
The APL complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and with the accessibility laws of the state where the event is held. The rules in this section are reasonable accommodations that let players who use wheelchairs compete on equal terms.
Any player may request a reasonable accommodation, before or during an event, from the tournament Organizer or from the APL at team@iplayapl.com. The APL and its Organizers will use a good-faith interactive process, review each request individually, and grant it unless it would fundamentally alter APL competition or create a direct safety risk that cannot reasonably be reduced.
A player need not share any more medical information than is needed to evaluate the request, and that information is kept confidential.
Accommodations are provided at no extra cost to the player, and no one will be retaliated against for requesting an accommodation or raising an accessibility concern.
Where this section sets a specific measurement or procedure, an alternative may be provided as a reasonable accommodation based on the player's individual needs.
Gameplay
- The throwing distance for a player using a wheelchair begins at 14 feet from the center marker. A player may request a different distance as a reasonable accommodation based on individual need.
- The player(s) must have at least one rear wheel remaining behind the foul line during live rounds.
- All other APL rules remain in effect.
Stick Helpers
Once the player has been positioned, the helper must move him/herself away from the player before the throwing round starts. The helper may not hold or touch the player after they have been put in place. Helpers will be required to adhere to the APL dress code.
Players in a wheelchair may use grabbers or other means for retrieving darts.
Delay of Game
If a player has to leave the throwing box for a personal emergency after the game starts, the player shall have thirty (30) minutes of make-up time to finish the rounds or games missed. In the case of a wheelchair breakdown, the tournament Organizer shall be advised of the delay. If, in the Organizer's judgment, the repairs will be lengthy, the Organizer shall:
- For round robin play: Instruct the games be paused and their opponent moved to the player queue for their next game in the round robin.
- For bracket play: the game will be paused until the bracket play can no longer continue and then a 15 min timer will start. After 15 minutes the game will resume. If the player is still not ready a “special substitute” can take the player's spot for the remainder of that game only.
All subsequent games will defer to the APL rules. After completion of the repairs, the player shall start at the beginning of the next full game.
Steadying a Wheelchair
No aid, device, mechanism, or person may steady the wheelchair unless it has been submitted to and approved by the APL tournament Organizer in advance, or unless it is a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
In an emergency (wheelchair breakdown) a helper may steady or hold a wheelchair in position if approved by the Organizer.
2026–27 League Rules
League play, sanctioning, scoring, and championship rules for certified APL clubs, effective for the 2026–2027 season. The full text, verbatim, restructured for the screen. This document sits alongside the gameplay rulebook above; it does not replace it.
League Qualifications, Schedule & Rankings
Qualifications
APL will certify leagues participating in the game of competitive Popdarts provided they meet the following requirements.
Apply for APL certification by
- Creating an Organizer profile, and
- Establishing a league club on Scoreholio, and
- Applying through the organizer form with the organizer names and contact information for approval.
Leagues Will Consist Of
- Three or more players/teams with any club affiliation.
- A minimum of four per-player games submitted to the APL in round-robin format. Organizers may choose to exceed four games.
- Players are required to have at minimum a Bronze APL membership to compete in round robins.
- The organizer shall provide a leaderboard for the games played in scheduled competition. A spreadsheet is advised to maintain league records.
- All games must be played and conducted in strict compliance with the current-season APL rules.
- Organizers must govern their leagues and themselves by APL rules. Other club league rules may be added that do not conflict with APL rules.
Schedule
- The Official APL “Full” Season begins on the 2nd Saturday in August and ends on July 31st each year.
- Sanctioned league formats are divided into four independent League Quarters within the Full Season.
- Leagues run Quarters 1–4 in compliance with APL season dates.
- Players may register for the entire Quarter Season prior to the first week of match play.
- Clubs shall submit a minimum of four round-robins within each Quarter Season.
- Clubs run under the Round Robin format with a minimum of four match games per player per week.
- Round Robin weekly games count toward individual stats and intra-league standings for end-of-quarter club tournaments.
- Clubs run a League Championship tournament and submit only one (1) bracket at the end of each Quarter Season.
- Players must have a minimum of three weeks of league play on record, for the Quarter in that club, to qualify for the League Championship tournament.
- Players must be sanctioned to participate in the League Championship.
- Brackets are seeded from the Win/Loss record accumulated from the weekly round-robin games within the Quarter Season.
- Each Quarter Season Championship bracket result is accepted for the National rankings system, provided:
- All scheduled / round-robin league weeks are submitted to the APL for approval.
- All players are sanctioned with the APL for the bracket tournament.
- APL will determine the start and stop dates for Quarter Seasons each year.
The APL has published the dates this rule reserves to it: the Full Season runs Aug 29, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027: Q1 Aug 29 – Nov 6, 2026 · Q2 Nov 16, 2026 – Feb 6, 2027 · Q3 Feb 15 – May 1, 2027 · Q4 May 10 – Jul 31, 2027. See the official Season Dates (PDF), or Season Info for the full structure.
National Points / Rankings
- Players select a primary club to earn points from a variety of events.
- League season points: accumulated total from highest placement for each quarterly League Season Championship tournament (four total in a Full Season).
- Tournament points:
- Highest finishes for up to twelve (12) local tournaments for the full season.
- Highest four placements in any Conference tournament during the season.
- Highest three placements from any Regional tournament during the season.
- Highest two placements at any Destination Series tournament during the season.
- Closed tournaments do not provide points for rankings.
Sanctioning Fee Requirements
Sanctioning Fee Requirements
To be eligible to participate in an APL tournament, a player must:
- Have a current APL Silver Membership or above, or
- Pay, or show proof of payment of, APL membership before the start of the tournament.
Note
Failure to pay league fees could result in suspension or revocation of APL sanctioning.
League Fees
League Fees
League fees consist of the total paid for playing, the prize fund, and any other amount voted by the league. All league fees, including any entry or sponsor fee, are decided by the club organizer.
Commonly Asked Questions
QCan a player from one club join a league at a different club or venue?
Yes. A player is free to join as many leagues as they want. It is the player’s choice which club they want as their primary, as long as there is one. Players need a primary club listed with their sanctioning in order to receive national ranking points.
QIs the organizer or venue required to provide an open lane during league play?
The APL does not have a rule requiring open lanes be provided during league play. Whenever leagues have concerns regarding this issue, it is recommended the club organizer address the matter with center management.
QMay a league adopt a rule prohibiting members from practicing before league play?
The APL does not have a rule prohibiting practice games before league play. Because the league has no jurisdiction until play has commenced, this type of rule may infringe on the proprietor’s rights as an independent business person. If the league wanted to adopt such a rule, the proprietor would have to be consulted first and agree to the restriction.
Scores
Scoring Process (In League Play)
- Scores must be recorded on Scoreholio in plain view of players.
- Every round played shall be recorded.
- Players shall record the scores of each game.
- The Scoreholio app is the league’s official record for the season.
- Errors in scoring or calculation must be corrected by a league organizer immediately upon discovery.
Scores Lost
When game(s) or round(s) within a game are irretrievably lost in the scoring process, the following procedures shall apply:
- Scores that can be documented or agreed upon by the players stand, and the game resumes from the point of interruption in regular order.
- Scores that cannot be documented or agreed upon by the players shall be replayed.
L-4.1 Failure to Complete Game
With cause
- When a player is unable to complete a game because of disability, injury, or emergency, the game will cease and scores will be recorded in the Scoreholio app.
Without cause
- When a player does not complete a game for reasons other than disability, injury, or emergency, the player forfeits the game entirely. The opposing player may choose to play out their remaining rounds to 21.
- If there is any doubt of a player’s reason for not being able to continue a game, the league board shall decide.
- A player who leaves a game without cause cannot return to the same game.
L-4.2 Pause in Gameplay
A player who starts a game and then needs to pause due to appropriate reasons or an emergency may return to resume the game before completion of the round robin, unless the league rules do not allow a player to return.
L-4.3 Request
Games must be played as scheduled, unless a request is made prior to the scheduled time and approved by a majority of the league, except for emergencies.
League Championship
League Championship
League Championship: end-of-quarter competition conducted by leagues. The playoff bracket shall be conducted in a double-elimination format.
Procedures, unless the league rules state otherwise
- Competitions are conducted under the same rules governing league play during the regular season.
- When more than two players/teams are involved, a playoff from the competition shall decide the winner.
- Games are counted toward individual stats and badges.
- Points from placement are counted toward the APL Ranking Leaderboard.
- The league organizer arranges to have additional tables if needed.
L-5.1 Special Contests
A special contest is competition for prize money scheduled by the league where the scores do not count toward regular league standings, such as a tournament.
- Participation must be limited to sanctioned players only.
- APL tournament rules govern play.
- Scores which qualify for APL awards will be recognized.
- Games are counted toward individual stats and badges.
League Fee Arrearages
League Fee Arrearages
A league can adopt a rule to declare games forfeited if participants in a lineup are not current in league fee payments (see the rule for nonpayment of league fees and dismissal procedures). A league that does not adopt such a rule is responsible for any loss incurred by such arrearage.
2026–27 Tournament Rules
These rules govern APL-sanctioned tournaments for the 2026–2027 season and sit alongside every rule book above.
Tournaments
Definition
- A sanctioned official tournament is a competition, other than a league, in which the game of competitive American Popdarts is played.
- Competition can include one or more events.
- Elimination-style play will decide the champions and other prize winners in each of the events unless another system is stated within the specific tournament rules:
- As long as the rules do not interfere with or alter standard APL rules
- A charity or closed tournament designation is granted
T-1.1 Qualifications
- APL will issue a tournament sanction approval provided:
- The tournament is submitted using the Scoreholio App.
- The tournament consists of
- A singles tournament of four or more individual entrants and/or
- A doubles tournament of three or more teams
- The tables and equipment used are licensed or approved for Official APL use.
- Competition among entrants in an event is held in the same establishment.
- When an event is divided into two or more divisions, competition in each division is held in the same establishment
- A tournament may be refused if the tournament does not comply with the APL rules, and/or the number or value of the prizes offered or guaranteed are misrepresented.
QMy tournament starts tomorrow. Can I change my tournament format?
Yes. You may adjust the tournament format until the starting date of the tournament.
QIs there a cost to submit a tournament with the APL?
Yes. There is a fee per each tournament submission. If you are running multiple divisions, the fee will be for each division submitted.
QCan I change the designation of my tournament before the start?
No. If a designation is approved by the APL, the tournament would need to be cancelled and re-formatted for the new designation.
T-1.2 Eligibility
All entrants in a tournament must qualify under the rules of the tournament.
- Tournaments.
- All participants are required to have at minimum, a current APL Silver Membership or
- they must pay the member fee prior to participation unless
- the tournament is designated a:
- Charity tournament
- Recreational tournament
- Closed tournament
- the tournament is designated a:
- Participants that play in non-sanctioned tournaments are not eligible for APL awards.
T-1.3 Fees
All Events
- All participants’ fees must be paid in full prior to the start of the tournament.
- Participants can be charged an additional fee for a tournament with an all-events contest:
- when two or more events are scheduled or
- when two or more tournaments are conducted under the same Club.
- When an all-events fee is charged, the following apply:
- Expense fees may be charged for participation in an optional all-events contest when in accordance with APL rules.
- The all-events fee must be paid before:
- the advertised closing date for entries, or
- before the participant plays any of the events, whichever comes first.
- No fees returned within Twenty-Four hours of Tournament start.
- If a participant does not show, resigns, withdraws or receives disciplinary action resulting in a sanction suspension/ban/revocation, the entry fee cannot be refunded
T-1.4 Registration
Entries
Unless stated as part of the tournament format, registration will remain open up to 1 hour prior to start time.
In Advance
- If the date for closing entries is before the opening day of the tournament, the following shall apply:
- Advance notification of time and date of registration close must be given to team captains and individual entrants.
- All mailed entries postmarked the first post office business day after the entry closing date shall be accepted. Any additional entries for any event shall not be accepted after that date.
- If a bracket is not published, a complete list of entrants must be available for public view.
- Tournament management cannot show in Scoreholio the schedule hidden or “reserved” or similar term instead of the name each team or individual entry
Submitting Mailed Payments
- Submission of a mailed payment must contain
- The names of the players entered.
- The required fees to be paid by each player.
- Payments must be received by tournament Organizers
- on or before the registration closing date, or
- Day of tournament before the start of play
T-1.5 Free or Reduced Entries
Free Entry
- When a free entry is given, an amount equal to the prize fee for such entry must be paid into the tournament prize fund by management.
Reduced Entry
- When a reduced entry is given, an amount equal to the prize fee for such entry must be paid into the tournament prize fund by management,
T-1.6 Multiple Participation
- Unless the tournament rules state otherwise:
- Participation in each event shall be limited to one entry.
Tournament Formats
Tournament Formats
- All tournaments once approved and scheduled cannot change the dates and start times within 14 days of the tournament except for the following conditions:
- Weather related concerns
- Power outage and/or internet interruptions
- Written request and approval by the APL
- When a tournament schedule is adjusted or changed, All players must be notified of:
- The changes involved and reasons for the adjustment
- The new dates and times
- Location changes
- Available options for withdrawal and full refund from the event organizer
- No changes will be approved within 24 hr of start times.
- It is the players responsibility to:
- Adhere to the APL and any specific tournament dress code rules
- Obtain proper sanctioning prior to start of play
- Arrive on time for the scheduled start of play
- Notify the Organizer if they are delayed and
- How long until they will arrive est.
- If they still plan to participate
- If a player is absent and notification efforts not provided to the organizer, the player will:
- Be given a 15 min grace period from the start of play until their 1st game/match is ruled forfeit
- Not allowed to play makeup games in the round robin formats
- Ruled ineligible to continue after the grace period ends
T-2.1 Seeding
- Tournament Seeding will be generated from the Official APL 2026-2027 Round Robin play statistics
- Total Points being the primary metric tiebreakers going to win / loss percentile of total sanctioned round robin games
- If player has no applicable statistics they will be seeded in the lower 25 percentile randomly
Tournament Classifications
T-3.1 Open
- A tournament qualifies for Open status with the following:
- Is available to all APL sanctioned players
- Advertised as Open for minimum number of days prior to event (see T-3.1.1)
- No restrictions on skill level
- Prize pool in cash and/or cash value prizes
- Payouts of at least 50% entry fee without sponsorship additions
T-3.1.1 Open Classifications
Local
- A local tournament must be comprised of the following;
- Minimum of eight participants (four teams for doubles)
- Minimum 14 days advertising and promotion
- Minimum entry fee of $20 per player
- Trophies/Physical Awards for top three finishers - Optional
- No less than two(2) Official APL Approved tables
- Visible, accurate lane markings, throwers boxes and table setup
- Organizers can run up to one Local per month for a maximum of Twelve(12) per full season.
Conference
- A Conference tournament can only be organized with approval of the Conference Director and must be comprised of the following:
- Minimum sixteen(16) entrants (eight(8) teams for doubles) and
- Two independent clubs in addition to the host organizers club (Three Total)
- Minimum 30 days advertising and promotion
- Minimum entry fee $40 per player
- Trophies/Physical awards for top 3 finishers
- No less Than four(4) Official APL Approved tables
- Conference Director must be available and present
- Minimum sixteen(16) entrants (eight(8) teams for doubles) and
- Conference Directors can approve and/or organize one conference tournament per quarter season for a maximum of four per full season
Regional
- A Regional tournament requires approval of both the Regional Director and the APL Governing Council
- Regional tournaments must be comprised of the following:
- Minimum of Thirty two(32) entrants (sixteen(16) teams for doubles) and;
- Eight of the players must be from two or more Conferences
- Minimum 60 days Advertising and promotion
- Minimum entry fee $60 per player
- Trophies/Physical awards for top three finishers
- No Less than six(6) Official APL Approved tables
- Regional Director or APL Council must be available and present
- Minimum of Thirty two(32) entrants (sixteen(16) teams for doubles) and;
- Regional Directors or APL Council can approve/organize up to two tournaments within the full season
T-3.2 Closed, Charity, Invitational, Exhibition
- A closed tournament is one in which the tournament is conducted by a single civic, fraternal, benevolent, military service, union or religious organization. Under APL’s discretion, a closed tournament may be granted sanctioned status for players when:
- It meets all of the APL requirements
- Participation is restricted to those affiliated with the entity conducting the tournament.
- Anyone under APL Sanctioned suspension/ban/revoke or who has been refused sanctioning for any reason will not be allowed to participate.
- APL sanctioned players may participate in a closed tournament with individual award recognition automatically extended.
- Eligible nonmembers may qualify for APL Sanctioning given dues paid before competition begins.
QI am conducting an in-house tournament for players who only participate in leagues at that venue only. Would this qualify as a closed tournament?
No, a closed or private tournament is one in which the tournament is conducted by and within a single civic, fraternal, benevolent, military service, union or religious organization. Examples: firefighters, police, churches, schools, private clubs like the Shriners, Lions, Moose etc.
QCan guests of members playing participate in a closed tournament?
No. Guests cannot participate; all participants must be affiliated with the organization.
T-3.3 Pro-Am
- Pro-am style tournaments conducted for a charitable organization, or in conjunction with an APL official tournament must adhere to the following conditions:
- Participants who are identified as professionals by APL decision may not share in the amateur prize distribution.
- The score of the professional counts with the score of each designated amateur.
- All other APL rules apply to the competition, including submission requirements.
- A pro-am style format can be certified by the APL.
Distribution of Prize Funds
Distribution of Prize Funds
- The sponsor and management of a sanctioned APL tournament must handle prize funds as follows:
- The portion of each entry fee designated as prize fee is held only for the participants in that event, in a separate account, and is not commingled with operating or personal funds.
- These funds are used only to pay prizes for that event or division, and records are made available to the APL on request. Any shortfall is the responsibility of the organizer.
- All prize money collected in an event or division of an event must be returned to the participants in that event or division of that event, except:
- where replacements or corrections require a change. In that case:
- prizes will be distributed to reflect the actual number of participants in the event or division of the event.
- where replacements or corrections require a change. In that case:
- The APL, at its discretion, could:
- require a bond, or
- a satisfactory assurance that the prize fund obligations will be met.
- The following prize fund requirements apply, unless otherwise provided by tournament rule:
- The last-placing position for a prize, including those paid for a tie, must be equal or greater to the amount of the prize pool portion of the entry fee in the event.
- In both doubles and singles events there shall be at least a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
- When there are 50 or more entries in an event or division of an event
- First place or the amount spent from the prize fund for a first-place prize, shall not exceed 40 percent of the total prize fund.
- Second place must be equal to or greater than one-half of the amount spent from the prize fund for first place.
- When special prizes are offered, no more than 10% of the entire prize fund can be used toward special prizes.
Prize Fund Compliance
Prizes must be awarded on the basis of player skill, and each event must comply with the prize, contest, and any applicable gaming laws of the state where the event is held.
QI am starting a new tournament and would like to guarantee payment of the first-place prize money, but I do not have sponsors. The only problem is that I am not confident that there will be enough entries to cover what I plan to pay out. What should I do?
Any advertised guaranteed prize must be paid in full regardless of the number of entries received. Without a sponsor or an escrow arrangement, pay prizes as a set percentage of the entries received rather than a guaranteed amount. If you do guarantee a prize, be ready to show the APL evidence of escrow or a surety bond, and confirm the prize structure is lawful in the state where the event is held.
