League Information
The Diamond League is for ANY players who want to participate in a competitive league structure. Using our proprietary grading and scoring system, teams only score points by winning games, not by potting balls. While players are graded, there is no match handicap in this league, all teams will play off scratch, but there are limits to team rosters.
The scoring system supports lower-graded players and puts more pressure on the better players to perform in an environment that actively supports player improvement. Keep an eye on your BCAPL Scoring App and FargoRate App for schedules and updates.
Format
Regular Season runs for 16 weeks plus Finals.
Season Commences Monday February 5, 2024.
We will be aiming to hold the Las Vegas Showdown at Sydney’s Premier Cue Sports Venue in North Strathfield Club 9. Assuming we open on time, the players are in for a real treat so mark these dates 13-14 July 2024 in your calendar.
Team
Three-Player Teams + 2 Reserves
Initial team make up will be limited to a maximum team value of 1775 Team Total Fargo Rate (based on 3 highest players)
Match Format
The Diamond League uses an exciting Match format for three-player teams over 21 games of pool. Every player plays seven games of pool across the night. While the match is predominantly 8-ball singles (16 games), Diamond League have mixed things up with the sixth round being a Scotch Doubles match while the first round is a complete round of 10-ball (3 games). The exciting final round is for DOUBLE points while the final game is our special Marquee Matchup where the highest Fargo Rated player from each team faces off for victory. More than 85% of matches come down to the double points rounds which keeps teams in the hunt until the last games.
Rating System
Diamond League uses Fargo Rate a recognised global rating system to help us rate players based on individual performance. Our proprietary scoring system allows all players from Novices to Professional to fairly compete. Diamond League believes that Fargo Rate and scoring system is there to allow less experienced teams to compete on a fair footing with stronger teams with a focus on winning games, rather than handing out false victories through potting balls as other league systems do.
Diamond League want players to practice, strive to improve, and get all the competitive enjoyment that the game has to offer. The majority of our registered league players and our League Staff recognize the ability of these players. Diamond League also has statistics on many players through tournaments and various other pool, snooker, billiard events and organizations. Diamond League believes this system of play properly returns the focus of the League back to winning games rather than worrying about balls potted.
The aim is to win a game of pool by all sportsmanlike means possible within the BCAPL Rules, not chasing points by potting five balls then missing, and thus handing an easy victory to your opponent. While this system may seem harsh at first, it is actually a much better environment for learning players to hone their skills and improve.
Our Scoring System
Each player has a ‘scalp’ based on their FargoRate; the higher the FargoRate the greater the value. The winner of a game scores their opponent’s scalp towards their team’s total points. The loser scores no points. Diamond League uses the 20-point play which allocates winning points based on the difference between players FargoRate, as shown in the following table:
A lower Fargo Rate rated player has a lower scalp and so even if they lose every game, they still only give away minimal points for the entire match. As soon as they start winning games these points even up meaning that risk/reward is heavily in their favour.
Our system provides the perfect environment for less experienced players to learn while maintaining the integrity of the game. Our system treats players of all levels fairly with greater responsibility placed upon more highly experienced players. The points “at play” have been mathematically worked out from over 500,000+ games of data to statistically even up match play as fairly as possible.
We use the BCAPL Scoring App to score league matches in the Diamond League. Download your free copy today!
Forming a Team
A legal team consists of three core players. You are required to provide accurate information concerning your participation in the event to officials. You may be required to produce photo identification upon request from league officials, so ensure you have it with you.
The team points total is the sum of the three player’s team Fargo Ratings. The team point total is used to limit the number of higher-graded players a team may play.
The maximum team point total allowed for a new team starting the season is 1775 Fargo Rate Team Cap. An individual player rating cap of 720 will now be enforced as per the BCAPL rules
Weekly Ladder Scoring
You score the following:
Win= 5 points
Win by Forfeit = 6 points
Loss = 1 point
Past the Post = 2 points (the round before the scotch doubles)
Bye = 3 points
Draw = 3 points for each team
Forfeit: 0 points (weekly fees MUST still be paid)
Marquee Match = 1 point
One of the primary issues Diamond League has identified is the difficulty of rating teams on a ladder from different regions where the strength of those regions can be wildly different.
If you are a 499 Fargo Rate in one region, you are a 499 Fargo Rate in all regions. Therefore, each region scores points fairly towards your division ladder example Monday night or Tuesday night at Lidcombe.
Our system is intrinsically fair for scoring across regions of differing strengths. Because the teams are fairly rated, the Division Ladder is a fair indicator of how your team has performed.
Costs
Player Fees and BCA Sanctioning
All players MUST be financial members of the BCAPL to be eligible to play at the BCA Nationals in Las Vegas each year.
BCA Pool League Membership Fee
Players will pay a $30 League Registration fee once per calendar year, this fee covers the cost of BCAPL Sanctioning of the players within the Diamond League.
League Jerseys
We have partnered with the local Australian and New Zealand distributor of Onboard Sportswear when choosing which Diamond League jersey, you will purchase.
All these jerseys have our sponsor logos so you know you will fit the part and look great in those social media photos.
These awesome jerseys cost $89 each and take 5-6 weeks to produce with NO MINIMUM order. These are lightweight and very comfortable to wear with over 50 designs to choose from.
See the link on the home page of the Diamond League website to order yours now from www.onboardsportswear.com.au.
Weekly Fees
$25 per player will be paid to your Player Representative.
Forfeits
In the case of a forfeit, each team must pay their weekly $75 fees to maintain the financial health of the prize fund and running costs of the league. This weekly payment must be paid by the following week. However, please note that a forfeited match may be rescheduled and played (depending upon agreement between the two teams captains and League officials).
A rescheduled match counts towards both regional and Grand Ladders and there are NO catch up matches past round 24 of the season. Any team that suddenly forfeits 3 weeks in a row or 4 times across the season will be disqualified from the league, this will result in forfeiture of all fees, prizes and ladder points. For teams to enter into the Finals all forfeits must be fully paid for, no league fees, BCAPL membership fees, or League fees can be outstanding.
Note: A forfeit will be automatically applied if a team cannot field a team of 3 players, by the commencement of the 3rd” round. Points will be deducted as per the rules covering late players.”
Finals
After 16 weeks of the regular season your Division Ladder results are your team’s passport to the finals – the Las Vegas Showdown is for the top 50% where a majority of the prize fund will be allocated and the bottom 50% will be invited to play in the Diamond League Shield for a smaller share of the spoils.
The Las Vegas Showdown is to be hosted at Club9 Sydney’s premier cue sports venue, 29-30 June 2024 so mark these dates in your calendar. In an adjusted double elimination style, the top 50% of teams across all division ladders will duel it out to have their names etched in the perpetual trophy, glory last forever. Cash prize of $12,000 on offer for the Las Vegas Showdown along with Trophies for the Champions. Prize fund is based on a total 20-24 Teams in the Diamond League.
The Diamond League Shield to be hosted at Club 9 in July 2024 dates TBC. In an adjusted double elimination style, the bottom 50% of teams across all division ladders will be invited to compete. Cash prize of $4,000 on offer for the Diamond League Shield along with Trophies for the Champions. Prize fund is based on a total 20-24 Teams in the Diamond League.
All teams must wear Diamond League Jerseys and Green Fees apply. All teams must be 100% financial to take part in either finals series. Teams are fully seeded in the Finals according to where they finish overall with the team on the highest points being afforded top seeding. Every win REALLY counts so don’t put the cue in the rack.
We are maintain the final’s series which will be double elimination up and till the final four teams (2 winners and 2 losers), from there it will be straight knock-out. The two undefeated teams will earn a CASH bonus in lieu of the life not used, this BONUS is for the current season only as there will be a finals change in the following season.
Prizes
Team final positions really impacts the potential payout, the great news is that 60% of the field is getting a chance to earn some the dollars invested while playing pool in a fair, safe and friendly environment the encourages competition and advancement of skills.
| POSITION | PAY OUT |
|---|---|
| 1 | $6,000.00 |
| 2 | $3,000.00 |
| 3 | $2,700.00 |
| 4 | $2,400.00 |
| 5 | $1,800.00 |
| 6 | 1,800.00 |
| 7 | $1,500.00 |
| 8 | $1,500.00 |
| 9 | $900.00 |
| 10 | $900.00 |
| 11 | $900.00 |
| 12 | $900.00 |
| 13 | $600.00 |
| 14 | $600.00 |
| 15 | $600.00 |
| 16 | $600.00 |
| WIN YOUR FEES BACK | |
| LUCKY DOOR PRIZE (S) | $1,200.00 |
| LUCKY DOOR PRIZE (N) | $1,200.00 |
| TOTAL PRIZE PAYOUT | $29,100.00 |
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