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League Operator - Dan Mittskus
League Operator - Dan Mittskus
Dan Mittskus has always loved the game of pool. From sneaking into a pool hall at 9 years old, to playing in his grandparent’s basement or the bumper pool table that eventually made its way to his house he’s always enjoyed the game. He started playing league for the first time in APA right here in Ft. Lupton, CO in the fall of 2017. Quickly learning that this was well more than a game, these people were family. They were welcoming and fun to be around with a little bit of competition mixed in and he was hooked!
Dan has worked in a variety of industries, from pipefitting and oil field, to credit restoration and selling DirecTV. During the shut downs in 2020 he re-evaluated where he wanted to be and knew he was done being someone’s employee but knew that whatever he did he had to love! At the time APA was a major passion of his and he found a way to do what he loves.
In March 2021 he was fortunate enough to qualify for the Poolplayer Championships in Las Vegas. On the drive home he was able to reflect and learned one very important thing on this trip. That event is too special of an opportunity to not share it with as many people as possible. Especially when anyone, at any skill level, can and does become a champion!
In September 2021 he took over Weld and Morgan Counties. Since then, he has worked to build the league to qualify as many people as possible to share in that same dream that he once was able to participate in. Nowadays his favorite thing is being able to hang out and watch his players compete at that same tournament in Las Vegas. The only questions he ever has now is… “Who will the next one qualified be?” and “How do we get more people to go?”
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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