Unity in Competition. Independence in Identity.
Founding Purpose
The sport of pool becomes stronger when players, leagues, tournament organizers, venues and communities have greater opportunities to compete together. Differences in associations, disciplines, tournament systems and rating structures should not prevent fair and meaningful competition.
UPF provides common ground without requiring independent organizations to surrender what they have already built. Through common standards, player sanctioning, recognized competitive records, regional cooperation and progressively larger championships, the federation connects the pool community while preserving organizational independence.
Federation Principles
- Unity Without Uniformity: cooperation where common standards are necessary and independence where they are not.
- Player-Centered Competition: the individual competitor is the common element connecting organizations.
- Fair Competition: no single external rating automatically defines a player’s complete competitive identity.
- Opportunity Through Cooperation: growth in participation should produce visible growth in competitive opportunity.
Governance
UPF maintains a governing structure responsible for strategic direction, financial oversight, major policies, championship development, sanctioning standards, significant disciplinary matters, partnerships and amendments to governing policy. As the federation expands, representation can grow through operator, player, competition, integrity, championship and technology advisory bodies.
Organizational Structure
The federation framework recognizes UPF at the governing level; United Pool Leagues and UPF-sanctioned independent leagues at the organization level; regions, local operators and divisions at the operating level; and individual sanctioned members at the player level. Independent leagues are not required to become UPL unless they voluntarily choose to do so.
Non-Exclusivity
UPF membership generally does not prohibit participation in other leagues, tours, associations, tournaments or rating systems. Sanctioning an independent league does not inherently prevent that organization from maintaining other affiliations.