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It has come to our
attention, that the rule regarding youth bowlers (any bowler UNDER
18) is being misunderstood. Unfortunately, bowlers under 18 can NOT
bowl in ANY adult leagues. For a youth bowler to become a league
member, the league would be required to sanction as an adult-youth
league, ALL adult bowlers would require
SafeSport training, and league officers would be REQUIRED to
become USBC Certified
RVP members (Registered
Volunteer Program). This information is important in the event a
bowler will turn 18 during the season, and a team wants to "squeeze
them in" which by the rules cannot be done. Sorry. The rules
regarding youth bowlers competing with adult bowlers (Rule 100a/2)
is written in the
Playing Rules handbook, and the applicable rule can be found
below:
100a. Qualifications
1. USBC will certify leagues participating in the game of American
Tenpins provided they meet the following requirements:
a. Apply for USBC certification.
1) A league is temporarily certified at the start of its current
schedule for 30 days counting the first day of competition.
2) The league will be eligible for all membership services while
temporarily certified provided its league application and membership
fees are submitted on or before the end of the grace period.
b. Consist of four or more teams with the playing strength of one or more
players per team as determined by league rule.
c. Bowl in accordance with a prearranged schedule based on the number of
teams in the league.
d. Adopt rules and
prize list (if any). (See Rule 106a and Rule 102.) (Suggested adult
and youth league rules can be found on BOWL.com.)
e. All players seeking membership must be qualified under the bylaws and
policies of USBC. (See the USBC Playing Rules, Rule 16.)
f. Provide for the designation of a team champion by the games bowled in
scheduled competition.
g. All games must be bowled and conducted in strict compliance with the
playing rules.
h. Govern themselves by USBC rules. Other rules may be added but must not
conflict with USBC rules.
2. Every time the league is scheduled to bowl, three consecutive
games are to be bowled by each team, unless another number of games
has been established by league rule.
100a/2 Can a 16-year-old
bowl in a USBC adult league?
No. USBC Adult membership is available to individuals 18 years or
older. Any league which allows youth to bowl must be certified as an
Adult/Youth league. In any Adult/Youth league, all members 18 years
of age or older must have completed a U.S. Center for SafeSport
training within a year prior to the time the member joins the league
or immediately thereafter. In addition, all league officers must be
a Registered Volunteer
Rule 100b, regarding
Adult-Youth League Requirements is as follows:
3. Adult/Youth - An
adult/youth league is one in which youth members 18 years of age or
younger bowl with adult members 18 years of age or older.
a. The following apply to all adult/youth leagues:
1) All awards must conform to the provisions stated in Rule 400.
(See Chapter 1: Introduction.) If Scholarships are offered, all
scholarships are submitted to SMART to manage. (See BOWL.com/SMART
for instructions on how to enter lists and send funds.)
2) Leagues are comprised of males and females, unless otherwise
provided by league rule.
3) U.S. Center for SafeSport
training must be completed in the current season by:
a) All members 18 years of age or older at the time the league starts
must complete the training prior to competing in the league.
b) Any member 17 years of age who will turn 18 during the league session
must complete the training prior to turning 18 or before competing
in the league once the member turns 18.
4) All league officers 18 years of age or older, must be Registered
Volunteers.
b. Adult/Youth leagues will not be certified until all members 18 years
of age or older have U.S. Center for SafeSport training for the
current season.
Unfortunately, rule 400
regarding a parental consent form does not apply, as that applies
only to YOUTH competition and prizes awarded therein. See below:
Rule 400: USBC Youth
membership is available to individuals who have not reached their
18th birthday prior to August 1 of the current bowling season and
have maintained compliance with Item a below.
Individuals who purchase Youth membership in a summer league and
turn 18 prior to August 1 will be allowed to complete the summer
league.
a. Except as provided in Item b, a youth may not bowl, substitute or pace
in any bowling activity which offers any of the following as prizes:
1. Cash or bonds.
2. Merchandise exceeding $500 in value.
b. Youth may bowl in singles competitions (including side
competitions/brackets) offering such prizes, provided, prior to
bowling:
1. The youth and parent/legal guardian sign the Consent Form (See
BOWL.com/Rules)
2. The competition agrees to award the youth's prize in the form of
a scholarship; or
3. The youth waives his/her right to any prize in violation of this
rule.
In youth competition, youth members may participate in side
competitions/brackets provided all entries are returned 100% in the
form of scholarships only and awards comply with Item a.
Additionally, rule 400/5 further supports:
400/5 Can a youth member bowl
in an adult doubles or team event where cash or bonds are offered if
the Consent Form is signed or the competition agrees to offer
scholarships through SMART?
No. Rule 400 only allows
youth to participate in adult singles competitions with cash or bond
prizes and/or merchandise prizes valued in excess of $500 provided
they submit the Consent Form prior to participating in such a
competition.
Question: I have a bowler who
is new to the game. He is using his uncles old ball. It has 3 finger
holes, but the bowler cups the ball, using no fingers. Is this
legal?
Answer: If the ball has holes, there must be fingers in them. Using
a ball with holes, and not using them is a violation of the
equipment specification.
How is this rule enforceable? Once it is discovered that
a bowler is using equipment that is not in specification, the
equipment must be removed from the competition and corrected before
it can be used again in competition. If a bowler continues using non
conforming equipment with the knowledge that it is out of
specification, the scores are subject to forfeiture until the
equipment is brought to spec.
Question: I have a bowler
that wears his sneakers when bowling. Isnt this
illegal??
Answer: Using sneakers to bowl is not illegal. There are
no rules regarding footwear. However, Rule 12 states
"Detracting from the possibility of other players having
normal conditions is prohibited" in other words,
sneakers are ok, provided the soles are non marking, and
there is no rubber transfer to the approaches. The soles
must be clean and not deposit debris to the approach.
This means as
long as wearing sneakers does not cause issue with
another bowlers delivery, there is no "rule" about
sneakers on the lanes. To this end, marring soles, easy
slide, rosin, water, snow, dirt, all detract from
another bowlers delivery and are prohibited. The house
may however, have rules regarding wearing footwear that
may prematurely wear the lane surface. And the house may
police that.
But it is NOT a USBC rule.
For more information, see
Bowl.com for the
USBC Playing Rules Handbook
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