New Beginnings Mixed Bowling League Rules

2008 – 2009 Season

 

  1. SANCTIONING.     The Buffaloe Lanes North “New Beginnings Mixed Bowling League” shall be sanctioned with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) through the Capital Area USBC Association (CAUSBCA).

 

  1. MANAGEMENT AND OFFICERS.     League management shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which consists of the officers and team captains.  Officers will be elected and league rules adopted at the organizational meeting.  A majority shall constitute a quorum.  Current officeholders:

 

President:                       Judy Arnette       

Vice President:                Ann Ostby             (603-0995)

Secretary/Treasurer:     Kathy Kelling         (782-5646)

Sergeant at Arms:          Michael Bacon        (426-9165)

 

3.  SCHEDULE.    

a.    The league is scheduled to bowl on Tuesday nights for 32 sessions, beginning August 26, 2008, ending April 14, 2009.  There will be no bowling December 23, 2008.  Lanes will be turned on for practice at 6:15pm, league bowling to begin promptly at 6:30pm.

b.    The league shall bowl a split season:  the first half 16 weeks, the second 15 weeks.  Position rounds will not be bowled.  Week 32 will be for the league championship playoff, or overall second place playoff, if necessary, and a nine-pin no-tap tournament (with prizes), followed by presentation of league awards.  (Games of any playoff and the nine-pin no-tap tournament will not count toward individual averages or any of the individual prizes referenced in the “PRIZES” rule.)

c.    Any necessary playoff after completion of either half – other than the league championship or overall second place playoff – will be held at a time mutually convenient to teams involved.  Such playoff at the end of the first half will be held within two weeks from the end of the half.  Such playoff at the end of the second half must be held before the scheduled league championship or overall second place playoff.

 

4.  SCORING.     Seven-point scoring will be used for each league match, 2 points per game, one point for series.

5.  FEES.

a.    Bowling fees to be paid nightly shall be $12.00 per bowler, as follows:  Lineage  $9.57,   Prize Fund  $2.03,   Sec/Treasurer  $ .40.

b.    Sanction fee must be paid the first night of bowling – men and women  $17.00.  Fees for the final two weeks of the schedule are to be paid by the sixth week of the schedule.

c.    Team envelopes with fees are to be turned in by completion of fourth frame of the first game.

d.    NO PAY, NO PLAY!

 

6.  SALARIES.     The secretary/treasurer shall be paid the amount shown in the “FEES” rule per bowler per night, but only after final average sheets have been submitted to the local association (CAUSBCA).

 

7.  LEAGUE FUNDS.     An account will be opened in the name of the league with Buffaloe Lanes North.  Deposits must be made within seven days of receipt.  Withdrawals from the account may be made only with the joint signatures of the league president and secretary/treasurer.

 

8.  PRIZES.    

a.    By the sixth week of the schedule, the league president shall appoint a prize committee to present a prize list for approval by the board of directors.  Awards described in this rule will be given, but the committee may recommend other awards.

b.    First and second place team prizes will be given.

c.    These individual prizes will be awarded (male and female), show in order of value, from highest to lowest:

 

High Average

High Series Scratch

High Series Handicap

High Game Scratch

High Game Handicap

 

a.        To qualify for individual prizes, bowlers must bowl two-thirds of the scheduled games as a regular member, but no individual can qualify for more than one.  A bowler qualifying for more than one prize shall receive only the one of greatest value, based on the above list.

b.    The recipients of the USBC Most Improved Bowler Award shall be determined by comparing final average at the end of the current season with the average for the first 21 games of the current season.

 

9.  AVERAGES.     If available, entering average (with appropriate computed handicap) will be used for the first nine games.  After bowling nine games, average and handicap will be calculated on the basis of games bowled.  Entering average will be determined as follows:

a.    Bowlers with an average of at least 21 games in this league in the previous season will use that average.

b.    Bowlers without an eligible New Beginnings average from the previous season will use their highest league average from the previous season, as listed in the local association yearbook.

c.    If neither (a) nor (b) above applies to a bowler, an average and handicap shall be established the first night of bowling, after three consecutive games have been bowled on the same night.

 

10.   HANDICAP.     The individual method of handicapping will be used, 100% of the difference between an individual’s average and 220.

 

11.   TEAMS.

a.    The league shall consist of 14 teams with a roster size of up to six, playing strength of five.  Roster and playing strength must be a combination of men and women; that is, at least one must be of the opposite gender.  No one on a roster may bowl with another team.

b.    Captains will turn in team rosters to the secretary/treasurer prior to the start of the schedule.  Roster changes must be reported to the secretary/treasurer prior to the time the new member bowls.  New members may be added to a roster when a team does not have full playing strength.

c.    A team minimum legal lineup is three eligible players, and at at least two must be on the roster.  A minimum legal lineup must be present by the completion of the first frame of each game.

 

12.   SUBSTITUTES.

a.    A list of roving established substitutes will be maintained by the secretary/treasurer.

b.    Women or men will be allowed to substitute as long as at least one member of the lineup is of the opposite gender.

c.    Substitutes cannot qualify for prizes and are not responsible for paying bowling fees.

d.    Substitutes will use entering averages, as stated in the “AVERAGES” rule.  If a substitute without an eligible entering average starts a series, it must be completed in order to establish an average.

e.    No new substitutes will be allowed to bowl the last two weeks of either half (weeks 15 & 16, 30 & 31).

f.    Established league substitutes who have bowled at least nine games in this league will be allowed to bowl the last two weeks of either half (Weeks 15, 16, 30 & 31) and in any necessary playoff, but the substitute’s average cannot exceed the absent bowler’s average by more than ten pins.

 

13.   FORFEITS.     When bowling in a forfeit situation, the team present must bowl within 50 pins per game of the scratch team average in order to earn 2 points for game won, and within 150 pins of scratch series average to earn a

point for series won.

 

14.   ABSENTEE AND VACANCY SCORES.

a.    Absentee scores will be used when a team has a legal but less than full lineup at the start of any game in a series.  The absentee score shall be the absent bowler’s average less ten pins, with handicap based on the absent member’s current average.  An absentee score shall not be used by a team for more than three consecutive weeks, after which the team must use a substitute or a vacancy score.

b.    Vacancy score of 125 will be used when a team has a roster size less than playing strength, and handicap will be based on that score.

 

15.   POSTPONEMENTS.    

a.    The board of directors shall determine what is sufficient cause to grant a postponement.  In emergencies, the captain of the team unable to attend shall notify the opposing team and the league secretary/treasurer or president at the earliest possible opportunity.

b.    Pre-bowled games shall be given the same consideration and be subject to the same conditions that apply in the case of postponed games.  All postponements and pre-bowled games shall be requested at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled time of the match except those granted for emergencies.

c.    The league shall grant postponements for emergencies when a team fails to appear for the scheduled match due to reasons beyond its control.  The captains of the teams involved in a postponed match shall agree to a date for bowling the postponed series.  If, within a week from the date the match was originally scheduled, the two captains cannot agree upon a time and date, it shall be set by the league secretary/treasurer, who shall notify both team captains of the date and time.  This notification shall be given at least three days prior to the date set.

d.    Postponed games shall be bowled under the same conditions and rules governing league play.  The handicaps as of the date the games are bowled shall be used.

e.    Individual bowling unopposed is not allowed.  Team bowling unopposed is allowed (a league officer or representative must be present) and shall be bowled under the same conditions and rules governing league play.  Scores shall count in deciding league games won and lost, and individual scores shall qualify for individual league awards.

f.    Scores of games bowled by the team bowling first in pre- or post-bowl situations are not to be revealed to the opposing team until all games of the match are completed.

 

16.   TARDY PLAYERS.     A bowler who arrives late may enter the game, providing three frames have not been completed and the tardy bowler is in the bowling area ready to bowl.  Frames missed may be made up, but no practice balls are permitted.  A frame is considered complete when all bowlers present have completed the frame

 

17.   WEATHER.

a.    If a regularly scheduled bowling session is cancelled because the bowling center closes due to inclement weather, the league will discuss options and decide what action to take with regard to making up the session or revising the schedule.

b.    If the bowling center remains open during inclement weather, league officers will decide whether a session will be cancelled or postponed, will notify the bowling center, and will attempt to notify team captains who will contact their team members.  League members should contact the bowling center if they have any doubts.

 

18.   LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PLAYOFFS.    

a.    If the two halves are won by different teams, those two will enter a playoff to determine first and second place team awards.  The winner of such playoff will be the overall first place team (league champion), the loser will be the overall second place team.

b.    If the same team wins both halves:

1)    The team will be declared league champion.

2)   The second place team of each half shall enter a playoff to determine the overall second place team.

3)   If the same team wins second place in both halves, the team will be declared the overall second place team

c.    Any playoff will be conducted as follow:  A series of three games shall be bowled on one pair of lanes under the same conditions and rules governing league play during the regular season.  The playoff will be total pins with handicap.If there is a tie at the end of three games, each team bowls an additional frame like a 10th frame (USBC Rule 113b).

d.    Any playoff bowling fees charged by the house will be paid out of the league funds.  

19.   MISCELLANEOUS.

a.    Bowling Balls.  Only one ball per bowler present shall be allowed on the bowling ball rack during competition.

b.    Returned Check Fees.  Any fees levied on the league because of members’ returned checks, or any other fees charged the league due to collecting unpaid bowling fees, shall be payable by the individual(s) responsible for the bowling fees.

c.    Prompt Bowling.  When a team bowls against another team or alone, the next frame may be stated prior to completion of the previous frame.

d.    Competition Limited to One Team.  No one may bowl with more than one team for the games scheduled for any single week of the season, including postponement or pre-bowling situations.  And no bowler may bowl with another league while at the same time bowling with this league.  (USBC Rule 107a).

e.    Other Situations.  Any situation not covered by these rules shall be governed by the USBC.

f.    NO NON-BOWLERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BOWLING AREA.