Senior Class Mixed Bowling League

Rules  -  2008-2009 Season

1.  SANCTIONING.  The Buffaloe Lanes North “Senior Class” mixed senior bowling league shall be sanctioned with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) through the Capital Area USBC Association (CAUSBCA).

2.  AGE.  By USBC rule, a senior league is “composed of participants who are 55 years of age or over.”  In accordance with USBC Rule 100h.2, the league will allow bowlers 50 years of age and older, and members’ spouses under the age of 55 to compete in the league..

3.  MANAGEMENT AND OFFICERS.  The league board of directors, which consists of the officers and team captains, shall manage the league.  The quorum for board meetings is a majority of the board.  The league membership will elect officers and adopt rules at the organizational meeting, August 14, 2008 .  At least one officer must be male, at least one female.  Officers elected:

4.  SCHEDULE. 

     a.  The league is scheduled to bowl at 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings for 34 sessions, beginning August 21, 2008 , ending May 7, 2009 .

     b.  There will be no bowling September 25, 2008 ; November 27, 2008 ; December 25, 2008 ; and January 1, 2009 .

     c.  The league shall bowl a split season: the first half 17 weeks, the second, 16 weeks.  Position rounds will not be bowled.  Week 34 will be for any necessary playoff and nine-pin no-tap bowling, followed by presentation of league awards.  Games of any playoff and nine-pin no-tap bowling will not count toward individual averages or any individual prizes referenced in the “PRIZES’ rule.

5.  FEES.

a.  Fees to be paid weekly shall be $7.00 per bowler, as shown below.  (League record service is included in lineage fees.)

  Lineage:  $6.00         Prize Fund:  $ .70              Secretary/Treasurer:    $ .30

b.  Prize fund and secretary/treasurer fee for the final two weeks of the schedule (weeks 33 and 34) are to be paid before completion of the seventh week of the schedule. 

c.  Sanction fee must be paid the first week of bowling, men and women $15.

d.  NO PAY, NO PLAY!  Games are subject to forfeiture by any team whose participating members are not current in league fee payments.

e.  This is not a guaranteed league.  An absent bowler is responsible only for prize fund and secretary/treasurer salary.  If a substitute bowls, the substitute is responsible for lineage.

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

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.  A prize list, drawn up by a committee appointed by the league president, must be approved by the board of directors within eight weeks after the start of the schedule.  Awards described in this rule will be given, but the committee may recommend other individual and team awards.

b.  The following individual prizes will be awarded (male and female), listed in order of value, from highest to lowest:

     (1) High Average                     (3) High Series Handicap         (5) High Game Handicap
            (2) High Series Scratch                        (4) High Game Scratch           

c.  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.

d.  The recipients of the USBC Most Improved Bowler Award shall be determined as stated in USBC Rule 54a.

9.  AVERAGES.  Entering average will be used for the first nine games.  After bowling nine games, (or after completing a session in which the ninth game was bowled) average will be calculated on the basis of games bowled.  Entering average will be determined as follows:

            a.  Average of at least 21 games in this league in the previous winter season.

            b.  Bowlers without an eligible average as in “a” above will use their highest league average in CAUSBCA from the previous winter season.

            c.  Bowlers to whom neither “a” nor “b” above applies will use their highest league average from the previous winter season in any sanctioned league, as shown in USBC records.

            d.  If none of the above applies to a bowler, an average will be established in the first session of bowling.

10.  HANDICAP. 

            a.  For the purpose of determining any individual handicap awards individual handicap will be 100% of the difference between an individual’s average and 220.

            b.  For team competition, team handicap shall be used, giving the lower-average team a handicap equal to the difference in the team averages.

11.  TEAMS.

a.  The league shall consist of eight teams with a roster size and playing strength of three.

b.  Team captains will turn in team rosters to the secretary/treasurer prior to the start of the schedule.  Any roster changes must be reported to the secretary/treasurer prior to the time the new member bowls.  New members may be added when a team roster is less than playing strength.

c.  A team minimum legal lineup is one regular team member.  A minimum legal lineup must be present by the completion of the third frame of each game.  A frame is completed when all bowlers present on each team have made their last deliveries in that frame.

12.  SUBSTITUTES.

a.  A list of roving established substitutes will be maintained.

b.  Women or men will be allowed to substitute.

c.  Substitutes cannot qualify for league awards.

d.  Substitutes will use entering averages as stated in the “AVERAGES” rule.

e.  No new substitutes will be allowed to bowl the final two weeks of either half or in any playoff.

f.  Established league substitutes who have bowled six games in the league will be allowed to bowl the last two weeks of either half, and in any playoff, but the substitute’s average cannot exceed the absent bowler’s average by more than 15 pins.

13.  ABSENTEE AND VACANCY SCORES.  USBC Rule 105 shall apply for absentee (average less 10 pins) and vacancy (120) scores and handicaps, with the following addition.  In competition, if one team has a vacancy(s) and the other has an absentee(s), absentee score(s) shall be adjusted so that each corresponding vacancy-absentee has the same handicap score.

14.  FORFEITS.  When bowling in a forfeit situation, the team present must bowl at least the team average less ten pins per player in order to earn a point for game won, and at least within 30 pins per player of scratch series average to earn a point for series won.

15.  PREBOWLING AND POSTPONEMENTS.

a.  A postponement committee consisting of the secretary/treasurer and president shall determine what is sufficient cause to grant a prebowl or postponement.  Procedure for pre- or post-bowling is as stated in USBC Rule 111.

b.  A request for prebowl/postponement must be made by contacting a committee member at least 48 hours before the scheduled time, except for emergencies.  In case of emergency, the captain of the requesting team shall contact a committee member at the earliest possible opportunity.  As a courtesy, the opposing team should be notified when any prebowl/postponement is granted.

c.  The league shall grant postponements for emergencies when a team fails to appear for its scheduled match due to reasons beyond its control.

d.  Team bowling unopposed is allowed.  A league officer or representative must be present.

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 completed when all bowlers present on each team have made their last deliveries in that frame.

17.  POSITION STANDINGS AND TIES. 

a.  Seven-point scoring for team position in the standings: two points for each game, one point for series.

b  If a tie exists for first place at the end of either half, a one-game playoff will be held to break the tie, immediately following completion of the schedule.  Handicaps shall be the same as used in the last session of the half.  (See USBC Rules 113a and 113b.) 

c.  When the league decides to break a tie between teams for any other position in the standings, a one-game playoff as described in “b” above may be conducted to break such tie.

18.  PLAYOFF FOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. 

a.  If the two halves are won by different teams, those two will enter a playoff (week 34) 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.  Such playoff will be conducted as follows: 

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.  Scoring will be as stated in the “POSITION STANDINGS” rule.  If points are tied at the end of the series, an extra complete ninth and tenth frame shall be bowled.

b.  If the same team wins both halves, that team will be declared league champion, and the overall second place team will be the team with the most points won, first and second halves combined.

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

19.  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, the league will follow a schedule much like that of Wake County Schools:  If schools are closed, the session will be cancelled.

c.  Should any other schedule-related issue arise, league officers will decide what action to take, will notify the bowling center, and will attempt to notify team captains who will contact team members.  League members should contact the bowling center if they have any doubts.

20.  MISCELLANEOUS.

a.  No practice bowling is allowed on scheduled lanes less than one hour prior to the scheduled match.

b. Team captains will turn in money envelopes to the by the end of the fifth frame of the first game.

c.  If a team or individual must resign from the league during the season, two weeks notice and two weeks payment must be given to the league.

d.  Any situation not covered by these rules shall be governed by the rules of the USBC.