BUFFALOE NORTH

SENIOR GRAY FOXES

LEAGUE RULES

Printed on 8/17/2009

 

SANCTIONING:  The Buffaloe Lanes North "Senior Gray Foxes" mixed senior bowling league members and substitutes shall be sanctioned with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) through the Capital Area USBC Association (CAUSBCA).

 

A bowler must have attained the age of fifty-five (55) to become a member.

 

RULE  1. -  SCHEDULE

 

Match Play will start at 1:00pm on Thursday.  Three (3) games will be bowled each session with one (1) point awarded for each game won and one (1) point for total pin-fall.

 

See the current AGENDA for the dates when "Position Rounds" occur.

 

RULE  2. -  MANAGEMENT

 

The management of the league will be vested in the Board of Directors.  Team Captains and League Officers will serve as the Board of Directors.

 

RULE  3. -  FEES & SALARIES

 

The weekly amount to be paid by each bowler is $8.00 of which $6.00 will be paid to Buffaloe Lanes North.  This is not a guaranteed league and therefore, if a bowler is absent, the bowler is only required  to pay $2.00 for the league requirements.

 

            - Substitutes will pay $6.00 per week.

            - Secretary will receive $.25 per bowler per week.

            - Treasurer will receive $.20 per bowler per week.

            - Prize Fund will receive $1.55 per bowler per week.

            - Regular bowlers will pay $2.00 when absent.

 

Team Captains are responsible for the collection of their team's fees and remittance to the treasurer.

 

RULE  4. -  AWARDS / PRIZES / BUDGET

 

Three (3) or more bowlers named by the President will comprise the Prize/Committee.  This committee recommends, and the Board of Directors approves, awards to be presented during the season and a budget to be adhered to.  Examples of prizes and activities which have proved rewarding in the past are:

 

            - Have a "play-day" on the position round days and the last day of the season with prizes, money drawings, and food.

 

            - Present awards to members of the winning team(s), the male and female high averages,

               the high games/series both scratch and handicap, and the male and female most improved bowlers.

 

Any remaining prize fund, will be distributed as cash among all members based upon the number of points won during the season.

 

A bowler may receive only one individual award.  When a bowler qualifies for more than one award, he or she receives the award of greatest value and the person with the next highest score receives the second award, etc.

 

Award Ranking:  High Average, High Series Scratch/Handicap, High Game Scratch/Handicap.

 

Bowlers are also eligible for prizes offered by USBC and CAUSBCA and the bowling establishment, throughout the season.

 

RULE  5. - AVERAGES

 

Entering Average will be used for the first nine (9) games.  After bowling nine (9) 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 from the previous "fall season".

 

            B)  Bowlers without an eligible average as in "A" above will use their highest league average

                  in CAUSBCA from the previous fall season.

 

            C)  Bowlers to whom neither "A" or "B" above applies will use their highest league average

                  from the previous fall 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.

 

RULE  6. - TEAMS/HANDICAP

 

Prior to the start of each season the league officers &/or designated league members will assign the teams.  Objective is to equalize the team averages to provide for fair competition.  Individual averages used will be determined by "Rule 5" above.

 

In the interest of time, all teams, reasonably balanced by average, are assigned prior to the initial league session.

 

The Team Handicap allowance will be 100% of the difference between the team averages as determined by the sum of the team member's individual averages, normalized to four (4) member's per team in the case of vacancies.

 

The Individual Handicap will be 100 % of the difference between an individual's average and 220.

 

RULE  7 - LEGAL TEAM LINE-UP

 

One (1) regular member will constitute a legal line-up.

 

RULE  8 - SUBSTITUTES

 

            The Captains of the League Teams are responsible for finding suitable Substitutes.

 

A list of substitutes will be maintained by the League Secretary.  Men may substitute for women and women for men.

 

No one may bowl with more than one (1) team for the regularly scheduled games each week.

 

During any Half Season, Full Season, or Roll-Off Session, "New Bowlers" with less than 9 games bowled MAY NOT be used as Replacements or Substitutes during the last two (2) weeks of bowling.  However, during these periods, established Substitutes or Replacements may be used if their average is within 20 points (more or less) than the replaced bowler.

 

For substitutes being utilized from another Sanctioned League, the Fall Book Average will be used.  Any new substitutes must bowl three (3) games to establish his or her average for the team handicap.

 

All substitutes are eligible for prizes offered by USBC and CAUSBCA.

 

RULE  9. - FORFEITURES

 

A game is declared a forfeit when a team fails to field a legal line-up.  When a game is declared a forfeit, the team present shall bowl as though the game is actually contested and shall complete a team frame on one lane before starting the next frame on the adjoining lane.  A team must bowl within 40 pins of their current Team Average to win points for each game.

 

Pre-Bowling IS  NOT permitted.

 

RULE 10. - LATE ARRIVALS

 

Any bowler failing to appear at the scheduled time will not be permitted to bowl in a game when the last bowler of the opposing team has completed the third frame of that game.  When a bowler arrives too late to participate in a game, the bowler will be permitted to bowl in the next game.

 

RULE 11. - ABSENTEE AND VACANCY SCORES

 

Absentee scores will be allowed when a team has a legal line-up, but less than a full line-up, at the start of any game in a series.  The absentee score shall be the absent member's average less 10 pins.  The handicap will be figured on the actual average of the absentee.  A vacancy score may be entered for an absent bowler after a three (3) week absence.  A Vacancy Score will be 140 with a 100% handicap based on that figure.  If two members are absent and only one substitute is obtained, the Team Captain will determine whom the substitute will replace, then the Absentee Score is determined.    

 

RULE 12. - FIRST PLACE TIE BREAKER

 

If a tie exists at the end of the ROLL-OFF, (Position Round for Fall League) each team will bowl an additional frame.  This frame is to be bowled on the lane where each team bowled the final frame of the last game and it shall be scored like a tenth (10th) frame.  If the tie is still unbroken, the teams involved will alternate lanes for each additional frame needed to break the tie.

 

RULE 13. - BOWLING OUT

 

If a bowler has to Bowl Out in any game the bowler can return and resume bowling in any subsequent game.  For the games not bowled, use the Absentee Score.

 

RULE 14. - LEAGUE CAP

 

The League Cap has been established at twenty (20) teams.

The number of teams for a Summer League is not limited.

 

RULE 15. - LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP

 

First Priority:  Fall League members must sign up for membership in the Fall League at least ONE WEEK prior to the league organization meeting.

 

Second Priority:  Summer League members may apply for membership in the Fall League using the same deadline as above.  If more applicants than vacancies apply, the Secretary will put their names on a Waiting List.

 

Third Priority:  Substitutes from the Fall and Summer Leagues may also apply.

 

RULE 16. - LATE STARTERS

 

Vacant positions are held for late returning members who have expressed their intention of returning.  League officers in each situation will determine a time limit.

 

RULE 17. - RULES NOT COVERED ABOVE

 

In the event a ruling is required that is not covered by the rules noted above, the current USBC Playing Rules will be used.

 

ADDENDUMS

 

08/13/09 - Amended the following Rules:

            RULE 3 - Fees & Salaries, RULE 5 - Averages, RULE 8 - Substitutes,

            RULE 11 - Absentee & Vacancy Scores.  Also reworded several paragraphs for clarity.

08/14/09 - RULE 6 - Teams/Handicap.  Added Individual Handicap based on 220.