Tuesday Bowling League Rules 2013-2014

 

1.   The League is to be sanctioned with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and all bowlers must fill out a sanction card and pay the USBC dues before bowling their first series of the season.  With the exception of the rules contained in this document, USBC rules shall govern this League.

 

2.   A scheduled three game series is considered a competition meeting.

 

3.   Individual bowling fee will be $16.00 per bowler, $80.00 per team, per competition meeting.  $51.75 ($10.35x5) per team will be the lane fees and $28.25 per team will be deposited in an account with Freeway Lanes of Mentor bowling and will be withdrawn at the end of the season by Treasurer or Secretary.

 

4.   A backer’s fee of $40.00 per team must be paid by 7th scheduled week of bowling.

 

5.   Secretary salary is $50.00 per team, plus $100 for office expenses.  The Secretary fee is to be paid out of the prize money at the completion of the season and only after the secretary has submitted (a.) the final averages to the Lake-Geauga Bowling Association Secretary and (b.) the books have been audited.  The office expenses will be withdrawn when needed.   The Treasurer salary is $12 per team and is to be paid out at the end of the season, when prize money is fully dispersed.

 

6.   No team account may fall more than 5 times the individual bowling fee in arrears.  All team members are responsible for team arrears.  Any team that falls more than 5 times the bowling fee in arrears will forfeit the 15 team points beginning the night that are first over the amount.  Teams will be given an opportunity to pay immediately to avoid forfeiture.  Returned checks, including any service fees, are the responsibility of all team members.  If unpaid, backer’s fees are added to arrears on and after the 8th week.

 

7.   The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Team Captains.

 

8.   Championship competition will consist of 32 competitions between August and May of each bowling season.  Specific meeting dates are to be finalized by a Board of Directors meeting prior to the start of the season, and must be approved by a majority vote of The Board of Directors.  Exception 2013-2014: season will consist of 30 competitions plus 2 nights off for Holidays. 

 

9.   The season shall consist of two 16 week halves.  There will be two position rounds per half, after the seventh and after the fifteenth competition meeting of each half.  In the event that there is a tie for position, total pins, including handicap will constitute the tie breaker. Exception 2013-2014: two 15 week halves.  There will be one position round per half after the fifteenth competition.  

 

10.        There shall be thirty points awarded per competition meeting.  Each Game will have nine points awarded, which consists of 5 head-to-head points and 4 team points.  Finally there will be three points awarded for team series.

 

11.        The active team roster shall be limited to ten bowlers.  All team rosters must be set before the thirteenth meeting.  After this date, no bowler may be added to the roster without 75% approval of the Board of Directors.

 

.

12.        To qualify for individual prizes, a player must have bowled 63 games. Exception 2013-2014: 60 games bowled.

 

13.        Members may not simultaneously participate in another league while bowling in this league.

 

14.        The treasurer and secretary will each maintain an accounting of league funds and compared regularly.

15.         A team’s handicap will be determined by 90% of the difference between the team’s average and­­­­­­­­ 1200 with a 100% back spot for averages over 1200.  In the case a team has less than a full line up of five bowlers for a competition meeting the following shall apply:

 

a)   Only a bowler who has paid sanction and bowled at least one competition session may be used then:

 

  i.   The actual average of the absentee bowler with the MOST games bowled shall be used for the determination of the handicap.  That bowler’s average, minus ten pins, shall be used as the score for each game.  

 

ii.   A team with less than five members on their roster or a team with no absent bowler who has sanctioned and bowled at least once shall use 150 for the handicap and the score for the game.

 

16.        Individual Handicap is 90% of the difference between the bowler’s average and 240 with 100% back spot for averages over 240.

 

17.        Individual starting averages will be determined in the following order of precedence for all individuals: 

 

  i.    Last year’s average in this league with 21 games or more.

 

ii.    Highest average in the last three years in the Lake-Geauga Bowling Association

 

iii.    Highest average from another Association, if verifiable, or

 

iv.    For bowlers with no average, their average will be determined after their first complete competition series.  Bowlers may not establish an average during a position round.

 

18.        Averages will not change for the first three (3) weeks or nine (9) games for each returning bowler and bowlers with a book average.  Averages will be recalculated weekly for all new bowlers.

 

19.        Shadow balls may be thrown during the House designated time period, only (one ball per lane on a rotating basis).  There shall be no resetting of pins during the shadow bowling period.  The rotation may continue until the House resets the lanes for league play.  Bowlers, who wish additional practice before the shadow bowling period, may do so on lanes that are not designated for league use.

 

20.        Starting time is 6:45 P.M. for competition.  Shadow bowling shall begin at 6:30 P.M.  A team must have a legal lineup of at least three (3) bowlers at the beginning of the competition.  Lane courtesy shall consist to one (1) bowler on either side.  The bowler to the right has preference when two (2) bowlers step up at the same time.

21.        A team using a substitute bowling will be governed by USBC rules.

 

22.        All members may vote at the organizational meeting and at the Election of Officers Meeting at the end of the season.

 

 

23.        If necessary, a league meeting may be held once the season has begun.  There must be a quorum of the Board of Directors.  A quorum shall be declared only if there is at least 75% of the Board of Directors is present.  Only the Board of Directors may vote.    A meeting may be called at the discretion of any league officer provided that there is notification to all members of the Board of Directors.

 

24.        League rules may be added, deleted, or modified during the season by 100% representation and vote of the Board of Directors.  Changes may not be retroactive.  Any other vote (for example: USBC override, schedule change, or sanction change) will require a 75% approval of the Board of Directors.

 

25.        Trophies shall consist of Sponsor and Individual trophies for the League Champions, High Game, High Series, and High Average.  The trophies will be supplied by the House.

 

26.        In addition to the regular duties of the office, the Vice President will be responsible for the organization of the Awards Banquet, which shall be held no later than two weeks after the season ends.

 

27.        All disputes must be resolved before the recap sheet is turned into the secretary.  All disputes will be mediated according to the following steps and time schedule: 

 

                                   i.         By the two captains in the competition.

                                 ii.         By the League secretary or other League officer in the absence of the secretary.

                               iii.         By a meeting of the Board of Directors before the next scheduled competition night

                               iv.         By written correspondence from the Lake- Geauga Association Secretary. 

                                 v.         By USBC, in writing, following the decision that was rendered.

 

28.        The point leaders of each half will meet in a roll off on the Tuesday following the 32nd week of competition to determine the League Champion.  Ties for either half will be broken by a one (1) game sudden roll off on the same night ending the half.  The championship match winner will be determined by the same method as the weekly competition.  If the championship match ends in a 15 to 15 tie, a fourth game will be bowled to determine the winner.   A bowler must have bowled 9 games during the season to participate in the championship.

 

29.        A traditional doubles tournament will be held on fun night and may be separate from championship night. 

 

26.    Bowlers, arriving tardy for the first game, have until the first ball is thrown in the fifth frame to begin bowling.  For any subsequent game, a tardy bowler may bowl if the game has not begun.  This rule may be waived, in the event of inclement weather, by the Board of Directors.

 

27.    Prize lists for the season will be drafted by the fifth week and will be voted upon by the Board of Directors no later than the first competition meeting in November.

 

30.        Any 50/50 raffles or other games must be documented and all monies kept in the League’s bank account and a separate record be kept.  Games must have published rules and copies of the rules must be provided to the captains by the 2nd week of league play.

 

31.        In the event that a team must bowl unopposed due to a forfeit or bye situation, the team will not earn the game points if they are more than 50 pins below their team average.  The team must earn at least four game points to earn the 3 points for series.  The individual game point is won when bowling not more than 10 pins below the bowler’s average.