Formerly the California State Bowling Association (CSBA), California Women's Bowling Association (CWBA) 
and the California Young American Youth Bowling Alliance (CSYABA)
 
  

 

Bowling Links

www.BowlersParadise.com
 www.calbowlingwriters.org
 www.cawomen600club.com
 www.EliteBowling.com
 www.rotogear.com
 www.rotogrip.com

Youth Scholarship Events...

The Junior Bowlers Tour (JBT) began in 1996 as an offshoot of the 34 year-old east coast based JBT.  In our twelve seasons since, we have conducted over 500 tournaments, and awarded over $1,300,000 in scholarships to youth bowlers of all ages and averages.  Over 3,000 members have attended our tournaments. In 2007-08 we plan on conducting over 89 tournaments in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, California, Washington, and Oregon!  JBT events are unlike anything else you've ever bowled in... we offer a lot!

ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE JBT? YES! Any youth bowler with any average can do well in the JBT- that's what the handicap division is for.  Bowlers with averages under 100 regularly enter and succeed in our events.  Any age youth bowler may compete - we have 8 year olds, for example, that love playing against the big boys and girls.  Don't miss out on the JBT because of a misconception that you're not good enough - YOU ARE!!!

JBT FORMATS: Our regular season tournaments run under a few different formats to keep things fresh for our regulars.  They use the 'standard format' unless otherwise noted.  Here's a breakdown of our formats:

Standard Format: There are 2 divisions, scratch and handicap.  Bowlers choose to enter one or the other.  In each division, bowlers roll 5 games across ten lanes.  The top 50% of each division advance to the semifinals.  The semi's consist of three additional games, with the scratch bowlers competing in match play.  After the 8th game, the top 5 bowlers in each division advance to a stepladder finals.  If there are more than 50 entries in a division, the top 8 bowlers will advance to the stepladder finals.

'PBA' Format: The handicap division remains the same as standard format.  In scratch, you bowl the same 5 game qualifying round, then cut to the top 16 bowlers regardless of entries (8 if 20 or less entries).  Then, bowlers compete in best 2-of-3 head-to head match play, with the #1 seed playing the #16 seed, #2 playing #15, etc.  The winners play in another best 2-of-3 round.  The winners then play a one game match, and those 2 winners play a one game title match.

Survivor Format: This is one of our most popular formats, where 'you don't have to be the best, you just have to not be the worst'.  Both divisions bowl the 5 game qualifier, and the cut is to the top 50%.  The top qualifiers receive byes through early Survivor round(s), so you can't be eliminated right away.   In the survivor rounds, an equal number of bowlers are put on each pair.  You then bowl one game.  The LOWEST score on each pair is eliminated.  Surviving bowlers are then reshuffled, and another game is bowled, again with the LOWEST score on the pair eliminated.  Play continues until there is only one survivor- the champion!

Mega-matchplay Format: The handicap division format is unchanged from the standard format.  In scratch, you still bowl the 5 game qualifier and cut to the top 50%.  However, in your 3-game semifinals, you bowl EVERY other semifinalist in a match EVERY game.  So, if 20 people make the cut, you bowl all 19 of them every game.  Thus, if you have the high game in the semifinals, you'd go 19-0 in your matches that game and receive 19x10 bonus pins.  This is a super-exciting take on our normal match play!

Mulligan Format: The format is the same as Standard Format, except that in the scratch division, every bowler gets 3 'Mulligans', literally a do-over.  Make the cut and get an extra one, and making the finals gives you one more.  As bowlers, we always say 'man, I wish I had that shot over'-- now you do!

Nerve-wracker format: This format is just like the PBA format, except in the matchplay portion, if the match is tied 1-1 after two games, you go immediately to a one-shot rolloff-- thus the wracked nerves!!

Scratchplay format: We use this format where possible at scratch-only events.  The format is just like PBA format, except each game in the qualifying round is also a head-to-head match with 30 bonus pins for a win.      

We're always keeping things lively with new formats, so be ready! We also have a few events each year with still more different  formats, such as our Doubles Classic, Pro-Ams, our Invitationals, the TPC and more.  These formats are always explained on separate entry blanks. Each event also offers our included and optional scholarship programs. Check our website for the upcoming schedule of events http://www.juniorbowlerstour.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact  us at jbtsouthwest@aol.com.

April 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Vint
USBC Communications
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3230
 bill.vint@bowl.com
On the Web: bowl.com

 METRO DETROIT, CALIFORNIA, INDIANA WOMEN WIN TOP PRIZES IN US BOWLER ASSOCIATION MEDIA AWARDS COMPETITION

GREENDALE, Wis. – The Metro Detroit USBC Association, California State USBC Association and Indiana State USBC Women’s Bowling Association are first prize winners in the inaugural US Bowler Association Media Awards competition.

Metro Detroit, USBC’s largest local association, won for best overall communications program. California’s “calusbc.com” topped the best Web site competition. The Indiana women’s association was first in the best newsletter contest with its three-times-yearly “In Indiana” publication. Each first-place association earned a $500 cash prize.

In the overall excellence category, the Ohio State USBC WBA was second and City of Firsts USBC Association serving the Kokomo, Ind., community was third. In addition to having qualify Web sites, each of the overall communications winners have a variety of other programs they use to communicate to their members. Metro Detroit’s Web address is “mdusbc.com,” Ohio WBA’s is “ohiowba.com,” and City of Firsts’ is “cityofirstsbowling.com.” 

In Web sites – the most popular category with 46 entries – the Greater Cincinnati WBA (cincybowl.com) was second while the Rapid City (S.D.) USBC (rcbowl.com) and Washington State USBC (wsusbc.net) tied for third place.

In newsletters, the Louisiana State USBC WBA was runner-up with its quarterly publication “Louisiana Lagniappe” and the South Sound USBC in Tacoma, Wash., was third with its “Kegler’s Korner,” which is distributed six times a year.

Each runner-up association earned $300 while third-place finishers received checks for $200 each.

The media awards competition, sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress’ official membership publication, is designed to encourage USBC’s grassroots local and state associations to develop high quality communications programs.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience. Bowl with US

The USBC Registered Volunteer Program
Credit: http://www.bowl.com/registeredvolunteers/main.aspx

The United States Bowling Congress has developed a new Registered Volunteer Program that will impact every person who has contact with young bowlers who participate in USBC youth leagues, tournaments and/or other programs.

The USBC Registered Volunteer Program will accomplish three very important goals:

  1. It will ensure that all volunteers who have contact with USBC youth bowlers are qualified to do so. It includes a mandatory criminal background screening designed to remove and/or discourage those who might harm our kids.
     

  2. It will require all Registered Volunteers to abide by a Code of Conduct which defines appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
     

  3. It will allow USBC to identify and communicate with thousands of volunteers.

This new program has critical consequences. It is part of a nationwide movement among all youth organizations, sports and otherwise. In cooperation with the National Council of Youth Sports (the leading national youth sports service organization) and the National Center for Safety Initiatives (the only national background screening service specifically dedicated to the protection of children), USBC has designed a state-of-the-art model other organizations facing the same challenges will be invited to use.

Every USBC association will be asked to identify all volunteers who have contact with USBC youth bowlers and to select a "Registered Volunteer Supervisor" who will be the association's point person in managing this project locally. The "RVS" will work directly with USBC, as well as, all bowling centers served by the association to manage the Registered Volunteer Program.

Please address your questions or comments about the USBC Registered Volunteer Program to: registeredvolunteers@bowl.com.

Become a Youth Leader!
 Credit: http://www.bowl.com/youth/programs/youthleader.aspx

Who are USBC Youth Leaders? These young bowlers, age 12 and up, are the sparks that add excitement and a sense of ownership to USBC Youth activities. The Youth Leaders Program gives youth the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and enhance local bowling opportunities through promotion, education and involvement. Youth Leaders are young bowlers who love the game. They attract others to bowling and make it a better sport.

USBC Youth Leaders can make life-long friends; enjoy fun tournaments and events; enhance leadership skills; build resumes; introduce new people to the sport; and have a positive impact.

Youth Leaders are the energy that fuel all of our youth bowling efforts. They are the future of the sport and their growth is an essential part of making bowling successful and expanding the USBC Youth membership. The Youth Leaders Program give youth the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and enhance the sport of bowling through promotion, education and involvement.

The best Youth Leaders aspire to win the Youth Leader of the Year Award and the $1,500 scholarship that goes with it. Only two are handed out each year - one to a female and one to a male. One of these two winners, selected in an interview process, will really have a say in what goes on in bowling as he or she sits on the USBC Youth Committee and has voting rights for two years. Each local association with an operating Youth Leaders Program should select a male and female each year and enter them into the Youth Leader of the Year competition.

Youth Leaders Programs offer enthusiastic, energetic, young bowlers an opportunity to take a leadership role in promoting and expanding bowling while having fun. Youth learn important life skills as they take on future leadership roles. Youth will have a dynamic role in lots of activities at the decision-making level of bowling, including:

  • - setting goals

  • - building teamwork

  • - coordinating and leading meetings

  • - promoting and recruiting youth bowling programs

  • - holding fund-raisers

  • - planning tournaments

  • - coaching in USBC Youth leagues

  • - training and mentoring other youth bowlers

  • - awarding scholarships

If you are interested in starting a Youth Leaders Program, contact the CUSBC Association Office at (415) 492-8880.

The California Bowling Writers (CBW), formed in 1998, is open to all California bowling journalists, promoters and supporters of the sport of bowling. The purpose of the organization is to encourage and educate both members and non-members in communication through print, promotion and use of electronic media.  At the same time, CBW will recognize and reward those who create media awareness by providing outstanding bowling photography and journalistic excellence. For more information, visit: http://www.calbowlingwriters.org.
 

Upcoming USBC National Events


FEBRUARY 2009
Feb.-June (Tent.) USBC Open Championships, Las Vegas, Nev.; bowl.com

 

APRIL 2009
April-June (Tent.) USBC Women’s Championships, National Bowling Stadium Reno

 

FEBRUARY 2010
Feb.-June (Tent.) USBC Open Championships, National Bowling Stadium, Reno

 

APRIL 2010
April-June (Tent.) USBC Women’s Championships, El Paso, Texas; bowl.com; El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center

 

FEBRUARY 2011
Feb.-June (Tent.) USBC Open Championships, Host City to Be Announced; bowl.com

 

APRIL 2011
April-June (Tent.) USBC Women’s Championships, Syracuse, N.Y.; bowl.com; Convention Center at Oncenter

 

FEBRUARY 2012
Feb.-June (Tent.) USBC Open Championships, Baton Rouge, La.; bowl.com; Baton Rouge River Center

 

Note: Dates and events subject to change.

USBC Bronze Certification Class Sign-Ups
 http://www.bowl.com/coaching/bowlers/BronzeClass.aspx

Currently there aren't any upcoming Bronze Certification Class sessions scheduled on the west coast. California will be requesting a class to be setup, but need to know how many people will be attending and need a minimum of 25 people. If you are interested in becoming a Bronze Level Coach, please e-mail nancy@calusbc.com and let her know how many people will be attending, what center/association you are from and a phone number where we can reach you. We will be trying to schedule a class for fall 2008.

BRONZE CERTIFICATION INFO: This 2-1/2 day conference is an intermediate level of training & certification designed for individuals wanting to increase their coaching skills and professionalism. This conference is recommended for high school coaches.

The Bronze Level Certification conference focuses on coaching fundamentals and will cover: 

1) Pedagogy of coaching
2) Fine tuning the physical game
3) Lane conditions and adjustments
4) The mental game
5) Components of the bowling ball
6) Dynamics of ball motion
7) Videotaping
8) Video analysis
9) Giving a lesson

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Level I. Youth must be 16 years old to attend this class.
Conference Fee (includes all materials): $275

USBC Coaching Classes
 (Click on location for registration form)

Level

 Location

Address

Date

Contact
  None at this time      

Youth Coaching Program
Quality coaches equal quality athletes. Coaching is essential to developing high quality athletes in any sport, including bowling. USBC has developed a quality youth coaching program to train youth bowling coaches who will help more bowlers develop their skills.

The sport of bowling will benefit through this program. Coaches trained in the USBC program will develop strong athletes, sending them through USBC’s developmental pipeline and encouraging their growth as future quality adult USBC members.

To find a certified coach in your area, click here...

Rule 400 revised for Youth Bowling Awards

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors has approved the modification of Youth Membership Eligibility Rule 400, effective immediately, to expand the awards deemed acceptable under the terms of USBC Youth membership. In addition to previously allowed symbolic awards, USBC Youth members are now eligible to be awarded bowling equipment, gift certificates, apparel and other merchandise prizes with a total value not greater than $500 in any one event, excluding scholarships.

The modifications also allow for USBC Youth members to compete in singles competition where cash and/or bonds are awarded, as well as merchandise prizes exceeding $500 in total in any one event, but must waive rights to these awards by signing and completing the USBC Prize Waiver form prior to their participation in that competition.

Acceptance of awards of cash or bonds of any amount or any merchandise prizes with a total value higher than $500 per event remain prohibited for youth members under USBC's revised Rule 400. Violations of the terms of Rule 400 could result in the loss or suspension of youth membership.

There also remains no limit on the value of scholarships that can be awarded in youth competition. The scholarship funds from USBC certified events and leagues will continue to be required to be deposited with USBC's SMART program. USBC Youth members may be awarded scholarships from singles competition in which cash and/or bonds are awarded.

“The USBC Board determined that the former Rule 400 placed unnecessary restrictions on everyone associated with USBC Youth membership and concluded the best course of action to alleviate this issue was to modify Rule 400 effective immediately,” USBC President Michael Carroll said.

The previous version of Rule 400 intended to protect the current and future interscholastic sports eligibility of USBC Youth members through the most restrictive interpretations and limitations. The USBC Board concluded that placing these restrictions on all USBC Youth members was unnecessary due to the lack of uniform eligibility standards for interscholastic sports nationally.

“The new structure of USBC allows for addressing of significant issues to be handled in an expedited manner,” said USBC Chief Executive Officer Roger Dalkin. “The previous version of Rule 400 placed undue and unintended restrictions on USBC Youth members, league and association coordinators and proprietors. The USBC Board modified Rule 400 to address these restrictions and expand acceptable awards that promote and enhance the participation in youth bowling.”

The USBC Board concluded that compliance with local/state interscholastic eligibility rules and policies is the responsibility of the individual member and his/her legal guardian. However, USBC will continue to educate USBC Youth members and their legal guardians that competing in USBC certified competitions and acceptance of some awards now acceptable under Rule 400 could jeopardize individual member’s interscholastic sports amateur eligibility.

These changes do not affect the USBC Youth High Score Awards program.

“USBC’s Youth membership program, certified tournaments and leagues, as well as USBC’s dedication to the growth of high school and collegiate bowling, offer youth of all ages many choices to be active in the sport of bowling,” said Mitch Mitchell, chairman of the USBC Youth Committee.

For help with interpretation of the USBC youth eligibility Rule 400, contact USBC's Rules department at (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3155 or visit bowl.com.

Rule 400
 A. Except as provided in Item B, a youth may not bowl or substitute 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 competition agrees to award the youth’s prize in the form of a scholarship; or
2. The youth signs a form waiving his/her rights to any prize in violation of this rule.

Buying or selling of earned prizes is prohibited.

Any youth bowler deemed in violation of this rule is subject to disciplinary action including the potential loss of youth membership.

NOTE: There are no limits on scholarship amounts or entry fees (must be paid directly to the tournament director/manager) and reimbursement of actual travel expenses into the next higher level of competition or any tournament or event. (Receipts must be provided upon request.)

The prizes authorized by a state high school athletic association or a collegiate athletic association recognized by USBC and USBC Collegiate are not subject to the limitations of this rule.
 

 
©2006 California USBC Association. All Rights Reserved.