Chapter 1: USBC Introduction

USBC Mission

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the

future of the sport, provides programs and services and enhances the bowling experience.

Membership

How Obtained

Membership in USBC is composed of adults and youth who have paid the appropriate USBC, state (if

applicable) and local association dues. Membership in USBC may be obtained through a league, tournament,

chartered association, Alliance-at-Large and via bowl.com. Upon completing a membership application card

and paying the appropriate dues, an individual becomes a member of USBC plus one USBC local and one

USBC state association.

A new member who joins a summer league after March 15 of the current season shall, at the time the individual

files his/her application for membership, pay only those annual USBC, state and local dues that are

then known to be, or to become, effective for the next season. Upon payment of such dues, the individual

shall be granted membership in USBC and applicable state and local associations for the balance of the current

season and the next season.

A bowler must pay dues in each local association in which he/she applies for membership and/or bowls,

except as provided in Rule 100e, Traveling leagues, 100l, Mail-o-graphic leagues or if the associations have

a reciprocal agreement to waive dues. When a bowler joins a local association, he/she shall join the applicable

state association. Regardless of the number of state and local associations in which an individual holds

membership, they shall pay current USBC national membership dues only one time.

Upon obtaining membership in USBC each member agrees to be bound by all final decisions of USBC

concerning application or interpretation of USBC Bylaws, playing rules and other matters relating to the sport

of bowling as governed by USBC.

Required Fees

Each individual applying for USBC membership shall pay annual USBC, state and local association dues as follows:

Adult Youth

USBC $10 $9.50

Maximum State $1 $.50

Maximum Local $10 $4

Total Maximum $21 $14

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State and local dues amounts will not exceed the maximums established by USBC delegates. Youth dues may

be different from adult dues. Members of multiple local associations pay the appropriate state, if required,

and local dues, unless the associations have a reciprocal agreement to waive or reduce dues.

If a youth purchases youth and adult membership, national dues are only paid once.

Effective Dates

On receipt of a membership application and the appropriate dues, a membership card will be valid:

1. for the season starting August 1 through July 31.

2. through October 1 of the following season for summer leagues and tournaments.

3. through the balance of the current season and the following season when purchased after March 15

either through a summer league or associate membership.

Youth who turn 22 during the season are not granted the October 1 extension for tournament play; youth

membership expires July 31 of the season in which they turn 22 years old. If a youth member bowling in

a summer league turns 22 during the season and the league continues beyond July 31, the bowler may

complete the league as a youth bowler.

For membership to be effective as of the date purchased in a league, the league secretary must forward the

league membership dues, application cards and league application to the local association within 30 days.

Otherwise, membership benefits are not effective until the date received at the local association office.

Possession of a valid membership card entitles the bowler to participate in all USBC competition for which they

are otherwise qualified.

Changes in Dues

The maximum dues structure for adults may only be changed by the USBC delegation. The dues structure for

youths may only be changed by the USBC Board based on recommendations from the Youth Committee.

Types of Membership

In addition to USBC adult and youth standard membership, USBC offers the following optional membership

programs:

Sport Bowling

All bowlers participating in USBC Sport Bowling leagues must pay or provide proof of payment of the Sport

Bowling membership dues in addition to all required standard USBC membership dues. Unless required by

tournament rule, participants in Sport Bowling tournaments are not required to be Sport Bowling members.

Substitutes in USBC Sport Bowling leagues are permitted to participate in one league session per season without

the requirement to purchase Sport Bowling membership if they already have purchased USBC standard

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Chapter 1: USBC Introduction – 13

membership for the current season. Only USBC Sport Bowling members are eligible for USBC Sport Bowling

awards.

Basic USBC membership dues for ABC Lifetime and WIBC Permanent members will be paid by USBC, but the

bowler is responsible for paying the additional Sport Bowling dues.

Junior Gold

Membership consists of elite youth bowlers and entails the following requirements:

a. Must be a USBC member in good standing and maintain compliance with Rule 400.

b. Boys must carry a minimum 175 average.

c. Girls must carry a minimum 165 average.

d. Must purchase an additional Junior Gold membership of $30 (if joining with a friend both would pay

$25) separate from their regular USBC membership.

1) Junior Gold members will receive a Youth Sport membership.

2) Junior Gold membership is valid for one year from the date of purchase.

3) Renewal fee is $25.

Associate

Associate membership is available to individuals who do not obtain membership through a USBC league

subject to the following:

a. The associate membership dues shall be:

bowler is joining. When local and state dues are not known, adult associate dues will be $21 ($10

national, $10 local, $1 state)

b. When associate membership is obtained after March 15, the individual shall become a member for the

balance of the current season and the next season.

c. The dues automatically will be adjusted whenever changes are made to the national, state and local dues.

Collegiate

USBC Collegiate membership entitles student-athletes to participate in all certified intercollegiate conferences and

tournaments. Membership is open to all men and women currently enrolled in an institute of higher education.

To become a member, an intercollegiate team will complete the Application for Membership and submit the

required dues. Each student-athlete also will complete a USBC membership application. Collegiate bowlers

hold USBC National Membership and a Sport Bowling Membership upgrade only. If the USBC Collegiate

member participates in USBC standard or Sport Bowling competition, the applicable state/local membership

dues must be paid, similar to multiple memberships.

High School

Membership through the USBC High School Program is available at no charge to any high school team

registering their individual bowlers for the program.

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The membership is valid solely for recognized high school competitions during each individual teams’ official

high school bowling season. In order to participate in other USBC Youth competitions, (non-USBC High School)

the individual must obtain USBC membership by paying all required standard USBC membership dues.

Averages from the USBC High School Program will not be recognized for entry purposes into any other USBC

leagues and/or tournaments.

USBC Lifetime Membership

Former ABC Lifetime and WIBC Permanent Membership will be recognized by USBC Headquarters.

Membership dues will be credited by USBC to the appropriate state and local association(s) upon submission

of the membership application. In addition, USBC will reimburse membership dues for one local association

and one state association per season.

Optional Benefits

USBC:

a. May offer optional benefits for members at dues reflective of the value of services provided by USBC,

state and/or local associations.

b. May offer optional benefits for men, women and youth bowlers who choose to be identified with USBC.

Dues will reflect the level of membership privileges, services and benefits provided.

c. Determines dues for USBC and establishes the maximum amount of state and local dues only for

optional benefits.

The association must offer all levels of membership as established by USBC.

USBC is authorized to test optional benefits prior to offering them, and to waive those specific bylaws, rules

and regulations required for testing and implementation.

Youth Membership Eligibility

Rule 400

A. Except as provided in Item B, a youth may not bowl, substitute or pace 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.

In youth competition, youth members may participate in side competitions/brackets provided all entries are

returned 100% in the form of scholarships only and awards comply with Item A above.

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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.

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.

Amendment Procedures

Amendments submitted by a member or chartered association to the USBC General Playing Rules, Adult

League and Tournament Rules must be in writing to the USBC CEO by September 1 prior to the date of the

next USBC Annual Meeting for action by the delegates.

The USBC Board, by a two-thirds vote, amends the USBC Awards and Youth League and Tournament Rules.

The USBC Board also has authority to adopt Resolutions.

The Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee, acting for and on behalf of the USBC Board, are

authorized to have final authority to alter or change specifications. All proposed amendments to certification

regulations or measurement specifications must be submitted in writing to USBC Headquarters.

Membership Meetings

With the exception of affiliate status associations, the local association is required to hold at least one membership

meeting each season.

At a membership meeting, elective positions are filled according to the provisions of Article V of the local association

bylaws.

The meeting is open to the entire membership of the association and is under the direction of the board. All

regular business is considered at the meeting.

The president may call other membership meetings as deemed necessary, but shall call a meeting of the association

upon written request of at least three board members or at least 25 members of the association.

The association manager forwards a written notice of all membership meetings to each league secretary and

the association board. All notices should be forwarded to the league secretaries and association board at least

15 days in advance of the meeting. The league secretary shall notify the members of the league.

USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions