Chapter 5: Sport Bowling

The USBC Sport Bowling program consists of leagues and tournaments where lane conditions are controlled

to place the emphasis on the bowler’s skills. To be officially recognized, a USBC Sport Bowling league or tournament

must be registered on the Sport Bowling section of bowl.com prior to the beginning of competition.

The following rules were approved by USBC in accordance with the authority granted it in Article 4, Section E

of the USBC Bylaws. The rules included in this chapter are unique to Sport Bowling. In the absence of a rule

or specification, the USBC rules and specifications governing standard leagues and tournaments shall be

followed for Sport Bowling competition.

Rule 200 - Definition of Sport Bowling

200a. League

A Sport Bowling league is defined as a league meeting the following requirements:

1. The league is registered with USBC prior to the start of competition.

2. The league’s entire schedule takes place in a center in compliance with Rule 206b.

3. All rules and specifications for Sport Bowling are adhered to.

4. Local association(s) with jurisdiction must be utilizing WinLABS.

200b. Tournament

A Sport Bowling tournament is defined as a tournament meeting the following requirements:

1. The tournament is registered with USBC prior to the start of competition.

2. All competition takes place in a center in compliance with Rule 206b.

3. All rules and specifications for Sport Bowling are adhered to.

Rule 201 - Membership

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 have already purchased USBC

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

Bowling awards.

Basic USBC membership dues for USBC Lifetime members will be paid by the organization, but the bowler is

responsible for paying the additional Sport Bowling dues.

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74 – Chapter 5: Sport Bowling

Rule 202 – Average Adjustment

202a. Scale

The scale found on page 67 would be used to adjust Sport Bowling averages upward, as required, for use in

standard competition.

202b. Sport to Standard League

A bowler must submit and use his/her adjusted Sport Bowling league average utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a) and identify themselves as a Sport Bowler if the:

1. Bowler is entering a standard league; and

2. The league’s entering average rule requires the bowler to use the average; and

3. Bowler does not have a standard league average from the same season(s) specified in the league’s

entering average rule as the Sport Bowling average.

A bowler is required to submit his/her adjusted Sport Bowling league average utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a) in leagues that use composite averages for entering and/or handicap

purposes.

Nothing in this rule supersedes the league’s authority to adjust a bowler’s adjusted average higher prior to

entering. A bowler’s failure to comply with these provisions could result in forfeiture of games bowled.

202c. Standard to Sport League

In sport bowling leagues, prior to participation, the entering average of a participant with only a standard

league average may be adjusted downward by the league’s board of directors utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a). If such an average is adjusted downward, the league’s board of directors

cannot adjust it lower than the corresponding sport league average listed in the scale.

202d. Sport to Standard Tournament

A bowler must submit and use his/her adjusted Sport Bowling league average utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a) and identify themselves as a Sport Bowler if the:

1. Bowler is participating in a standard tournament; and

2. Tournament’s entering average rule requires the bowler to use the average; and

3. Bowler does not have a standard league average from the same season(s) specified in the tournament’s

entering average rule as the Sport Bowling average.

A bowler is required to submit his/her adjusted Sport Bowling league average utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a) in tournaments that use composite averages for entering and/or handicap

purposes.

Compliance with Rule 319a, Item 2 and Rule 319e will be determined based on the bowler’s adjusted Sport

Bowling league average using the USBC Average Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a) or his/her standard

league average, whichever applies.

USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions

Chapter 5: Sport Bowling – 75

Nothing in this rule supersedes tournament management’s authority to adjust the bowler’s adjusted average

higher prior to bowling. A bowler’s failure to comply with these provisions could result in disqualification.

202e. Standard to Sport Tournament

In Sport Bowling tournaments, prior to participation, the entering average of a participant with only a standard

league average may be adjusted downward by tournament management utilizing the USBC Average

Adjustment Scale (see Rule 202a). If such an average is adjusted downward, tournament management cannot

adjust it lower than the corresponding sport league average listed in the scale.

Rule 203 – Lane Dressing/Lane Dressing Inspections

Each league or tournament is responsible for arranging lane dressing inspections as required by USBC for

Sport Bowling leagues and tournaments. Games bowled on conditions not properly inspected or not complying

with Sport Bowling lane dressing requirements, are not eligible for Sport Bowling awards and shall be

issued standard USBC awards. (See the Sport Bowling Technical Manual in the Sport Bowling section of

bowl.com for details.)

Rule 204 – Awards

Special enhanced awards will be issued to Sport Bowling members who participate in Sport Bowling competition

when the provisions of Rules 203 and 205 have been met, for the following accomplishments:

Series Awards Game Awards

900 300, 299

800 to 899 75 pins over average

Clean Series 11 strikes in a row, in a game of 298 or less

In the application of Rule 53, Sport Bowling averages can only be used when bowling in Sport Bowling

competition.

A Sport Bowling member is eligible for one of each of the above awards per season. Standard USBC awards

will be issued for all accomplishments not covered above. Scores bowled on noncomplying Sport Bowling

conditions will be issued standard USBC awards.

Rule 205 - Equipment Restrictions

Equipment designated by USBC as not approved for use in Sport Bowling leagues and tournaments, cannot

be used. Games bowled with unapproved Sport Bowling equipment are not eligible for USBC Sport Bowling

awards and shall be subject to forfeiture/disqualification.

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76 – Chapter 5: Sport Bowling

Rule 206 – Sport Certified Centers

206a. Requirements to Host Sport Bowling

To obtain and retain a Sport center certificate to host Sport Bowling competition, the center must:

a. Be USBC certified.

b. Have access to a tape take-up device and a computerized optical reader.

c. Have registered the center online on SportBowling.com.

d. Have an approved Sport Bowling lane dressing inspection on file with USBC Headquarters.

e. Submit graphs and/or tapes every week for every competition.

f. Be in compliance with all USBC certification requirements in addition to all Sport Bowling lane dressing

requirements. (See the Sport Bowling Technical Manual in the Sport Bowling section of bowl.com for

details.)

206b. Retention of Sport Center Certificate

Once a bowling center has demonstrated compliance with the requirements of Rule 206a, a certificate will

be issued. The certificate is required for the center to host Sport Bowling competition. USBC retains the

authority to withdraw the certificate at its discretion and/or if the center fails to continue to meet the

requirements of Rule 206a. When USBC finds noncompliance with any of the requirements, the following

will apply:

a. The center will be notified by USBC Headquarters of the noncompliance and asked to correct the matter.

b. If the noncompliance is not corrected before the next competition, USBC will issue a warning to the center.

c. Any center accumulating two warnings within a 12-month period will have its certificate withdrawn.

d. If an appeal to the certificate withdrawal is not received by USBC Headquarters within 10 days of notification,

the decision will be final.

e. If there is an appeal, it will be heard by a committee comprised of USBC Board Members.

Rule 207 – Submission of Scores/Prize Winnings

For Sport Bowling tournaments, the tournament manager shall be responsible for submitting all scores and a

prize list to USBC Headquarters within 30 days of the tournament’s conclusion.

USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions

Chapter 5: Sport Bowling – 77

Sport League Average Adjustment to Standard Average

for the 2007-08 season. (August 1, 2007-July 31, 2008)

Sport League Adjusted Sport League Adjusted Sport League Adjusted

Average Average Average Average Average Average

0-130 Same 160 169 190 205

131 131 161 170 191 206

132 133 162 171 192 207

133 135 163 173 193 208

134 136 164 175 194 209

135 139 165 177 195 209

136 141 166 178 196 210

137 142 167 181 197 210

138 144 168 182 198 210

139 145 169 184 199 211

140 146 170 186 200 212

141 147 171 188 201 213

142 147 172 189 202 214

143 148 173 190 203 215

144 149 174 191 204 216

145 149 175 192 205 217

146 150 176 193 206 218

147 151 177 194 207 219

148 154 178 195 208 220

149 155 179 196 209 220

150 157 180 197 210 221

151 158 181 198 211 222

152 159 182 199 212 223

153 160 183 200 213 224

154 162 184 201 214 224

155 163 185 202 215 224

156 164 186 203 216 225

157 165 187 204 217 226

158 167 188 205 218 227

159 168 189 205 219 and up SL Ave +9

USBC Playing Rules and Commonly Asked Questions