Anchorage Scholastic Bowling League

Policies and Procedures – Varsity

 

1)  School Classification

   Competition in bowling will be held for all participating high schools.

 

2)      Eligibility and Entry Fees

Where applicable, The Anchorage Scholastic Bowling League (ASBL) shall abide    by Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) and Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) eligibility rules.  The ASBL shall be sanctioned by the YABA High School Division each year to insure competition is conducted within the rules of the game as set forth in the sport’s national governing body.  The ASBL Commissioner shall receive, before the first conference meet, the names of all individuals of each club.  Individuals may be sanctioned through the ASBL or through a league sanctioned by the YABA and must be able to show proof of sanction to be able to compete.  Participation fee will be $45.00 plus all individuals will be expected to help with fundraising programs.

           

3)      League Structure

 

   The goal of each individual school shall be to field one boys’ and one girls’ varsity 

   team (a total of two teams per school).

 

4)      League Playing Rules

a.       Team Structure

1.       A varsity team shall consist of no more than eight bowlers.  Six bowlers

will bowl each game.

2.   A legal lineup will consist of four bowlers (see forfeits).

b.      Point System

All bowling will be done on a scratch basis.  Each team will bowl six bowlers.  Three bowlers from each team will bowl on a pair of lanes, the remaining three from each team will bowl on the adjacent pair of lanes.  Each match will consist of three (3) games.  A 12 point scoring system will be used.  Each game is worth 3 points (one point each for the group of three who have the higher pinfall on each pair of lanes and one point for the total series of all six scores for each game).  Three (3) standing points will be awarded to the winner of the match based on total pinfall.

C.     Playing Format

1.       A team is expected to present a legal lineup at the scheduled starting time for the match.

2.       Practice  10 minutes is allowed (5 minutes on each lane).  Bowlers are not allowed to bowl on the same day prior to a competition in the bowling center where the competition is to be bowled.

3.       Lineups:  Coaches shall exchange lineups five minutes prior to the start time.  The home team is to put their lineup down first.

4.       Eligibility:  It is the responsibility of the team’s coach to ensure all bowlers meet academic eligibility.  Teams that bowl ineligible bowlers may lose all matches that the ineligible student competes in.

5.       Substitutes: A substitute bowler may be used at any time during the game or match.  Once a bowler has been removed from a game, he/she cannot return to bowl during that same game.  Any game bowled by two or more individuals shall not be recorded for individual averages.

6.       Vacancy Scores: A vacancy score of 150 for boys and 130 for girls will be used to determine the team score for the game and series when the team has a legal but less than full lineup.  After the first ball of a match is thrown, a late arriving substitute bowler may not replace a vacancy until the end of that game.

7.       Forfeits:   A team which forfeits will forfeit all points for a game.  However, the scores for all eligible players shall be included in the league records and will qualify for all league and YABA individual awards.  When a match is declared forfeited, the team which is present must bowl as if the match were actually contested.

A.     A team game will be declared forfeited if one team fails to appear by the time the opposing team has completed its third frame of bowling, provided the opposing team started bowling at the scheduled starting time of the match.

B.     The match will be declared forfeited if one team fails to appear within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time for the match.

C.     A game or match will be forfeited if a team fails to field at least four team members under the provisions of paragraphs A and B above.

D.     A match may be rescheduled or the starting time delayed with commissioner’s approval due to travel difficulties providing the opposing team’s coach is notified before the end of practice.

8.       Conduct of Coaches and Players

A.  No coach, player or other person officially connected with the team shall be permitted to use any tobacco products on the bench or in the playing area.

B.     No consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the bowlers’ area during a match.

C.     All bowlers will remain in the immediate bowling area while competition is in progress.

D.     Bowlers will be expected to follow the previous bowler promptly and will be required to bowl as soon as the adjacent lanes are clear.

E.      Unsportsmanlike conduct, including but not restricted to deliberate foot fouls, vulgar language, or abuse of equipment or facilities, is not permitted.

F.      Conduct Enforcement Policy:  Coaches of all participating schools are responsible for the enforcement of the following penalties.  The commissioner shall have final say on enforcement when the two coaches cannot agree on the penalty that should be handed down.

First Incident – Zero for the frame that was just                  bowled and zero for the next frame.  (Zeros can be   carried over to the next game or match).

Second Incident – All of the first incident penalties plus the bowler will be taken out of the match.  The coach may bring in a sub for that bowler.  If the bowler is in the third game when the violation occurs, the bowler will be prevented from bowling in the next match also.  Depending on the severity of the conduct violation, the bowler may be subject to the 2^nd level of punishment immediately.

 

G.     The coach(s), league officials, and the bowlers in a match are      

the only persons authorized to be in the bowlers’ area during the match.  Substitutes or any other interested parties must remain behind the area defined as the bowlers’ area.

5)      Bowling Practice

a.       In meet or tournament host center:

None of the bowling lanes within the bowling establishment may be used for practice by any team members or substitutes on the day of any match or tournament.  A bowler that violates this provision will not be allowed to compete in the given event.

b.       Prior to start of match:

Five minutes of practice is allowed on each lane.  (Exception:  When a team is late for the match.)  Tournament practice will be defined for each individual tournament.

c.       Required practice sessions:

It is the responsibility of each head coach to conduct at least two (2) normal practice sessions each week during the ASBL season.  These sessions will be at no cost to the school or student and must be prearranged with participating bowling centers to ensure that lanes are reserved and available.

6)      Uniforms

Team competitors shall appear in uniforms approved by the Commissioner for all matches and tournaments.  Slacks/Dress Pants or Skirts will be required. No jeans will be allowed.  The entire team must wear the same color uniform (pants and shirts).

            7)         Transportation

It will be the responsibility of each participant in the ASBL to arrange for his/her own transportation to and from practices, matches and tournaments.  It will be required that all participants sign waivers of liability, stating that they are assuming all responsibility for their transportation and will hold the school district, coaches, and bowling centers harmless for any actions arising as a result of travel in connection with ASBL activities.

            8)         Awards

One (1) plaque or trophy will be awarded to the schools which finished in first and second place in each of the two defined divisions of competition at the conclusion of the league bowling season.  Eight individual plaques will be awarded to the individual team members of each first and second place team in each division.  A traveling trophy will be awarded to the school with the first place team in each division, for its possession until the end of the next year’s league session.

Awards for high average, high series and high game for the league season will also be presented in each division.  Such awards will be in the form of citations and plaques from the YABA.

To be eligible for individual awards, bowlers must bowl at least ¾ of all games bowled by his/her team.  Bowlers may win only one individual award (the order of priority being (1) high average, (2) high series, (3) high game.

Awards for All-Star Team will be given to the top six averages in each division and Bowler of the Year will be based on high individual average.  To be eligible for All-Star Team and Bowler of the Year awards, bowlers must bowl at least ¾ of all games bowled by his/her team.

            9)   Scholarships

Scholarships shall be awarded in accordance with all NCAA and ASAA rules.  The scholarship awards will be determined by the ASBL Advisory Committee, and will be awarded by the Alaska Youth Bowling Foundation.

            10)  Contingencies

Any situation arising which is not covered by the ASBL Guidelines shall be covered by the ASAA Official Handbook, the YABA High School Division Rule Book, and/or by the ASBL Advisory Committee.