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Author Topic: Do we just burn ourselves out?  (Read 895 times)

9andaWiggle

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Do we just burn ourselves out?
« on: September 20, 2004, 06:14:05 AM »
Reading through Sawbones post about bowling's decline, I started to think. Last year I bowled 3 leagues in 3 houses, and wound up hating it by the middle of the year.  Seriously, I shouldn't have even showed up the last half I was so disgusted and tired of bowling.  Actually, the last 4 weeks alone I dropped my average 5 pins (198-193) and didn't care - which is not like me.

So, this year I am only bowling one league - a net loss for the industry of 1 bowler 2 nights a week (my contribution to the decline).  I find that this season, so far, I am actually looking forward to bowling again come league night.  Tomorrow is league, and I was sitting here thinking about it and wanting to go.

How much of bowling's decline is based on people just like me - cutting back their # of leagues year to year?

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9~

Keep your balls on the lane and your mind in the gutter!
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Pinbuster

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Re: Do we just burn ourselves out?
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2004, 02:25:11 PM »
It’s a double edged decline.

The number of bowlers sanctioned by the ABC seems to decline about 10% each year. Of those some will have been bowling more than 1 league making their absence more noticeable.

Plus like you and Sawbones others are simply cutting back their schedules.  In Sawbones case it was like losing 5 bowlers not just 1.

There are as about as many reasons for quitting as there are bowlers retiring from the sport, some is burnout as you suggest, some are due to physical reasons, some the lack of challenges, some the fad has past and a new one has taken it’s place, plus dozens of other reasons.  
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da Shiv

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Re: Do we just burn ourselves out?
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2004, 02:54:00 PM »
To the reasons listed so far, let me add these:

Change of job schedule.

Change of job to lower paying job.

Loss of job.

Requirement of the modern parent to attend every game that every child is in every time.

Shift of culture toward more solitary/sedentary pursuits.

Shiv

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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top
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SrKegler

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Re: Do we just burn ourselves out?
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2004, 08:59:46 PM »
I seriously considered not bowling this year.  Normally I can't wait for league nite.  Now I'm starting to dread it and it's only week 3.  I passed up chances to bowl in 3 tournaments over the past 3 weekends.  The wife & I used to plan the week around the different tournaments.  I can't really say I'm burned out, didn't bowl more than a dozen games all summer.  

I THINK my main problem is lack of goals.  I've attained every thing I wanted in bowling.  Now as soon as I blow the chance at an honor score, which usually happens first or second frame, I lose interest in the rest of the game as long as the team is winning.




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~~~SrK - Have balls, will travel

Spending the kids inheritance one tournament at a time.
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RIP Thongprincess/Sawbones
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