Author Topic: Building a small sport league...what should we consider? (Read 1083 times)

Quadrajet · « **on:** August 30, 2011, 08:39:31 PM »

Here is the senario:

Some friends and I are trying to form a small sport sanctioned league for a local house. Our sole purpose for this league is to provide a sanctioned sport league for our city since there has never been one before. Because of this, the proprietor is pretty much willing to do anything we ask of him, especially since we'd simply be filling a few lanes that would otherwise be sitting vacant during league.

Our city has quite a few high average bowlers, but not one scratch league. As I'm sure you can guess, not many of them are willing to risk their reputations by bowling in a sport league. Also, people around here are frugal with both time and money, they might already be bowling in two or three leagues. With those things in mind, I do not realistically expect more than probably 8 people to bowl in this league at the start of it. Hopefully, once the ball gets rolling (pun intended), it may become more popular if we do it every year. Nothing is written in stone, so here is what we've been throwing around so far:

Type - Individual, maybe doubles. Unfortunately there aren't enough people to form teams at this time, but it would keep the length of the night very, very short. Something almost everyone could agree on.

Length - Two 10 week sessions. A short season would be appealing to the people already bowling multiple leagues, which would be most of the people bowling a sport league.

Prizefund/Payout - I was thinking about paying out each week rather than at the end of the session. That way people can take a day off without being penalized.

We had talked about, each night, taking whatever prize fund money we decide on and doing normal stuff like; brackets, high game pots, randomly paired doubles team high series etc. with the money. Rather than having an official "prize fund" and "payouts".
We could also just say "Each night you'll pay the league fee, but there will be no prize fund. If you want to win money, you can enter brackets/pots/random doubles etc separately".

I am sure I'm leaving out a bunch of stuff I should consider and of course I'm open to your suggestions and opinions, good or bad.

What characteristics would you want to see in a sport league? What were some good and bad experiences you've had with oil patterns, side pots, brackets, egos and attitudes when it came to your local sport or even scratch leagues?

Thanks for your time,
Quad

Edited by Quadrajet on 8/31/2011 at 4:40 AM

trash heap · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:14:08 AM »

Is this going to be an official SPORT LEAGUE? Because if it is...you got a little bit of work ahead of you.

Cobalt Bomb · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:40:14 AM »

I think your idea could work. Keeping the weekly fee down would encourage entries, even with no prize fund. At Brunswick Lakewood Lanes in NJ, they have the largest Brunswick center PBAX summer league in the entire country following the formula of 10.00 lineage fee with no prize fund. It attracts all skill levels and is a lot of fun.

Anyone that needs to could run brackets, etc for the higher average bowlers.

Quadrajet · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:42:36 AM »

Care to elaborate on what sort of work is ahead? I know about registering the league and the center with the USBC and contacting the local association to inform them that it is a sport league, as well as running tapes before each session. What else should I be looking into?

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 6:14 AM:Is this going to be an official SPORT LEAGUE? Because if it is...you got a little bit of work ahead of you.

trash heap · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:20:31 AM »

Okay. You have the registration, and the recording pattern each week. Also realize it will cost any bowler an additional $15.

Something you stated in your original post: "I was thinking about paying out each week rather than at the end of the session. That way people can take a day off without being penalized."

I don't think you can have someone miss a week (take a day off) in a Sanction League. If you have people coming in and out of the league when ever they feel like, that seems more like a weekly tournament instead.

100a. Qualifications

USBC will certify leagues participating in the game of American tenpins with the following provisions:

1. All leagues must meet the following requirements:

a. Apply for certification through the local association in whose jurisdiction it bowls.

b. Consist of four or more teams with the playing strength of one or more players per team as determined by league rule.

c. Bowl in accordance with a prearranged schedule based on the number of teams in the league.

d. Adopt rules and prize list (if any). (See Rule 117a and Rule 122.) (Suggested adult league rules can be found on BOWL.com.)

e. All players seeking membership must be qualified under the bylaws of USBC. (See USBC Introduction, Chapter 1.)

f. Provide for the designation of a team champion by the games bowled in scheduled competition.

g. Govern themselves by USBC rules. Other rules may be added, but must not conflict with USBC rules.

2. Three consecutive games are to be bowled by each team every time the league is scheduled to bowl, unless another number of games has been established by league rule. To be considered official in league play, all games must be bowled and conducted in strict compliance with the playing rules.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 6:42 AM:

Care to elaborate on what sort of work is ahead? I know about registering the league and the center with the USBC and contacting the local association to inform them that it is a sport league, as well as running tapes before each session. What else should I be looking into?

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 6:14 AM:
Is this going to be an official SPORT LEAGUE? Because if it is...you got a little bit of work ahead of you.

Quadrajet · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:34:37 AM »

Good point and luckily a minor one. I have no problem omitting that particular rule, considering the short league sessions. That brings up a good point though. As an individual league, if someone does have to miss a night of league, making it up could prove to be a challenge.

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 8:20 AM:
Okay. You have the registration, and the recording pattern each week. Also realize it will cost any bowler an additional $15.

Something you stated in your original post: "I was thinking about paying out each week rather than at the end of the session. That way people can take a day off without being penalized."

I don't think you can have someone miss a week (take a day off) in a Sanction League. If you have people coming in and out of the league when ever they feel like, that seems more like a weekly tournament instead.

100a. Qualifications
...
2. Three consecutive games are to be bowled by each team every time the league is scheduled to bowl, unless another number of games has been established by league rule. To be considered official in league play, all games must be bowled and conducted in strict compliance with the playing rules.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 6:42 AM:

Care to elaborate on what sort of work is ahead? I know about registering the league and the center with the USBC and contacting the local association to inform them that it is a sport league, as well as running tapes before each session. What else should I be looking into?

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 6:14 AM:
Is this going to be an official SPORT LEAGUE? Because if it is...you got a little bit of work ahead of you.

trash heap · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:46:28 AM »

I am not sure you can omit that rule.

As far as making up a night.Yeah that is a tough one. I am currently putting a league together very similar to yours. It only seems fair that a SPORT Pattern is used in the make up games. That is something you would have to work out with the center.

My rule is that that any prebowl or postponement matches must be discussed with the bowling center. A Pattern must be established if it is not one from the week of the makeup, it still should be one the patterns used in the league. Basically giving the center the authority to set things up with the bowlers.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 8:34 AM:
Good point and luckily a minor one. I have no problem omitting that particular rule, considering the short league sessions. That brings up a good point though. As an individual league, if someone does have to miss a night of league, making it up could prove to be a challenge.

Quadrajet · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:04:40 AM »

Yeah, I didn't mean omitting the rule as in not adhering to USBC rules. I meant making it so people can't miss a week and if they do they'd have to make up on the same sport condition we bowled league on that week. This bowling center is very flexible when it comes to oiling, so while the bowler will have to organize it with the center, it wouldn't be too difficult as long as there's some leeway. I'll be sure to talk that over with the proprietor.

Maybe going with doubles teams (then a sub could fill in) might be a better way to get around that whole mess.

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 8:46 AM:I am not sure you can omit that rule.

As far as making up a night.Yeah that is a tough one. I am currently putting a league together very similar to yours. It only seems fair that a SPORT Pattern is used in the make up games. That is something you would have to work out with the center.

My rule is that that any prebowl or postponement matches must be discussed with the bowling center. A Pattern must be established if it is not one from the week of the makeup, it still should be one the patterns used in the league. Basically giving the center the authority to set things up with the bowlers.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 8:34 AM:
Good point and luckily a minor one. I have no problem omitting that particular rule, considering the short league sessions. That brings up a good point though. As an individual league, if someone does have to miss a night of league, making it up could prove to be a challenge.

milorafferty · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:44:36 AM »

My summer sport league is singles. Each week is a playoff round with the top four bowling on the same pair, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th places bowl on the next pair etc. The "starting" lane moves one pair to the right each week. The point system is a total of 10 per game and 10 more for the series. 1st - 4 points, 2nd - 3 points , 3rd - 2 points and 4th gets one. So if the top bowler on a pair wins all three games, he/she gets a total of 16 points for the night.

If a bowler misses a night, there is no make up, but you can have a sub bowl for you. The money still has to be paid to the house. If there isn't a sub for the bowler, then the points awarded would be the 4th place points for the pair.

I find this singles format works pretty well and the idea of each week being a position round means everyone has a shot at winning the league.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 9:04 AM:Yeah, I didn't mean omitting the rule as in not adhering to USBC rules. I meant making it so people can't miss a week and if they do they'd have to make up on the same sport condition we bowled league on that week. This bowling center is very flexible when it comes to oiling, so while the bowler will have to organize it with the center, it wouldn't be too difficult as long as there's some leeway. I'll be sure to talk that over with the proprietor.

Maybe going with doubles teams (then a sub could fill in) might be a better way to get around that whole mess.

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 8:46 AM:I am not sure you can omit that rule.

As far as making up a night.Yeah that is a tough one. I am currently putting a league together very similar to yours. It only seems fair that a SPORT Pattern is used in the make up games. That is something you would have to work out with the center.

My rule is that that any prebowl or postponement matches must be discussed with the bowling center. A Pattern must be established if it is not one from the week of the makeup, it still should be one the patterns used in the league. Basically giving the center the authority to set things up with the bowlers.

Quadrajet wrote on 8/31/2011 8:34 AM:
Good point and luckily a minor one. I have no problem omitting that particular rule, considering the short league sessions. That brings up a good point though. As an individual league, if someone does have to miss a night of league, making it up could prove to be a challenge.

trash heap · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2011, 02:46:36 PM »

milorafferty,

I didn't know you can set a league up that a bowler (team) can bowl against 3 other bowlers (teams) each week? That is different. I want to do something like that but it seems the USBC rules of having a "schedule" messes that up.

milorafferty wrote on 8/31/2011 9:44 AM:
My summer sport league is singles. Each week is a playoff round with the top four bowling on the same pair, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th places bowl on the next pair etc. The "starting" lane moves one pair to the right each week. The point system is a total of 10 per game and 10 more for the series. 1st - 4 points, 2nd - 3 points , 3rd - 2 points and 4th gets one. So if the top bowler on a pair wins all three games, he/she gets a total of 16 points for the night.

If a bowler misses a night, there is no make up, but you can have a sub bowl for you. The money still has to be paid to the house. If there isn't a sub for the bowler, then the points awarded would be the 4th place points for the pair.

I find this singles format works pretty well and the idea of each week being a position round means everyone has a shot at winning the league.

milorafferty · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2011, 02:52:13 PM »

We have done the same thing for three consecutive summer leagues and it's a certified sport league, so USBC is OK with the format. Or at maybe they don't understand what we are doing. LOL

trash heap wrote on 8/31/2011 2:46 PM:milorafferty,

I didn't know you can set a league up that a bowler (team) can bowl against 3 other bowlers (teams) each week? That is different. I want to do something like that but it seems the USBC rules of having a "schedule" messes that up.

milorafferty wrote on 8/31/2011 9:44 AM:
My summer sport league is singles. Each week is a playoff round with the top four bowling on the same pair, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th places bowl on the next pair etc. The "starting" lane moves one pair to the right each week. The point system is a total of 10 per game and 10 more for the series. 1st - 4 points, 2nd - 3 points , 3rd - 2 points and 4th gets one. So if the top bowler on a pair wins all three games, he/she gets a total of 16 points for the night.

If a bowler misses a night, there is no make up, but you can have a sub bowl for you. The money still has to be paid to the house. If there isn't a sub for the bowler, then the points awarded would be the 4th place points for the pair.

I find this singles format works pretty well and the idea of each week being a position round means everyone has a shot at winning the league.

abrown · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2011, 05:42:40 PM »

i know that the league secretary has a little more work than normal ahead of him having to tape each pattern every time you change to insure it passes usbc before competition starts, certifying the league and house along with the one thing people dont like having to pay an additional sanctioning fee. i bowled in one for several years and it was a good set up everyone places a one time only fee of 20 for a draft and the group was split in half having the top half pick from the bottom half it was a singles and double point system with match play at the end making for a farily competitive league

Author Topic: Building a small sport league...what should we consider? (Read 1083 times)

Quadrajet

Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

trash heap

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

Cobalt Bomb

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

Quadrajet

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

trash heap

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

Quadrajet

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

trash heap

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

Quadrajet

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

milorafferty

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

trash heap

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

milorafferty

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?

abrown

Re: Building a small sport league...what should we consider?