I have a family member on the Board of Directors of our local USBC association. The board works very hard behind the scenes on issues such as local association achievement awards, planning for (and organizing) the State tournament (which is in our association for 2017), as well as reviewing protests, planning for attending national meetings, and other concerns that are brought before them.
Participation in sanctioned bowling is not directly controllable by the USBC. They cannot wake up one day, set a goal of 10,000 additional members for the month, and make it happen. The drop in league participation is more of a sociological issue more than anything else. Family priorities, job obligations, health issues, general time constraints. All things out of the control of the USBC. If people do not have the time or money to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have illnesses or physical challenges that prevent them from being able to bowl, the USBC cannot fix that. If people have work obligations that prevent them from being able to make it to a weekly league, the USBC cannot fix that.
There are some people that have always had bowling in their lives, and will continue to make bowling a part of their lives. My family and I have been continual USBC members for the past 22 years. There have been times where we have contemplated walking away. You may get into an extended slump. There may be stretches of weeks where you never feel like you have the "right ball" with you. There may be personality conflicts with other league bowlers that eliminate any joy in being at the lanes. But, ultimately, we always go back because we have been participating for over 2 decades and it gives us something to do as a family and we have numerous friends at the lanes.
The major thing you have to ask yourself is "what is the USBC not doing today that I wish they were doing?" As the governing body of the sport, they are doing what they are supposed to. They are establishing and maintaining the rules of the game. They are setting guidelines for equipment manufacturers to create consistency and to prevent unfair advantages. They maintain an awards system to acknowledge superior achievement by their members. They sponsor and arrange national tournaments. They sponsor and support events at the professional level. They negotiate discounts for their members with other companies for travel, lodging, and other types of services to make getting to the national events a little easier. There are many things they do in the interest of the members. Whether or not people see value in those things is a personal opinion.
Is there truly any value in giving members a patch for every 250 game bowled? Every 700 series? Every 800 series? Every Dutch 200? A plaque for every 11 in a row? A ring for every 298/299/300 game? Realistically, what is someone going to do with 100 250-game patches over the course of their bowling career? What need does a high average bowler have for 30+ 300 rings? Acknowledging these things on a "once in a lifetime" basis with a single free ring is much more meaningful than showering someone with dozens of rings. If people want their dozens of rings after that, they can buy them.
Each year I pay my sanction fee and bowl knowing they are there if I have a question about the rules or league issues. They maintain a record of my average and my accomplishments. I have never looked at them as an organization responsible for adding more members.
If bowling is going to grow, the USBC and the proprietors needs to adjust with the times. League seasons need to be shorter. League sessions need to go faster (3-4 hours for 5 man team bowling is, quite frankly, ridiculous.) Many people simply cannot devote this kind of time to bowling in the 21st century. Younger adults usually can, but as people get older their disposable free time goes away until they retire (and then they have much more time for multiple leagues and the time associated.) There needs to be more careful monitoring of averages to make tournaments and leagues more fair for bowlers of all skill levels. There need to be more opportunities for tournaments both regionally and nationally. There needs to be better training for league officers and proprietors on how to handle rule related infractions. There needs to be better enforcement of the rules they work so hard to establish for their members. Sometimes there is a definite Wild West mentality on some leagues and that shouldn't be the case. Bowling in a USBC sanctioned league should be a 99% similar experience regardless of where you bowl. Consistency is key.
There is no perfect organization. The USBC included. But, they are all we have and we need to work with them to help them achieve their mission.
