I have a whole lot of used bowling balls some of which have not been used much at all, so I thought I would like to donate to youth bowling so I inquired at my bowling establishment (AMF) and they said they no longer have youth leagues so I sent the USBC representative for my area asking him if he could put me in touch with a youth league representative so I could donate equipment to them  and he told me about a bowling establishment that has a rack for used equipment that they sell it and donate to youth bowling. I was wondering if this is the norm now or that it is just my area where it seems youth bowling is not doing well at all, this is Richmond Va. area so there are plenty of youth around and I know that there used to be a lot of youth bowling going on but not now.  How are youth bowling leagues doing in your area?

Is anyone claiming bowling is becoming more popular?

That said, youth bowling is doing pretty well around here (northeast Ohio). One thing that helps, IMO, is a strong, local collegiate bowling program in the area.

The face of youth bowling has changed over the years just as adult bowling has.  Organized sanctioned leagues have long been on a decline, but overall recreational popularity has remained strong.   At the competitive level there is now junior gold and other outlets for the truly avid juniors that was not available years ago.   

Many more people, especially kids, prefer bowling to golf at both the recreational level, and organized league kevel

I'll believe it when I see it.

It's great that the USBC is growing youth bowling. I've seen it here in Metro Detroit, too.

Take it from a youth coach of 20+ years, the problem the USBC is not addressing is moving these kids into adult leagues. it is my opinion, looking at kids I've seen go through youth bowling, that only 1 in 10 move up to adult leagues.

It's easy to bowl on mom and dad's money, but once they have to spend their own money on bowling, they just stop or blame outside influences. To me these are all excuses.

The USBC needs a program that encourages youth bowlers to move into adult leagues.

The USBC needs a program that encourages youth bowlers to move into adult leagues.

I am really not sure this is the job of the USBC.  People who want to bowl will continue to bowl.  People who stop bowling once they are out of junior leagues and school programs most likely never really had their heart in it.

We have a substantial junior scholarship bowling program in my area, and some of the kids go to Junior Gold, go to colleges that offer bowling programs, etc.  Those kids tend to stay bowlers once they graduate.

Other kids only do it because the parents push them to do it and pay for it, they *might* get some small scholarship fund out of it, and it is something to do on a Saturday morning.  However a large majority of them aren't really in to it, and quit once they are out of the league.

Unfortunately, kids these days are programmed to ask "what is in it for me" when it comes to participating in things.  When they ask the USBC "What is in it for me to keep bowling on adult leagues?", and the USBC has no answer other than "fun and camaraderie", the young bowlers will say "ok...I'm out!  see ya!"

Honestly, the USBC doesn't offer any incentives or enticement to bowl on adult leagues.  It  boils down to a desire of the actual bowler to want to devote the time and expense to participate for their own personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.  When that feeling [or the time and available money] goes away is when most die-hard bowlers walk away from the sport.

$20/week for league and a few hundred a year for equipment is not an expensive hobby.  Talk to people about their boats, atv's, horses, guns, golf clubs, high end softball bats and they will tell you bowling is cheap.