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Author Topic: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae  (Read 7850 times)

Rileybowler

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Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« on: July 23, 2019, 10:11:53 PM »
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?
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Carl
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bowling4burgers

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #31 on: July 31, 2019, 04:02:35 PM »
Is it worth sanctioning a league in 2019? My league doesn't bother.
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tommygn

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #32 on: July 31, 2019, 04:24:28 PM »
I would guess your league uses the rule book.
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #33 on: July 31, 2019, 04:56:38 PM »
Quote from: bowling4burgers on July 31, 2019, 04:02:35 PM
Is it worth sanctioning a league in 2019? My league doesn't bother.

If the prize fund is more than a trivial amount or if you need a sanctioned league average for tournaments I would.  Otherwise not so vital imo.
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JessN16

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #34 on: August 09, 2019, 08:33:11 PM »
Around here, league membership is up modestly. That's still great news considering our population around here is steadily going down.

However, we're still bleeding bowling centers left and right. Leland Lanes in Tuscaloosa, Ala., closed after 50-odd years in business. White Sands in Fort Walton, Fla., is closing. We lost Florida Bowl in Mobile, Ala., a few years back, as well as Woodmere Lanes in Montgomery.

I see more kids and families doing it on the weekends but it's not translating into league membership. I do think you could make some hay by splitting fall leagues into two seasons, with the first half ending in December, and not force everyone to run for 33 weeks. But mostly it's the same participation metrics that are killing other sports. I can't tell you the last time I saw a local softball league anywhere around here. The last golf league I know of was in Tennessee almost 20 years ago.

Jess
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Bowlaholic

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #35 on: August 10, 2019, 06:30:13 AM »
With our Wed. night league starting on 8/21 our league secretary has called all the team captains for a sense of those teams ( 30 teams x 4= 120 players) returning.
He told me approximately 14% of the players are not coming back.  Number 1 reason is they no longer wish to commit to a 36 week season.
What is of concern is that this league has never had a problem having 30 teams year to year.  This will be the first time the league will fall short as the secretary stated he is having a very difficult time trying to find new players to fill the upcoming losses. Sad!
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Rileybowler

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #36 on: August 10, 2019, 12:52:35 PM »
The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.
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Carl
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SG17

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #37 on: August 10, 2019, 03:20:26 PM »
Quote from: Rileybowler on August 10, 2019, 12:52:35 PM
The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.

one of the centers in my area takes one of their leagues and splits by thirds.  each third is a separate league session.  If your team bowled the first third, you get priority in bowling the 2nd.  if you bowled the 2nd third you get priority on the 3rd third.

They crown a league champion each third, take 2 weeks between sessions.  participation increased from a half the lanes to being used for a whole 32/33 weeks to a full house the entire time.  with as many as 10 teams staying for the entire 33 weeks.

They have a waiting list for joining this league.

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leftybowler70

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #38 on: August 10, 2019, 04:08:11 PM »
Quote from: SG17 on August 10, 2019, 03:20:26 PM
Quote from: Rileybowler on August 10, 2019, 12:52:35 PM
The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.

one of the centers in my area takes one of their leagues and splits by thirds.  each third is a separate league session.  If your team bowled the first third, you get priority in bowling the 2nd.  if you bowled the 2nd third you get priority on the 3rd third.

They crown a league champion each third, take 2 weeks between sessions.  participation increased from a half the lanes to being used for a whole 32/33 weeks to a full house the entire time.  with as many as 10 teams staying for the entire 33 weeks.

They have a waiting list for joining this league.



Pay attention and take notice league Secretary’s.
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JessN16

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Re: Is Bowling Really Becoming More Populae
« Reply #39 on: August 10, 2019, 05:40:07 PM »
Quote from: Rileybowler on August 10, 2019, 12:52:35 PM
The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.

Same here. I turned 46 this year. I used to bowl in three leagues, year-round. Now I'm down to one league and can't imagine bowling a second. I have to sit out the summer about 1 out of every 3 years just to avoid burnout. I would switch things up in the summer by bowling a different house but I only have one house within an hour. It's a great house with great people running it but it's in a casino, and they keep the entire building comfortable for the gamblers, not the bowlers. As soon as you have a game in, you start sweating like a pig, especially during the summer. It's stifling. And due to the design of the building, they chose not to use ceiling fans over the pit areas.

I took last summer off, bowled this summer, and I'm thinking about taking next summer off instead of waiting a year.

As for fall leagues, why anyone tries to bowl from about Dec. 14 - Jan. 14 confuses me. That would be a perfect time to break up a league season and reset. We probably don't have half the league in the house during those four weeks due to holiday travel.

Jess
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