I know I’m a UK bowler well a watcher now but sticking diligently to the rules has back fired several times for leagues and tournaments local to me.
I’ve seen bowlers no longer bowl in tourneys due to being sent home due to minor dress code violations. I’ve seen long term team mates quit leagues they’ve bowled in for twenty plus years due to their team being docked points for extremely minor infractions.
Sorry but those sound like spoiled children playing in a playground, not adult bowlers.
You know the kind, "Waaa, it's my ball; if I don't get my way, I'm taking my ball and going home."
Your leagues and bowling do not need such spoiled children. Adults know the rules of whatever game/sport they're engaging in. They abide by the rules. You don't give a child leniency when they refuse to play by the same rues everyone has no problem abiding by.
Of course this all is true as long as the punishment fits the "crime". Once other "children" who "rule the roost" make rules to suit their need to grab power, all bets are off.
I understand what your saying and to a point agree with it. However the rest of the team is punished too. Hurting 4 players in a team for ones infraction can feel over the top.
But those are the rules. If you feel they are excessive, then make a suggestion to the league to change them in your by-laws. Otherwise, you're accepting them, as needs be.
Adhering strictly to rules is great when you have a thriving community however people bowling several years plus in a 40 week league are a loss to the sport, they were to our small leagues. Like I say if the cards are backdated like in the UK then a simple fine for the offending person would be more in order.
League by-laws allow changes to virtually every rule in the USBC rule book.
By the way, I agree, it seems harsh, but no one disobeys this law here. There are also check and counterbalances to insure compliance. After the individual's responsibility, there's also the team captain's responsibility. Plus as a bottom line, the captain, in USBC parlance, owns the team. You can then blame him/her for also not following the rules.
FYI There are a lot of rules in that book, on first glance, seem odd and out of place in today's environment. Until someone breaks one of those rules and is punished according to them, 99% of the bowlers don't know them and ignore them completely, UNTIL it becomes their turn. Then they become quite vociferous about how "unfair" the rule is.
Remember that by being sanctioned you're accepting every rule in that book. It's similar in concept, but not exactly the same as the idea of by living in any country, you're accepting the laws of that country. There is a saying, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse (for disobeying that law)."
