Integrity.. Interesting!! Put on a tough condition scores go down to some extent, promote this condition as a "sport" shot, then fair enough, it will make par bowlers work harder hopefully. That fact seems to be accepted for the most part. This seems a very honest way of bowling, obviously for the accomplished bowlers.
Unfortunately the bulk of league bowlers are like myself, below 200 av bowlers, most of us come along once a week, hope to bowl well, then go home. I do take it more seriously, and try to practise during the week.
Bottom line, as far as i can see, is that leagues are losing bowlers, that cannot be over stated enough!! Integrity seems to be a bit above the like of myself and most league bowlers,we just want to get better. Michigan said 3-4% decline, when I started bowling around 2000, the centre was full of teams of 4, now they are trying to fill up 2 man teams.. The average bowler pays their money each week, and they do this for over long seasons (35-45weeks, why the hell so long, and please forget about the centre trying to make money), often there is little support from the centre in terms of self improvement/coaching, little in the way of centre news, and finally with a million activites to spend your dollar on, why commit one night (minimum) per week to go bowling, fork out some dough, and feel cheezed of at the end of the night for bowling poorly... Forget about the high average/tournament bowler they do not represent but a minor majority of league bowlers. I think bowling needs to self promote itself better
(at least in Aus).
Look at soccer, wow, what a growth sport, fun,safe,cheap to participate in, coaching/practise within club,high profile nationally and internationally, great for fitness. Imagine listing bowling against this??
Bowling gets people in, there is no doubt about that, I can't believe how many people I have spoken to who have tried league bowling, if only for a season, then guess what happens next, they lose them!! The centre I mean.. Its a crime, really, develop the game from leagues (juniors to adult). I guess Im going on a bit, considering the question is about integrity, and one could say that this relates to lane conditions more, than the quantity of any given league night of bowlers participating.. I think, of any successful, viable and profitable sport as a pyramid, large wide base, slowly narrowing, and finally to the peak.Most sports have this, its call infastructure!! IMHO, bowling has lost its wide base.. There are less bowlers, the ones who have been at it for 10 years have progessed as they should, but at what cost.. To keep them happy a consistant house shot.. Think about how many higher average bowlers there are, now think how a couple of new bowlers would feel joining particular leagues. After a season or two, they feel a little despondant, they haven't performed to the standard of many of seasoned league bowlers.. Guess what happens next.They leave.No real surprise really!! I guess I get a bit annoyed the fact that bowling has had so many people through the doors, yet it can't seem to hold onto them.. If Bowling can't get it right from the ground up, then its looking a tad gloomy for the longevity of league bowling. The beginning bowling becomes the solid league bowler, the solid league bowler becomes the high average bowler, the high above bowler bowler becomes the tournament bowler, the tournament bowler becomes the regional/PBA bowler (if you are US based), and so the cycle continues.
BOWLING IS ESSENTIALLY ITS OWN PRIVATE ECO-SYSTEM!!
Everyone within bowling (or the cycle) needs to be looked after. The way I see it, is that you can't have one without the other. I know of juniors who have stopped bowling.. Jesuss!! To all centre owners, what the hell are u doing, u have kids turning up, and u take their money at the time, and when they leave, don't freak out, just remain calm as u know some other kid will fill the vacancy. THIS IS MISS MANAGEMENT, ITS UN PROFRESSIONAL and PLAIN SLACK!!! Thing is, with all the kids that stop, u fail to realize that could have become adult league bowlers. Missed opportunities!
I want my centre and its leagues to be around for my kids when they are older, and their kids later on, yet Im not so sure.
Sad, very sad LL, yet still hope whilst there are sites like this and others around.
