It seems as though we have 2 theories that are being discussed when it comes to "how to turn the ship around".  Again, we are talking about 2 goals:

GOAL 1:  To return integrity to bowling to make it a real sport once again.
GOAL 2:  To increase the number of bowlers in our sport by promoting bowling as a fun activity to recreational bowlers or to people who do not bowl currently.

All of us seem to agree that we want both of those things to happen.  So now which direction do we need to go to make them happen?


1st theory:  Build a bigger base of bowlers by promoting bowling in new ways to increase league members.

2nd theory:  Build a stronger league structure with the Classic League on a sport shot being the ultimate goal of every bowler (returning integrity first, then worrying about building a base later)


Many people have posted in other threads that they believe the 1st theory is the best one.  I want to emphatically argue that the 2nd theory is the way to go, although both can happen simultaneously in my opinion.

I have seen new bowlers come into leagues every year, and every year those same bowlers usually quit at the conclusion of the league season.  It doesn't make sense to me to bring new people into a broken system.  Yes we need more promotion, but we need more of a plan than just "bring new bowlers in".  We need to restructure what we are bringing them into!

In other words, the system needs to be one that promotes upward movement.  Just like when you go to work, if you have nowhere to go and every move is only lateral, what do you have to look forward to?  Many jobs have become this way, and that is why many people change jobs frequently.

Let's look at a top to bottom view of how it should be done.

Top of the Mountain:  The highest goal of league bowling should be to bowl in the area's Classic Scratch Sport League.  Lots of money, the areas best bowlers, and real team bowling would be the characteristics of this league.  This should be the league that sponsors line up to put their money into.

2nd Highest League:  Perhaps this league also bowls on a sport condition, butthe bowlers in this league can't quite compete with the top dawgs.  They bowl in this league and work on their game so that they can get to the top one day.

Middle Ground:  These leagues can either be sport or THS, although I think THS should be gotten rid of completely.  That is down the road yet, so these leagues will largely be house shots for now.  These are the leagues we need to worry about.  We cannot give them any sponsor money, or people will continue to flock to these leagues as they do now.  If there is a way to limit the pots, then that would be good too.  This should just be the next step up from recreational leagues.  A good place to jump in and find some good competition, but not enough money to really make any real competitive type person to want to stay here for very long.  These leagues have the potential to be the most fun, because people will be bowling to win and to make a name for themselves to be looked at by the top 2 tiers of leagues.  Prove you can win, and maybe you're ready for the next level!

Beginner Leagues:  100% handicap!  Offer coaching and instruction to these bowlers.  Offer a good discount on a new bowling ball.  New bowlers get to learn together.  NO JACKPOTS!  Offer awards on most improved from beginning to end, and for 2nd year bowlers who improve over last year.  These leagues are for people who want to further their game so they can move up the ladder soon.

Recreational Leagues:  Again, 100% handicap!  These leagues are for people who don't care about competitive bowling.  I have no problem with the sport being a recreation, but as you can see above, we also need to make an attempt to make bowling a real sport as well.  This league here is just for people who want to get drunk and bowl around other people who have the same goal.  Usually, this is the type of league where young men and women get together to listen to loud music and flirt with each other all night.  hahaha.  How is that a bad thing?


I believe this basic structure is how bowling should exist everywhere.  Obviously, some levels might either not exist or exist on much smaller levels if we're talking about a small town.  And obviously there might be 2 or more Top of the Mountain type leagues if it is a big city like Detroit or Chicago.  But I think you get the idea.  I believe in an "upward pull".  That is, if we build the structure of leagues making the top league in the area the one with all of the money and the best bowlers, then that top league will pull new bowlers in at each level.  Bowlers will constantly want to move up the ladder into the more competitive leagues, but some will find contentment with good competition in the middle leagues.  Not everybody bowls to win money, so many will stay in the middle where they can compete against other like themselves (no top dawgs).

What do you guys and gals think?
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

We've taught those once a week bowlers to not want a challenge, now we need to teach them otherwise.

Next?
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

I don’t think it is about a challenge but in playing the game as it was meant to be played.

Bowling was not intended to be played on a surface that guides the ball to the pocket as many of today’s lane patterns do. If that was the case then why don’t we simply cut a groove in the lane, visibly mark it, and the only skill needed is to roll the ball in the groove.

Bowling around here pretty much use to be the way described above. You got into beginners leagues and as you progressed you were moved into progressively more competitive leagues. The biggest difference was the lack of 100% handicap leagues and the need to change to a sport shot. Bowling at 70% to 80% handicap wasn’t a big problem as the average gap wasn’t as high as it is today.

Beginners generally average the same today as they did back then. The difference is before the highest averages generally seen in handicap leagues were 175 to 185. Today you have 210 to 220. I believe in to many cases the scoring gap seems so great to the beginners that they give up hope.

Most any adult male will average at least 140 their first year and many will average higher. They could see that an extra strike or two and a couple of spares and they were with the big boys at 175. So they practiced and tried to get better. Today they look at it and go I need to throw 5 more strikes a game and the task seems impossible.

But times changed. Bowlers didn’t want to break up their old teams to move on. They would rather stay in the handicap leagues with a stacked team and win the sure money.

Nice points Pinbuster.

I still say that a big reason for people losing interest is because they can learn everything they need to learn in just a few years.  I've seen many people get up to 200 level in no time, and then up to 210 or so the following season.  3 years is about all it takes, and then the learning stops.

What more can we learn on a house shot once we reach 200+ average?  Not much.

If we make the shots tougher again, or at least do so in the upper echelon leagues, then the learning just continues for a lot longer period of time.  Learning and improvement is what hooks people into our sport.  Getting up to 200+ and realizing that most of it is luck anymore, drives people away!
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"