The Metro Detroit area townhall was held this past Sunday, with a turnout of roughly 120 people.  The meeting was contentious to say the least and almost ALL discussion was about the youth changes.  We had about 20-or-so youth bowlers show up at the meeting...from the local classic youth leagues and classic touring tournament organizations.

A number of the youth present spoke very passionately about why they thought the changes were "unfair."  A number of them spoke about how without being able to continue bowling in youth until age 22, they wouldn't be able to garner further scholarships and go on to college.  To many, these scholarships are apparently the ONLY way they will get to go to college.  Sadly, a number said "there is no way that I will get an academic scholarship, and you are taking away my only chance..."

First off, I feel for these youth...to a point.  Look, at some point in time USBC will make this change and some youth will be affected by it...there is NO way around this.  But some of the comments that came from these youths were quite troubling to me.  With all due respect, if a youth is so good at bowling that they can garner scholarships but says an academic scholarship is, essentially, laughable, perhaps they are bowling too much and should be...God forbid, concentrating on their academics!  Next, I don't know what these youth are being taught, but there are MANY ways out there for ANYONE to go on to college.  Thinking bowling is the only way is naive and shows (to me at least) a lack of parental involvement in important decision-making for the future, as well as a failure to present other realistic options for their youth.

On to the scholarships...a gentlemen (representing the State, I believe) made some comments about scholarships that I found interesting.  Paraphrasing, he said...scholarships CANNOT be based solely on bowling, that such scholarships can be or are considered income because they are not based on academic achievement...

I do not recall whom he was referring to concerning this classification, but it got me thinking...are there ANY other sports that provide individual scholarships for youth based on competing against other youth?  And if not, are these youth bowlers REALLY bowling for income, which is something no other youth sport competitor is allowed to do?

Now I don't know how many of you have classic youth tournament organizations in your area...we have a good number around here.  Understandably, those that would be impacted by this change were the most vocal...they want what they feel they DESERVE.  Another one of the issues brought up yesterday was how youth receiving such scholarships are getting a hard time from State High School Associations, NCAA, and other Collegiate programs.  So who is right about this?

Something tells me that, as much as would hate to think they are correct, that NCAA feels these youth are getting a benefit that other youth athletes are not...which leads me to believe that bowling is the only sport that does this.  While it is a noble idea, are we doing a disservice to our youth?  Should not ALL scholarships be received for academic achievement only (obviously except for those received directly from higher education institutions that offer them for bowling on the school's team)?

wait, what exactly is happening to the scholarships?

There's a significant difference though in what you are portraying in regards to the scholarships received for other sports.  

First, the scholarship is offered by the educational institution, following acceptance into the school via testing or other requirements (granted those requirements probably aren't very stringent).  Bowling scholarships received by students in this way are treated just as the football, basketball, etc., scholarships.  And whether you believe it or not, there are some educational requirements that have to be met in order to retain those scholarships (granted many schools manage to "look the other way" in certain instances).

At question are these other scholarships that are received via defeating other youth bowlers (donators?) in various competitions (MJMA, JTBA, Junior Gold, etc.).  These "scholarships" are essentially income, as they are in no way based on any type of academic achievement.  In addition, these scholarships are not given away by an academic institution, as part of an agreement to perform athletically at said school.

The NCAA clearly feels that this situation is a financial benefit to those youth...one that youth in other sports do not have available to them.  In fact, name another youth sport that does this other than bowling?

As I said, as much as it pains me to say so, I have to agree with NCAA on this one.  What is even worse is the attitude of the youth that I witnessed at the meeting.  The "laughable" idea of getting scholarships via academic achievement was most disturbing.  Again, if you are so good at bowling that you can keep banking scholarship dollars, but you are failing academically...chances are you should be bowling less and studying more.

Bowling is NOT the only way to get scholarship dollars for school.  However it is the ONLY sport that allows the opportunity in this fashion.  Personally, I think the youth are being done a disservice and it needs to be corrected.

Why should 22 year olds be concerned with getting scholarships to college on bowling?  They should  be GRADUATING at that age.  I am 22, and graduate college in a month and a half.

If bowling is the only reason they would be going to college, then they are not deserving that scholarship in the first place.  They should be offered to those who show outstanding achievement in the sport, up to the age of 18, in which they would be heading off to college.

I'm all for the classification of "junior" stopping at the age of 18, which it is in many other sports, golf included.  If I were to be playing in golf tournaments right now (as a college player) against those of a younger age, 18, I would DESTROY them.

Just some thoughts.

Edited on 3/4/2009 6:11 PM