BallReviews
General Category => Youth Bowling => Topic started by: tgp3 on April 06, 2006, 12:19:09 PM
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What are the opinions of everyone about the changes to Jr. Gold for Buffalo? Brief summary for those who didn't see the press release yet:
4 Days of qualifying...bowl 3 days, one off day.
Cut to top 96 guys and 48 girls who return for 6 more games (day not stated)
Cut to top 32 guys and 32 girls who bowl 6 more games
End of Tournament...No match play
Top 1:7 Cash
Basically, less games, more time at location, no match play, and more people...thoughts?
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WOW....and you saw this where?
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Farewell Tour 05'-06' "No Mercy"
B-Car
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Press release sent to all Jr. Gold Tournament Directors...
CHANGES WILL HELP MEET DEMAND
FOR USBC JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
GREENDALE, Wis. - Due to increased demand, the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships will undergo several changes for the 2007 event, including a new schedule that will allow for even more participants.
With a sell-out field already slated for the 2006 event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the 2007 tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., will accommodate nearly 300 more bowlers.
Instead of having three consecutive days of qualifying, the three six-game blocks will be spread out over four days, giving each bowler one off day during the qualifying period. The change allows for 1,728 participants in Buffalo versus 1,458 in Fort Lauderdale.
"It's very important that we continue to let this event grow," USBC Chief Tournament Officer Roseann Kuhn said. "This schedule change allows us to accommodate even more of the top youth bowlers in the country."
One out of every seven entrants will receive a scholarship with the top 96 boys and 48 girls advancing from qualifying to bowl six more games before the field is cut to the top 32 boys and 32 girls who will bowl a final six games.
The top five boys and girls will earn automatic spots on USBC Junior Team USA. The National Selection Committee will choose three more boys and girls from the final 32 to round out Junior Team USA.
AMF Thruway Lanes will serve as the host center for the 2007 event. Qualifying will also take place at Transit Lanes and AMF Airport Lanes.
Held on USBC Sport Bowling lane conditions, the Junior Gold Championships, which is an individual competition, is the largest youth event in the country.
USBC Youth members who average 175 or better (boys) or 165 or better (girls) and who are members of the USBC Junior Gold program are eligible to qualify to advance to the Championships.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services and enhances the bowling experience.
USBC officially launched Jan. 1, 2005, as an organization serving nearly three million adult and youth bowlers in the United States. It resulted from the merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling.
Bowl with US
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Although I like the idea of giving away more spots, expanding qualifying is not a good idea in my opinion.
What if one day for some reason or another scores are either much higher or much lower than the other days? How will people who didn't bowl that day feel? I have really enjoyed the last 2 years at Junior Gold because it really feels like a professional tournament. Everything is done very professionally and even if you aren't bowling great you feel like your part of the biggest, most competitive youth tournament in the world. By splitting up the qualifying it is taking the tournament one step closer to being just another Pepsi tournament.
Also, limiting the cut to the top 96 is VERY restricting. I realize that if you're not in the top 96 after 18 you probably don't have much of a shot anyway, but only taking about 1 out of every 9 bowlers to the SEMI finals is being extremely tight. In the past you could have a couple of bad games and still make it in with a 185 average or so. Now I can garauntee that it will take at least a 190 or above average to make the first cut. Good luck on the conditions they lay down out there. If you bowl a low low game (130 or below), good luck coming back from that.
Anyway, the change isn't anything major. The tournament will still be the best youth tournament out there, but I believe the current format is much better.
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haha... that is the dumbest change ive eer seen... USBC arises and bowling starts going downhill... start taking away awards from juniors... and now changing tournament formats to make them not worth the trip... if were gonna fly across teh country to bowl a tournament make it a lot of games and worth our while... and also more games shows who has more stamina and can make the right moves during transition....
top 96 guys... theres an even better ratio... as more people start to bowl gold its just gonna get bigger if you would allow it... 96 i dont think is enough.... anot not having matchplay is dumb... where is the fun in that... matchplay is what makes a tournament.... the one on one competition is what people most like to watch and to bowl
i dont get it
glad im turnin after this summer cuz wont have to deal with this lame change
as years go on the things that go on for juniors always seem to become more lame... years ago things were great.... next year... no more cool format for gold... no more 300/800 rings for juniors FOR SOME LAME REASON... honestly there is no concrete reason to change anything
matchplay makes competitive bowling.... and thats that
and how is the integrity being upheld when the sheer competitiveness is being dropped down.... just my opinion but i know others agree
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"2 Hours Sleep + A Couple Beers = Good Bowling"
Sherman
Edited on 4/6/2006 9:37 PM
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Ya I agree with Mason. The format for Gold last year was great, I liked it. The new changes that they're going to make are, to put it nicely, pretty lame. I loved watching match play last year, it was really exciting. Taking away match play at Gold, where's the excitement? Where's the fun? Sure it'll still be a good tournament, but not as exciting of a format. I say keep it the way it is. And cut to top 96 after how many games of qualifying? 6 a day for 3 days still? That's cuttin' it REALLY close. Last year in Indy there were 1,045 entrants for guys, and top 149 made it to semis? That sounds reasonable. What they're saying for Buffalo is that there's going to be a max of 1,728 bowlers and cut to top 96? Uhhhh...doesn't sound too thrilling to me...
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Allred
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Hola,
again, don't even start me on this one..... yet.
I'll probably have a lot to say very soon. You can make of it what you will.
Thanks,
Jeff
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If they are using more then 3 bowling alleys, lets say 4 total. And you only bowl qualifying at 3, that is NOT FAIR. Yea maybe 2 houses might both be putting out the long Oil shot, but it will play different depending on what kind of lanes they are on. Also even with the same kind of lanes they can play different depending how old the lanes are and other variables. So as that of an idea, I think it's stupid, I will be adult, so oh well, gold is going to get alot of complaints I think.
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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This is a question to Mr. French, in the tournaments you bowled for team USA, were they mainly tournaments with alot of MP or just alot of regular games with total pins winning? If alot of the tournaments were matchplay, then they really need to have matchplay in the process of getting the team to see how they respond in that kind of environment.
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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Wow...I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one who whole heartedly disagreed with the changes before I said anything...here are my thoughts. Expenses:Everyone is already forced into being in the host city for two non-tournament days (Sat/Sun) as it is, and now they are adding a third day to that. An extra day with nothing to do (meaning no bowling...it is a bowling tournament) seems quite un-cost effective. I'm assuming what this does is keep everyone in town until Thursday, instead of Wednesday. The format: Less games, no match play, smaller cut. I'm almost ok with the smaller cut simply b/c of the fact that they cut the number of games there, and it'd be really hard for anyone lower thatn 96th to make a run in 6. Now...why the y cut it to 6 games? That one is beyond me. To me, the real tournament has always started on Thursday, as that is when the majority of moves were made (12 in one day with a constantly changing pattern), same with match play. More Kids: Why do we even bother having to "qualify" anymore, if they want to keep increasing and increasing the number of spots awarded? Why not just let everyone buy in, save the tournament directors the hassle, if USBC just wants to continually have more and more and more people? Another thing is that with the field in dallas, which i believe was around 1100, there were probably about 500-800 kids there, that did not have a chance at making Junior Team (the whole point of the tournament...or so I , and apparently a lot of others thought), and we keep increasing that number each year. That's not to say that every person there that doesn't have a chance gets in the way, there are plenty of people there for experiance that are extremely respectful to those who are competing to make cut and team. Unfortunatly, there are also many who are not. Somewhere its gonna have to stop in size, USBC just doesn't want to admit it. The average requirements are too low, raise them to 190 or so, that'll limit the field nicely, and make qualfying matter!
Take Care
tgp
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i think gold should be urgently moved from florida to vegas... less of a trip... and no worry about hurricanes in your back swing :-D
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"2 Hours Sleep + A Couple Beers = Good Bowling"
Sherman
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One other thought:
As tgp3 said, now we have 3 days where we have to be there, but there is no actual bowling competition (minus practice, etc.). What are people going to do in Buffalo? I know that every city has it's attractions, but honestly 3 days in Buffalo in the middle of the summer doesn't sound very fun. I too am going adult so I don't need to worry about it, but I recall last summer I had ALOT of boring down time in Indianapolis. Good luck finding stuff to do (other than Niagra Falls) in Buffalo...
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Don't HAVE to bowl additional games??? That sounds like making the cut is such a chore...and that once there nobody wants to be bowling anymore. The reality is that if you make cut, chances are unless your leading...you want as much time as possible to catch that leader...still don't like the change in number of games...or the day off...
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WTF is the USBC thinking? Oh yeah......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I could write a series of novels on how dumb this is, but I dont feel like writing anything about it. All I can say like many others have, is that I am sure glad this is my final year...
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Farewell Tour 05'-06' "No Mercy"
B-Car
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Wow...I don't even know where to start...
I still don't think that making the changes to the 2007 event is all that great. I mean, sure, Team USA events don't have match play, but why does that mean that Jr Gold shouldn't have match play? Each event is run differently and has its own positive and negative qualities about it, am I right? Why make every event just like the other? Out here in the southwest, JBT directers change up the format every so often, so as to give us change, and the bowlers not have to bowl the same format every single week. And doesn't the Tour do matchplay? YES! Isn't that what most junior bowlers who are dedicated to the sport want to do after X amount of years, go out on the Tour? YES! Match play is good experience for everyone. It shows how solid your game is, how you can come up clutch when you need to, and your ability to handle the pressure. In the end, I think match play is better for juniors, it helps us grow, in some way or another. However, if USBC wants to make every event just like the other...well, that's on them. However, I'm sure they'll receieve their share of complaints on it.
PS - I vote that Vegas be the host of the 2008 event! =] "TheKidsAreMyJob", there are plenty of houses out here in Vegas with 45+ lanes, and that are willing to support junior events. Who else votes Vegas? =D
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Allred
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wow.....George Bush could run Junior Bowling better than these people do.....this is lame...
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Jeff "Jew" Spiesman
"If practice makes perfect, and no one is perfect.....then why practice?
Edited on 4/7/2006 9:09 PM
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LOL JEFF LOL
wow... laughing so hard...
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"2 Hours Sleep + A Couple Beers = Good Bowling"
Sherman
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Matt, don't forget Fountain Bowl, the host house of all the PBA stuff. Fountain in my opinion is the nicest looking and seems in best condition bowling alley in southern Cali
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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The whole format needs to go to a Regional and Sectional Qualifying format before they even get to the National level.
Six Regional Qualifiers:
Chicago
Michigan
Texas
Cali/Vegas
Florida
New York/New Jersey
Up to 300 bowlers are allowed to bowl each qualifier. Bowlers qualify based on local scores and have a limited time to qualify, once 300 spots are used up, no more bowlers may enter. From the 300 bowlers , 75 bowlers (50 Boys and 25 girls) will qualify for the Sectional finals. These advancing ratios are 1 in 4 overall.
Sectional Qualifiers
Vegas/Reno (From Texas and Ca/Vegas qualifers)
St. Louis (From Michigan, Chicago)
New York/Florida (From Florida, NY)
100 boys and 50 girls will compete at each Sectional for 48 spots (32 boys and 16 girls) approx. 1 in 3 ratio.
National Finals
96 boys will compete for 32 spots into match play finals. (1 in 3 ratio)
48 girls will compete for 16 spots into match play finals. (1 in 3 ratio)
Now the number of bowlers that qualify for each level can vary but the idea is basically that you have the best of the best at the National finals. You've earned your right to be considered the best.
The different levels of qualifying allow for less overall travel expenses, smaller bowling centers and potential local sponsors.
I never had the chance to bowl Jr. Gold, but I would like to see the best juniors compete at the highest level and eventually make it to the PBA Regional and National levels.
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Jon Brandon
Columbia Regional Staff 04-06
2003 PBA West Region Rookie of the Year
"You don't score, until you score......"
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Already have told them, thanks for the suggesting. As usual recieved no response. Shocking..
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The PBA rarely uses matchplay anymore
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Only every week. And please, I'd much rather pay my sanction fee to the PBA than the USBC.
The PBA doesnt use match play, they use elimination brackets.
P.S. Something better change, cause I have not heard one voice that is behind this change...
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Farewell Tour 05'-06' "No Mercy"
B-Car
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I like that idea that Jon proposed as well, but it would probably cost USBC more money, and we all know what that means. I think the USBC wouldn't do that for the reasons that they would need different people running it in different places, so they would have to pay for that travel. Also Gold normally has the doubles, team, and other singles tournaments there that bring in alot of money. Accessories sold there brings in alot. No matter what USBC may say, in the end it's all about money. Either way in the end, the top bowlers will make it to the end and the top of all the standings, but it does suck when some bowlers have problems getting their gold spot because house hacks have a great day somewhere and knock the real good bowler out.
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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As far as it costing USBC more money, they already charge too much for sanction fees anyway, so let's use some of that money for the juniors who are the future of the game. Besides that, you could treat it like a local city tournament run by mostly volunteers from local associations and only send one delegate from the USBC to oversee the operation. Run 50/50 drawings all weekend, raffles, local sponsors etc. can easily make up the difference if it's done right and the money goes where it's supposed to.
Even if it costs a bit more, you get a better cross-section of juniors from across the nation when they can travel less distance, spend less on expenses and you get better results at the end with the kids being happier. Not to mention that Junior Team USA will definitely be comprised of the best of the best which is what's most important in the long run.
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Jon Brandon
Columbia Regional Staff 04-06
2003 PBA West Region Rookie of the Year
"You don't score, until you score......"
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Jon, I think you need to work for the USBC so they can use your ideas. It really sounds so simple if they do all that stuff and even if it still costs more, for them to bite the dust. USBC is just money hungry people looking to save every penny that they can, oh well, what can ya do?
How did you guys do at league tonight at Del Rio, jump into 2nd overall yet?
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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Jared you shouldnt even go to JOG cause you won't make it. You probably wont even make the first cut .. Man its tough watchin you bowl like that .... Surprised you havent had that elbow worked on yet gettin it straightened out
God, here we go again... Another person to state anything and everything but who they are...
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Farewell Tour 05'-06' "No Mercy"
B-Car
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LOL at Inferno. It had been awhile since anyone had said anything about my game. Hey Mason, have you had your surgery yet? Was your doctor good? Maybe I should go to him...HAHA...Dude, you are just as pathetic as the next person on here. I just wonder, inside your deep hollow little mind, do you enjoy making yourself look stupid. And like I said before, why don't you go tell Walter Ray Williams about his form. Because if you are talking about text book form, he is as far away from it as I am. He's just alot more accurate OBVIOUSLY. Style in bowling gets you know extra pins, if you can place the ball in the same spot, and have the ball rolling how it should be, then that's all that matters. So come on, bring on more stupid comments, because your the one that looks stupid and pathetic, not me, so I don't really care
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And Then...........
I left another 10 pin
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So going back to the original topic idea, the whole philosophy behind the new format is beyond me. I dont understand how you can mess with something that is perfect the way it is. JR Gold is looking for the best junior bowlers in the country, right? How can you possibly figure out who that is if you only bowl 30 games? The format now is supposed to challenge bowlers mentally and physically, and it does so very well. I think the new format wont inspire kids to work on their mental games as much since they only have to concentrate for 6 games a day, with a day off in between. Talk to anyone who has made it to match play on sunday, its more mental than it is physical. It puts you in a scenario where every shot counts, the pressure is overwhelming, and the focus that is required equals that of oh lets say, international competition. Just seems to me that the new format will favor gunslingers who can put up a 250 and then cruise with 180s rather than the better bowlers who can grind out 200-205 on a regular basis. But i guess if they want to have joe schmoe make junior team usa because he bowled 3 good games and it was enough to "carry" him into the top 5, then so be it. I wont be attending so it doesnt much matter to me, but i've been there every year since 2002 in lakeland and i just hate to see this happen because of the political wishes of a couple money hungry USBC officials. The object is to find the best people to support JR Team USA, not fill your pockets with 1800 kids money, and close to 1400 of those kids dont have an ice cubes chance in hell in even making the first cut, let alone making it all the way.
My idea is this, make getting to the JR Gold Nationals more difficult and hold USBC sanctioned events in which you must qualify through. Only take the top 250 boys and 250 girls who qualify through the events. Then you can change the format all you want and still get a good chance of having the best bowlers make the team. The no match play concept really annoys me too, its the only time when you really get to see what a bowler is made of. Anyone can bowl in an open setting, but make him go out there and beat a PJ Haggarty or a Ronnie Sparks heads up and see how tough it is to make good shots... That is all.
Brandon Tarabek
MJMA
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I Bowl to win...
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I think raising the average to qualify to bowl Gold would be enough than changing the format.