The comments from Blanchard are very good, and basically bring out the fact that much of JOG is a learning process, a process that one needs to partake in order to get better. Perhaps this is also the flaw of the system, that there aren't enough difficult shots out there for bowlers to get experience on. I know one of the higher finishers that over the summer bowled on a sport shot two or three times per week, in league and practice settings. While very good, how can most compete with this when in certain areas there aren't such shots to be bowled on? Even in JOG is a learning experience, without constant work and practice on similar shots there is no way that one can make a marked improvement from year to year.
The solution seems simple, to help facilitate the growth of sport shot leagues throughout the country. There is a sad truth that many of these leagues don't work out. The shots are too rare, and people like to score, so they opt for ths. Many leagues start with interest and then by the next year the # of people that join are cut in half.
I do believe that there are certain steps that can be put in place to help the sport as a whole. In my junior league last year there were around 20 coaches, yet in my sport shot league there were none. I believe that there could be a harmony between the two concepts. One doesn't want to alienate the young bowlers, and a sport shot will not truly help a 140 average bowler, so there should be separate divisions in a league where one can compete on different shots. Lets say one would bowl on an easy ths until age 10. Then for the next division, the ths would be modified to have an out of bounds area, and this division would take one until age 15, and from then fourth there would be a sport shot that varies from week to week. Special requests for moving up prior to attaining a certain age could be made. In addition to these changes, there should be literature explaining the difference in shots so as not to make those that were bowling on a more difficult shot feel alienated. This process is the ideal, and will provide the best bowling environment possible, but other smaller changes could come about, also.
Since the above proposal is difficult to carry out, I'll offer a couple other alternatives. Make the ths, across the board more difficult. It is very easy right now in most houses. When bowling was at its high, the shots were more challenging, so I doubt that a change, if gradual, and explained would cause too much of an initial outcry, and over the long run it would certainly be better. Make high school, and JOG qualifying events held on a sport shot. This will give experience, and separate the cream of the crop. High school tourneys are currently BS, and that’s not just frustration speaking from last year. Those tourneys are based on three games, and in such a short format, on such an easy shot, anyone can do well. Lengthen the format to at least 4, preferably 5 games and put it on a difficult shot.
Whatever the case, I will reiterate my previous point, their needs to be people that step up, and the USBC needs to pay attention to what bowlers want and need.
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