Here in CA there's an organization that pretty much controls the high school sports. For some reason they do not let the kids participate in more then one sport at a time. So we're having trouble getting high school bowling going.

Maybe Angel knows more about it. But we heard just a quick take on it at our Nor Cal Directors' travel league and it was pretty discouraging.

But high school bowling is one of the reasons USBC did away with all watches and rings for Jrs. A lot of programs prohibit kids from being awarded with anything that has value. So it now all down to patches and certificates. Can you imagine? Bowl 100 pins over your average and you get a certificate on a piece of paper run off on a computer. Same with 700 and 800 series.

Erin

As Brian said, I don't remember ever seeing our Bowling Coach bowl. Don't know if he even could. But, I know that he was respected for his time and effort that he put in.
We had a JV and Varsity team. There were just 14 of us with the Coach. We all got along great.
I went to my 40th high school reunion last year. It was held at the school. They have a reunion event annually for each ten year anniversary at the same time. So in attendance were alums from 10, 20, 30, and 40 years ago. Being a new school, I was in the first graduating class. And still in the trophy case in the vestabule, was the first conference championship trophy and plaque the school ever won. The 1965 Bowling championship, with my name on it. I was still proud.
There used to be a picture of us too. But, since then they had to make room for more awards.

That's just flat stupid. Maybe the other programs were jealous at the fact that bowlers could earn stuff like rings and watches. A running back gets notoriety and a hard look from a D-I school for cranking off 2,000 yards or whatever, but a kid who shoots a 300 gets a piece of jewerly, and that probably bothers some of the athletic directors, especially the ones who still don't consider bowling a "real sport".

I agree Brian,
Thats just flat out stupid, heaven forbid that a young bowler be rewarded for any success he/she has achieved. Maybe its that coaches of other sports don't want any thing to legitimize the SPORT of bowling, fearing it may take athletes away from their "more popular" sports. I have seen trophys honoring achievments in other sports that cost more than a 300 ring, so whats the big deal.?

Unfortunately, I think Erin is correct. No ameteur athlete can receive any award of value for participating in his/her sport. Bowling is one of the few sports that all ages fall under one guiding organization. And, unlike the NCAA or other, Bowling gives out awards that excede the maximum value sstandard for all other sports.

But, now that you bring it up Brian, how does ameteur football give a Heisman Trophy to a football player as an undergraduate and still allow him to play another year? That Trophy has a great deal of value. Just ask OJ.

I'm not touching that with OJ's or anyone else's bloody glove!

Actually, I do think that it has something to do with jealousy. Think about it, bowling is the only sport where the ceiling scores (highest scores possible) are both difficult to obtain and (well, once was) almost impossible to obtain. There is no ceiling score in football, baseball, backetball, etc. So you cannot give someone a ring for scoring 9 touchdowns in a game, or driving in 10 runs in a game, or scoring 100 points in a game, because, at some point in time, although unlikely, those feats can be broken.

But in bowling, nobodoy can throw a 301 scratch game or a 901 scratch series, therefore certain games such as a 298, 299, or 300 warrants a ring for the accomplishment, as does an 800 or 900 series. If you shoot a 290, you can get an 11 in a row plaque. If you shoot 125 poins over your average, you can get a watch. Call me crazy, but bowling has a great awards system, er, well, used to before the merger anyhow. Other sports have no similar awards system that I know of.

Yep, it's jealousy.

Jealousy???

I think it is because no other sport has an organization geared to the individual like bowling has. The individual pays for membership to the USBA for sanctioning. I never got a membership card to Little league of America, although that is who I played under. Even under ABC rules, individual awards were finely tuned to show a real achievement in the sport.
As a Junior bowler, I had patches sewn all over my shirt. When I got my first 300 at about 18-19, it was in a sanctioned league and I received a plaque and written award.

Since then, rings for 298 and 300, and watches for 100 pins over in a game.

If I were an ametuer in another sport, say NCAA baseball, which I was, I would hate to think those awards would eliminate my eligibility. I was never asked specifically about bowling awards when playing College Baseball. I was asked if I ever received any compensation for athletics, to which I always answered no. An award is not compensation in my mind. It is recognition for achievement.

Brian, don't worry. The glove doesn't fit.

It just dawned on me that a statement is written in the USBC Pamphlet we receive with our USBC Membership Card, it says:

"Working in conjunction with the high school and collegiate athletic associations across the country, items in the USBC Youth recognition program have been reviewed and modified where necessary to protect youth members' current and future eligibility to compete in high school and collegiate sports. Some award items, such as rings and plaques, needed to me replaced with other items that are more symbolic in nature and fall within acceptable value limits of all 50 states. Beginning in the 2006-07 season, USBC Youth members will earn emblems, medals, or pins for their achievements. However, the option will be available for bowlers, their parents or legal guardians to commemorate their achievement by purchasing awards similar to what has been previously offered."

Ahhh Dennis that is cool! Do you have any idea if your coach is still living?

Hi DivaDevil, thanks for noticing.

This is a great board. If you have the time, with the little ones, join us in conversation.

Love to hear your average, leagues, or any other subjects you would bring up.