A bit about my junior scratch league first, the past few weeks each person bowls on one lane, going against the person on the other half of the pair. Tonight they put all 9 of us on two pairs due to the number of people on a waiting list, so they could also bowl. There was a guy bowling next to our pair too, which usually they don't put people on the pair next to leagues. Oh yeah, he was prebowling, and of all things he had no lane curtosey. Lastly, because we finished later than normal, they turned Cosmic on right before our 3rd game started. Needless to say I didn't bowl well at all, far too many distractions going on. I was just wondering what other people thought of this. All 9 of us were pretty upset, some thought about leaving, some said if it happens again they'll drop the league. Thanks for any answers!

I'd be quite p****d off.
That shows a total lack of respect for junior leagues, I wonder if the house would dare pull a stunt like that on any other league.

They caused the delay by putting you on fewer lanes and then just started up cosmic?!.., incredible...

At our local house there is a afaik. a minimum of 1 lane separation for leagues running to any open bowlers in the house, I have not had any prebowlers that I have seen but it does make some sense to put prebowling league bowlers up next to an active league as they are atleast supposedly more well mannered.

Ofcourse there are exceptions to every rule.
In one of the leagues I played there was one team that where horribly mannered, I knocked into one of their guys' leg on his outswing several times as I was finishing my delivery as he was allready in my lane on a wide swing towards my lane in his delivery.

Is your league Sanctioned...???

Our scratch league is sanctioned, yes.

I could also understand putting a pre-bowler next to us, but his lack of lane curtosey got to me after a while. But I guess some people are just like that.

The lack of courtesy is something that I personally will bring to the attention of the bowler. Everyone needs to take turns, just like on the playground as a kid....

You can complain to ABC against the house, for allowing such nonsense during sanctioned league play. The ABC has rules against distracting bowlers during league play, however they may not be interpreted to effect the house. It may not resolve the issue, but it may protect your sanction cards if you end up having to walk from the establishment. It gives you documented evidence of a pre-existing complaint.

I would put it in writing and send a copy to the general manager of the bowling center.

If you havent done so already, I would request the president of the league to have a meeting with the proprietor to see if the issue can be resolved amicably.

It may not be a hard and fast rule that governs the situation, but certainly there is an issue of professional etiquette and common courtesy. A house needs its leagues to foster new business, a reputation of being inconsiderate to league bowlers isn't something that the house wants spread around.

Our house offers a 2 lane buffer, between league and other bowlers, including pre or post bowlers. The 2 lane buffer is also a reserve in case of equipment failure during league play. The only time they deviate is if 2 or more leagues are filling the house, then they play side by side.

vax
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">they turned Cosmic on right before our 3rd game started </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">DunceCap
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">and then just started up cosmic?!.., incredible...
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">I know this is a dumb thing to ask... but what is this Cosmic??

Bo.

Cosmic is when they turn all of the normal lighting off through the entire place, even above the pins, and turn a bunch of other lights on. These include black lights, "disco" type lights, lazer beams, very loud music, and at my place they have 3 projector screens that drop down and play either live video of people bowling or music videos. Quite distracting because you can't also see anything on the lane

Oh,... we don't have anything like that at our house. It's more like a gym atmoshpere. Lockers on most of the walls, a very small snack bar, an out-dated ball cleaner, one video game. It reminds me of what a house would look like maybe in the 60's. Just lanes and a cash drawer.
I can see where that would be very distracting. I think that if it were me, I would be very up-set. I not that easy to get that way. But that would be a good way to get me started.
Hope things get better for you

There's only one house around here that doesn't do Cosmic; the rest all do. Cosmic is alright for trying to learn to overcome distractions, but I would rather not have to practice doing that during one of my leagues.

I think Coach04 has the best suggestion. You have a YABA rep for your house and your association. First talk to that rep. Then if you get no where, write a formal letter expressing your concerns in a reasonable manner. This is also good practise for how to deal with a lot of problems as adults. You write a formal letter, with consise reasonable points that state your position, and send it to (c.c. it, that mean's copy sent) to your YABA rep, president of your association, the house manager, and possibly ABC or a national YABA office.

You C.C. it so that when you send your original to your local YABA rep that he/she knows you also sent the exact same letter to other people you need to contact about this.

In the whole scheme of things this is not the end of the world, but you have a right to be upset with how the house treated your sanctioned league.

Erin