I find it intrigring that YABA increased but ABC/WIBC lost members last year. I wonder if it is it something that YABA is doing right or is it simply a push to put kids in a lot of activities, or whatever?

Read the news story at: http://www.bowlingfans.com/news/news08022001.shtml

I think YABA is doing a lot of things right to encourage youngsters to bowl. They have a great campaign that they started about 2 years ago to promote bowling as a high school varsity sport. They offer assistance to AD, and a start up kit. Our high school participation is up 200% in 2 years.

In our area our managers have also contacted elementary, middle, and high school gym instructors, who are now incorporating bowling into their phys ed curriculum. The more exposure to the sport, the more our YABA membership grows.

We have also waged a real campaign to get the word out, via the media, of all the scholarship money available to youth bowlers through competition, academics, and good citizenship.

The final result has been a huge increase in our YABA bowlers. In our center alone, our enrollment in youth leagues this fall doubled.

But, as you stated, our adult league membership declined. I think the cost of an adult league bowling night has increased dramatically in the last few years, and centers seem to be offering less and less to the bowlers, as the cost increases. I think many bowlers find the need to cut down on expenses, and that bowling night is the first to go.

I guess the good news, in the long run, is that all these youth bowlers will eventually become adult bowlers, and if we treat them right, perhaps they will stick with bowling as a lifetime sport. After all, the future of our sport IS the youth.

Along this same topic, I would like to hear how YABA membership is in your area, up or down? Also is there anything special your managers are doing to attract youth bowlers?

We can all use suggestions!