I am a college student and a YABA bowler. The reason why myself and my partner, who is also a college student, continue to bowl in YABA is because you can win scholarships, and it's just a lot more fun. We enjoy bowling with our friends in the YABA league. Our college does not have a bowling team and has no plans to create one in the future, so if we wish to compete for scholarships in our sport, we must remain YABA.

When we talk about winning money, we're talking about winning money in tournaments outside collegiate bowling. Most money won at a collegiate tournament probably goes back into the team fund. I think the only tournament where you can win and actually keep the scholarship money is the Collegiate Masters held on Memorial Day weekend.

You can win money in the adult leagues and tournaments... and i or anyone else is trying to recruit people to go adult. The original post came about someone who is so talented that he/she could be on a tour circuit or earn mega buck money and has grown into an adult (age-wise) but is still a junior in college. No doubt YABA has its advantages, but it also has its disdavantages just like the ABC, WIBC, etc...

Anyhow, whatever organization you bowl, enjoy it while you can...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">... and i or anyone else is NOT trying to recruit people to go adult. [/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">That line should read like this. I repeat, we're NOT trying to repeat people to go adult.

I just entered the college scene this year, and I'm definitely going to stay in the YABA for as long as I can. I haven't had much luck in competitions and I haven't been on the competition scene very much lately since my poor performance in the JOG Nationals of 2001, but if not for competition, I want to stay in the YABA to be around kids if nothing else. I like kids, and its nice to be a role model for them. Its fun to see the younger kids amazed and asking questions such as "how do you hook it so much?" Even when I am forced out of the YABA, I will bowl youth/adult leagues so I can continue to be around kids and encourage them to keep bowling. One final thing, I'd like to not have to contend with cigarettes when I bowl *cough cough >_<*

Of course, I don't have a problem with anybody who decides to move to adult leagues. It all depends on the person and what they'd like to get out of bowling. I enjoy bowling more when I'm around a younger crowd, but I admittedly also need some competition to keep my scores up. It is definitely up to the bowler to decide which saction he or she wants, however.