USBC Youth program to make several changes...

[kathimccaw]

2/13/2009

By Terry Bigham
USBC Communications

In an effort to provide a more efficient and rewarding system, the United States Bowling Congress will implement several changes in the USBC Youth program starting with the 2009-10 season.
 
The USBC Board of Directors, based on recommendations by the USBC Youth Committee, approved several major changes to the structure of current USBC Youth programs. As participation in youth sports is on the rise in America, the changes set forth for USBC Youth programs will attract more youth bowlers to participate in certified league play.
 
The changes will affect how memberships are processed, offer a new short-season membership product, restructure the awards program and lower the maximum age for youth bowlers.
 
Membership delivery and processing
Youth bowling represents the future of USBC; therefore, it is vitally important to make it easy for youth league bowlers to become USBC Youth Members. Starting with the 2009-10 season, changes to the membership delivery and processing structure will be put in place to expand the reach of the USBC Youth program.
 
In the new membership delivery system, bowling centers will have the option to directly process memberships, averages and awards to USBC. In many areas, local associations will continue that function; however, with this change, bowling centers now have the ability to decide whether to take sole responsibility for youth processing, or continue to work with local associations as they have in the past.
 
Additional details concerning the new USBC Youth programs will be released once they are finalized.
 
Membership options
In the past, USBC Youth membership consisted of two products, USBC Youth Standard and USBC Junior Gold. Starting in the 2009-10 season, a third product - USBC Youth Basic Membership - has been added.
 
USBC Youth Basic Membership will cost $5 and be available to all youth who bowl in a league that meets for 12 sessions or less. The Youth Basic Membership benefits include:
           ° USBC Youth Membership Card
           ° One issue of US Youth Bowler
           ° USBC recognized average
           ° The ability to participate in USBC certified tournaments
           ° League award emblems
           ° Purchasable awards
 
In addition, USBC Youth Standard Membership will continue to be offered.  The cost of the Standard membership will be fixed at $17 nationwide. This membership option will be available to all youth, regardless of the length of the league. The current benefits to the Youth Standard Membership are:
           ° USBC Youth Membership Card
           ° Four issues of US Youth Bowler
           ° USBC recognized average
           ° Ability to participate in USBC certified tournaments
           ° Revamped youth awards program
 
In addition to these benefits, the Youth Development Team is pursuing additional membership benefits for the Standard Membership that will be announced at a later date.
 
Junior Gold Membership will continue to have a $30 membership fee and include an upgrade to Sport Bowling Membership; however, for 2009-10, the average requirement has been adjusted to make this elite-level program available to a larger number of the top male and top female youth bowlers.
 
The new average requirement for girls has been adjusted to 150, while the requirement for boys will remain at 175.  The change in average requirement was necessary to extend the program to an equal percentage of the top male and top female youth bowlers.
 
Youth Awards Program
The Youth Awards Program will undergo significant changes for the 2009-10 league season. These changes represent USBC's response to feedback from associations, bowling centers and youth coordinators across the country.
 
The new structure will better match awards to the skill level of the youth bowler. An increased number of special achievement awards have been added to the lineup, raising the total number of awards offered to 25, up from 18.
 
USBC Youth will offer average-based awards for achievement in certified competition in 25-pin intervals for games and 50-pin intervals for series. Awards will be limited to one per season, per achievement.  Once an award has been earned in any classification, bowlers are only eligible for the higher awards on a progressive merit basis.
 
Special achievement awards will be available to bowlers 12 and under, and these awards will carry the Bowlopolis theme and characters.  The emblems will include recognition for a 50, 75 and 100 game as well as a 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 series.  For a bowler to earn any of these awards, he or she must average below the award score.  For example, a bowler with a 49 average can earn the 50-game emblem.
 
Special achievement awards for all bowlers also have been updated.  All bowlers are eligible to earn emblems starting with a 125 game.  Game-score emblems continue in 25-pin increments up to a 275 game.  Also, series awards begin at 300 and are offered in 50-pin intervals up to a 750 series.
 
All of the emblems will carry new USBC designs for the 2009-10 league season.
 
For the 2009-10 league season, USBC has revamped the High Score Awards Program.  Youth members who bowl a 300 game, 800 series or 900 series will receive a newly-designed USBC honor score ring to commemorate their special achievement.  Also, a new award has been designed for bowlers who roll 11 strikes in a row.
 
Maximum age
Starting with the 2009-10 league season, USBC Youth membership will be available to bowlers who have not reached their 20th birthday on or before Aug. 1 of the current bowling season.

[Bowling_Dad]

The only major issue in the changes is the age limit.  Its probably no coincidence that they try to sneak it in at the bottom of the page with one quick sentence.  I sent a letter to USBC requesting information on why the change.  Below is the response I got from USBC.
I sent a follow-up saying that I was not as upset about the change, as to the implementation.  They should have given a year - or - two notice.  What they have done is pull the rug out from kids who thought next year was their last. 

Larry,

Thank you for your comments regarding the recent decision by the USBC Board of Directors to lower the age for USBC Youth membership eligibility from 22 to 20.  We understand that this change comes as a surprise, and we like to provide the following explanation and reasoning as to why the Board believes the change is best for the sport.

Lowering the maximum age prevents anyone from turning 21 during the USBC season from participating in USBC Youth certified leagues and tournaments.  By nearly all legal and social standards, 21 years of age is considered adulthood.  Additionally, comparable national governing bodies such as the Untied States Golf Association and United States Tennis Association cap youth membership at age 18.

From a competition standpoint, athletes generally reach full physical maturity near the age of 20.  The previous system allowed men and women as old as 22 competing in "youth" leagues and tournaments with a physical advantage over the competition many people would view as inappropriate.

The issue also has implications for Junior Team USA in international competition. Lowering of the maximum age to 20 brings USBC Youth into compliance with World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA).  The WTBA limits participation in international youth bowling competition to those under the age of 21 effective January 1, 2010.  If USBC did not make this change, the result would potentially be bowlers earning spots on Junior Team USA who are not eligible for international competition.

It should be noted that this change has been under consideration by USBC and its predecessor YABA for a number of years.  USBC staff agrees it is appropriate for 21 and 22 year olds to transition out of youth leagues and tournaments and into adult competition.

It should also be noted that the total number of USBC Youth members affected by this change represents less than 1% of the USBC Youth membership.

We understand that a change of this significance will be an adjustment, but we hope this explanation gives you a better understanding of why USBC believes it will be a positive step for bowling.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact me.

Brian Graham, Director of Youth Development USBC Youth Development Team
(817) 385-8420
(800) 514-2695
Bowl with US

[bowlingmom]

I like the change for the youth membership - they can now do the 12 week league option instead of being forced into a winter league that runs for 30+ weeks. Youth leagues are usually on a Saturday morning and if you are a tournament bowler, you are always rolling off or not there for your team because so many tournaments are also on Saturdays. I've never understood anyway why someone, be it a youth or adult bowler, needs to have a league average if they are bowling scratch in a tournament. As long as they join USBC and pay for their sanction card, they shouldn't be forced to bowl on a league if they would prefer to participate only in tournaments.

The age change has been needed for a long time. The first jr. gold we went to, Chris was 14 and there were SO many much older "youth" bowlers, it looked like a men's tournament with a couple of real teens sprinkled in. At the hotel, these same bowlers were at the happy hour and could go out as adults once they were off the lanes. We also have some who bowl in the NeJST, who takes cigarette breaks between strings. We had to wait a couple of times for one at the Winter Break tournament to come in from his breaks, he was right out side the main doors of the bowling center, he didn't even try to hide that he was smoking during the tournament, so I assume he is of legal age to smoke, yet he's bowling as a junior. The age rule shaves one year off of what it used to be. Depended on when your birthday falls, say you turn 21 on Aug. 7, you will still be able to bowl right up until a week before you turn 22. In the past, that same person would bowl right up until a week before their 23rd birthday. Just because it was "legal", doesn't mean these people were junior bowlers, they were adults in every way.

The awards seem reasonable also and it sounds like they will now be awarded their 300 ring at no charge. That is a very good change back to the way it was before they started stripping the kids of their awards. There are now a few more awards for the kids that are not 200+ average bowlers. Before the awards were for either really low or really high average bowlers, but not much for the kids in between.

[kathimccaw]

"Maximum age
Starting with the 2009-10 league season, USBC Youth membership will be available to bowlers who have not reached their 20th birthday on or before Aug. 1 of the current bowling season."

I read this new rule to be saying that Youth will be considered UNDER 20 as of 8/1...that in effect shaves off two years.

If the age difference is being implemented only because of international competion rules, then the age limit for Jr Gold should be reduced seeing as that is still a separate USBC membership. I assume that they are also charging this additional membership to the age appropriate "adult" bowlers they will allow on the team qualifying from the Team Trials.

I agree that age can make a difference during competition which is why our divisions are based on age...not averages.

My disagreement with this new rule has to do with the collegiate aged bowlers who still want to compete for scholarship money. They won't have any leagues to bowl in that won't effect their eligiblity under Rule 400. I don't think it's fair to take away two years of scholarship opportunities. These bowlers effected by this year's change have worked their way to this point and should now finally be the "big fish in the pond".

[jbowl55]

only youth members can join jr gold

[jgrabiec]

With this new rule it is my last year as a junior bowler. My last year for any leagues or Junior Gold. If they didn't change the rule I would have had another 2 years of eligibility. I'm a Sophomore in college and I use the scholarship to help me pay for school. I'm wasn't planning on going adult until at least my senior year in college based on this is what I do for my weekends, I bowl JBTs and NEJSTs. Now thats being taking away from me because I can't compete in NEBA or any other adult tournaments on the weekend because right now they are too expensive for me. I understand that USBC wants to make sure that everyone that makes junior gold is actually eligible to bowl on junior team USA, but that doesn't mean that they have to push us out of juniors because most of us probably wont jump in to an adult league or tournaments right away. And not that it effects me but what are collegiate women bowlers supposed to do for their last couple years because under NCAA rules they are not allowed to bowl for money, so they wouldnt be able to do anything except bowl for school which is roughly 6-10 tournaments a year. USBC doesn't make sense and they can make a better choice than this.

[no300just298]

I agree with the above message, it is also my last year for scholarships and i didn't plan on moving up until i turned 22. Now I do understand they want adults to bowl with adults and to make kids bowl with kids, but they could of just created tournaments where adults only can bowl for scholarships. It would of been easier to move the 18 to 22 year old's to bowl against each other for scholarships instead of booting them of the right to earn scholarships for college. The united states law enforces that anyone as of there 18th birthday is now considered an adult, but usbc shouldn't have the right to tell them that 20 as of august first declares you inappropriate to earn scholarships. What should declare you not fit for scholarships is the end of your 4 years at any college when you will have the degree to get a job to pay for more schooling if you wish to down the road.  

[bowlingmom]

If you go on bowl.com, there is a Q & A section now under the youth section, mostly about low average bowlers, local associations and the new membership levels. There is a small section about the new age limits, it reads as follows:

Age limit
Q: Why not announce the change to begin a few years from now so bowlers can prepare for the change?
A: Delaying the change in the maximum age for USBC Youth eligibility only puts off addressing the key issue of adults bowling as USBC Youth members. Whether it is this year or in the future, the change will at some point be implemented and affect a group of bowlers.
  
USBC's goal is to create a more comfortable environment for youth bowlers and their parents. Allowing 21 and 22 year olds to participate in youth leagues and tournaments, winning scholarship money at the expense of the youth bowlers, does not promote a kid-friendly environment.
  
By adopting a standard of 20 as the maximum age for USBC Youth eligibility, USBC is able to offer enough flexibility to provide USBC Youth opportunities for our members through their high school years.
  
Q: If a bowler is 20 years old at the start of a season, are they eligible for the entire season?
A: An individual who turns 20 on or after August 2 of the current bowling season will be eligible for USBC Youth membership for the entire season. As long as the individual is 19 on August 1, he or she will be eligible for USBC Youth membership for that bowling season.

Q: Is USBC aware that it could be hurting junior tournament organizations which get many 21- and 22-year-old entrants?
A: Tournaments have the ability to adopt rules defining who is eligible to participate in competitions. Tournaments can limit participation to youth only, adults only or adopt eligibility rules allowing USBC Youth members and USBC Adult members to participate. For example, a tournament could allow 21-year-old USBC Adult members and adopt a rule as follows: "This tournament is open to all USBC Youth members and USBC Adult members age 21 and younger."
  
Such a rule would have the effect of allowing those that are no longer eligible for USBC Youth membership to participate, provided they were USBC Adult members and under the age of 22.

[no300just298]

But you see if you allowed ONLY a 18 to 22 year old to bowl against OTHER 18 to 22 year olds in tournaments that allowed the age limit to be 18 to 22 and not younger than 18 for scholarships wouldn't so and so crush or corrupt a kid friendly environment. If that WHERE to happen then younger ones under 18 should bowl against other younger kids. I mean if they want to age discriminate then that's what would happen if they where to make it fair. Because the issue is age here, but taking away age also takes away the right to earn scholarship money. Instead, they should have created a new division that allowed 18 to 22 year old's to earn scholarships but not allowed to bowl with other bowlers under the age of 18. That's a simple more fair option then to kick everyone who is paying for COLLEGE right now the right to keep paying for it. I MEAN THEY ARE SO ABOUT EDUCATION AND HAVING BOWLING PAY FOR IT. THEN AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE GIVING PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS SPORT STILL EXIST TODAY. MAKES THE OLDER BOWLERS LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BOWL. THAT'S NOT RIGHT OR APPROPRIATE FOR ADULTS OR KIDS EITHER. If you want things fair then yeah make a rule where if your over 18 you cant bowl in tournaments allowing under 18 year olds to compete against you that is fair enough. It also wouldn't take away your freedom or right to earn money for college. By the way, it would also keep a safer environment for kids and for adults. "kill 2 birds with one stone is easier then using 2 guns at the same time to shoot the same 2 birds", lets make it simple and not discriminatory to adults