Bowling – Frequently asked Questions
(As of August 2013)
General Information How many kids do we need to form a team and play? You need a minimum of 6 to complete in a match, but may have as many as 12 at a match to be used as players and substitutes. In the post season you will to narrow down to a 15 player roster from which to select your 12 for a given match. Where can we bowl? Contact your local bowling centers now. Bowling centers have year round leagues. The sooner they know about your needs the better they can plan for your team. You are not restricted about where you compete for the regular season. Who makes the schedule? Many bowling centers are used to making master schedules for the groups. You will be using their facilities, so it may be easiest to contact them and let them know that you will have a team. The centers managers and owners have been very helpful in coordinating matches dates, times, etc for the schools in their local areas. This minimizes conflicts with their existing leagues. You may also schedule matches yourself with teams. How many matches can we play? *New - The KHSAA has not put a maximum on the number of contest to be played. Because each part of the state organizes their play differently, the number of contest is up to the school or school district. Unlike some other sports, you can bowl a number of matches in one day and it only counts as one against your limit of days. This may be necessary in areas where teams will need to bowl all of their matches on Saturdays, for example, due to travel and lane availability concerns. Teams could meet on a given day and bowl multiple matches and opponents on that day. How much does it cost per team? This something that you will need to work on with the bowling centers. The Kentucky Proprietors Association has set a price that they are asking that all centers stick to, but not all centers are members of this association. Schools may need to contact the bowling center in their area and negotiate lane usage and prices. This fee should include practice lanes, shoes, and lane fees for matches. We have found that proprietors are very interested in the program succeeding and have shown a willingness to work with our schools. Is there a uniform for bowlers? Yes, there is a uniform shirt and they wear long pants to bowl. In the past some bowling centers were able to include the uniform shirt into their cost package for a team, but schools may want to order their own. We ask that schools put their school name or logo on their uniform shirts. This may be on the front, front pocket, the sleeve or on the back as long as it is visible for other teams and spectators to identify. *ADDING NUMBERS – We are asking schools to add numbers to the sleeve of the shirt. This will aid in the tracking of substitutions and tracking participants. No two student athletes may have the same number. The number should appear on the right sleeve and should be a contrasting color from the jersey color and no smaller than two inches in size. This will be a phased in requirement, which will become mandatory for the 2013-2014 school year. Can grade school kids play up on the high school team? Yes, if they are in your direct feeder pattern as defined by Bylaw 4, and not below the 4th grade. Can we still add a team? After a year of play we are hoping that more schools are interested in adding a team. Please notify KHSAA when adding or dropping a team so that school in on alignments and correspondence can be as accurate as possible. Can students win scholarship money? We have confirmation that the scholarship program established in Kentucky is approved by the NCAA and does not jeopardize amateur status. This program, called the “SMART” program holds scholarship money in an account for students until they graduate from high school and have a set of rules as to how the money can be used. Any other scholarship monies awarded (outside of the SMART program) may not be based solely on bowling skill, but must include other requirements such as academic achievement, leadership skills, and community service. *Clarified - Bylaw 10 Amateur/Awards does not apply to Sport Activities Can high school bowlers bowl in my adult leagues? * Clarified - Yes, because bylaw 10 no longer applies. How do we know who to contact? You will need to start by talking to the Athletic Director at each school. Can high school coaches coach my youth leagues as well as coach the high school team? Yes, the only restriction we will have in the summer dead period which is June 25 through July 9 each year. Can I host tournaments throughout the season? Yes, we ask you to work with schools to host tournaments throughout the year. Ticket sales from the tournament must be returned to the schools participating or the host school, but other proceeds may be divided up per an agreement with schools. If we didn’t have a team last year, when will we know what region we are in? Once we have established all of the additional teams adding this season we will rework the alignment. It will likely be after the season begins as we will continue to encourage schools to add bowling. (Check the KHSAA handbook under copetition rules for alignment) What will the post season format will be? Each region will send the top two girls teams and top two boy’s teams from each region to the state tournament. There will also be a qualifier for the state tournament for individuals at the region and each region will bring four boys and four girls to the state tournament. (for more information check the competition rules in the KHSAA handbook). How do I become or remain the coach at my school? Coaches need to contact the Athletic Director and/or Principal at the school to inquire about the coaching position for bowling. Each school is responsible for hiring their coaches. What are the requirements for being a high school coach? All coaches must comply with Bylaw 25. To read more about bylaw 26 click the link below: http://khsaa.org/handbook/bylaws/20132014/bylaw25.pdf Can a coach charge for a 1 on 1 lesson? Yes, with the approval of the principal at your school, but such cannot be required of the students. Can I coach my team or any of my kids outside the high school season? Yes, except during the dead period (June 25 to July 9). Please check with your AD about the additional rules regarding outside of season play (as far as school name and mascot may not be used, etc) Can I coach a summer youth league during the dead period? Yes, as long as no member of the youth team has been a member of your high school team and provided your team members are not competing at the same time. Who can volunteer to help with my team? That will be the decision of the principal at you school. If they are a coach then they must meet all coaching requirements under bylaw 25, even if they are not being paid. These requirements are the same for all coaches, head and assistant; varsity, junior varsity or freshman; paid or unpaid. Will teams receive scholarships for winning regional or state tournaments? No, not at this time. The KHSAA will continue to work for sponsorship of scholarship money, but the basis for the scholarship will not be connected to the outcome of the tournament. The criteria for scholarship awards given through the KHSAA program will be based on academics, leadership, participation, and community service. Will teams collect points throughout the season or will they win, lose, or tie? They will win, lose or tie. Will the team members have to purchase a USBC membership? No, this is not a requirement. Can we sell signage or sponsorships to advertise on our uniforms to local businesses? Yes. However, the sponsorship on the uniform shall not include alcohol or tobacco products or business that sells those products exclusively, and alcohol shall not be sold in the competition area during high school matches. Will there be a way to communicate with coaches throughout the state to share questions, advice, and tournament information? Yes, there is a communication network for bowling to be used throughout the state. It is sponsored by UK and is referred to as a LISTSERV. You may click on the link below to subscribe. Once you click on the link you will fill out your name and email address and choose the button next to Bowling. Then continue to follow the directions. Once you are confirmed you will receive an email with instructions on how to send a message. This message will be sent to everyone who has subscribed and you will receive emails from all that post messages. This will be very useful to share tournament information, schedule matches, share fund raising ideas, share instructional tips, etc. Here is the link to get you started - http://www.coe.uky.edu/lists/khsaalists.php. Season Length and Bylaw Compliance When is the first date of practice? The first date of practice for bowling is October 15. What is the maximum number of bowling competitions? The maximum number of competition dates is fifteen (15). When will KHSAA Region Bowling Competitions be held? Region competitions will be held during the window January 28 – February 8 of the 2013-2014 school year. Click ont he link below for future dates: http://khsaa.org/handbook/correspondingdates/bowlingcorrespondingdates.pdf When does the Bowling season end? The state championship will be at Executive Strike and Spare – singles on Thursday, February 7th and teams on Friday, February 8th. Which KHSAA Bylaws are applicable to Bowling? Currently, the following KHSAA Bylaws apply to competitive cheer teams and all other sport activities – Bylaw 1 – Responsibility Of Eligibility Bylaw 2 – Age Bylaw 3 – Maximum Number Of Years Bylaw 5 – Minimum Academic Requirement Bylaw 12 – Physical Examination, Parental Consent And Insurance Bylaw 13 – Agreement Regarding Professional Baseball Contracts Bylaw 14 – Other Eligibility Requirements And Regulations Bylaw 15 – Practice Of Sportsmanship Bylaw 16 – Recruitment/Undue Influence Bylaw 17 – Certification Of Eligibility Bylaw 18 – Supplying Information And Reports Bylaw 19 – Comparable Opportunities Bylaw 21 – Protests Bylaw 22 – Contests, Sanctions, Rules, Forfeitures, Faculty To Accompany Bylaw 23 – Limitation Of Seasons Bylaw 24 – Summer Sports And Sports/Activities Bylaw 25 – Requirement For Coaches And Others Working With High School Teams Bylaw 26 – Rulings, Reporting Of Violations Bylaw 27 – Imposition Of Penalties Which KHSAA Bylaws are NOT applicable to Bowling? Bylaw 4 (Enrollment); Bylaw 6 (Transfer Rule); Bylaw 7 (Non-Domestic Students); Bylaw 9 (Contestant on Other Teams); Bylaw 10 (Amateur and Awards); Bylaw 11 (Financial Aid); Bylaw 20 (Use of Licensed Officials) and Do tournaments have to be sanctioned? Do schools need to be involved? We have had many questions concerning bowling centers hosting tournaments. A basic explanation is this: a) Tournaments, matches, or all-star contest must be hosted/sponsored by a member school, conference, group of member schools or coaches association. This host/sponsor is responsible for all aspects (planning, supervision, and financial). This does not mean that they cannot have outside groups help with these aspects, but that that host is responsible for that oversight of these aspects. Also, the schools must derive any profit from the ticket sales from this event individually or collectively. If a bowling center would like to have a tournament, they will basically need to have a school (or other entity mentioned above) to be the host school, and if any profit is made on ticket sales (after expenses) That money shall go to the host school(s) or association. b) If the tournament has a sponsor (for example Ebonite or Outback Steakhouse give the school/center $1,000), you must contact the KHSAA as more requirements are necessary. c) If the tournament includes out of state teams, please contact the KHSAA for assistance and the possibility of additional requirements. http://www.khsaa.org/handbook/bylaws/bylaw23.pdf Sanctioning/Out of State Travel (Bylaw 22) We are clarifying that out-of-state travel does not need to be sanctioned or approved by the KHSAA. Coaches Requirements (Bylaw 25) All Coaches must meet KHSAA Bylaw 25 Minimum Coaching Requirements including coach education requirements, Sports Safety & Concussion, KHSAA/NFHS Rules Clinic. This includes faculty and non-faculty coaches and any other individual involved in cheer-specific training such as choreographers or any other activity specific component. These individuals must be listed on the KHSAA Coaching Registry. COMPETITION RULES AND RESTRICTIONS FOR THE KHSAA REGION CHAMPIONSHIP Who will select and manage the region competitions? The regions should have established by each region the previous year. The final assignments for site selection will be made by the KHSAA. These individuals will be listed on the KHSAA web site. What is the entry fee for region competition? There is no entry fee to participate in the KHSAA competition. How will funds be divided from Region Competitions? If there are any surplus funds from receipts at region competitions, funds from receipts from region competitions shall be divided based upon agreement of the schools in the region. Should a written policy not be in place, they shall be divided evenly following expenses. What are the competitions divisions for the Bowling championships? All competition will be in one division. How does a school enter the Bowling Tournament? Each school may enter online in the school subsystem that your school will enter a team for the bowling tournament. School commitments to enter a team should be submitted by January 15th this year to allow for planning of the Bowling State Tournament. Can a school enter multiple teams in the region competition? No. They may enter one girls and one boys team. When is the 2013 Ebonite/KHSAA State Bowling Competition? *New - The 2014 Ebonite/KHSAA State Bowling Competition will be held Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14 at Collins Eastland in Lexington. Who advances to State Competition? Each regional team winner and runner up and the top 4 singles (boy and girl). Withdrawal from the State Competition Any school that participates in the region competition and then withdraws from the state competition after having qualified will be ineligible to enter the region competition for a period of not less than two years.