Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 - (Page 88)

STRIKESME BY BOB JOHNSON IS USBC TURNING A DEAF EAR? Members are screaming bloody murder over the new policy that will limit a certified bowler to one honor score award per lifetime. IT'S DIFFICULT TO ARGUE WITH THE UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS' vision, which is succinctly summed up in three monosyllabic words: "Grow the sport." That's a whole lot easier to remember than the mantra of USBC's ancestral organizations. Do you recall, "More people bowling more often and having more fun"? For too long, "having more fun" translated to bowlers piling up as many honor score awards as they could. Technology left rules regarding equipment specifications in the dust, and the ABC and WIBC bowed to pressure from proprietors to "open up" the path to the pocket in order to keep everyone "happy." This logic, naturally, led to a huge increase in the number of certified bowlers, right? Uh no. But the bowlers who remained sure were having a lot of fun — and racking up record numbers of honor scores. Now, USBC's leadership has come to the realization that honor scores should have some element of — what's the word? oh yeah — honor associated with them. This, of course, means that the organization has decided to tighten up its specifications rules and mandate a "playing field" that presents a reasonable challenge and promotes personal improvement through practice and hard work, right? Uh no. Instead, USBC is embracing a failed policy of the ABC and WIBC: penalizing its members, who have absolutely nothing to do with the game's specifications or how those specs are implemented in centers. In what may eventually be thought of as the good old days, when an honor score was rolled and the lanes were subsequently found to be out of compliance, the bowler was penalized via the withholding of an award. Now, in a long overdue reaction to the proliferation of honor scores, the USBC has decided to solve the problem not by updating its antiquated specifications rules, but rather by severely limiting the number of honor score awards a member may receive. And we do mean severely. Beginning in the 2008-09 season, awards for 300s and 800s will be limited to one per lifetime. Not surprisingly, a lot of members are screaming bloody murder (or whatever the online message board equivalent would be). Interestingly, many agree that there should be limits. A compromise commonly cited would be one honor score award per season, and that seems reasonable considering members will still be expected to pay dues annually. For as long as we can remember, the leaders of ABC/WIBC cited a lack of communication between the organizations and their members as the major impediment to creating better understanding of issues and the embracement of policies among members. But that assertion no longer carries any weight. USBC has an experienced and talented executive — USA Today alum Tom Clark — in charge of communications, and it has a membership magazine with a circulation of 2 million. It also operates what has become bowling's go-to website. So, communicating the message is not the problem. The message is being communicated loud and clear, but many members simply aren't buying it. Ultimately, two questions must be addressed: 1. Can USBC grow the sport when it penalizes the sport's most avid participants? 2. Will the organization's leaders listen to the concerns of that relatively small but very vocal constituency? THE #1 INDEPENDENT BALL REVIEW NOHOLES BARRED BY JOE CERAR JR. EVERY MONTH IN WWW.BOWLERSJOURNAL.COM 88 bowlers journal international MARCH 2008 http://WWW.BOWLERSJOURNAL.COM http://WWW.BOWLERSJOURNAL.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Par Bowling The Coach Calendar Inside Line Tournaments The Truth Be Bowled Pro Bowling Back On Track Weber Tales Spares Do Matter Cover Story Up Close USBC Women's Time Capsule Flashback Strategy Session Guest Column Regional Roundup Team USA Trials Military Salute Global Guide No Holes Barred Marketplace Bowling Summit Museum Update Hall Marks Advertisers' Index Rememberance Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - March 2008

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