Pennsylvania State USBC Youth
A State Association of the United States Bowling Congress,
serving youth bowlers in Pennsylvania.
This page will be updated as time progresses to show the progress or decision that has been reached regarding the ideas presented at the Summit. These ideas came from various Association leaders from across the state, and we thank them sincerely for the effort and sincerity that they put into this.
July 20, 2008 - The initial listing is presented below, more detail will follow.
| # | Action Requested | Action Taken | Completion Date |
| 1 | Quality of Centers - If the quality of the centers is poor on a consistent basis, kids will be less interested in traveling to bowl. | Site visitations will take place for 2010 Tournament to select centers to host tournament. | 10/12/2008 |
| 2 | Higher Scholarship Funds - Deficit - The cost of the travel is more then the return in scholarships awarded. | The Association added over $25,000 to this years funds through donations, souvenir sales, etc. Not all participants even win scholarships so it impractical to achieve this goal. | 07/26/2008 |
| 3 | Move Event to April, Oct/Nov - get away from graduations, proms, and coaches lose contact with kids due to season being over. | 2010 Tournament will be conducted in April, future events planned for April time frame as well. | 10/13/2008 |
| 4 | Allow re-entry/walk ins. - Allow those already entered to re-enter. Allow new bowlers to sign up prior to squads. | Re-Entry/Walk in rule approved and added to this years tournament. Entries must arrive 1hr before squad, have all applicable information ready, permissible if lane beds available for use. | 10/13/2008 |
| 5 | Extend tournament to 3 Weekends - allow more flexibility of available dates for bowlers/parents. | A third weekend has been added to the 2009 tournament and future tournaments will be conducted over three weekends in April.. | 10/13/2008 |
| 6 | Get professional bowler to attend - a pro may attract entries on the day he/she can be present. | To be investigated, possible funding issue, locals may be required to help or share costs if interested. | |
| 7 | Get information to parents - program calendars or other means. | To be investigated. Looking at sharing with centers what others do, a suggested format to be compiled and included with entry form mailings. | |
| 8 | Parents Day at Center to promote Events - centers to conduct parents day to explain the concepts of tournaments and programs and to promote state vents. | To be investigated. Looking at sharing with centers what others do, a suggested format to be compiled and included with entry form mailings. | |
| 8 | Conduct special tournaments to win entry - Associations can pay state entry fee for winners of tournaments as added incentive, leagues can run sweepers for same. | To be investigated. To be investigated. Looking at sharing with centers what others do, a suggested format to be compiled and included with entry form mailings. | |
| 10 | Web updates just for kids - special pages for kids, friendlier, jazzed up a bit, explain tournament in fun way. | To be investigated. | |
| 11 | Rotate Tournament Host - do not conduct tournament in same area of state, get rotation going West/Central/East | To be investigated. Currently no Associations are showing any interest, a possible tournament rotation schedule is being looked at, dealing directly with proprietors. | |
| 12 | Get Proprietor more involved - contact proprietors to get the Associations to bid. | To be investigated. Currently no Associations are showing any interest, a possible tournament rotation schedule is being looked at, dealing directly with proprietors. | |
| 13 | Friday Night Youth Activity - provide an opportunity for the bowlers to meet and have fun, outside of bowling arena. | The board feels that this is something the local associations may want to consider doing as a fun/fundraising event. | 10/13/2008 |
| 14 | Donations From Local Associations toward Scholarships - this would help take burden off of state to increase scholarships awarded. | To be investigated. |
| Pepsi | |||
| # | Action Requested | Action Taken | Completion Date |
| 1 | Communication at Local Level - Insure Association Manager & President, and all Proprietors included in mailing of information. | 2009 Information will be mailed (emailed) to all in this group. USBC contacted to provide league supervisor listing to get info into the hands of those working directly with youth leagues. | 9/27/2008 |
| 2 | Advertisement from Pepsi to Hang in Centers - Signage from State level to promote tournament, maybe add a "Pepsi Mascot" to make ad more kid friendly and noticeable. | Posters along with league level rules to be mailed to each center by USBC national office. | 9/27/2008 |
| 3 | Change ratio to increase entries - more kids want to bowl than actually qualify. | Board has approved ratio change from one in ten to 1 in 8. Further reduction to be investigated after 09-09 season. | 07/30/2008 |
| 4 | Get Center to Participate that do not currently - insure centers/league supervisors are notified. | 104 Non participating centers contacted via mail. | 9/30/2008 |
| 5 | More Consistent oil patterns - tougher lane dressing patterns at Districts and States. Make them the same | The Board approved a change in policy that all Districts and the State Finals will apply the same lane dressing pattern for the season. Pattern to be posted on state web site. | 07/19/2008 |
| 6 | More Freebies for bowlers (Local & State) - get business to donate to creating a goodie bag to provide more incentive/fun for participants. | Needs to be discussed at State and Local Levels. | |
| 7 | Get centers to bid that are not under Pepsi Contract - BPAA/Pepsi center mandate limits and restricts interest, find ways to use other centers to keep interest up. | Ongoing pressure is being applied to both BPAA and USBC to see the need to work together and gain some leeway in the restrictions. | |
| 8 | Center to offset the cost of bowling/entry fees - encourage center to have all-inclusive programs that weekly fees can be used to enter tournaments, etc. | Reviewing how to share current programs that are in use with other centers. Related to getting info out to local level, item 1 and 4. | |
| 9 | Losers bracket or optional event for those who don’t make day 1 cut at State Finals. - this would be a second chance tournament, a new separate event. (Re-entry into Pepsi not permitted.) | Needs investigated and related to number 12. | |
| 10 | Handicap Division Winners get paid entry into national open Championships - with the elimination of the National Pepsi Tournament offer this to handicap division, Scratch currently get Junior Gold entry. | The top two in each of the 12 & above Handicap Divisions will receive a State Singles Entry or National Event Singles Entry. The top two in each of the 11 & under Handicap Divisions will receive a State Singles Entry. | 10/12/2008 |
| 11 | Change Divisions from Age to Avg - competition by ability, not by age, suggest to USBC as rule change. | This suggestion has once again been submitted to USBC for review. Earliest possible change would be for 09-10 season. Result is up to National office to determine. | 07/30/2008 |