Thursday Night Men’s Scratch League By-Laws1. League will be based on an open roster but must be under the league cap which is at 1065. Subs must check in with the league President before bowling.
2. A new team entering the league cannot exceed the maximum average which is the highest team average from the previous season of 1065. If an existing team changes 1 bowler that constitutes a new team, even if that person bowled in the league with another team to determine the teams highest average at the end of the season the following items will be used.
A. The total average of the five regular bowlers.B. The total average of the five bowlers on the roster who bowled the greatest number of games.3. Substitutes: Must check in with league president. Teams using a substitute cannot exceed the leagues maximum team average of 1065. If a sub has an average in our league from last year(21 games minimum) that average may be used. If not, they must use last years highest book average. If current average is 10 pins higher than last years average, based on 21 games, then current average must be used. If above conditions are not met a forfeit will be invoked.
4. No Average in book, tough, sport, or PBA shot: If a bowler does not have an average in our league(21 games) from last year, the highest book average will be used. If the bowler does not have a book average for the previous 3 years or the only book average from the previous year is a tough shot league, they will use the base average of 1/5th of the maximum team average of 1065.
5. The 40 point system will be used for scoring. Each bowler will bowl each game and series total for 1 point. This totals 4 points per bowler x 5 bowlers for 20 points. Team games won plus series total pins are 5 points each. The 20 individual points plus the 20 team points equal 40 points. Any ties will result in the points being split equally. The higher team in the standings will put in their lineup first. If they are tied, the team with the highest average puts their lineup in first. If regular bowler has a sub, points won or lost will be recorded to the regular bowler.
6. The blind score for the league is 180. If a blind score is being used, the bowler must beat the blind score to win the point. A tie will result in the point being split. If they don’t the blind wins the point. If there is a blind on each team they may be placed anywhere in the lineup. Points will be recorded to the regular bowler.
7. If a team has only 1 or 2 bowlers at starting time, they forfeit all points for that game. Late bowlers scores cannot count for any game after the end/bottom of the 4th frame. All games bowled will count for individual average. Late bowlers individual series points can be won using the blind score plus the 2 games bowled for series total.
8. A team needing a make-up date because of a commitment to bowl in a national or state tournament may agree on a date acceptable to both teams and hall management. If teams can’t agree on a date, league officers will set the date. Both teams must bowl each other on the agreed date. No pre-bowling is allowed for individual bowlers.
9. The league will bowl a split season of 15 weeks each plus a final championship round. The winner of each split season will bowl on the final night for the league championship. If after the 15th and 30nd week 2 teams are tied for first place, a 1 game roll-off will be held when lanes are available before the next scheduled bowling date. On the final night all teams will bowl for $3.00 per point in extra prize money. There will also be a singles handicap tournament, which will be 100 percent handicap of the highest league bowlers average, and winners will be determined by total pinfall. Lane assignments will be determined by the total points a team won for the full 31 weeks bowled (except for the 1st and 2nd half champions)
10. A person must be a paying bowler and bowl at least 2/3rds of the schedule in order to be eligible for individual prizes. Teams must notify the league president of any changes to regular roster.
11. Team members cannot practice on the lanes they are scheduled to bowl on 2 hours prior to their league match. If a team member is caught he will be considered an ineligible bowler for that nights match.
12. Team sponsor fees for the year are $100 per team. They are to be paid by the end of the 1st half split season. New teams entering the league will pay $50.00 of their sponsor fee to hold their spot in the league. The $50.00 remaining balance is due by week 16. Bowlers will be responsible for paying their own sanction fees.
13. Captains are responsible for their teams debts. Bowling fees are $17.00 per week. No individual bowler will be allowed to be more than 4 weeks or $68.00 in arrears. If an individual is more than $68.00 in arrears, they will not be able to bowl. No team will be allowed to be more than 2 weeks or $170.00 in arrears. If a team is over $170.00 in arrears they will not be able to bowl. Special permission will be granted to a team individual out with an injury more than 5 weeks or if they have made arrangements with the secretary/treasurer.
14. No personal checks will be accepted for payment of bowling fees the last 4 weeks of the bowling season.
15. Captains hold team options for participation in the league.
16. Each team is allowed 1 vote at league meetings. In case of a tie the presiding officer will vote to break the tie.
17. Captains or their representatives must attend a meeting at the beginning of the season, also a meeting near the end of the season to discuss lane contract, election of officers, and to resolve any problems or questions before the league. 16 teams must be represented at any meeting to allow voting on any motions. No league business will be discussed at the banquet.
18. Any vandalism, verbal or physical altercation will result in immediate league discipline. Anyone who has disrupted the league in the past can only be reinstated into the league by a league vote.
19. Any obvious “Sandbagging” will result in the scores of the bowler being thrown out and brought to the attention of the league.
20. Any violations of league or USBC rules should be reported to the president. The president will investigate any such violation and call a captains meeting ASAP to discuss, vote, and if necessary take any appropriate action against the rule violators. Any rules not covered by the above by-laws will be referred to the USBC rule book for resolution.
21. Brackets inside the league will be limited to a max of 6 per bowler. Bowlers must have signed up before practice for either brackets or the house pot.
22. The league sweeper will be limited to only league bowlers who have at least 2/3rds of the season in at time of sweeper.
23. This league is a mens league and does not allow women to participate in.
