Bowling Rules – LA

SUMMARY 

• Games will be played 4 on 4
• 2 players are required to start and complete a match (all female/all male teams are okay)
• Self-regulated games – there will be a Lane Manager to record scores and settle disputes
• Teams will bowl TWO (2) complete 10 frame games.

***NO HANDICAP RULE! ***

• Each game will count in the standing. Results will be based on total pins bowled by the team in each game
• Up to 9 points will be awarded each night. 3 points will be awarded for the winning team of each game. 3 points will be awarded for the team with the most total pins for both games combined. If teams tie for either of the individual games or for total pins, each team will be awarded 1 point.
• The bowler may not cross the foul line on a throw
• No “lobbing” the bowling ball down the alley
• ALL bowlers are required to wear proper bowling shoes
• Teams may bowl in their respective lanes at the same time, unless otherwise stated
• Teams must rotate all players present into the lineup within the 2 games played

FORFEITS/GAME TIME 

Please don’t forfeit. Your teammates and opponents count on you to have a full team and competitive game. Each team must have at least 2 players to start a game. The Lane Manager will give a 10 minute grace period and determine forfeits at the lane. Due to the extremely tight schedule, we strongly suggest arriving at the alley a few minutes before game time for warm-ups. A forfeit will result in the loss of 1 point in the standings per forfeit.

START OF THE GAME

At the beginning of the game, teams will be assigned lanes by the Lane Manager. Teams will also be given a score sheet. They will enter their Game 1 roster into the scoreboard and begin the match. At the end of Game 1, teams will record the total team score. The total game score will be located on the bottom right corner of the screen. If teams would like to rotate their players for Game 2, they can do this now. These names are then entered into the scoreboard, the game is played, and the total team score is recorded. Total pins from both games will then be added and recorded on the score sheet. Score sheets are then brought to the Lane Manager when each team is finished bowling.

PICKING UP PLAYERS 

You may not pick up players for your team. You must have the minimum required from your roster in order for the game to count.

CLOCK 

Teams will be required to bowl TWO (2) COMPLETE 10 frame games (ideally 4 bowlers each) within the allotted hour and thirty minutes. If teams do not complete 10 frames in Game 2, the scoring of total pins per player for that particular team will end on the frame they’re on.

TIE RULE 

A tie in either individual game will result in 1 point for both teams. If the total number of pins from both games combined is the same between teams, both teams will be awarded 1 point.

SCORING 

1.  For teams with at least 4 bowlers:

• The 4 scores will be recorded for each team per game. This total can be found on the bottom right corner of the screen. The team with the most total pins in each game will receive 3 points per game. After both games are completed, the total pins are added from Game 1 and Game 2. Team with highest total pins will receive 3 points.

2.  For teams with only 3 bowlers:

•   All present bowlers may rotate equally throughout the 4 game slots, making up for the missing player.

3.  For teams with only 2 bowlers:

• Each bowler will bowl twice, making up for the two missing players.

If teams do not complete all ten (10) frames of Game 2 in the time allowed, the scoring will stop and the total pin count will be recorded for the amount of frames that have been bowled.

Games will be played 4-on-4

Teams will be responsible for recording the total team score from each of their two games.

Scores will then be handed to the Lane Manager at the end of the time allotted. The Lane Manager will then verify all the information and indicate the winner for that week.

TEAM ROTATION 

YOU MAY NOT BOWL MORE THAN 4 PLAYERS AT A TIME

If teams have more than 4 players present they have three choices:

1.  The team can choose to have players sit out the first or second game. A player who sits out Game 1 must bowl in Game 2.

OR

2.  Teams may rotate all of their players into the 4 slots for both games.

• All present players may rotate equally throughout the 4 game slots. That means a consistent rotation.
• You may not have players bowl their own games while the other teammates rotate between the remaining slots.

OR

3.  The team can choose 2 bowlers to alternate through the same game. They must play the entire frame. You may not rotate within a frame (i.e. a guy/girl throws the first ball and a different guy/girl tries to pick up a spare)

• An example of this would be 4 guys and 1 girl present for a given night. 2 of the guys and the girl each bowl an individual game. The 3rd and 4th male present share the 4th game by alternating frames.
• If at least one member of each sex is rolling their own game, you may have members of the opposite sex alternate within the same game.

WHATEVER ORDER YOU START THE GAME IN IS THE ORDER YOU MUST CONTINUE TO PLAY IN.

Players cannot change the order mid game. This includes not having a player follow their own mark if they got one in the previous frame (if it meant they had to change the order). All orders must stay the same.

BOWLING EQUIPMENT

All players are required to wear proper bowling shoes. Players may choose to bring and wear their own bowling shoes; however, shoes will be provided for players who do not have the proper footwear. Bowling balls will also be provided at the alley, but players can choose to bring their own. Other equipment such as wrist braces and gloves, will not be provided by ZogSports or the bowling alley, but may be worn by players.

BOWLING OUT OF ORDER/WRONG LANE

If a player bowls out of order, the teammate which he/she has bowled for will then go in place of that player on the subsequent turn. If a player bowls in the wrong lane (opposing team), that team will go into the electronic scoreboard and erase the frame thrown by the wrong player. (Note: You are on a time restraint, so doing this quickly and efficiently will only benefit your team in the end.) 

ILLEGAL THROWING 

Players must properly throw the bowling ball down their teams designated lane. Lane Managers will issue warnings to those teams/players that “lob” the ball down the lane or improperly roll the ball (i.e. backwards, between the legs, two balls at once, two people at once, etc.). 

FOUL LINE

Players must try to stay behind the foul line indicated on the lane, and must attempt to release the bowling ball before crossing it. The lane beyond the foul line is very slippery and could be dangerous to step on.

SELF-UMPIRING 

Games will be self-regulated. ZogSports will have a staff member on site to assist in clarifying any rules questions, but we ask that you be on your best behavior and honest when making calls and recording scores. 

SPORTSMANSHIP

ZogSports is a charity-focused, social sports organization. Our goal is for you to have fun. We hope that you keep this in mind when participating. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by the umpire or ZogSports staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

SUSPENSIONS/EJECTIONS

Any player(s)/team(s) that are involved in a fight will be suspended from all ZogSports Leagues for life. Any teams will forfeit all remaining games. The field manager has the right to sit an unruly player if necessary.

Any excessive contact with an opponent will result in an ejection of that player.

Any player verbally abusing the other team/field manager will automatically be ejected from the game without a warning.

A player ejected for ANY reason will be suspended for the next game. If that player is caught playing in that game, the team will forfeit.

TIE BREAKERS FOR PLAYOFFS/SEEDINGS 

• All ties will be broken in the order in which they occur, from top to bottom
• The following procedure will be used in the following order until the tie is broken:

1. 1. Team with more forfeits automatically loses tie breaker
   2. Number of wins
   3. Win-loss results of head-to-head competition between all tied teams
   4. Record against highest ranked common opponent and proceeding through the lowest ranked common opponent if necessary (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1)
   5. Coin flip by ZogSports

CODE OF CONDUCT: The Participant’s Code of Conduct applies to all ZogSports participants. You can access the ZogSports Participant’s Code of Conduct HERE.