Bowling Rules – West Coast
Markets: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose
Format: Bowling
SUMMARY
• 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 standings. Results will be based on total pins bowled by the team in each game.
• Games will be played 4 (four) on 4 (four). See “Scoring” section below for rules on less than or more than 4 players present
• 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. They will enter their Game 1 roster into the scoreboard, and begin the match. At the end of Game 1, teams will record their individual scores, as well as 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 both the individual and total team score is recorded. Score sheets are then brought to the Lane Manager when each team is finished bowling. Total pins will be used for tiebreakers to determine playoff contenders.
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.
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.
2. For teams with only 2 players:
• Each bowler will bowl twice, making up for the two missing players.
3. For teams with 5 or 6 players present:
- Rotate between the 4 bowling spots OR
- Take the average of 4 scores from the final score. Ex: if 5 players bowl, we take the total score, divide that by 5, and then multiply it by 4. This is to encourage full participation.
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 (four) on 4 (four) – with at least 1 female player playing each game during the set.
Teams will be responsible for recording the following information from each of their 2 games.
– Each individual score (4 total)
These scores will then be handed to the Field Manager at the end of the time allotted. The Field Manager will then verify all the information and indicate the winners for that week.
TEAM ROTATION
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) They may rotate all of their players into the 4 slots for both games.
a. All present players may rotate equally throughout the 4 game slots. That means a consistent rotation.
b. If a team has more than 1 male and 1 female present, you may not have players bowl their own games while the other teammates rotate between the remaining slots.
OR
3) The team can play all players present, and we take the average of 4 scores. Ex: if 5 players bowl, we take the total score, divide that by 5, and then multiply it by 4. This is to encourage full participation.
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. Field 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 umpired. 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 club. 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
1. Winning percentage
2. Head-to-head competition
3. Team with highest total pin score from the season.
4. Record against other teams in or tied for playoffs (winning percentage – i.e., 0-1 is same as 0-2, but 1-3 is better than 0-1)
5. Record against next best common opponent
6. If none of the above tie breakers resolve seeding, ZogSports will execute a coin toss
FORFEIT NOTIFICATION
To forfeit, please fill out this form.
Forfeits ruin the experience for everyone. ZogSports exists to give you an opportunity to play and build community and forfeiting is a huge bummer. If your team absolutely needs to forfeit, you must let us know in advance so we can contact your opponent so that they don’t unnecessarily travel to the gym/field.
If you do not inform us of a forfeit your team could face penalties in your league’s standings. Once ZogSports is notified of your forfeit, it is final (you cannot change your mind) and the other team will be notified.
Penalty for forfeiting without notifying Zog:
1. First offense, warning will be issued and loss of one point in standings per forfeit
2. Second offense, your team will be eliminated from playoff contention
3. Third offense, your team will be eliminated from the remainder of the schedule
There is no additional penalty if you show up short-handed (and need to add other ZogSports players to field a full team) and have to forfeit the game, since you did make an effort to get a team to play.
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.