2007-08 PEPSI USBC YOUTH BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIPS (certification #7004) - Official Minnesota Rules & Regulations
1. Tournament – This tournament is certified by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and governed by USBC rules.
2. Divisions – These divisions are based on the participant’s age as of August 1, 2007; 11 & under boys’ handicap, 11 & under girls’
handicap, 12 & above boys’ handicap, 12 & above girls’ handicap, 12 & above boys’ scratch, 12 & above girls’ scratch. A bowler may
choose to bowl handicap or scratch regardless of their average, but the bowler must declare whether they are bowling handicap or scratch
before they begin their league level competition. Bowlers need not be a USBC Junior Gold Program members to enter the scratch division.
3. League Qualifying – League level qualifying will consist of two, two-week windows. League series plus handicap where applicable. The
first two-week window will run November 5 to November 18, 2007. The second qualifying window will run January 21 – February 3, 2008.
4. Advancement Ratio –The advancement ratio is 1 for 4 entries per division, or major fraction thereof, including last place ties from the
league level to the district level and 1 in 5 from the district level to the state finals. The base number for each division is the number of league
members that would have participated in that division. In all cases at least one (1) person per division shall advance. The advancement ratio
shall be applied uniformly to all eligible divisions from league to district level to state level.
5. One Time Entry – Each bowler can advance only once to the next level of competition. If an individual qualified and cannot participate in
the next level of competition replacements will be eligible based on order of finish from the same division in the previous qualifying event.
6. Closing Date – The entry closing date for the district level is February 19, 2007. This is the date your in-house information must be
postmarked the BPAM office. Entry closing date for the state level is April 11, 2007. This is the date district level information must be
postmarked to the state office.
7a. Entry Fee for 11 & under Divisions: (A) League qualifying – NO CHARGE; (B) District Level - $20.00 [Linage - $12.60 (includes
state), $4.40 - Expense and administration, $3.00 for awards and scholarships; (C) State Finals – NO CHARGE.
7b. Entry Fee for 12 & above Divisions: (A) League qualifying – NO CHARGE; (B) District Level - $25.00 (Lineage $15.60 (includes state);
$4.40 -Expense and administration; $5.00 for national charge for entry, awards, travel, and scholarships); (C) State Level Competition - NO
CHARGE.
7c. Scholarships: Josh Hodney (651-487-2141) will distribute all scholarship funds. SMART (Account #8528) in Greendale, Wisconsin
(contact Ed Gocha at 1-800-514-2695 ext 3343) will retain all scholarship funds until they are needed for education beyond high school.
8. Smoking – Smoking is not allowed by athletes or guests on the concourse or in the settee area during competition. Smoking is only allowed
in areas designated by the bowling center hosting the tournament (where allowed by law).
9. District Level Competition – District level competition will be run weekends from March 15 - April 6, 2008. All district participants will
be bowling three games. Participants will remain on the same pair of lanes for all three games.
10. Attire – Suitable attire required. No hats, torn jeans, tattered t-shirts (or abusive language) allowed at the district or state competitions.
11. Substitutes – No substitutes shall be permitted, however, replacements may be used for bowlers not present 15 minutes prior to the start of
bowling as stated in rule #5. Replacements based on order of finish in same division from prior level.
12. Practice - Competitors shall be allowed 5 minutes practice on their starting pair of lanes. A bowler arriving late shall begin play and the
score count with the frame then being bowled. A bowler not present to bowl when it is his/her turn shall receive a zero for that frame. Bowlers
shall not practice at a district or state site on the day of district or state competition at that site.
13. Handicap - Handicap shall be 90% of the difference between the bowlers average and 200.
14. Settee Area – Only bowlers and tournament officials shall be permitted in the settee area.
15. Claims for errors – Claims for errors in scoring or general playing rules must be made to one of the tournament directors (TD) no later
than the start of the next block or 30 minutes after completion. A TD shall decide upon questionable errors. All other protests must be
confirmed in writing to the TD within 48 hours or before awards are given out. Each protest under this rule must be specific in itself.
16. Average for District & State Competitors – At the district level bowlers shall use their highest CURRENT average AS OF February 3,
2008 (minimum of 21 games). If a current season’s average (minimum 21 games) does not exist as of February 3, 2008 then the HIGHEST
FINAL average from the 2006-07 season (minimum of 21 games) shall be used. If no such average exists the bowler must bowl scratch. At
the state level bowlers shall use their highest CURRENT average AS OF April 20, 2008 (minimum of 21 games). If an average with 21 games
does not exist as of 4/20/08 then the bowler must bowl scratch. Averages must be verified by a league standing sheet. USBC Rule 205 applies.
If an athlete only has a sport bowling average, then their average must be adjusted.
17. Advancers out of the league level must remain in the division they qualified in during all subsequent levels. If a bowler advances out of
league level in more than one state, the bowler must declare one state to continue competing before the next competition level period.
Participation in any level of competition past the league level in more than one state will result in automatic disqualification.
18. No inducements to the bowlers are allowed. See USBC rule 400.
19. A plaque will be awarded to the top finisher in each division of all thirteen district competitions.
20. State Finals – The state finals will be April 26, May 3 - 4, 2008 at Memory Lanes, 2520 26th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406
11 & under will bowl three (3) games plus handicap, 12 & above will bowl six (6) games plus handicap (where applicable). All games bowled
by bowlers in the four handicap divisions will be on the same pair of lanes. Scratch bowlers will switch pairs (1 time) after three games.
21. Ties at State Finals – Ties for advancing to National Finals will result in a one game roll-off. Should a tie still exist, it will be broken by an
additional 9th & 10th frame roll off, plus 1/10th of handicap per frame where applicable. If required, tournament directors will determine details
of a roll-off.
22. State Awards – Scholarship awards will be given to the first nine (9) places in each of the four handicap divisions (1st: $500; 2nd: $350; 3rd: $250; 4th: $200; 5th: $150; 6th: $125; 7th: $100; 8th: $75; 9th: $50) and to the first three (3) places in the two scratch divisions ($500; $300; $100). Each bowler at the State Finals will receive a symbolic award.
23. State Finals Dates and Times – All bowlers must bowl within their division. There will be no switching of days or times. If you cannot
make the designated time at the state level, please notify the BPAM state office immediately, so that we can notify the next highest bowler to
substitute. Sorry, no refunds for those unable to bowl at State.
24. National Finals (12 & over HDCP divisions) – The top four finishers in the Boys’ 12 & above, and the top two finishers in the Girls 12 & above HDCP divisions (ratio of 4:2 derived from participation level in 2007 YBC Championships), will advance to the 2008 Pepsi USBC Youth Bowling Championships National Finals, July 14 - 16, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The BPAM, in conjunction with Community Charities of MN and the Minnesota State USBC, will provide up to $500 in travel reimbursement to each Minnesota finalist (receipts must be submitted). Winners are not confirmed as National finalists until they receive a confirmation letter from USBC. Advancers must bring a parent, guardian, or coach to the championships. The National finals will no longer be providing chaperones. Winners must agree to bowl in the National Finals, or failing to do so, agree to waive all rights. If the advancer decides not to attend the National finals, the state tournament committee may withdraw the state scholarship won. Replacements will be selected based on the order of finish in their division at the state level. Replacements will incur all costs associated with changing the airline ticket, if applicable.
25. USBC Junior Gold Championships (12 and above scratch divisions) – The first place winners of the 12 & above Girls’ and Boys’ Scratch Divisions will advance to the 2008 USBC Junior Gold Bowling National Championships July 5 - 11 in Detroit, Michigan. They must be USBC Junior Gold Program Members to advance (the advancer must meet the 175 or higher average for males or 165 average or higher for females and have a USBC Junior Gold membership or purchase a membership prior to the championships). USBC will pay for their $150 entry fee into the USBC Junior Gold Championships. These athletes will then still compete for $15,000 in scholarships earmarked just for Pepsi advancers, plus additional scholarship funds available to all athletes at the championships, as well as other prizes and awards. The BPAM will provide up to $500 in travel reimbursement to each Minnesota finalist. All U.S. citizens are vying for a spot on Junior TEAM USA to represent the United States in national and international competition.
26. International Entering Average – National entering average will be adjusted if an average set at state competition is more than 10 pins higher than
the advancer’s year-end average. An adjusted average will be that tournament average, plus their year- end average added together and divided by two to
develop a composite average. Previous Pepsi Youth Bowling Championships competition averages will also be used in figuring the entering average at
the National Finals. The average at the state competition will be determined by the scratch score of the first six games bowled (not including any tie
breakers or stepladders).
27. Carbons – Top carbon (white) is for the state office. 4th carbon – athlete at house level. 3rd carbon – athlete following districts.
28. Failure To abide by any of the tournament rules and regulations, including deadline, could result in disqualification of the bowlers from this event.
29. All matters not covered by these rules and regulations shall be determined by the State Pepsi USBC Youth Bowling Championship Committee. The National Pepsi USBC Youth Bowling Championships Tournament Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any participant.