Recently on the city board we've really been hitting the issue of retaining bowlers and gaining new ones pretty hard.  One suggestion that I brought up after talking about it here was the idea of removing prize funds.  By and large, they're spread so thin that the people on top don't even get what they put into the prize fund back, let alone make anything.  People complain about bowling being so expensive, so naturally the idea of being able to save the bowlers a lot of money every week got jumped on.  We started talking to people about it and suggesting it in various league meetings that have been going on the last week or two. 

Here's the issue, the very suggestion of removing the prize fund has already caused 6 teams to quit leagues at one of the centers here in town, just the suggestion.  For some reason people are getting the idea that the board is mandating that leagues remove their prize funds, and before they even stop and realize we can't do that, AND that it would save the majority of them money anyway, they're quitting.  The board president has asked that we all stop even suggesting it or discussing it.  I had started posting questions and breaking it down by the numbers on Facebook to get some feedback from people there, and even my boss at the shop said he was getting messages and comments from people who weren't happy that I was talking about it. 

Number one I'm pissed that I can't have my own opinion, or that people can't separate this from what I do at the shop.  Yeah it's the world we live in, but I'm a bowler upset with the system, this has less than nothing to do with drilling bowling balls.  I have to bowl leagues to be out there and be visible, but I can't debate, question, or offer suggestions about anything so I'm just stuck with what I get.  I said something about our scratch league prize fund at the end of the season, because I took issue with the reality that I could have literally shown up and thrown the ball in the gutter every single shot all year and walked out with almost $300, while being one of the top few bowlers in the league only got me back $525.  Most leagues you don't bowl to make money, but when you're supposed to be in a competitive scratch league that's several dollars a week more expensive than most leagues specifically to get extra money into the prize fund and has a decent amount of added money, I'm not sure why it's so flat and spread out. 

This has me a little extra frustrated.  Not only do I go above and beyond in the shop and on the board (in addition to my full time 40 hour a week day job), now I can't so much as voice my opinions as a bowler.  What's the point?  I just feel like I am and have been wasting all kinds of time that I could have been putting into getting myself places and having some personal success.  Naturally I'm going to continue doing what I've been doing, but this is all pretty deflating. 

Good points.  I definitely realize I'm in a no win situation, but I don't believe in no win situations.  When you care about things, you get upset when they don't go right.  I care about the community, but they aren't getting the picture here, and sometimes people need a bit of a wake up call.  At the same time, you're right. 

You obviously don't get it.  When you were told to cool it after going to Facebook with it then you bring it here.  Bashing people in your bowling community.  Everything you do, say or post on the internet has an effect on the image of the shop you represent.  It would be in your best interest to just delete this whole thread.  You are in a no win situation and you can't seem to understand that.

I totally get you.  I was having this very discussion with my wife last night.  Caring too much in a league where most people don't care (or at least care about the same things you do), will bring you nothing but heartache.  Sometimes you just have to distance yourself from the situation.

If those 6 teams are willing to quit that easy, without knowing the facts, were they really going to come back anyway, or were they just looking for an excuse to get out?

Good points.  I definitely realize I'm in a no win situation, but I don't believe in no win situations.  When you care about things, you get upset when they don't go right.  I care about the community, but they aren't getting the picture here, and sometimes people need a bit of a wake up call.  At the same time, you're right. 

Quote from: itsallaboutme on August 18, 2014, 10:16:24 AM

You obviously don't get it.  When you were told to cool it after going to Facebook with it then you bring it here.  Bashing people in your bowling community.  Everything you do, say or post on the internet has an effect on the image of the shop you represent.  It would be in your best interest to just delete this whole thread.  You are in a no win situation and you can't seem to understand that.

It really doesn't matter what the situation is, bowlers complain. Complaine when their's any kind of change. You could of stated that a local business was donating money to the league's prize fund and everyone only had to pay lineage, and I guarantee someone in your league is going to have a problem with it.

I have seen league bowlers quit over the dumbest things. They are looking for a reason to quit.

Random thoughts....

If you fly an idea and it gets shot down so vehemently just let it go.

Sounds to me that the problem is the dispersal of the prize fund.  This is something that each individual league needs to address very seriously with it's membership prior to the season.

If people who finish deeper in the pack are complaining about not winning enough money, ultimately the answer is to bowl better so that other bowlers aren't taking your money all the time.  This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the prize fund, but an unequal prize fund could exacerbate the issue.

Alternate prize funds are a mixed bag.  It was tried several years back in my area and didn't catch on, but I think it had more to do with the bowlers than it did with the concept.  It can drive a wedge between those in the same league who buy in and those who don't.  Is that a good thing for a league?  Maybe not....

Have a reputable, honest person run side brackets if it isn't already in use.  This helps to generate a little extra cash for those that might want it and can give more of a comptetitive spirit to a league.

Ultimately, these are all potential solutions that individual leagues need to evaluate. 

I've seen this mentality too much.

People (and bowlers are people) can't save money. But they know if they put a little extra in each week they will get some back at the end of the year. BONUS in their minds.

Never mind that half of them will get back less than what they paid in, they still look at it as free money back at the end of the year.

Somewhat the same mentality of getting a large tax refund back. It is your money, you let the government use it interest free all year, but you are tickled pink to get back a large sum each year. 

It seems like the only way many can save.

But people will flock to play softball and volleyball and all manner of other things that don't even hand out a trophy, let alone money . . maybe it's just something they've gotten used to.  Yeah there was a big tiff about the awards, but I bet nobody notices when they don't get their magnets or keychains. 

I don't know about softball leagues where you are but none of the ones I have played in have weekly fees that are assessed and there is very little borne by the players even at the beginning of the season.  Businesses often underwrite any fees because they get a tax write-off out of the deal...they don't care about a trophy.  As such, it is not even CLOSE to being an apples to apples comparison...