I have a Storm/Roto Matchmaker coming up this next Tuesday night, and was counting on a fairly large turnout from HS bowlers who are at the midpoint of their season, and not too far away from getting ready for regionals and state.  However, I was informed yesterday that none of them could attend because the state HS board told them it could be construed as outside coaching, which would be a violation of the rules and subject them to disciplinary action.  I personally feel this is completely ridiculous.  Under the same "rules," they would also be banned from coming in to purchase equipment, because I would be "coaching" them on what ball to get, layout, bag selection, accessories, etc.  I've had several new bowlers come in with hand me down balls who are grippers, and I've had to "coach" them on how to hold the ball properly and how to release it, is that against the rules too? 

I know it's not my place, but I'm not sure if the state board really knows the details of what is going on.  Seeing as how I stand to lose quite a bit of business because they don't understand what's going on, I'm a tad miffed.  What is the proper course of action here?  Usually for me that involves keeping my mouth shut . . but I had prepared for this based on the number of commitments, which now has been dropped significantly less than a week before the event based on nothing but passive ignorance in my mind. 

If restrictions are needed to help grow high school bowling (even though it is one of the fastest growing high school sports) then limit the number of balls an athlete has access to at any given tournament. 

Forcing the athletes to use antiquated equipment does not grow a sport to the future.  Urethane hasn't been relevant in 25 years other than as a niche product, plastic even more so.  And if it is a monetary issue, realize the difference in price between urethane and resin is not that much.

And how does bowling with antiquated equipment and bowling on shots the athletes will never see again benefit their game in the long run?  As soon as they are in college the restrictions are gone.

I cannot think of another sport that makes the game harder for the youth involved in the sport.  Golf in high school is no different than the PGA, LPGA or your local municipal.  Baseball actually makes it easier for athletes in high school than in the pros with more lenient bat restrictions.  Football is no different in high school than at any other level.

Bowling will always have those with disposable funds and those without just like all sports.  It is a fact of life (which is what some what to teach through bowling I guess) that some bowlers will walk in to a tournament with 20 bowling balls while others may only have three.  This great game is based on knowing what to use, when to use it and how to use it.  The bowler with 20 balls does not automatically win the tournament.  The same as those high school bowlers with less equipment don't automatically lose the tournament.