BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Rileybowler on July 23, 2019, 10:11:53 PM
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I have a whole lot of used bowling balls some of which have not been used much at all, so I thought I would like to donate to youth bowling so I inquired at my bowling establishment (AMF) and they said they no longer have youth leagues so I sent the USBC representative for my area asking him if he could put me in touch with a youth league representative so I could donate equipment to them and he told me about a bowling establishment that has a rack for used equipment that they sell it and donate to youth bowling. I was wondering if this is the norm now or that it is just my area where it seems youth bowling is not doing well at all, this is Richmond Va. area so there are plenty of youth around and I know that there used to be a lot of youth bowling going on but not now. How are youth bowling leagues doing in your area?
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The two local bowling centers which are privately owned work very closely with the local middle and high schools promoting the sport. Each high school has a bowling club which participates in local and regional tournaments.
Each house has a Saturday morning youth league with approximately 60 kids participating at each center.
In addition, they each sponsor a adult/youth league during the fall/winter season.
These efforts are not new. They have been going on for quite a few years and have produced a number a elite bowlers who have won on the PBA regional level.
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Is anyone claiming bowling is becoming more popular?
That said, youth bowling is doing pretty well around here (northeast Ohio). One thing that helps, IMO, is a strong, local collegiate bowling program in the area.
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Youth bowling seems fairly robust here in Phoenix as well. My son's league is not hurting for teams and some of the other centers show up in force at the youth tournaments. Bowling scene here in general is pretty strong though what with our population growth and snowbirds. USBC imo has done their finest work at the junior level from what I see. Definitely a priority for them.
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The face of youth bowling has changed over the years just as adult bowling has. Organized sanctioned leagues have long been on a decline, but overall recreational popularity has remained strong. At the competitive level there is now junior gold and other outlets for the truly avid juniors that was not available years ago.
Many more people, especially kids, prefer bowling to golf at both the recreational level, and organized league kevel
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I am pleased that youth bowling is doing so well in many places although it seems to be suffering in the Richmond Va. area.
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I'll believe it when I see it.
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In general I would say no but you need some context to frame the question.
What periods are you comparing to today?
If you are saying more popular than 30 years ago then no, bowling on any level is not as popular as it was then.
If you are comparing to 2 years ago? 5 years ago? I don't know.
I know around here youth leagues participation is very low to non-existent.
There are several very good youth bowlers around competing at higher levels and high school bowling still does reasonably well. But as far as total numbers of bowlers in organized leagues those numbers are down.
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It's great that the USBC is growing youth bowling. I've seen it here in Metro Detroit, too.
Take it from a youth coach of 20+ years, the problem the USBC is not addressing is moving these kids into adult leagues. it is my opinion, looking at kids I've seen go through youth bowling, that only 1 in 10 move up to adult leagues.
It's easy to bowl on mom and dad's money, but once they have to spend their own money on bowling, they just stop or blame outside influences. To me these are all excuses.
The USBC needs a program that encourages youth bowlers to move into adult leagues.
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I can say that ball manufacturing is up, reportedly, EBI can not keep with demand.
Not sure if that is across the board, but they and Storm dominate the balls sold market every year. Possibly make up 80% or more of all balls sold in the world
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The USBC needs a program that encourages youth bowlers to move into adult leagues.
I am really not sure this is the job of the USBC. People who want to bowl will continue to bowl. People who stop bowling once they are out of junior leagues and school programs most likely never really had their heart in it.
We have a substantial junior scholarship bowling program in my area, and some of the kids go to Junior Gold, go to colleges that offer bowling programs, etc. Those kids tend to stay bowlers once they graduate.
Other kids only do it because the parents push them to do it and pay for it, they *might* get some small scholarship fund out of it, and it is something to do on a Saturday morning. However a large majority of them aren't really in to it, and quit once they are out of the league.
Unfortunately, kids these days are programmed to ask "what is in it for me" when it comes to participating in things. When they ask the USBC "What is in it for me to keep bowling on adult leagues?", and the USBC has no answer other than "fun and camaraderie", the young bowlers will say "ok...I'm out! see ya!"
Honestly, the USBC doesn't offer any incentives or enticement to bowl on adult leagues. It boils down to a desire of the actual bowler to want to devote the time and expense to participate for their own personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. When that feeling [or the time and available money] goes away is when most die-hard bowlers walk away from the sport.
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Important to keep in mind popularity of bowling does not necessarily equal league or tournament participation as well. Some people love bowling but hate people or maybe hate commitment or don't enjoy the sport side. Bowling the sport is hurting more than the game imo.
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Everyone seems to be dancing around the fact that bowling has become to EXPENSIVE. The cost tied to lineage,equipment and equipment update is not something that the average Joe can spend .. now pros are going to come back with cost of drinks.movies and meals and try to make it look like bowling costs are justified .. however it is NOT TRUE! Young folks are having trouble meeting living costs .. add to that bowling and it just doesn't work!
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Important to keep in mind popularity of bowling does not necessarily equal league or tournament participation as well. Some people love bowling but hate people or maybe hate commitment or don't enjoy the sport side. Bowling the sport is hurting more than the game imo.
Absolutely nailed it, spot on. ^^^^
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$20/week for league and a few hundred a year for equipment is not an expensive hobby. Talk to people about their boats, atv's, horses, guns, golf clubs, high end softball bats and they will tell you bowling is cheap.
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$20/week for league and a few hundred a year for equipment is not an expensive hobby. Talk to people about their boats, atv's, horses, guns, golf clubs, high end softball bats and they will tell you bowling is cheap.
I agree, bowlers are just cheap and want everything dirt cheap or free, yet have no problem spending thousands per season on balls they are barely qualified to even use.
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Are we talking about bowlers that have been in the game awhile or NEW BOWLERS? Young folks on their own trying to make it day by day ..how much disposable income do they have to spend on bowling?
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If you want to compare bowling to denting the couch then yes, it is expensive. But compared to any other activity, or $6 lattes, it is not.
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Are we talking about bowlers that have been in the game awhile or NEW BOWLERS? Young folks on their own trying to make it day by day ..how much disposable income do they have to spend on bowling?
"Young people" live check to check because of their entitlement issues. They think they deserve a new car they can't afford, live in a house or rent above their means, buys a new $1000 cell phone every year, and has all name brand clothes, from top to bottom.
Drive a car you can afford, live in a house you can afford, use a phone for longer than a year, and make a coffee and some food at home once in awhile, in they would have some "hobby" money.
Also, very few young people work a second part time job, like we used to for some extra income, or to save for that extra thing that wasn't in our full time job budget.
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Are we talking about bowlers that have been in the game awhile or NEW BOWLERS? Young folks on their own trying to make it day by day ..how much disposable income do they have to spend on bowling?
"Young people" live check to check because of their entitlement issues. They think they deserve a new car they can't afford, live in a house or rent above their means, buys a new $1000 cell phone every year, and has all name brand clothes, from top to bottom.
Drive a car you can afford, live in a house you can afford, use a phone for longer than a year, and make a coffee and some food at home once in awhile, in they would have some "hobby" money.
Also, very few young people work a second part time job, like we used to for some extra income, or to save for that extra thing that wasn't in our full time job budget.
They should sacrifice so I can show them how great I am and to be a donor for my league and tournaments? Gee why wouldn't they be interested? I am sure your speech will inspire the younger generation to change their decadent ways.
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Are we talking about bowlers that have been in the game awhile or NEW BOWLERS? Young folks on their own trying to make it day by day ..how much disposable income do they have to spend on bowling?
"Young people" live check to check because of their entitlement issues. They think they deserve a new car they can't afford, live in a house or rent above their means, buys a new $1000 cell phone every year, and has all name brand clothes, from top to bottom.
Drive a car you can afford, live in a house you can afford, use a phone for longer than a year, and make a coffee and some food at home once in awhile, in they would have some "hobby" money.
Also, very few young people work a second part time job, like we used to for some extra income, or to save for that extra thing that wasn't in our full time job budget.
"Young people"? You are describing most Americans. How many people over 50 have nothing saved for retirement? Or maybe wages have stagnated and the cost of living is astronomical? Or student loan debt is way out of control? More empathy and less judging, seeing that you are such an outstanding man of God, you already know that.
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$20/week for league and a few hundred a year for equipment is not an expensive hobby. Talk to people about their boats, atv's, horses, guns, golf clubs, high end softball bats and they will tell you bowling is cheap.
I agree, but softball is way cheaper than bowling. Not a good example unless you are a big tournament player, but the thread is more about league bowling. High end softball bats are roughly the same price as high end bowling balls. Leagues are much cheaper for softball, even where I play - and that is higher than most leagues I've heard about in the US.
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They should sacrifice so I can show them how great I am and to be a donor for my league and tournaments? Gee why wouldn't they be interested? I am sure your speech will inspire the younger generation to change their decadent ways.
Since when is driving a couple year old Honda such a sacrifice. I know MANY young people driving Acuras, Mercedes, BMW's, and are the same people complaining they have no money.
When did being non-materialistic become "sacrifice"??? There in lies the issue. If people want a hobby, then it is THEIR duty to save for it, or make a "sacrifice". It isn't the rest of the bowling world's job to make it "affordable" for them. It's called a budget.
The point is, as someone else posted earlier, bowling compared to other hobby's that are equipment based such as fishing, hunting, boating, archery, etc etc... is not that expensive.
With that being said, if bowling some how found away to regulate lane conditions, I would be fine with regulations on bowling balls, and have a much simpler game that would be more cost effective. But we all know that is out of the USBC's capabilities, and a completely different topic.
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"Young people"? You are describing most Americans. How many people over 50 have nothing saved for retirement? Or maybe wages have stagnated and the cost of living is astronomical? Or student loan debt is way out of control? More empathy and less judging, seeing that you are such an outstanding man of God, you already know that.
There's no judging, there is stating facts. All across America, there are TONS of trade jobs available. So many in fact, that even non-skilled plumbers, carpenters, HVAC workers are making WAY more than college graduates, with less over-head for schooling. People don't want to get their hands dirty anymore, that's not my fault. Lawn care/ snow removal professionals in my area are making money hand over fist. There is lots of money to be made, people just have to be willing to work for it.
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"Young people"? You are describing most Americans. How many people over 50 have nothing saved for retirement? Or maybe wages have stagnated and the cost of living is astronomical? Or student loan debt is way out of control? More empathy and less judging, seeing that you are such an outstanding man of God, you already know that.
There's no judging, there is stating facts. All across America, there are TONS of trade jobs available. So many in fact, that even non-skilled plumbers, carpenters, HVAC workers are making WAY more than college graduates, with less over-head for schooling. People don't want to get their hands dirty anymore, that's not my fault. Lawn care/ snow removal professionals in my area are making money hand over fist. There is lots of money to be made, people just have to be willing to work for it.
A few years ago, we needed new cables installed for some new equipment on the edge of a taxiway, so they contracted out the job to dig out the trenches for the cables and the company sent out a four-man work party with a trencher and shovels.
The twenty-something year old guy operated the trencher and the three others, aged about 55-70, dug with the shovels. One of my co-workers asked the foreman why they didn't have younger men digging and he said young people want to operate the equipment not shovels. They couldn't find any to hire so they hired retirees who they said were also more reliable about showing up every day.
I was amazed.
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Just a quick note while we ARE talking about youth bowing .. there's a show on UTUBE that's going into it's fourth year titled PRODIGY BOWLING .. these kids surprise me. I believe if they pushed TWO HANDED bowling years ago we'd have a lot more bowlers today!
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Just a quick note while we ARE talking about youth bowing .. there's a show on UTUBE that's going into it's fourth year titled PRODIGY BOWLING .. these kids surprise me. I believe if they pushed TWO HANDED bowling years ago we'd have a lot more bowlers today!
Yes the kids on Prodigy bowling are very good and I also enjoy watching them and I also am one of their supporting subscribers.
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Just a quick note while we ARE talking about youth bowing .. there's a show on UTUBE that's going into it's fourth year titled PRODIGY BOWLING .. these kids surprise me. I believe if they pushed TWO HANDED bowling years ago we'd have a lot more bowlers today!
There's a difference between opportunities to bowl, and total number of youth bowlers who bowl. While there are more youth bowlers using two hands, there hasn't really been an increase in the amount of overall participation.
Junior gold and major youth tournaments like that have great participation, and keep growing but; it is pulling from an ever shrinking field of total overall participation across America.
When YABA was dropped for USBC all inclusive, there were 3 million+ sanctioned YABA bowlers. Using the best case scenario that I have been able to find (because even though USBC is a non-profit and is supposed to publish numbers that are easily accessible) there are at best only 6 million total sanctioned bowlers, including youth, men and women.
I for one would really like to know actual numbers.
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The last number I've heard (several years ago) was 1.5 million sanctioned bowlers, men, women, and youth.
I know locally we have gone from over 25,000 sanctioned bowlers in 1980 to 3000 today.
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The last number I've heard (several years ago) was 1.5 million sanctioned bowlers, men, women, and youth.
I know locally we have gone from over 25,000 sanctioned bowlers in 1980 to 3000 today.
Wow just wow, sad.
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Is it worth sanctioning a league in 2019? My league doesn't bother.
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I would guess your league uses the rule book.
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Is it worth sanctioning a league in 2019? My league doesn't bother.
If the prize fund is more than a trivial amount or if you need a sanctioned league average for tournaments I would. Otherwise not so vital imo.
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Around here, league membership is up modestly. That's still great news considering our population around here is steadily going down.
However, we're still bleeding bowling centers left and right. Leland Lanes in Tuscaloosa, Ala., closed after 50-odd years in business. White Sands in Fort Walton, Fla., is closing. We lost Florida Bowl in Mobile, Ala., a few years back, as well as Woodmere Lanes in Montgomery.
I see more kids and families doing it on the weekends but it's not translating into league membership. I do think you could make some hay by splitting fall leagues into two seasons, with the first half ending in December, and not force everyone to run for 33 weeks. But mostly it's the same participation metrics that are killing other sports. I can't tell you the last time I saw a local softball league anywhere around here. The last golf league I know of was in Tennessee almost 20 years ago.
Jess
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With our Wed. night league starting on 8/21 our league secretary has called all the team captains for a sense of those teams ( 30 teams x 4= 120 players) returning.
He told me approximately 14% of the players are not coming back. Number 1 reason is they no longer wish to commit to a 36 week season.
What is of concern is that this league has never had a problem having 30 teams year to year. This will be the first time the league will fall short as the secretary stated he is having a very difficult time trying to find new players to fill the upcoming losses. Sad!
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The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.
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The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.
one of the centers in my area takes one of their leagues and splits by thirds. each third is a separate league session. If your team bowled the first third, you get priority in bowling the 2nd. if you bowled the 2nd third you get priority on the 3rd third.
They crown a league champion each third, take 2 weeks between sessions. participation increased from a half the lanes to being used for a whole 32/33 weeks to a full house the entire time. with as many as 10 teams staying for the entire 33 weeks.
They have a waiting list for joining this league.
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The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.
one of the centers in my area takes one of their leagues and splits by thirds. each third is a separate league session. If your team bowled the first third, you get priority in bowling the 2nd. if you bowled the 2nd third you get priority on the 3rd third.
They crown a league champion each third, take 2 weeks between sessions. participation increased from a half the lanes to being used for a whole 32/33 weeks to a full house the entire time. with as many as 10 teams staying for the entire 33 weeks.
They have a waiting list for joining this league.
Pay attention and take notice league Secretary’s.
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The older that I get, although the number of weeks that a league bowls seems longer and longer, almost like it will never end. I do think if the leagues would split it up to first and second half with as much as 1 month in between it probably would retain more of the members, maybe even increase. The way the leagues are now you have to commit to almost 2/3 of a year and that is a long time.
Same here. I turned 46 this year. I used to bowl in three leagues, year-round. Now I'm down to one league and can't imagine bowling a second. I have to sit out the summer about 1 out of every 3 years just to avoid burnout. I would switch things up in the summer by bowling a different house but I only have one house within an hour. It's a great house with great people running it but it's in a casino, and they keep the entire building comfortable for the gamblers, not the bowlers. As soon as you have a game in, you start sweating like a pig, especially during the summer. It's stifling. And due to the design of the building, they chose not to use ceiling fans over the pit areas.
I took last summer off, bowled this summer, and I'm thinking about taking next summer off instead of waiting a year.
As for fall leagues, why anyone tries to bowl from about Dec. 14 - Jan. 14 confuses me. That would be a perfect time to break up a league season and reset. We probably don't have half the league in the house during those four weeks due to holiday travel.
Jess