Rules & Regulations
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Celebrating 30 Years of Community Sports Service

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

 The Portland Community Bowling League is a private organization, providing fellowship, unity and communication and dedicated to creating an environment of pride and a sense of belonging. The membership is comprised of those individuals who bowl continuously throughout the season, and shall be non-partial in regards to sex, creed, race, age or sexual orientation.  Attendance and participation means acceptance of the rules and regulations and any exceptions deemed necessary by League Administration.

  • The PCBL operates as a nonprofit organization but occasionally contracts for goods or services with league members and/or outside vendors.   As with all leagues, some administration positions are paid a nominal fee for their services as outlined in the rules below.

  • All scoring and financial records are kept for a minimum of 120 days as stipulated by USBC standards.  If you have any questions regarding results or payouts, please address them to League Administration within that 120 day time frame.

A)  GENERAL INFORMATION

1.  Sunday League Rules & Regulation have developed over several seasons as working rules meeting our community standards for play.  Rolling of a participant's first ball indicates acknowledgement and acceptance of Sunday League's Rules & regulations.

2.  Sunday League rules & regulations are considered continuous from season to season.  Unless requested by 67% of the membership before the end of the Spring season, there is no annual review of rules.  Rules may be considered for consideration of revision for the following  season by special request vote of the membership.  Any request to alter or change a rule must be approved by a two thirds majority of all Sunday League active membership present on the day of voting..

3.  The league is an active member of the International Bowling Organization (IGBO) since 1983. 

4.  The Sunday League is not a sanctioned USBC league, and in actuality is a 30 year community service begun by the League Founder and current League Secretary/Advisor for the benefit and pleasure of agreeable participants.  (Agreeable participants are defined as those individuals who understand that this League is not governed by USBC rules and is an independently begun and self-sustaining community event for fun and entertainment.)  The Sunday League follows USBC guide-lines for actual "play" (refer to Sunday League General play rules for specifics), and its averages are published nationally in the IGBO yearbook, effectively making your average acceptable in most IGBO affiliated tournament.

5.  ADMINISTRATION:   
a
. The Sunday League and its leagues are governed by an Operating Board, most with 10 years of experience with our community bowling leagues.  There are no annual elections of officers (see rules 5c & 5d).  Leadership is reviewed every two years and can also be requested by 67% of the League.
b. The Sunday League will oversee and organize all bowling events.  The Sunday League Operating Board manages the league funds (which includes collection, banking and accounting) and will ensure funds are used for league bowling to assure compliance with award presentation agreements, and securing continuance of the activity.  For league fund protection, the Sunday League Secretary and League Administrator or his appointee, are the only signers on the League Bank Account.
 c. The Operating Board may appoint as "Acting Administrator" any individual who by experience and maturity can comfortably lead and manage  any of the leagues under the administration of the Sunday League.  (Upon   the approval of the general membership.)  An "Acting Administrator" oversees the league operations in the stead of the appointed Administrator, and reports to the Operating Board. 
d. The Operating Board may appoint any qualified volunteer to assist them with the execution of any and all duties for the sessions of bowling.
e. The Operating Board may appoint an onsite League Treasurer to accept league envelopes  and maintain the payment record of league bowlers.  The onsite League Treasurer will also prepare the funds for deposit.  The onsite League Treasurer is paid at the rate of ten cents (10 cents) per bowler per session.
f. Additionally, the Operating Board may appoint a League Secretary to complete scoring and other league records.  In combination with completing a newsletter and photocopies of weekly standings, the League Secretary is paid at the rate of fifty cents (50 cents) per bowler per session.

6.  The Rosebowl Classic is an annual invitational tourney open to international competition for cash and awards. The event will use scratch scores and handicaps. This event is self sustaining and Sunday League funds are not crossed over for eventual use as prize funds.  The Rosebowl Classic is operated by a separate Board of Trustees.

B) SEASON & TEAM FORMATION

1. Each Sunday League Bowling season is split into halves, Fall & Winter.   Each half-season will consist of   14-16 league dates.

2. Any bar, organization, business or group of individuals may enter a team.

3. The Sunday League Board oversees the Sunday 3:30 PM league. Weekly dues are $10.00 per session.  Membership is limited by the number of available lanes and participation will be limited to the first pre-registered teams meeting the following requirements: 1.) Names,  phone numbers and addresses of the 4 team members; 2.) a permanent team name; 3.) Designated Captain; 4.) registration fee of $23.00 per person which prepays the first and last session plus a $3.00 membership fee (total of $92.00 per team). 
 This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Any bowler
beginning the season, and later drops, loses his/her final session $10.00 whether paid by that person or by the team. That $10.00 covers computer set up and team scoring re-adjustment costs.

4. Team Captain's responsibilities:
    a. An accurate totaling of individual and team scores
    b.
Arranging for alternate bowlers in cases of absentees.
    c. Collecting weekly fees of $40 and paying to On-site Treasurer.
    d. Insuring that all team members read and understand the Sunday League & Regulations.

5.    Alternates/Substitutes may be used whenever a team member cannot be present, or in the event that a team member should drop out.  (Alternates/Substitutes pay for their own fees for events.   If a Sub or Alternate joins a team after the league beginning to  replace a dropped member, they must pay in advance, their final league date dues and a $3.00 membership fee.

6. For purposes of definition: An Alternate is an individual who bowls only with the designated team and must pay the $3.00 membership fee.  A Substitute is a bowler who is willing to fill in on any given team for various sessions.
 

C.) GENERAL PLAYING RULES

1.  The Sunday League endeavors to follow many guidelines of USBC for  general play.  Specifically, ABC Chapter II regarding Game Definition, scoring, fouls, pinfall, forfeiture and bowling balls (Rules 2, 3a-h, 4a-d, 5a-f, 6a-b, 7a-c, 8,9,10,11,12,17a, 18 & 19).  Additionally, Chapter IV League Rules regarding actual bowling, order, failures, forfeitures, dismissals, scoring and averages (Rules 105a-b, 106a-g, 107a-b,d, 108a-b, 109a-f, 110, 111b-e, 112,113, 114a-c, 116a-b, 118a-c).  All of Chapter V regarding equipment and Chapter X  regarding handicap procedure.

2. BOWLING ATTENDANCE,
a.
A legal lineup for a team is four (4) members, plus a limit of two (2) regular alternates.  (An alternate is defined as an individual who bowls only with your team as a regular fill-in for a missing     bowler.)  If a team member is absent, and no alternate is available, the absent bowler's average, minus ten (10) pins (plus full handicap) is used to calculate the team score, but only a.) after a current year average has been established and b.) only four times throughout the season half.
 
b.
All league sessions must be bowled as scheduled unless authorized to "pre-bowl" by League Administration.  All teams must bowl the final session of each half of a season - there are no pre-bowls for that session.  There are no makeups after a scheduled date.  If a whole team miss occurs on  any given date without extreme cause, they forfeit that session's games and any points and must pay their regular dues plus a $2.00 late fine per bowler.
c.
A team must pre-bowl together at an agreed upon scheduled time.   There is NO individual makeup bowling: The team bowls as a whole  unit or uses a designated sub. We understand that last minute emergencies can cause a team to bowl a sudden makeup.  However, it is common league courtesy to notify the team that your team was to bowl and allow them the opportunity to bowl against you  during a makeup session.  The opposing team must be able to fit  into the schedule of the team making the request.
d.
If an alternate is used, their score is used in place of the regular bowler. (This rule also applies to Substitutes.)  If the alternate has a verifiable established average with another league, that average will be used.  If the alternate/substitute has no previous average from any other league, the alternate's handicap will be calculated after 3 games have been bowled.  Until the alternate has 2 sessions (6 games) with the Sunday League and a set handicap, an adjustment of 10 points off the manually calculated handicap will be assessed.  Handicaps for substitutes/alternates will not be retroactive to previous
sessions.
e.
If there are not at least 2 regular members present, the game is forfeited; no makeup allowed.
f. If a team has a vacant spot at anytime during the season, it is the responsibility of the team to locate amongst their own friends or the community to fill the vacancy.  The team is allowed a score of 120, plus 80 pins of handicap for the first three sessions of vacancy.  After those three sessions, whether or not the position has had an occasional substitute, the vacancy score drops to 110, with 80 pins of handicap.  In another three sessions, the score drops to 100, with 80 pins of handicap.   The drop of 10 pins re-occurs after every three weeks.  This rules was voted upon by the membership in 2000 in hopes that it would encourage teams to replace their vacancies.  (It didn't seem quite fair that full paying teams have to deal with a full 600 series provided indefinitely.) 
g During the first 3 Week of a New Season, while averages and handicaps are being set for the season, if a team should be missing a  player, a blind score of 120 plus a handicap of 80 will be used per game, to calculate the team score. Teams cannot use a missing bowler's average minus ten from a previous season.
h.
During the opening 3 weeks, when teams are still joining, and shuffling players, post makeups and individual makeups are allowed to bring teams and individuals up to speed with the rest of the league.
i. PRE-BOWLS:  The Sunday League tries to be flexible and allow for various commitments of our team members outside agendas.  However, we do need to draw a line as to how many sessions any team can pre-bowl.  That limit is set at 4 per half.  That is 29% of the fall, and 25% of the spring sessions.  Any sessions beyond 4 are considered forfeits.
j.
All teams MUST BOWL in the final session of the season.  During the final session of the season, regular team members or a regular team alternate must be used.  No outside substitutes can be used.

3a. INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES: A bowling average is determined by dividing the total number of pins credited to a bowler, by the number of games bowled in the season.  Individual handicap will be 90% of 220.  Handicaps are set after three sessions of bowling with the Sunday League. (Bowlers entering the league at mid-season will have their handicap calculated after 6 games.)
b. For the first 3 session, handicaps for returning bowlers will be their final highest average from the prior year.  New bowler's handicaps will be calculated after the first 3 sessions have been bowled and retroactively placed in the first 3 session score tabulations. Thereafter, the handicap will be calculated from the cumulative bowling scores.
c. Because the Sunday League bowls in two halves the rules have been amended to reflect those bowlers returning in January for the Winter-Spring league.  In the beginning of the second half in January, returning bowlers will "continue on" with their averages from the first half.  Bowlers returning from the previous Spring season, will use their old handicap for the first three sessions until they have established a new average/handicap.  Brand new bowlers, who have never bowled in either the immediately previous Fall, or prior Spring, will still require 3 sessions to establish an average.
d. All averages are reported to IGBO for publication in their national book.  Most IGBO affiliated tournaments will use your un-sanctioned Sunday League average should it be higher than a USBC sanctioned average.  For purposes of season handicaps reported, averages will a composite score of both season halves.
e. Four misses and a team member is out of competition for individual awards, even if the team should win.

4. PUNCTUALITY: Bowlers coming into a regular league session after the 3rd frame will begin in the frame currently underway, and will lose the opportunity to regain those lost pins in opening frames.  Any team creating a stall tactic to wait for a missing or late bowler will be penalized with the loss of points for that particular game.

5. BLIND SCORES:  When a team is missing a third or fourth bowler, and it is an unpaid position, the league will provide a blind score of 120 pins plus 80 pins of handicap for the missing bowler.    It is expected that the team will find their own teammate from among their friends.  However, after 3 sessions that blind score drops to 110 with the handicap remaining at 80; and after 3 more session drops to 100 with the handicap remaining at 80; and continues at that level until the team places a bowler into that position.

6a. WEEKLY FEES: The TEAM CAPTAIN will be responsible to collect weekly fees of $40.00 each session and bring those funds to the LEAGUE SECRETARY. FEES PER TEAM PER SESSION ARE $40.00, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TEAM MEMBERS PRESENT.  Either an alternate pays fees or the missing team member pays for the missed date.  NO RAINCHECKS!  NO EXCEPTIONS!  A TEAM MAY BE REFUSED PLAY, WITHOUT FULL LEAGUE FEES.  (We must fulfill league guarantees to the Bowling House or lose our contract.)

b. A $2.00 FEE WILL BE ASSESSED PER BOWLER PER WEEK FOR MISSING OR LATE FEES!

c. As stated earlier, new members coming into the league after the first session must pay their final week's dues in addition to the current week in which they are bowling.  The same holds true for any sub or alternate bowling in the final session.  Even though the team has paid its first and last week's dues, the setting up and computer handling of subs and alternates creates extra computer time.

d. Individual or team scores may be withheld from weekly tallies until missed fees are paid.  Members who are two sessions delinquent in fees for missed dates will be suspended from league activity. Members who are not current on league fees will be excluded from receiving trophies or awards.

e. BOUNCED CHECKS will require full reimbursement by the next league date or the bowler may be barred from participation.  There will be a $15.00 handling charge per bounced check.  If a bowler bounces two checks, the league will no longer accept checks from that individual.

7a. DISMISSAL - Team or Player. A player or team may be dismissed from the league for any of the following reasons:
    1. Conduct derogatory to the best interest of the league.
    2. Continued violation (Two or more violations) of any Sunday league rule(s).
    3. Team with two weeks past due in league fees, or an individual with three or more weeks past
       due in league fees
 b. Inflammatory Conduct on the part of any bowler during bowling activity, disruptive to team play is considered grounds for requesting that the bowler leave the premises.  If the bowler refuses to obey the request of league administration, they can face permanent dismissal. Should a request to leave be issued, the bowler's score is "fixed" where play ended for purposes of determining the team score.
c. Any bowler who appears under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, and is acting obnoxious enough to disturb fellow bowlers, will be asked to leave the premises.
d Any bowler who withdraws from the league of their own accord,  or is dismissed by Sunday League action, forfeits all previously paid league dues, and any other prize money for which they may have been eligible.
e.
For dismissal procedures, the Sunday League Operating Board will use USBC rules 115a/b "as a guideline," except for any that directly refer to USBC involvement.  Where appropriate, the general membership may be asked to participate with their opinion to the Board.

8a. RANDOM DIVISIONS: Whenever possible the Sunday league will be divided into divisions, decided by random draw of Team Captains. Dividing Sunday teams does not mean that you will be bowling only teams in your Division.  The Sunday League uses a pre-set schedule pre-determined by ABC.  Using our Divisions is only a means to allow for more random winners of awards.  The dividing level will be 14  teams - 2 divisions; 21 teams - 3 divisions; 28+ teams - 4 divisions.
b. Team awards will be given at season end to the top three teams in each division.
c. All cash disbursements will be based on the overall standings of the entire league, not the divisional races.

9. Any rules regarding scoring and bowling activities shall be referred to the Sunday League Administration for determination of ruling.     (USBC rulings may be used where appropriate.)

10. Bowling is for everyone's enjoyment.  Let's keep it enjoyable by acting appropriately.  Non-bowling announcements are at the discretion of the administration and shall be kept to a minimum.

11. Our Association is inclusive and not restrictive.  We favor the participation of any "straight but     not narrow" individuals who wish to bowl with us including family members, and friends.


OPTIONAL LEAGUE ENTERTAINMENTS:

Dependent on the size of our league, when it is appropriate, we may feature the following options:

WEEKLY LEAGUE RAFFLE
:
Each session, league officials sell raffle tickets at 2 for $1.00; 5 for $2.00; 12 for $5.00, or 25 for $10.00.  During the 3rd game one ticket will be drawn to win portions of the jackpot or a prize of the day (whichever has been announced).  The remaining funds are placed into a General Holding Account to be returned to the bowlers in cash and prizes, pay USBC fees for participating in the Rose Bowl Classic founded from this original founding League, or used to support the Rose Bowl Classic. 

  The remainder of the proceeds in this account will be held in reserve for advertising and promotion of our league, the purchase of league pins, 200 Game pins, plaques and or disbursed in cash drawings to regular Sunday League members at the year end awards party.. 

Get more FUN for less money in the
Portland Community Bowling League
Still have Questions?  Contact us through any of the methods below!

Our email addresses:

PDXbowl@Yahoo.com (Mike)

PDXbowl@comcast.net (Tom)

Mailing Address:
Portland Community Bowling League
P.O. Box 42034
Portland, OR 97242
Phone number (503) 693-6261

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