Bowling can be a family affair
?So, if you ever wondered if bowling was going to reach the heights of participation that it enjoyed in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, then here’s some real insight for you.
I have always said that if one in every five league players would just introduce one single friend or family member to the sport, we’d be in great shape. But, then, if you toss in the kids-mine, yours, and the neighbors.
Do the birthday parties and get them excited enough to roll in a league, then we are way ahead of those glory days.
And, it seems the USBC is doing everything it can to entice even the slightest interest from the youth. That organization obviously feels the young ones are the future. A recent article supports that thought:
USBC ROLL ‘N GROW: Children age 7 and under now have a United States Bowling Congress membership designed specifically for them. The new USBC Roll ‘N Grow membership provides benefits for young bowlers in regular or bumper leagues of any duration at an affordable price.
“With special awards and much more, Roll ‘N Grow memberships make bowling fun for young kids who are new to the sport,” International Bowling Campus Director of Youth Development Chad Murphy said.”It’s a perfect fit for short duration leagues or bumper leagues. We encourage youth leagues that may not have certified their youngest bowlers in the past to take a look at what Roll ‘N Grow has to offer.”
The new Roll ‘N Grow membership is $8 and has no restriction on league duration. The benefits include:
n USBC Youth Membership card.
n League award emblems.
n USBC Special Achievement Awards.
n A DVD of the cartoon series Bowlopolis.
n An issue of Bowlopolis The Mag magazine.
n Bowlopolis progress card with award stickers.
n Bowlopolis Kids Club.
n USBC certified average (minimum of 12 games for non-bumper competition).
“We know that children 7 and under love the game and often associate bowling with birthday parties,” Murphy said. “Roll ‘N Grow membership provides the tools to give kids’ leagues a party feel while teaching them about the sport so they will become lifelong bowlers.”
Bowling centers and associations may start offering Roll ‘N Grow memberships for leagues on August 1, 2011. In June, centers will receive a youth marketing package with additional information about all USBC Youth membership products including Roll ‘N Grow. The package also includes a sample of the newly redesigned USBC Youth jersey which is included as part of USBC Youth Standard membership.
USBC will continue to offer Youth Basic membership for $5 ($1 local processing) and Youth Standard for $17 ($2 local processing, 50 cents state fee). The Roll ‘N Grow membership includes a $1 local processing fee.
FOR THE REST OF US: The Youth and young membership is obviously important, but so is the integrity of the game. Proper equipment, fair and consistent lane conditions, and certification of the sport weighs heavily on the USBC. So much so, that it has named Herman Glenn to the position of Director of Equipment Specifications for the sport’s national governing body.
Glenn will oversee the USBC team which primarily performs advanced testing and research on bowling balls, lanes, pins and lane dressing to ensure that all equipment meets guidelines set by the organization before it is used in USBC competition.
“Herman is well respected in the bowling community and is a perfect fit for this position,” said Neil Stremmel, USBC Managing Director of National Governing Body. “He has the attitude and drive to push this department in the direction it needs to go in the future.”
Glenn, who started his new position on May 25, brings seven years of experience as the Research and Development Manager for Kegel in Lake Wales, Fla. Previous to that he worked in the automotive industry for a variety of companies with positions ranging from vice president of engineering to a controls engineer.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to working with the team,” said Glenn, who is a past president and hall of famer in the Bowling Green (Ohio) USBC Bowling Association. “I’ve met everyone and it’s a very, very knowledgeable team. It’s going to be a lot of fun working in depth on the various issues and doing research.”
Glenn, a USBC Bronze coach who has been bowling since he was 13, studied electrical engineering at the University of Toledo.
This is a pretty classy, highly educated, well experienced fellow to be in charge of something that we have all taken for granted. His appointment speaks well for the USBC.
BOWLING NEWS: Uniontown resident Gary George writes a weekly bowling column for the Herald-Standard. If you have any bowling news, contact George, a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1997, via email at probowler48@aol.com or fax at 724-438-7290. Information is welcome from all area bowling establishments.