The Lane Inspection Procedures Committees recognized that there continued to be a lack of understanding of requirements and inspection procedures, along with lack of maximum credibility of these procedures. The National Bowling Council, which is composed of organizations and individuals from all segments of the bowling world, was requested to develop and implement a comprehensive training program for lane inspectors. As a result, in 1983 the original Certified Lane Inspector Workshop was inaugurated.
To assure that the lanes and equipment meet the standards, annual inspections are performed by representatives of USBC local associations. The system provides the bowlers with the assurance that the lanes and equipment on which they bowl are consistent and meet uniform specifications. The annual certification program provides a valuable service to the bowling proprietor by calling attention to any areas in need of repair or attention, and it also serves as a means to evaluate the workmanship of resurfacing contractors who have performed services for the proprietor.
In 1991, a new lane dressing rule was put into effect which drastically changed the training criteria needed for performing lane dressing inspections and reduced the program from two complete days down to one day. A redesigned program was then developed to concentrate more on certification inspections and included videos instead of slides. In 1995, a recommendation was made to suspend the CLIW program and to have those individuals who had participated in a CLIW pass on what they had learned to new inspectors through smaller, more personalized training sessions. In addition, by using the video program and training manual still offered, individual associations were able to conduct their own training sessions for those interested in becoming trained inspectors.
Over 9,000 individuals received training through the CLIW program up until the time the program was discontinued. Unfortunately, very few of the 9,000 that were trained are still performing inspections.
Proper inspector training is still very much needed today. Technical innovations and changes in maintenance procedures and product development have interjected a greater need for knowledge and experience not only for lane maintenance personnel, but for lane inspectors as well. In addition, proprietors are wanting trained individuals to perform inspections.
The Computerized Lane Inspector Program has been developed to address these needs and to ultimately address the lack of qualified inspectors. The program will provide current inspectors and newly trained ones with proof that they are trained to perform certification and lane dressing inspections. The program will also serve to attract more individuals with the overall benefit of creating a larger pool of inspectors. It will also serve as and provide a constantly updated reference for the existing lane inspectors. The new program will utilize the latest in technology and will continue to be enhanced in the future.
