Tip of the Month: Tournament Prep Checklist

Tournament reservations have been made, entry fees have been paid and you are ready for the competition to begin. Well, not quite yet!

Check out this month’s tip from USBC Coaching to make sure you are prepared for the excitement of tournament season.

To locate a USBC certified coach in your area, visit the USBC Coaching section of bowl.com and click on the "Find A Coach" feature or call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3169.

USBC Sponsors Inaugural Super Bowl NFL Charities Bowling Classic

Super Bowl XL week in Detroit featured the first NFL Charities Super Bowl Bowling Classic. The Classic, sponsored by USBC, included both a youth bowling clinic on Friday and a celebrity bowling event on Saturday, and featured current and former NFL pros and bowling superstars.

Each year, NFL Charities sponsors a charity event to raise funds for a Super Bowl legacy to be left in the host city. Proceeds from this year's bowling event will go toward the establishment of the Youth Education Town, a center for at-risk youth, to be built in Detroit to commemorate Super Bowl XL.

While NFL Charities has traditionally held a golf outing the weekend of the Super Bowl, it has already has announced plans for another bowling outing before next year's Super Bowl in Miami, based on the success of this year's event.

USBC Sport Bowling Coupon Book

Looking for that extra edge to get you past the competition in USBC tournament or league play? Take your game to the next level by using the Sport Bowling members-only coupon book and taking advantage of great bowling merchandise from our valued industry partners.

Spots Still Available for USBC Convention

Join the United States Bowling Congress for the inaugural USBC Convention, taking place April 19-22, 2006, in the exciting vacation destination of Orlando, Fla.! CBS-TV sportscaster Greg Gumbel will give the keynote speech April 21 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Register now for this exciting members-only opportunity that features workshops, seminars and other exciting activities.

Coaching Clinics at USBC Convention

Nationally-known USBC certified coaches Pat Costello (Gold), Kendra Gaines (Silver) and Director of USBC Coaching Bob Maki (Silver) will offer instructional clinics during the inaugural USBC Convention in Orlando, Fla.

Topics to be covered during the clinics include: keys to developing a strong physical game, repeatable execution, lane play, equipment, mental game and much more. Sign up now to learn from the top USBC certified coaches.

USBC and BPAA Team Up to Offer Bowling Camps for Kids

The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and USBC are working together to help bowling centers recruit youth bowlers through local Parks and Recreation agencies. The bowling camp program provides children with a safe, fun environment where they will learn a lifetime sport that stresses the values of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Two instructional programs will be offered through local Parks and Recreation agencies and bowling centers: “Bowling is a Ball” and “Bowling Rocks.” “Bowling is a Ball” is a great program for introducing new youth bowlers to the bowling facility and to the fun experience of the sport. There are no formal sessions with video or handouts; the course primarily features simple tips to get youth excited about the sport. “Bowling Rocks” is the premier program offering a professional instruction program using video and handouts created by USBC Coaching. It is the ideal way to prepare youth for advancing into youth leagues and more advanced instruction while showing them the fun sport of bowling.

Look for more information soon on the Proprietor Relations pages of bowl.com or contact your local bowling center.

Enter the USBC/Storm Mixed Team Challenge

The 2006 USBC/Storm Mixed Team Challenge series features 14 events across the country from January through May and offers four-player handicap team competition for bowlers of all abilities.

All USBC adult members are eligible to compete except Denny's PBA Tour exempt players. Each event features its own prize fund (estimated at $8,400 based on 40 entries) and bowlers also can enter brackets and other side events.

Upcoming tournaments include:

• Feb. 18, San Marcos, Calif. – AMF Eagle Lanes
• Feb. 19, Fountain Valley, Calif. – Fountain Bowl
• March 11, Portland, Ore. – AMF Cascade Lanes
• March 12, Tacoma, Wash. – Pacific Lanes
• March 25, White Plains, N.Y. – White Plains Bowl
• March 26, Windsor Locks, Conn. – Bradley Bowl

Register now for this unique tournament experience with an exciting format!

Purposes of Lane Conditioners - Part I

There are two main purposes of the lane conditioner that is applied to the lane surface. First, it is used to protect the lane surface from damage. Second, it affects the difficulty level of the sport.

The “field” in the sport of bowling remains fairly constant. It’s a game played indoors. The lane is the same size from building to building, city to city, state to state and even internationally. However, the lane dressing (or lane oil pattern) is invisible. As your skill increases, you will need to understand what is happening on the lane with this changing variable.

As your skills progress, it is important to understand why and how conditioner - or oil - is applied to the lanes, how conditions change because of use and other factors and how that, in turn, affects the reaction of the ball on the lane.

Protects the surface

You probably have noticed that the surface of the bowling lane has a shine. At times, your bowling ball may come back with an oily ring around it. This is because lane oil is regularly applied to a lane. The dressing helps protect the lane surface by reducing the friction from the bowling balls. It allows the ball to initially skid on the lane surface before hooking or curving into the pins.

The slick oil has the same effect on bowling balls as ice has on car tires. The ball grips the drier area of the lane surface that has less oil - like a car tire grips a dry road – allowing the ball to curve toward the strike pocket. Conversely, the ball will skid on the slicker area of the lane that has more oil - like a car tire skids on an icy road – allowing the ball to slide straight down the lane.

Therefore, the drier areas of the lane with less oil create more friction between your ball and the wood or synthetic lane surface. The high friction that creates more potential for your ball to hook also allows your ball to dig into and damage the lanes. From this perspective, the dressing will protect the lanes because it reduces the friction between the ball and lane, and reduces potential damage to the lane surface.

In our next discussion, we will discuss how lane conditioner affects the level of difficulty in bowling.

Why Visit Your Local Pro Shop?

If you haven’t seen it already, pick up the latest issue of US Bowler that was sent to all USBC members' homes early this February. In it, US Bowler Executive Editor Tom Clark discusses the personal touch of pro shops in his “Off the Sheet” column at the back of the magazine.

Clark touches on the fact that pro shops are the “beating hearts” of our sport. Sure, purchasing bowling equipment online is a great option, but nowhere else can you get personal attention and service like at your local pro shop. He goes on to comment that the Internet has become a way of life, but pro shops always will be one of bowling’s crucial components.

Read the article to find more personal pro shop stories from some of the top people in the bowling industry, and visit your local pro shop today to find out what all the buzz is about.

Enter a Local City or State Tournament

You already know USBC offers more than 10 different adult and senior tournaments to fit every skill level. But did you know USBC league bowlers are eligible to compete in numerous tournaments that are right in your own backyards?

Talk to your local league secretary to get more information and sign up to bowl in an exciting local tournament!  

Ally, Scratch and Coach D give USBC Youth a new look for 2006-07

There will be some new characters joining the USBC Youth team next season and they will be featured in some of the 2006-07 season materials, including future editions of US Youth Bowler. Make sure to tell any youth members you know about these exciting additions to the USBC Youth program.

	Ally is a 16-year-old who loves bowling, listening to music on her mp3 player and talking with her friends. She's a bit cynical about life but tries to be positive. Bowling is great for her because it takes her away from the pressures of her big social life, allowing her to focus on her own self-improvement.
	Scratch is a 12-year-old who is a bit of a nerd and proud of it. Bowling is his life. He has lots of confidence in himself, even though at times he can feel a little awkward. He's a good bowler and wants to learn.
	Coach D (short for "Dutch") is a young man who loves bowling, teaching and kids. He's tough but caring. Stern but sometimes funny, he commands the respect of his USBC Youth members. He has a passion for the game and wants to share his knowledge and experience with his students.

Watch for the adventures of Ally, Scratch and Coach D next season!

Have Fun with bowl.com’s New Features

bowl.com Extras is a new, ever-expanding section to go to for fun features, online slideshows and more. Don't miss these new special sections:

• Super Bowl XL Bowling Classic coverage including photos of former and current NFL standouts bowling with today's top bowling stars.
• Downloadable desktop wallpaper featuring bowling superstars Chris Barnes and Diandra Asbaty in New York's Times Square.
• Car Stars: photos of bowling-related license plates.
• USBC anniversary special presentation featuring photos, timelines, interviews and fun facts.