Tip of the Month: Use the Key Pin to Make Spares

A good spare shooter must have a plan before each shot. Check out this month’s tip from USBC Coaching to make spares.

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.

Run a Unique USBC Sport Bowling League

If you enjoy the competitive aspect of bowling, then USBC Sport Bowling is for you. With exciting league formats in which bowlers compete against each other individually as well as in a team format, Sport Bowling offers you a chance to try a new challenge and satisfy your competitive nature regardless of your average.

Check out these creative league formats by visiting the Sport Bowling section of bowl.com.

Nation Rolls USBC Sport Bowling 300 Game

Stefanie Nation's resume already contains a long list of accomplishments.

Nation, 22, is a three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, current Team USA and Junior Team USA member and an All-American senior on the University of Central Florida bowling team. She now can add one more achievement to her growing list: a USBC Sport Bowling perfect game.

Enter the USBC Senior Masters

The best senior bowlers in the world will return to Reno, Nev., when the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters is conducted at the National Bowling Stadium July 10-14. It will mark the first time the event has been held in Reno since 2001, and it is sponsored by the Eldorado Hotel Casino and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.

The USBC Senior Masters features PBA Senior professionals and non-professional USBC members age 50 and older who will compete for a projected $140,000 prize fund. Join them by calling (800) 514-2695, ext. 3415, or download the entry form on bowl.com.

While in Reno, stay at the Eldorado for a reduced hotel rate of $49.99 plus tax for July 9 - 13. This price is good for single or double occupancy; add $10 per person over double occupancy.

And if that’s not enough, the Eldorado is offering a special $5,000 prize fund for their bowling hotel guests who are the highest finishers that don’t cash in the USBC Senior Masters.

Limited rooms are available at the discounted rate. To place your reservation by the cut-off date of June 19, call USBC Housing at (800) 269-5885 and mention the 2006 USBC Senior Masters group block or book online.

Access Your USBC SMART Account on bowl.com

Scholarship providers and recipients can now access their USBC SMART account on bowl.com.

By logging into the secure Web site, providers can view/update their account information, view statements, submit scholarship recipients and assign funds to scholarships. Recipients can view their account balance and activity, view/update their account information and request a disbursement of scholarship funds.

Login to your USBC SMART account.

Contests Set for National Bowling Week

Three national contests are being sponsored by USBC and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America to help launch a spectacular celebration of National Bowling Week, which runs Aug. 26 through Sept. 1.

National Bowling Week will also feature bowling clinics, equipment checks, a youth bowling blast-off and more. Check bowl.com often for updates.

National Bowling Art and National Bowling Photography Contests feature divisions for youth, amateur adults and professional artists. The subject matter of all entries must be bowling-related and will be accepted June 1 through Aug. 1.

The National Bowling Essay Contest encourages writers to share their best bowling moment or describe how bowling has positively impacted their lives. All youth 17 years or younger may enter and there also will be a separate division for adults who are USBC members. Teachers will be encouraged to incorporate the essay contest in their lesson plans this spring. Entries will be accepted May 1 through July 1.

Download Rules and Entry Forms:

• National Bowling Art and National Bowling Photography Contest
• National Bowling Essay Contest

National contest winners will be recognized during National Bowling Week. Adult winners will receive cash prizes; youth winners will receive scholarship awards. Winning art, photos and essays will be featured in USBC and BPAA publications.

Field Set for 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

The field is set for the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships following the completion of Sectional Qualifier competition March 25-26, with Wichita State, Fresno State and Lindenwood winning the men's and women's titles in their respective sectionals.

Four Sectional Qualifiers, comprising of 64 Baker System games, were held at AMF Parkway in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill.; and Don Carter City View Lanes in Fort Worth, Texas. The top four in the men's and women's divisions at each sectional advanced to the 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, scheduled for April 26-29 at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.

Catch NCAA Women’s Bowling on ESPN

The NCAA Women's College Bowling Championship is scheduled to air this Easter Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. CDT. Tune in to ESPN to show your support of college bowling and catch some exciting competition.

Additional airings will be on ESPN U April 16, 17, 18, 20 and May 17. Check your local listings for times.

Thanks to USBC Association Volunteers

National Volunteer Week is April 23 – 29. USBC would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our USBC Association volunteers who work diligently to make bowling the best sport it can be.

Thanks for all of your efforts in the past, present and future; USBC would not be what it is without your hard work and dedication.

Take a Trip Through the World of Professional Bowling

Magnolia Home Entertainment presents "A LEAGUE OF ORDINARY GENTLEMEN" on DVD. The film focuses on Steve Miller (former PBA President and CEO) and four professional bowlers (Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Pete Weber, Chris Barnes and Wayne Webb) at very different places in their careers and their sometimes funny, sometimes sad adventures on tour as professional athletes.

The DVD is available now at most major retailers and on-line merchants. Purchase the DVD Now at www.bowlingmovie.com.

Enter the USBC Queens/Senior Queens

Compete in the $200,000 USBC Queens presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, which will be conducted June 17-21, 2006 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.

The USBC Queens’ $200,000 prize fund is guaranteed, as well as the top prize of $30,000 going to the winner. Just by qualifying for match play you will earn a minimum of $1,200. The top 100 places, including ties, will receive prize money. The finals are scheduled to be televised.

"We are proud to offer a prize fund that will enhance the prestige and tradition of the USBC Queens," said USBC Chief Tournament Officer Roseann Kuhn. "It is our hope that this announcement will encourage more top women athletes to compete for the honor of being a Queens champion."

Are you a female USBC member age 50 or over? Then enter the USBC Senior Queens, sponsored by Storm, taking place at the same time as the USBC Queens at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

Because of the unique qualifying and double-elimination match play format, every woman has a legitimate chance of becoming or contending for the USBC Senior Queen title.

Visit bowl.com or call (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3173 for more information on either tournament.

USBC Convention Taking Place in Orlando, Fla.

About 2,500 people are scheduled to "Experience the Magic" in Orlando, Fla., at the first United States Bowling Congress Convention to be held April 19-22 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Attendees will include state and local bowling association delegates, athletes, bowling center management and general members. All will take advantage of the educational and social opportunities available as the organization conducts the business of bowling.

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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. There are eight events left - sign up now before it’s too late!

Upcoming tournaments include:

• April 29, Chicago – Elk Grove Bowl
• April 30, Milwaukee – AMF Bowlero Lanes
• May 20, Indianapolis – Western Bowl
• May 21, Cincinnati – AMF King Pin Lanes

USBC Women’s Championships Update

The USBC Women’s Championships, presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, are now taking place, with the world’s largest participatory sporting event for women running until July 2in Reno, Nev. Nearly 55,000 women are competing at the National Bowling Stadium for their share of more than $2.5 million in prize money at the tournament. See all the latest updates here, including current standings, prize fund updates and other tournament news.

Missed this year’s tournament or want to bowl next year in The Queen City of Charlotte, N.C.? Visit USBCwomenschampionships.com and download the entry form; they will be taking reservations soon!

USBC Open Championships Update

The USBC Open Championships, sponsored by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, are now in full swing, with less than three months to go! This year’s tournament currently is running in Corpus Christi, Texas, until July 3. The event is the second-largest ever outside of Reno, Nev., and features a prize fund of more than $4.5 million. Check USBCOpen.com for the most up-to-date tournament information, including current standings, prize fund updates and the tournament’s live Web cams.

Missed this year’s tournament or want to sign up for next year? You’re in luck - the 2007 USBC Open Championships are taking reservations. The online reservation service is available now on bowl.com. If you bowled in the 2006 USBC Open Championships and did not meet the March 1 deadline to make a reservation, your date might still be available. Please give the tournament reservation staff a call at (877) 539-7930 and book your trip today.

Win Big at the Bowling Shootout
To All Bowlers: Good News!

The $250,000 Bowling Shootout is open to all USBC members 18 and over. The world’s largest amateur three-stage bowling tournament is taking place in bowling centers across the country. After the qualifying round between the end of April and the middle of May, the top 500 local winners will win a flight to Las Vegas and a two-night/three-day stay to compete for $100,000. The two best amateurs then join pro stars Chris Barnes and Pete Weber to compete for $150,000 and up to $50,000 in other prizes, all taped in front of a live television audience, to air on ESPN.

However, due to an overwhelming reaction by bowling proprietors, we made the following decision:

We will guarantee that one bowler from each center will go to Las Vegas. If your center does not have a Division Winner who qualifies for the Top 500 scorers, and if your center has a minimum of 30 bowlers competing in your local tournament, the Division Winner with the best score will go to Vegas and compete in the $250,000 Bowling Shootout.

If the center you bowl at is not signed up yet to host a local tournament, please call Bowling Shootout at (310) 829-4800.

Sign up online at www.bowlingshootout.com to take part in this exciting event.