Participants in the Team USA Trials compete in four nine-game blocks over four days, completing a 36-game total to determine finishing position. The competitors take on a different Team USA lane condition each day for a chance to join Team USA in international competition.

The total marks the most countries to compete in the World Women's Championships since it split with the men's championships after the 2003 event in Malaysia.The event took place in one of the most unique venues in the sport of bowling on the 60 specially constructed lanes inside Cashman Center in Las Vegas. The temporary lanes were built inside the convention center earlier this year and have hosted the USBC Open Championships, which concluded July 24.

Kristie Petravich of West Palm Beach, Fla., defeated Christine Bator of Warren, Mich., 2-0, to take the girls title, while Jake Peters of Decatur, Ill., beat Daniel Spink of St. Louis, Mo., 2-1, to take the boys gold medal.

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Two years later, the U.S. competed in the Olympic Games in South Korea as an exhibition sport.This year’s Team USA brings together arguably the most talented crop of bowlers ever assembled. Walter Ray Williams Jr. will represent the country at the QubicaAMF World Cup and heads a group that includes Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour standouts like Wes Malott, Chris Barnes, Patrick Allen, Bill O’Neill, Tommy Jones and Rhino Page, a group that collectively holds 90 Lumber Liquidator’s PBA Tour titles.

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To qualify for Junior Team USA 2011 spots:

1. Participants must be USBC members (adult or youth).

2. 20 years old or younger before January 1, 2011. Anyone older than 20 before January 1, 2011 will not be eligible to make Junior Team USA, but can qualify for the Adult Team.

Performance, which includes all international competitions, as well as any USBC tournament or certified collegiate bowling tournament within the previous three years;

Physical Game, which includes, but is not limited to, the many physical elements that comprise an athlete’s game, such as approach, arm swing, timing, release versatility (changing rotation and lay-down point) and speed control. It also includes, but is not limited to, the ability to play different angles, shoot spares, change equipment and adjust to different lane conditions;

Mental Game, which includes a variety of subjective factors such as coachability, adaptability, practice regimen, ability to stay focused, attitude, commitment, ability to perform under pressure and sportsmanship; and lastly,

Team Play, which includes, but is not limited to, the intangible, but crucial ability to be a positive factor in building rapport, confidence and winning attitude among the team members and coaches.

The U.S. Team Trials began in 1971 and brought together top American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament finishers and leading collegiate bowlers to determine competitors in FIQ and other international events.

In the 1980s, things took off for the U.S. national bowling program.

The United States Olympic Committee, along with the ABC and the Women’s International Bowling Congress, jointly served as bowling’s governing body since the sport’s acceptance by the USOC in 1986.

The Team USA program – initiated by ABC and WIBC to replace the U.S. Team Trials – was started to fulfill ABC constitutional requirements calling for a national amateur championship. The first national championship was held in 1986. Dan Nadeau of Las Vegas and Cora Fiebig of Madison Heights, Mich., were the first men’s and women’s national amateur champions, respectively. Two years later, the U.S. competed in the Olympic Games in South Korea as an exhibition sport.

In 1989, the United States Tenpin Bowling Federation was founded by the ABC and WIBC and became bowling’s governing body. Four years later, the organization changed its name to what it was known as until 2005 – USA Bowling. Governed by a 12-member board which includes three athletes, USA Bowling was the world-wide representative of the United States in international competition. USA Bowling was recognized as the sport’s governing body in the United States by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the FIQ.

USA Bowling coordinated all amateur international competition promoted by USOC or FIQ, and conducted the National Amateur Championships. In addition, it was the leader in providing instruction and coaching programs to help bowlers advance in ability.

Koenig, Borden guiding forces

During the late 1980s and early 90s, two figures had a profound effect on shaping U.S. bowling for years to come – Jerry Koenig and Fred Borden.

Over the years, Koenig was instrumental in placing bowling in the global spotlight. In 1987, he was the guiding force in achieving medal status in the Pan American Games. In 1988, he was the administrative coordinator for bowling’s participation in the Olympic Games in South Korea. And in 1989, he was the principal advocate in achieving USA Bowling’s recognition by the USOC as the National Governing Body for the sport.

Koenig was appointed as the organization’s executive director at that time, later also becoming its CEO, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2003.

During his tenure, Koenig’s No. 1 priority has been and continues to be supporting and promoting Team USA through ongoing education and superior coaching.

Koenig said the major difference in the U.S. national bowling program from when he began his term as CEO/Executive Director in 1989 and today was that it became an independent system (USA Bowling and Team USA) rather than a process under the administration of ABC and WIBC.

“It created separate entities to build the best possible U.S. team,” Koeing said. “In my opinion that occurred.”

While Koenig was the dedicated leader from an administrative perspective, Borden was the heart and soul of Team USA, guiding the national amateur team to international prominence.

The personable Borden – known to his friends as “Pards” – coached Team USA to numerous gold medals in FIQ Zone and World championships and the Pan American Games before originally retiring in 1996. He returned to the job in 2000 and retired after the 2003 season. Borden led Team USA to great success in 2003, as the squad captured 64 medals in international competition.

Team USA memories

A great honor of Borden’s teaching career came in 1989 when he was named head coach and advisor for Team USA. Among the highlights of Borden’s years as Team USA head coach was the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, when Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the competition as a spectator. Perhaps as an intimidation factor, Castro showed up at the bowling center with his entourage just before the competition. After Pat Healey Jr. rolled an important strike, Borden turned toward Castro and shook his fist in the air. Team USA won gold medals in the men’s and women’s team event and Healey captured the men’s individual event gold medal. “We dominated the Pan Am Games that year,” Borden said. “Fidel Castro had to salute the American flag. That was a time. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your athletes on the medal stand as they’re playing the National Anthem.” One bowler whom Borden coached and who knows something about the medal stand is Diandra Asbaty. The seven-time Team USA member – generally regarded as one of the best female bowlers in the world – won four medals in the 2003 FIQ World Championships in Malaysia. “It was Fred Borden’s last tournament as our coach and everyone felt that they wanted to pay tribute to him by performing the best we could,” Asbaty said. “To me, the biggest tournament in the world is the World Championships and to have such a great showing in a country where bowling is really respected was incredible.”

Coaching program has great influence

As part of USA Bowling and Team USA’s history, Borden and Asbaty know first hand how integral coaching was to the success of Team USA and USA Bowling. Under Borden, a major development for Team USA and USA Bowling was the coaching program. Though Borden will be remembered for leading Team USA to success, his name also is inherently linked with USA Bowling Coaching (now known as USBC Coaching). A visionary and leader in the bowling industry, Borden developed and authored the core curriculum for the USA Bowling Coaching program, the only bowling coaching program recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. USA Bowling Coaching, which Borden founded in 1989, today has blossomed into a complete program that trains and certifies quality coaches who can instruct bowlers of all ages and abilities. The coaching emphasis Borden started greatly improved the pool of competitive bowlers in the United States and continues to have a profound influence on the sport as a general instructional element across all levels of bowling through the USA Bowling Coaching program. “Ninety percent of the credit (for the coaching program) goes to Fred Borden,” Koenig said. “Others supported and helped, but Fred continued as the driving force.” Borden, in turn, credited Koenig for his role in helping develop a top-notch coaching program. “USA Bowling will be indebted to Jerry for his insight and leadership to start the coaching program. During his tenure, his major concern was education and the coaching of our sport,” Borden said.

A bold new era under USBC

Both Borden and Koenig see a United States national bowling program with tremendous opportunities under USBC. With a streamlined, more efficient operation, more resources could be devoted to the continued growth of USBC High School, USBC Collegiate and the USBC Coaching programs, which together can stock and coach a tremendous pool of athletes to keep the U.S. strong in international competition in an atmosphere of increasing competition, Borden said.

“The world is improving,” Borden said. “I think we have a great vehicle (in USBC). With more college and high school coaches I think we have a nice future ahead of us. We have to cultivate high school coaches. I have a lot of faith in Bob (Maki, Director of USBC Coaching). I think he’ll do a lot of good things.” It will just be another chapter in a long history of United States bowling on the international scene.

A. Grievance and Due Process Procedures – Protected Competitions. Board authority is outlined in the USBC Bylaws Article X.

B. Grievances Related to Opportunities to Participate.

1. A grievance may be filed by any athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator and official regarding his/her opportunity to participate in, or attempt to qualify for selection to participate in any protected competition.
2. A grievance must be made in writing over the signatures of the person or persons presenting the same, and must state the full name(s) and address(es) against whom the grievance is made, and must with specificity a complete statement of the acts which constitute such grievance, including the requested relief sought. The individual(s) must be prepared to substantiate the grievance at a hearing if requested.
3. Grievances should be addressed to the USBC CEO as soon as practicable following the events that are the subject of the grievance.
4. Upon receipt of a grievance, the elements of due process outlined in the USBC Bylaws and National Policy Manual will be followed.
5. These grievance procedures are given to athletes, coaches, trainers, manager, administrator, or other official seeking to participate in any national or international bowling competition.

C. Due Process. Due process will be provided any athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator or official filing a grievance regarding his/her opportunity to participate in, or attempt to qualify for selection to participate in a protected competition.

1. Deny Opportunity to Compete. Any athlete who alleges that he/she has been denied an opportunity to compete in any national or international bowling competition shall notify the USBC CEO in writing. Upon notification, procedures will be followed according to this chapter. The rights granted under this section shall equally apply to any coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or other official seeking to participate in any national or international bowling competition.
2. Athlete. For use in this chapter an athlete will be defined as individuals who are participating in a protected competition.
3. Protected Competition. “Protected competition” means any amateur athletic competition between any athlete or athletes officially designated by the appropriate Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member as representing the United States, either individually or as part of a team, and any athlete or athletes representing any foreign country where:
   a. The terms of such competition require that the entrants therein be teams or individuals representing the respective nations; and
   b. The athlete or group of athletes representing the United States are organized and sponsored by the appropriate Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member in accordance with a defined selection or tryout procedure that is open to all and publicly announced in advance, except for domestic amateur athletic competition, which, by its terms, requires that entrants therein be expressly restricted to members of a specific class of amateur athletes such as those referred to in Article VII, Section 4 of the USOC Constitution.
   The term “protected competition” shall also include any domestic amateur athletic competition or event organized and conducted by an Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member in its selection procedure and publicly announced in advance as a competition or event directly qualifying each successful competitor therein as an athlete representing the United States in a protected competition as defined in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section.

D. Due Process – Procedure. When an athlete, coach, trainer, manager or administrator is charged with a violation, which does not require an immediate decision or a decision in less than twenty (20) days, the following elements of due process will be provided:

1. The competition will provide written notice identifying the action taken and inform the individual they have the right to appeal the decision within ten (10) days of the postmarked date. The notice will be served personally to the individual or sent certified mail, return receipt requested. If an appeal is not postmarked within the time limit outlined above, the decision stands.
2. If an appeal is filed a hearing must be conducted within thirty (30) days of the request and the following procedures must be followed:
   a. USBC will provide written notice to the athlete(s) at their last known address of:
   1) The date, time and place of the hearing
   2) Their right to attend
   3) Their right to have counsel and to produce witnesses in their behalf
   b. The notice must be sent not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing, by certified mail (return receipt requested).
3. The hearing will be conducted by a review committee appointed by the USBC CEO, consisting of at least three (3) people with at least 20% athlete representation.
4. A written decision will be sent to all concerned parties, including the complainant, within ten (10) days.

E. Due Process – Expedited Procedure. When an athlete, coach, trainer, manager or administrator is charged with a violation, which requires an immediate decision or a decision in less than twenty (20) days, the following elements of due process will be provided:

1. The competition will provide written notice identifying the action taken and inform the individual they have the right to appeal.
2. If an appeal is filed in writing a hearing must be conducted.
3. USBC will provide written notification to the athlete of the date, time and place of the hearing. Notice may be verbal if time constraints prohibit written notification.
4. A hearing will be conducted by a review committee appointed by the USBC CEO consisting of at least three (3) people, with at least 20% athlete representation. The hearing will be scheduled immediately if necessary, or with as much notice, as may be reasonable given the actual circumstances.
5. An immediate decision will be rendered, if necessary, or within time constraints required by the actual circumstances. At a minimum, the decision will be explained verbally to all concerned parties. A written decision will be sent to all concerned parties within ten (10) days.

F. Appeal. Written notice of the appeal procedures will be included with the written decision. Appeals must be filed within ten (10) days of the written-decision date. Appeals will be heard and decided by a USBC Appeals Committee, which has at least 20% athlete representation within thirty (30) days. An athlete has further appeal rights as outlined in the USOC Constitution.

G. Published Procedures. Due process procedures are published for athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and officials in the following way:

1. Posted on official Web site, bowl.com
2. Distributed in advance to the athletes at the national championships
3. Included in the Code of Conduct

Your 2009 Media Guide brings you up to date on the careers of all the great players that will be competing internationally with Team USA this year including Junior Team USA standouts such as Andrew Koff, Kristie Petravich, Geoffrey Young and Brittni Hamilton.

Also featured in your media guide is a wealth of historical information on past results and rosters, information on major events such as the QubicaAMF World Cup and the PABCON Adult Championships, and much more. Click here to download your copy now.