2008 USBC Team USA Trials Sunset Station Las Vegas, Nev. Jan. 13-18, 2008

Rules

1. This event is certified by USBC.

2. Bowlers will receive 10 minutes of practice prior to the beginning of each block.

3. A bowler arriving late will begin play and his/her score will be counted only from the frame then being bowled. A player not present and ready to bowl when it is his/her turn will not be credited for any pins for the frames missed.

4. Only two reracks per game will be allowed without the Tournament Director’s permission.

5. No substitutes will be permitted; however, pacers may be scheduled at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director.

6. All bowlers must wear suitable attire. Each athlete must wear a collared shirt during competition. Mock necks shirts will be permitted. NO JEANS OF ANY COLOR WILL BE ALLOWED AT ANY TIME INCLUDING PRACTICE. Dress slacks for men and skirts, skorts, dress shorts or dress slacks for women are acceptable. Skirts, skorts and shorts must be fingertip length when standing with arms down at sides. Any noncompliance to the dress code may result in a zero for the bowler until the issue is resolved.

7. Each bowler is responsible for verification of his/her own scores. Any scoring corrections must be made prior to signing the recap forms. Questionable errors will be resolved by tournament management or, upon appeal, by the Tournament Director. Protests involving eligibility or general playing rules must be confirmed in writing to the Tournament Director before the commencement of the next round.

8. Players preparing to step on the approach and deliver a ball shall have the following rights and obligations:

A. Lane Courtesy. The pair of lanes to a players right and left must be empty before a player takes their position on the approach for their delivery. Alternating pairs of lanes across the house should have one player on the approach a preparing to make their delivery. A player on each of the other lanes should be at the ball return preparing for their turn as soon as those on the approach make their delivery.

B. Competitors may not “Double Jump.” Double jumping occurs following a delivery when a competitor on the same pair delivers his or her ball before one (1)  competitor from the pair to the right and one (1) competitor from the pair to the left have made a delivery, unless those competitors are not ready to bowl or they give way.

C. Players shall be ready to bowl when it is their turn and shall not delay the start of their approach or delivery if the pair of lanes immediately adjacent to them on both the right and left are clear.
If a player does not observe the procedure outlined above, it may be construed as slow bowling. A player failing to observe these procedures shall be warned by an authorized tournament official as follows:

A. A white card for the first offense (no penalty).
B. A blue card for the second offense (no penalty).
C. A red card for the third and each succeeding offense in any block of games. The penalty shall be zero pinfall for the frame.
To enforce this rule, the Tournament Director will monitor the participants to ensure that no pair(s) of lanes gets too far behind the group. Whenever there is any question concerning the enforcement of this rule, or lack thereof, the final decision shall be made by the Tournament Management Committee.

9. Bowling balls must meet all USBC requirements for surface hardness, weight, balance and size/number of holes. Bowling ball regulations for professional organizations DO NOT apply.
Any bowler concerned with his/her equipment should have it checked in the pro shop before competition begins.

10. Athletes must not smoke, consume alcohol or be under the influence of alcohol while in competition, i.e. during the entire period of a block of games. In those instances where it is established that a player is in breach of this rule, he/she may be suspended from the tournament by the Tournament Director for that block of games. Non-alcoholic beverages are allowed, provided they are not consumed in the players’ area. Any food or drink needs to be behind the settee area during competition.

11. Questions not covered by these document rules will be decided by the Tournament Director.

Format

1. There are separate divisions for men and women. All bowling is on a scratch basis.

2. Competition will consist of 36 qualifying games in four nine-game blocks, each block being contested on a different lane-conditioning pattern.

USBC Team USA Qualifying

USBC Team USA 2008 will consist of a minimum 12 men and 12 women:

• Four men (David Haynes, Bill Hoffman, David O'Sullivan and Rhino Page) and four women (Lynda Barnes, Shannon O'Keefe, Tennelle Milligan and Shannon Pluhowsky) will be second-year members based upon performance at the 2007 USBC Team USA Trials.
• An undetermined number of men will be selected by the USBC/PBA Committee from the 2007-08 exempt field of the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour.
• An undetermined number of women will be selected by the USBC Committee from a pool of players who have either been on Team USA within the past 10 years (since 1998) or are former Professional Women's Bowling Association/Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour members.
• The top two men and two women finishers in the 2008 USBC Team USA Trials will earn automatic spots on Team USA 2008, while two additional men and two additional women will be selected from the field by the National Selection Committee.
  

Prize Payout

1. Daily squad leaders will receive $500 each (one man and one woman); daily runners-up will receive $250. National amateur champions will receive $1,000; other qualifying members of USBC Team USA 2008 receive $500.

Eligibility

1. All participants must be USBC members in good standing.

2008 Tournament Seeds

1. The 2008 seeds are limited to USBC Team USA 2007 members.