Unescorted Minors - I expect the desk to take the lead.....but..........

[GeoLes]

Practice session tonight at National Lanes. There were three kiddie parties going at one time. I asked for 2 lanes, but only one was available. I am into my second step of my approach and I see two kids sprinting accross the approach at me. I stop, look at the kids, shake my head and say "no". They freeze in their tracks, turn and run the other way.

Three other kids start spinning and dancing on the approach of the vacant lanes with parents watching on.

As I check out 4 kids dash accross the floor above the bowling floor looking for balls. They find them and run back accross the same floor carrying their prizes.

As I check out, I mention the "unescorted minors" and specifically mention the kids running with bowling balls. I get a helpless look and shoulder shrug. " I can see one of these kids tripping on the ball face first", I say to the desk person. "A warning to the parent is easier than filling out an incidet report"

I understand the lanes need to make overhead, but there should be some safety standard enforement.

Rant over

[swingset]

Pepper spray, it's not just for stray dogs and muggers.

[ghoul31]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

[panbanger]

It's not so much that they hate children, it's that they didn't go to the alley to become somebody's part-time parent. It takes a village to raise a child? No, actually it doesn't. It takes two ideally, but one is sufficient.

When I was a minor my Dad took me bowling and I learned real quick the right way to behave. It wasn't a free-for-all while grown ups were hurling 16 pound weights through the air.

[75lockwood]

Honestly parents really should control their kids, the other day i was practicing only to watch a kid start throwing ball after ball down the lane only to have most pushed back towards the approach by the pinsetter arm. where were the parents? sitting there laughing at the kids attempting to damage the lane......

The manager (a friend of mine) had a few kind words for the parents lol

[Greenday]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

Wanting parents to control their kids really isn't asking for a lot.

[ArtVandelay]

I dont think its intentional irresponsible parenting. Id be willing to guess most parents view bowling as a game, not a sport. They let their kids have a bit more freedom because the risks arent fully known to the average parent (who likely isnt a league bowler).

But bowlers truly do seem to hate kids. Keep in mind, the childs experience at the lanes is very important. If you run them off, the game has no future. Try to let them enjoy themselves. You are the adult, control yourself. A stern "no," might not be the best response.

I use times like that to work on my mental game. Ive stopped myself during every phase of the approach but the release itself. And during league, Im almost unflappable by events and noise around me because Im prepared for anything. There are people who get pissed at the slightest thing thats happening during their approach. Try to not be one of those people, be unflappable.

Keep in mind, bowling is just a game. If it is paying for your living expenses, then please disregard this post. Otherwise..... Yup. Game.

[swingset]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

I don't hate my children, but then I don't let them run free under the feet of adults who are trying to concentrate swinging a 15lb weight.

[75lockwood]

It amazes me how much bowlers hate children

We don't hate children, i personally hate adults that don't control their children, if i go to swing a 15lb ball and a 4 year old appears right behind me just intime to be knocked off their feet by my back swing i would feel horrible, you wouldn't let a 4 year old loose in a construction yard, so would you let them loose in a bowling ally where there are ball's that can weight almost as much as them swinging around?

I personally bowl with a lot of young kids in youth league and by no means do i hate them or hate bowling around them, why? because they were taught how to behave in the bowling ally.

[ArtVandelay]

Does anyone else side with Carlin? Maybe we protect children too much these days? Anyone else remember playing baseball and hockey in the streets? I did all kinds of dangerous ****, and my parents might have been MORE dangerous than me when they were little. We all lived! I remember sitting on my grandmothers lap in he car as a child. It was a treat and not a big deal...


http://youtu.be/8SuKFus1-Fc

[Greenday]

But bowlers truly do seem to hate kids. Keep in mind, the childs experience at the lanes is very important. If you run them off, the game has no future. Try to let them enjoy themselves. You are the adult, control yourself. A stern "no," might not be the best response.

Oh, God forbid we tell kids no! How horrible! Maybe we should just let natural selection have its way and let these kids run around unsupervised and possibly get smacked in the face by a 15lbs. ball. I'm sure the brain damage wouldn't be too severe. Same things with kids playing in the street. Let's just let them run around in the street ignoring traffic. The adults driving cars should just know to stop for them, even if one of them runs in front of their car not giving them enough time to stop. Silly adults wanting other people to teach their kids how to behave properly.

[GoodGravy]

I love kids...have a ton of them...

Parents who don't keep their children under control need to have a an 'ol fashioned whoopin themselves.

Was bowling a few weeks ago and this 2-3 year old actually ran in front of me DOWN MY LANE. Fortunatly I was able to abort by approach and nobody was worse for wear....the 'parent' ( I would eat my hat if she was 20 years old) just smiled and said sorry. I spoke to the child and mom and let them both know that it was very dangerous to just run around and they needed to be careful,no response by mom and the kid just ran the other way.....

What can you do other than hope the bowling center has thier liability insurance paid up...

[The German Shepherd]

I don't hate kids. I love kids. Wanna know how much? I will tell you. I took my two youngest kids bowling today. I needed the practice and they wanted to go and have some fun. I figured a couple things out and in my last game started out with the FIRST 11! On my 12th and final ball, a teenage girl ran up on me (on the lane to my immediate left) and literally bounced her ball off the TOP OF THE RIGHT BUMPER. The ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, let me say it again, the ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, and the ball bounced onto my lane. ONTO MY LANE. Long story short, when was the last time you saw a 293??? Unh huh. I love kids...

Jay

[75lockwood]

I don't hate kids. I love kids. Wanna know how much? I will tell you. I took my two youngest kids bowling today. I needed the practice and they wanted to go and have some fun. I figured a couple things out and in my last game started out with the FIRST 11! On my 12th and final ball, a teenage girl ran up on me (on the lane to my immediate left) and literally bounced her ball off the TOP OF THE RIGHT BUMPER. The ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, let me say it again, the ball bounced off the top of her right bumper, and the ball bounced onto my lane. ONTO MY LANE. Long story short, when was the last time you saw a 293??? Unh huh. I love kids...

Jay

Sorry Jay, but that's really funny LOL

I think the whole point here is it's not the age or that makes annoys bowlers, it's uncourteous people who don't know enough about the sport/game we all love. in a perfect world everyone who enters a bowling ally would have at least a basic understanding of safety rules and lane courtesy. but we don't live in that world, so we deal with it the best we can.

to be quite honest i don't get annoyed as much at people who don't know there doing something wrong I'd sooner teach them then get mad, but people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand....

Solution?: if you see a kid is doing something potentially dangerous explain to the parent (don't be rude) and if they choose to ignore you, have a word with the manager about the liability. apart from that not much you can do other than trying not to hit a 4 year old in the face on the back swing

[billf]

people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand.

That's exactly the point!

[Greenday]

but people who know better and choose to do things wrong on the other hand....

Like letting your kid run around unsupervised and not caring when they run in front of someone swinging their bowling ball right at them. Who do you think the parent will be mad at: the kid or me? Odds are it won't be their precious snowflake.

[ArtVandelay]

Oh, God forbid we tell kids no! How horrible! Maybe we should just let natural selection have its way and let these kids run around unsupervised and possibly get smacked in the face by a 15lbs. ball. I'm sure the brain damage wouldn't be too severe. Same things with kids playing in the street. Let's just let them run around in the street ignoring traffic. The adults driving cars should just know to stop for them, even if one of them runs in front of their car not giving them enough time to stop. Silly adults wanting other people to teach their kids how to behave properly.

Hahahaha. Hence the Carlin video. By the way... I forgot to mention, there is a slight language warning on Mr. Conductors video. I love Carlin, may he rest in peace.

Playing in the street was no big deal. I did it all the time as a kid. When you see the car, grab the goal (and/or home plate) and get the helloutta the way.

Im not going to win this argument because Im on a bowling forum, but a lot of the people here really need to lighten up on the little ones. Once again: its just a GAME. Not a livelihood (for most of us, at least). Its just a hobby, just a game. Run off too many of the youth and the game will go away for future generations, because those kids ARE the future generations.

[ecub]

Like most people who bowl during open bowling, the parents probably don't know the dangers of bowling as well as bowling etiquette. They probably think we are throwing around 8 lbs bowling balls, like their kids. They also don't realize that fingers can get pinched between the bowling balls in the ball return. Nor do they know there is oil in the lanes. They probably also don't know that food/drinks are NOT allowed on the approach, which could pose a danger for the bowlers following their party, if any was spilled.

If there were children around me, that would venture towards my lane, I would ask the front counter to be moved. If I'm not able, I would try to tolerate them. If I saw children playing around in the ball return, I would warn the children, and tell the parents as well. I don't want to be thought that I am scolding their children.

[2fingerroller]

The staff at my local lanes as I suspect others don't go over the rules with the parents or the kids before they start. Most parents that don't bowl regularly view a party at the lanes as Chuck E Cheese but without the staff provided baby sitting. The only good thing is that the staff know me and know not to let me bowl knowing full well a party will be within two lanes of where I'll be bowling.

[75lockwood]

Hahahaha. Hence the Carlin video. By the way... I forgot to mention, there is a slight language warning on Mr. Conductors video. I love Carlin, may he rest in peace.

Playing in the street was no big deal. I did it all the time as a kid. When you see the car, grab the goal (and/or home plate) and get the helloutta the way.

Im not going to win this argument because Im on a bowling forum, but a lot of the people here really need to lighten up on the little ones. Once again: its just a GAME. Not a livelihood (for most of us, at least). Its just a hobby, just a game. Run off too many of the youth and the game will go away for future generations, because those kids ARE the future generations.

Lol Carlin is amazing, its so scary because i still remember watching him as Mr Conductor.... the first time i saw his standup i was speechless, then i started laughing my *** off

[scottymoney]

I have found going after 9pm to practice limits the amount of kids in the alley. I try to avoid the times that kids/misguided youth are there. It is easier to concentrate. That being said both of my highest games bowled 268 and a 248 happened when I was out bowling with family and was also chasing my almost 2 year old son around, both were during busy times at the alley's. Weird to think that my best games came during those situations but I also realized that I did well to shut off all the distractions on the approach and make great shots and then go back to not thinking about my shots while chasing around my son. By having a distraction I think it helped me to be able to focus when it was my turn instead of the other way around where I focus from the first frame of league to the last frame of my series.

[GeoLes]

The spirit of my rant is not that I hate children. To the contrary, I love them enough to want them safe. When I see a kids bowling with dad, I encourge the kids to get a higher combined score so they be beat him. I let kids bowl first when parents are uptight about offending bowlers aoround them. That is not the issue. The issue is the ones who are without parental oversight.

It is often the lack of responsibilty of not only the parents/guardian but also the front desk. Parents book a party at the lanes and expect Chucky Cheese, which is a kid-friendly arcade. What may seem obvious to me may not even be in the mind of parent or group chaperone. They take picures of the kids dancing, dropping balls, etc. and in their mind it's all part of the party. But, as the front desk knows. the lanes are a far cry from Chucky Cheese. Ball retuns smash fingers. Dropped balls break little bones, lanes are slipery, the list goes on. When they book a kiddie party, the responsible person should have to read a sign a release acknowdgling risks and responsibilties which should not only be spelled out in the contract wth instructions to disbure the same to all chaperones and parents in the party. They should also posted conspicuously at the lane. I mean over and above "Warning. do not cross the foul line".

I would have a mini speech prepped for desk personnel to reference and repeat. I would further explicitely give them authority to enforce safety regulations, as some desk personnel think they are there only to assign lanes and distribute shoes.

[Rjthebowler]

Please reply to this but I am 12 and big into the sport I allways bowl in a nice bowling uniform and I bowl about 7-15 hours a week and I go by my self and Cary a 140 avg (with hook) and I know lane equity! But ime asking is do you look at me the same way??? Is it bad I bowl my self with no parent there at all (I know everyone that works there cause I am there all the time)

[Greenday]

Please reply to this but I am 12 and big into the sport I allways bowl in a nice bowling uniform and I bowl about 7-15 hours a week and I go by my self and Cary a 140 avg (with hook) and I know lane equity! But ime asking is do you look at me the same way??? Is it bad I bowl my self with no parent there at all (I know everyone that works there cause I am there all the time)

As long as you aren't running into people, running around the alley, or being obnoxious, no one will mind having you around.

It's not that a lot of us don't like kids. We just don't like kids that are running around wild with no supervision being a huge distraction and possibly getting themselves and other people hurt.

[swingset]

Please reply to this but I am 12 and big into the sport I allways bowl in a nice bowling uniform and I bowl about 7-15 hours a week and I go by my self and Cary a 140 avg (with hook) and I know lane equity! But ime asking is do you look at me the same way??? Is it bad I bowl my self with no parent there at all (I know everyone that works there cause I am there all the time)

If all kids were like you, we'd never have threads like this.

[billf]

Please reply to this but I am 12 and big into the sport I allways bowl in a nice bowling uniform and I bowl about 7-15 hours a week and I go by my self and Cary a 140 avg (with hook) and I know lane equity! But ime asking is do you look at me the same way??? Is it bad I bowl my self with no parent there at all (I know everyone that works there cause I am there all the time)

I prefer kids who are serious and don't have parents there. They mean well but so many of them are clueless about how to improve in bowling, practice techniques, drills, etc.
I don't care about how you dress but it does sound like if you were at my center you would be one of the kids I volunteer my time for! Personally, I don't care about the ability but do about the effort. The more effort the quicker the ability will come.

[DrOcktagon]

Please reply to this but I am 12 and big into the sport I allways bowl in a nice bowling uniform and I bowl about 7-15 hours a week and I go by my self and Cary a 140 avg (with hook) and I know lane equity! But ime asking is do you look at me the same way??? Is it bad I bowl my self with no parent there at all (I know everyone that works there cause I am there all the time)

You are definitely NOT part of the problem. I did the same thing when I was your age. Every summer I would ride my bike to the lanes with my ball under my arm on an almost daily basis. As long as you're practicing lane etiquette, which I'm sure you are, you have nothing to worry about.

It's too bad more kids aren't like you. :)

[H3RBSKI]

people think im stupid becasue i say they should have steel toe capped bowling shoes. the amount of kids ive seen drop balls inches from their toes is crazy! i dropped a 14lb ball on my foot once whilst putting balls back on the rack and it wasnt pleasnt

[billf]

Actually, I think that's a great idea. Especially for kids' sake. Accidents happen and I know kids seem to grab a ball that's too heavy not knowing or realizing the weight or even the fact there are different weights.