Why are sanctioned leagues so hard to find?

[mattmc82]

Local chapter doesn’t even have a working website. I just joined an old league to finally be in a sanctioned league and they decided this year to quit that. No alleys have any availability for my long time league to even have a home. That tells me more people are bowling but less are involved with USBC. Any ideas on how I can get some scores logged without traveling 50-60 miles to the middle of nowhere? Can I take a class or something? Been a member for 3 years and not a single logged game yet!

[GrumpyCatFace]

What area are you in? The Midwest and South are full of them.

Rarely a working website though - usually just a Facebook page around here.

[mattmc82]

What area are you in? The Midwest and South are full of them.

Rarely a working website though - usually just a Facebook page around here.

I am in Pittsburgh. Every alley is full every night. Tried 10 different houses and the earliest I can have a league of 8 lanes worth is May.

[boatman37]

Hey Matt. I know its a drive but we have a summer league at our house. 40 2 man teams but you can have 3 or 4 but only 2 will bowl each night. We had 3 on our team last summer and rotated. The same 2 have to bowl both games though so can't split a series. Starts at 8:00PM and you bowl 2 games. Last summer the winning team got $1500. The year before my teammates won it all. Usually done by 10:00PM. Some of the best around here show up for that league.IIRC the summer league is a 70% handicap based off a 230 average. Our team finished in 10th and I think the top 20 make it to roll offs. I stunk it up and we lost in the first round but we had fun and still walked away with about $100 each between the 3 of us.

Other than that we still have our winter league. You could probably find a team to jump in.

I know it's a drive but just throwing it out there.

[fordman1]

Are you trying to get a league in a house or just yourself? You have to remember it is the middle of the season right now. Your best bet would be getting on a waiting list at all local centers for your league. Good luck!

[GrumpyCatFace]

This. Bowling leagues all start around August, and last until April. You’re probably just too late to sign up for winter.

The summer leagues will be starting in April/May.

[mattmc82]

Winter is under contract through next year. Right now i just want myself in a sanctioned one so I can do some tournaments.

[taxexpert2]

Where I bowl (Northeast Ohio) there are fewer and fewer sanctioned leagues. People complain about the cost and many many do not bowl in tournaments. There is one local tournament that is USBC sanctioned and they tell people who are not sanctioned that they can get them a "temporary" sanction if they want to bowl in this tournament. This "temporary" sanction costs $5.00 (last time I heard). But I checked at another state level tournament and they said there was no such thing. Maybe there should be. Maybe more ppl would be interested in a tournament or two this way and then see the advantage of a sanctioned league.

[mattmc82]

Where I bowl (Northeast Ohio) there are fewer and fewer sanctioned leagues. People complain about the cost and many many do not bowl in tournaments. There is one local tournament that is USBC sanctioned and they tell people who are not sanctioned that they can get them a "temporary" sanction if they want to bowl in this tournament. This "temporary" sanction costs $5.00 (last time I heard). But I checked at another state level tournament and they said there was no such thing. Maybe there should be. Maybe more ppl would be interested in a tournament or two this way and then see the advantage of a sanctioned league.

that is exactly why I want a sanctioned league. Here its just 220 average which is BS since I know some guys are above that

[vdubtx]

Go to the center before a league starts up and announce yourself as a sub, speak with the secretary and get some games in subbing. Once you get 21 games, they should be reported to USBC for your average. But, the average won't be reported until end of season. You can typically use league recaps also, depending on the tournament director, for "average verification".

[fordman1]

Never heard of a temp. certification card. Sounds like a scam to me. Probably send in for anyone that gets a honor score. Others they just keep the $5.
Around here in the Detroit area it is harder to find a non certified league than a certified one. Most that aren't certified are women's and mixed leagues. Or senior leagues.

[ALazySavage]

Definitely agree that the temporary sanction seems sketchy (granted I have not researched it). Sanction is somewhere around $20 a year so I bet they are just taking the bet that they don't have a honor score rate of 25% and would just pay the entire amount if you did get an honor score, pocketing the rest of the money.

[MajorPhoenix]

I'm with everyone else here. I got the itch to bowl league again, and our center does them late summer to spring. I'd advise just waiting on a short summer league to get back into it.

[boatman37]

Hey Matt. Were you able to get into a league? Guys were talking last night about a tournament March 10th in Crafton at Noble lanes. I told them I'll go so this will be my first tournament since at least about 1986 when I was in 11th grade. Should be fun! lol

[mattmc82]

Hey Matt. Were you able to get into a league? Guys were talking last night about a tournament March 10th in Crafton at Noble lanes. I told them I'll go so this will be my first tournament since at least about 1986 when I was in 11th grade. Should be fun! lol

Boatman - I believe that is the No-Tap tournament that is held monthly. I have missed the last two but I will be there this time. They are blast and they oil the lanes nice and good. i will check with the gal that runs it. my best finish so far is second so hoping to finally take 1st for once this go round!


I am in two leagues but neither is sanctioned. I really just want my average logged so I am probably just going to start my own summer league over in west mifflin at playmor (its a brunswick center)

[boatman37]

Boatman - I believe that is the No-Tap tournament that is held monthly. I have missed the last two but I will be there this time. They are blast and they oil the lanes nice and good. i will check with the gal that runs it. my best finish so far is second so hoping to finally take 1st for once this go round!


I am in two leagues but neither is sanctioned. I really just want my average logged so I am probably just going to start my own summer league over in west mifflin at playmor (its a brunswick center)

Matt, this is the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour. regular 10 pin tourney. As far as I know supposed to be 3 of us from our league going. Its at the Noble Manor lanes this Sunday the 10th

[boatman37]

Well that was fun...lol. Should have went. It was a 47' Scorpion pattern. Extremely difficult. 615ish handicap was making the field. I made the field with a 619 handicap series (520 scratch). Balls would not hook at all