What would you do?

[Tony]

We had a similar situation a few weeks ago when one team was going to Vegas, they did announce during bowling that day that they were pre-bowling right after our regular league was done, I don't think they oiled again. They didn't ask permission of the other team or really give them a chance to bowl with them.

The same team is one of the teams bowling for the championship next week and they decided instead of bowling on lanes 1 and 2 that they would bowl on the top scoring pair in the house lanes 7 and 8, because they want to..... the current secretary and also the former president ( 2 years ago ) are on that team, they told the current president that they were doing it .......

We bowled their opponent last week for top spot in the second half, in a 100% of 220 league they have a team average over 900, their low game of the set was a 212, and had 3/4 games of 270 +, 2 guys had 700's and the other 2 800's . They didn't even have their ringer in, the guy who runs the pro shop, has a 255 average and over 100 300 games.
Needless to say we lost....

And they wonder why teams *****...... We have never contested anything.....just not really worth it to us...

[bowl1820]

"it states in the league rules that a team who is going to be absent must inform the League Secretary or League President, and the TEAM CAPTAIN OF THE OPPOSING TEAM."

If the opposing team didn't contact your Team captain directly (which is what the rule states, the Sec. or Pres. can't just tell you) then they violated the rule.

Then you need to file a protest, if the league doesn't enforce it. Then you follow the procedures regarding protests.

Rule 119 - Protest/Appeal Procedures

The ball is in your court, do you want to pass or play?

I'll rephrase this slightly.


If the opposing team didn't contact your Team captain directly (which is what the rule states, the Sec. or Pres. can't just tell you) then they violated the rule.

You have the choice of either doing nothing or file a protest/bring it to the leagues attention.

If you do nothing, then you don't whine about it and wish things were different, you live with it.

If you do file a protest, Then you follow the procedures regarding protests And live with the results of that protest.

Rule 119 - Protest/Appeal Procedures

The ball is in your court, do you want to pass or play? you have to weigh the ramifications of your actions and chose.

[RobLV1]

I'll rephrase this slightly.


If the opposing team didn't contact your Team captain directly (which is what the rule states, the Sec. or Pres. can't just tell you) then they violated the rule.

You have the choice of either doing nothing or file a protest/bring it to the leagues attention.

If you do nothing, then you don't whine about it and wish things were different, you live with it.

If you do file a protest, Then you follow the procedures regarding protests And live with the results of that protest.

Rule 119 - Protest/Appeal Procedures

The ball is in your court, do you want to pass or play? you have to weigh the ramifications of your actions and chose.

I have already brought it to the league's attention by involving the President. My/our main concerns are twofold: first, that the league secretary who is paid $3000 a year for doing the job does not know the rules, and, more importantly refuses to enforce them once he is made aware. Secondly, in this particular league, nothing is done to discourage pre/post bowling. The league allows for roving subs, and also allows for a fifth bowler on the roster in case a sub is needed for position rounds. Despite this, teams not showing up is a very common occurrence. I guess we'll see what happens before deciding whether or not to take the protest to the local association.

[bowl1820]

Also here's from the Rule about this situation.

111e/1 If a team is granted a pre-bowl or postponement and the opposing team is not notified,
are the games forfeited?
No. When bowling unopposed, the opposing team does not have to be notified (or agree to
a date) prior to the time of bowling, unless otherwise provided by league rule. Notification
of the opposing team is courtesy and games cannot be forfeited.

If the league adopted a rule requiring notification and the opposing team was not notified and filed a written protest, the league board would have the following options:

a. Games stand as bowled.
b. Null and void both teams’ scores and require both teams to re-bowl in direct opposition.


So Rob's league has a rule requiring notification, if he wants to protest it has to be in writing.

[bowl1820]

I have already brought it to the league's attention by involving the President. My/our main concerns are twofold: first, that the league secretary who is paid $3000 a year for doing the job does not know the rules, and, more importantly refuses to enforce them once he is made aware. Secondly, in this particular league, nothing is done to discourage pre/post bowling. The league allows for roving subs, and also allows for a fifth bowler on the roster in case a sub is needed for position rounds. Despite this, teams not showing up is a very common occurrence. I guess we'll see what happens before deciding whether or not to take the protest to the local association.

This what the league meeting at the beginning of the season is for.

The Secretary doesn't do their job, you don't vote for them. (if their not doing their job you get them threw out and replaced too)

If you want to limit pre/post bowling, then you make rules to discourage it.

If you can't change the rules and can't live with them the way they are. Then you don't join the league.

If everyone starts leaving the league, it will either change or die.

[Jessiewoodard57]

That means one pair of teams has to bowl on the "high side" each week. The high side and low side are very different. The older, more seasoned bowlers don't like bowling on the high side. So, two weeks ago, we were supposed to bowl one of the better teams, who the league president/secretary bowl on...and they didn't show. They pre-bowled. Why? Because they didn't want to bowl on the high side.

That league needs a new rule that if you per or post bowl you have to use a pair on the same side that you are scheduled to bowl on. what they are doing amounts to cheating.

[Blomer]

Rules are rules. If the President won't enforce them, they shouldn't be the President.

[fordman1]

How can you prove that they didn't try to contact you? Maybe they were given the wrong number. You had the opportunity to wait and bowl with them. Same lane conditions. Drop it and make sure the rule is corrected next season.

[RobLV1]

How can you prove that they didn't try to contact you? Maybe they were given the wrong number. You had the opportunity to wait and bowl with them. Same lane conditions. Drop it and make sure the rule is corrected next season.

I think that you are missing the point. Our team was there. Their team was not. The rule is clear: it is their responsibility to contact a league officer, AND the captain of the opposing team. It is not our responsibility to prove that they didn't try to contact us. It is their responsibility to contact us, not to just TRY. The issue is to put the onus of responsibility on the team that is not showing up, not punishing the team that did show up.

[fordman1]

Rob, so if you can't make to bowling and try to contact me and I recognize your name or number and choose not to answer what happens? You didn't contact me. You asked what we would do and that is what I would do.