If you’re not familiar with bowling think of it like basketball except instead of baskets, there are pins on the floor. It’s a popular pastime enjoyed by many and bowling leagues offer a fun and competitive environment that will challenge your skills and help you grow as a player. What is a bowling league?
League Bowling is an exciting sport that combines social interaction with skill development. The game is played on a lane that measures 10 feet long by 24 inches wide.
There are ten pins at each end of the lane, and the object is to knock down all ten pins using your ball. League Bowling is growing rapidly across America, and there are currently over 1 million active players nationwide.
Every year there are different tournaments held across the globe. Some of them are national championships, while others are international competitions.
There are also regional tournaments, club tournaments, and school tournaments. Most of the games are organized by local leagues, associations, or clubs. These groups usually host the events and provide facilities and equipment.
Whether you’re looking to join a league to play regularly or simply get back into the swing of things after a long hiatus, here’s what you need to know before signing up for the first time. Firstly, what types of bowling leagues are there?
League Types
Bowling leagues vary widely. Some leagues are more casual, and others are more competitive. Most leagues have a few teams that play regularly, and then other leagues that play sporadically. If you’re interested in playing in a league, it helps if you know what kind of league you want to join.
There are leagues for every skill level, age group, gender, and play is slightly adjusted for each. For example, in handicapped sports leagues, the total points scored by each team member is calculated. Each player gets a point for every strike, gutter ball, spare, etc.
A team will get extra points if they knock down pins. Some leagues also add an additional point per game won. So if your team wins 10 games, you’ll get 10 points.
Some leagues are affiliated with a specific type of bowling alley while others may not be. You should try to find an option that suits your needs.
If you are looking for something local, you might consider joining a league at your local bowling alley. Another alternative is to create your own league using online platforms like MeetUp.com but we will look at this in more detail later.
Bowling centers often have a league finder on their websites. If you’re looking to join a league, check out the League Secretary website. If you see an advertisement online for a team, or you hear about a team through word of mouth, it might be worth your while to reach out to them.
You can also check out their social media pages, forums, or message boards. There should be somewhere on their site where you can contact them.
How To Join
It’s pretty easy to join a league. There are many leagues and tournaments out there that you can join just reach out and fill in the necessary paperwork.
You’ll want to check with your team about whether they require you to have your own bowling ball and shoes. If you’re participating in a tournament, you may be required to bring your own ball and shoes.
If there isn’t a special fee for using your own equipment, then you should definitely consider buying them. You can get a decent pair of bowling shoes for around $50.
A good quality ball can cost anywhere from $40-$100 depending on its weight and material. Make sure you buy a ball that feels comfortable to you and fits well.
You will need to sign up for a league if you plan on playing in any officially sanctioned leagues. If you plan on participating in multiple leagues at once, you should consider signing up for the U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) which sanctions league play. Once you’re signed up, you can go through the steps to get started.
Perks And Discounts
When looking for the perfect bowling league, there are a few things to consider. First, you need to ensure that the league offers discounts and perks. A great place to start is to check out the league’s website.
If possible, try to get an idea of what kind of discounts and perks they offer. This will help you narrow down your options and see if the league is worth joining.
Benefits
Bowling is a social activity that forces you to interact with others. If your problem is that you always feel like you don’t know how to meet people then fear not. You‘ll be on a team of people who all share similar interests.
Each week you’ll probably be on a lane next to 2 other teams, also full of people who also share similar interests. That means each week there could be 12 people you don’t know but might be interested in meeting.
Bowling is a great sport for small talk. You can ask questions about the other person, their family, their job, or anything else.
It’s a great way of making new friends If you both enjoy bowling, there is no reason not to start talking about it.
But you don’t have to stick to bowling you can still talk about something else. Maybe you will discover that you both love karaoke! Or, maybe you will realize that you both love dogs!
Bowling isn’t as formal as other social activities, so there’s not much pressure to get dressed up. Plus, there are usually plenty of places nearby where you can grab a bite to eat if you get hungry after you bowl a few games.
Exercise
Bowling is an activity that requires you to walk back and forth along the lanes 10 times a game. You might think that this is a lot of walking, but it’s actually less than what you’d need to run a quarter marathon. At 5 miles per hour, you’d cover 1/5th of a mile in just under 2 minutes.
If you’ve ever taken a roll at a gym, you know that it can be very hard work. You might even say that it’s like working out. But while you’re doing all those squats and lunges, you’re also strengthening the muscles in your body.
Your abs will get tighter, your thighs will get stronger, your shoulders will get broader, and your core will get bigger. And if you keep going long enough, you may just start looking like a real athlete!
Create Your Own League
If you can’t find an appropriate bowling league you could consider starting your own. You will need to come up with a set schedule, a length of time you plan to play, a set price per game, and a budget for prizes.
You will also need to set up logistics including finding members, putting up flyers, posting on social media, and recruiting new members.
You may find it easier to recruit members than you thought. Your co-workers, friends, family, and even complete strangers may all be interested in joining your league.
Starting a bowling league sounds like a lot of work. But with a few pointers in place and a bowling alley ready to help, you will reap the rewards of socialization, friends, and fun.
Once you’ve gauged initial interest you can start planning the league. You will need at least 3 people per lane. For larger groups, you may want to split them into 2 lanes, each with 3 people.
If you’re looking for something different, try taking part in a phantom league. These are informal competitions where there are no fixed times or dates. This may be a way of starting small until you have more people for a more serious league.
In Summary
Joining a bowling league certainly has its benefits and is a great way to keep fit, make friends, and keep the mind active. What’s not to love?
Hi, I’m Drew Kaufner and I have been a fan of bowling ever since I could walk. I have been competing for just shy of 20 years, and I have picked up an incredible amount of knowledge along the way.
I wanted to create my website to inspire others to pick up their bowling balls and get to their local lanes. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a friendly game of bowling with your friends and family, so what are you waiting for?
