absentee scores

[Bob Lanouette]

Although the Rule Book says that the absentee score will be the bowler's average minus 10 pins, we have several leagues in our Center that use variations of this rule.

Some, mainly seniors, use the bowler's average as an absentee score.
At least 1 adult mixed league, uses a split absentee score system: averages under a 100 get no pins subtracted; averages 100 and over minus the 10 pins (in bls we find that the "I"njury score is useful for the 99 & under averages -- since that is the way the autoscoring system reports back the absent score when it's changed correctly at the lane console)

We also have a couple of competitive men's leagues that insist on the average-minus-10-percent rule which is frowned upon by the USBC (and [author's note] which I absolutely detest.

In all cases these rules were agreed upon by league members.

As far as I can tell, there's nothing that prohibits leagues from making these league-specific rules regarding absentee scores.

[Ann Cummins]

Bob,
I find all those variations to be illegal.
In rule Rule 105e-1, the word 'shall be' is in the rule.
I always thought when the word 'shall' was in the rule, the league could not change it.

[Lance Rasmussen]

USBC is pretty clear with vacancies because that say "Vacancies shall be subject to the following:"

With absentees, they unfortunately use the "escape clause" statement "The following provisions apply unless otherwise provided by league rule:" (105.e)

You're on the right track Ann, but where your looking would only apply if the league did not have a bylaw that states how absentee's are handled.

So while the rules can be goofy / odd, it is allowed (but may not be supported by BLS).

[Frank Goebel]

It is not illegal for a league to use a percentage of pins for an absentee.

However, if USBC modified the league rules to read something like "An absentee score shall be the bowler's average minus ten pins, unless the league rules state a different number", then it would render such a percentage rule illegal. And the league would be required to modify its rule to comply; it couldn't grandfather the rule.

But this is not the case as of now so it is a moot point.

Many of us might think that a percentage rule for absentees is illegal, because the "Earn the Points" method of bowling against a vacant team/known forfeit or similar situation specifically states "bowler average minus ten pins, unless the league rules state a different number" and it's there that a percentage cannot be applied.

[Skip Horner]

Edited out because I wasn't paying attention yesterday. (Basically I repeated what Frank said, but very unclearly.)

[Lance Rasmussen]

Skip,

Frank is spot on with what his point was.

Absentee rules have the "escape clause" which pretty much allows anything, including percentage. Can BLS accomodate every screwy rule regarding absentee's? No. But we do accomodate the ability of percentage for absentee.

Vacancies, however, do not have the "escape clause". They give specific rules and have wording which only accomodates the ability of changing the value, not the method.