Starting a league non-certified

[Derrick]

Our league has a little dilemma. Over the summer the center replaced the lanes, pinsetters, and just about everything else associated with the bowling aspect of the house. When the local association came out to inspect the lanes, there were some things that prevented it from passing. The center is dedicated to compliance and the lane installers will be out to correct the issues, HOWEVER, it is VERY unlikely that they will be completed prior to our league starting the first week in Oct. The league voted to start our league even without certification, knowing that any honor scores or games bowled would not be honored by USBC.

All of this I learned about last night. The association manager has not returned my call and the bowling center manager will know more about when the lanes will be repair on Monday.

Is it possible that we could be retroactively sanctioned? Not likely to be more than one week. Or be granted a temporary certification on the word that the correction were made and that temporary certification could be made permanent upon a passing inspection?

If not, what are our options as far as games bowled and averages? And how best to handle this in BLS?


DC

[Lance Rasmussen]

Is it possible that we could be retroactively sanctioned? Not likely to be more than one week. Or be granted a temporary certification on the word that the correction were made and that temporary certification could be made permanent upon a passing inspection?

I've never heard of a temporay certification or retroactive. If it doesn't pass, certified leagues can not bowl there. I guess you can look at it as being a "union rule" that says that if you are a union member, you agree not to work for a non-union job.

This would be a question for nationals first to assess the situation. You may be best to either shorten the season and start late or extend the season.

[Derrick]

Lance,

We're already starting late and have already extended the season. It is a new install and eventually it will be certified. And the bowlers want to get started ASAP for fear of bowlers losing interest. Since the bowling center is giving us the first week lineage free, for our patience. I am thinking I might just make the first week a sweepers night, and the second week will start the league, assuming the corrections to the lanes are made and they are certified.

I know this is a program specific question and this isn't the appropriate place, but could I mark that first week in BLS as a fun night, no points and scores do not count toward averages and everything after that would be correct?

[Lance Rasmussen]

I think that is all you can do. Make them fun nights. You can't count the pinfall to their averages. I would just not even bother with entering their info into BLS until they pass.

[Jim Barbosky]

Didn't some kid prebowl a few 900 series, and USBC did not accept the 1st one because the league was not sanctioned for the 1st one, but accepted the ones bowled after they received the paperwork? Why would there be a problem with your league if only scores after the inspection and acceptance count for awards?

[Dusty Clark]

That kid that "allegedly" bowled multiple 900 series is Robert Mushtare. You are correct, his FIRST 900 was rejected on a technicality, his league's certification wasn't turned in on time. His SECOND and THIRD 900s were accepted...even though they were prebowls...with no witnesses to the the second 900, someone did bowl with him during his third 900. He also claims to have bowled TWO MORE 900 series in practice. It is because of him they instituted "The Robert Mushtare No Honor Scores are eligible for award recognition during unopposed prebowling" rule.

[Lance Rasmussen]

I'd like to see a new sport league shot. The "Robert Mushtare's Lane Condition". :)

[Keith Chambers]

Derrick,
Out of curiosity, how did this situation turn out for you? There are ways to have the league certified before the center completes their certification, but it is more complicated with a new installation. Your Association Manager and Lane Certification Committee Chair should have been able to help with this problem - before the league was scheduled to start.
IF someone did shoot an honor score during the period before the center certificate is issued, the certification committee sends an inspector to the center to inspect the lanes that the score(s) was shot on for compiance and the score would be honored if those lanes passed the inspection. (Very much like it was in the "good old days" when an inspection was performed after every honor score)

Keith