Set up a Local Area Competition

The West Anglia Battalion also host a competition for our youngest two age groups [Anchors & Juniors]

Here are some notes to help you do likewise within your BB: Battalion, GB: District

West Anglia Battalion Rules (for Anchor & Juniors Competition)

1. Teams consist of 3 to 6 bowlers.
2. Companies can enter multiple teams.
   • i.e. if 7 Bowlers, from a coy want to take part, you could do a 3/4 split for 2 teams, or if 6 bowlers, either a single team of 6, or 2 teams of 3
3. Where companies can only bring along 1 or 2 bowlers, other teams/coys are encouraged to join up - so that everyone bowls in a team
   • So you could have 2 coys with 2 bowlers each = 1 team of 4, or if only 1 coy does not have enough, ie, 2 bowlers, they could join a team of 3 to make a team of 5
4. To make the event fair for scoring;
   • We take all the bowlers scores for the team, add the together and divide by the number of bowlers in that team.
   • This gives a Team Score to 2 decimal places.
5. At these age groups [AB & JS] bumpers will be used
6. Try to encourage bowlers to use the correct weighted bowling ball for their each. i.e. AB's size 6, JS size 6-8
7. On the whole, we try to avoid using the ramps, however there might be a valid reason why they might be used, i.e. a bowler in a wheelchair
8. Bumpers will be up for this age group. Note: For Company & Seniors apply NO Bumpers
9. We play just the single game. This is mainly because of time/cost and that AB's would actually struggle to play a 2nd game, both in terms of arm tiredness and attention spans. The single game has worked well for us over the years.
   • Obviously the National Championships involves more games, but thats for older age groups and a special event.

Admin

• Team & Roles [Note: People may do more than one role]
  • Administrator [1], liaises with companies and Bowling alley - has oversight for the event
  • Lane Scorers [1] per lane - a leader/helper from the competing team
    • Each lane has a paper scorecard for the leaders to fill in and hand to the Event Administrator
    • Details to Record: Company Name, Team Number, Bowlers names for that team & their Score (Example attached below)
  • Master Scorerkeeper [1] Records all the scores and works out whose won
    • A spreadsheet is used to assist in the scoring (Example attached below)
  • Treasurer [1]
    • Collect monies in and issue receipts to each company
  • Trophy Shop
    • Ensure that trophies/medals are purchased
      • if Annual Trophy only have Year 1 costs to worry about [ours in Annual]
        • Its the Winning Teams responsibility to ensure that they are engraved and returned for the following year
      • if buying medals/trophies annually - these costs need factoring in [We present certificates to highest score]

Notes

• We make it a Uniformed event. And what a great sight seeing all the uniforms across all the lanes
  • Works great at AB/JS level. Whereas the CS/SS shirt uniform would not work with Bowling though
• We play for 1 game between 10 - 11am
• Bowlers need to arrive by 9:30am and get shoes on and get to lanes
• Normally 6 bowlers a lane = 1 hour of bowling (try to avoid 7-8 a lane unless over demand leaves no other options)
• We would then present the Trophies to the winning AB & JS Teams.
• And Certificates to the Highest individual Bowler Score in AB/JS (Could even do a top 3)
• Take a Group photo, great press opportunity
• With WABB, most companies manage 2-3 teams, with between 60-100 bowlers taking part, depending on circumstances at that time

Items needed on the Day

• Trophies / Medals (optional)
• Computer - that can run a spreadsheet (else paper and calculator)
• Blank Paper scorecards per lane / Pens
• Camera
• Promotional material / tear drop banners, etc.

Before the Event

• Advertise within your area to gauge interest ? Whose interested, what possible uptake ?
• Locate a suitable Bowling Alley - Contact the Manager, seek their support for your event. Can they cater for your 'possible' numbers
• Plan for a Morning competition. Alleys are generally less busy at 10am. By the afternoon, they will have children's parties and it will be manic and their support to your event will not be great
• Negotiate a price. You have a BIG group, they should be willing to assist. For many it might be a first taste of bowling and bowling alleys need to buy into this. We are helping to get children interested in bowling. As at [2017] £2.50 would be a good price to aim for. Try to make £3 for a single game absolute tops. Note: make sure that you have an agreement to ONLY play for the bowlers taking part (and NOT for any reserved unused lanes)
• See if they will make sure that a member of staff will be around to ensure that your event runs smoothly. Problems occur around
  • putting names in [although initials is easier and quicker]
  • malfunctioning lanes. [we normally have 2 on standby just in case, worst case is that we swap to other lanes]
  • correcting or resetting a pin rack if something goes disastrously wrong. For the odd pin that falls over/scores incorrectly - how much of an issue is it to you ?
• Double check before the event that all is well with the booking. I've had situations twice now where the alley's diaries have been updated and my original booking was lost !

After the event

• Thank the bowling staff - maybe give them a box of chocs ?
• Ensure that the event is paid off in full
• Maybe book up for next year
• Send a Press Release to local papers

Variations that other BB: Battalions and GB: Districts do

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