Bowling

2025 Season Information

Blazing Stars athletes can participate in bowling in several ways in preparation for the state bowling tournament. The Blazing Stars will participate as a team in the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament on Sunday, November 16 at Treasure Island Resort and Casino.

To participate, Bowlers have the following options:

• Bowl regularly (bi-weekly or more) with a group (family, friends, social group, church, etc.) and keep a record of your bowling scores.  We only need your average reported once to specify your State entry.

• Bowl as a member of any league (example: Special League at Park Grove Bowl, St. Paul Park meets every other week from 11am -12:45 p.m. The next meeting is September 6. The league bowls through April. If you are interested in the Special League, please email meier.mp@comcast.net. As in past years, the league may not have immediate openings, however, you may be able to join a waiting list. Special League is not a Special Olympics team, however, a number of Blazing Stars athletes participate in the league.

Athletes will be asked to track and submit their bowling average once to the bowling coaches prior to the Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament. The average is the sum of 3 bowling game scores divided by 3.  Coaches will provide contact information for reporting scores.  Coaches will get Special League bowler averages from the league.   We should have the bowling averages by mid-October.

Team Bowling Practice

All registered Blazing Stars Bowlers will be invited to participate in 2 team bowling practices prior to the State Tournament. The practices will be held on Sunday October 26 and November 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 at Concord Lanes in South St. Paul.

Registration

Athletes must be registered for bowling to participate in the Minnesota State Bowling Tournament. Coaches will contact registered bowlers with additional information about Blazing Stars practices, scoring and the State Tournament. To register, click on the red "Register" button below:

Additional Information

Blazing Stars Team Bowling Practice

The State Bowling Tournament does not allow the use of bumpers.  The foul sensors are also turned on at the State Tournament.  The use of ramps is allowed for bowlers that specify the need prior to the tournament.
Once registration closes, Bowlers will be contacted by email.  The bowlers will be asked to respond if they want to play doubles, unified doubles, and/or if they require the use of a ramp.

Because some athletes need to experience bowling without bumpers and how to avoid fouling,
we will have two optional Blazing Stars team practices. The team has rented bowling lanes.
The Special Practices will take place at Concord Lanes, 365 Concord Exchange N, South St. Paul, MN 55075

Practice 1: Sunday, October 26, from 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Practice 2: Sunday, November 2, from 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Parents and staff can help coach the athletes if they wish.
Athletes and parents/staff should bring their own bowling balls and shoes if they have them.

There will be shoes and bowling balls available for use at Concord Lanes.

Athletes can also practice with ramps if they have requested to use a ramp at the tournament.

Unified Doubles and Doubles

Special Olympics Minnesota has announced they will offer Unified Doubles (1 Special Olympics bowler and one bowler who is not a Special Olympics athlete) or Doubles (2 Special Olympics athletes) competition at the state tournament. If you are interested in Unified Doubles or Doubles, please register above and also let us know your team by email to woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com

All Doubles participants must be registered Special Olympics athletes. Unified Doubles partners must be at least 16 years old and complete the Level 1 Coaches Training. The training is available online and takes about one hour. Once complete, Special Olympics Minnesota will initiate a background check. There is no cost for this training and background check. The link to Level 1 Training is https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/l1volunteer/

As bowling is different than other Blazing Stars sports, please don’t hesitate to ask questions by email to woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com