Rules Information

Rules of the 71st Annual BVL Bowling Tournament

DATES: March 1 through March 31, 2017

DIVISIONS: The field will be broken into seven divisions.

Division
1	Inpatient
2	Outpatient
3	Seniors (60+)
4	Wheelchair
5	Vision Impaired
6	Electronic Bowling
7	Electronic Bowling Seniors (60+)

There is NO HANDICAP in this event. This competition will be based on the total score for 45 games bowled in open competition.

A. Contestants

1. All contestants must, at the time of bowling, be receiving care at a competing medical center, outpatient clinic, domiciliary, or Outreach Center.

2. Ambulatory participants will use alternate lanes for each successive frame.

3. Wheelchair participants will use alternate lanes for each successive game.

B. Teams

1. Hospitals, Outpatient Clinics may enter more than one team in a division and more than one division.

2. A team will be composed of five regular members and three alternates. The alternates may be substitutes for any of the five regular team members at any time. A player once removed from a game may not bowl again in the same game. However, only the games entered for the competition may appear on the submitted score sheet.

C. Technical Requirements

1. Unless otherwise specified herein:

a. Official rules and regulations for tenpin bowling as set forth in the current official United States Bowling Congress Rule Book will govern the conduct of the tenpin bowling competition.

2. Visually impaired division participants may use hand rails, but bumpers or gutter guards are prohibited.

3. Ramps, pushers, and handle balls may be used with wheelchairs. Bowlers will adjust their own ramps with no assistance from volunteers or officials. There will be no switching of lanes during a single game.

4. The official tournament days and games must be designated by the official scorer prior to rolling the first ball. Once an official game has begun, such designation shall be irrevocable except under emergency conditions.

5. Bowling pins used in official tournament games shall be reasonably new. The use of pins with battered, uneven or badly worn surfaces is prohibited.

6. The team winners in each division will be determined on the basis of the aggregate score of 45 games. PLEASE DO NOT RECORD ANY MORE THAN 45 GAMES ON THE SCORESHEET.

7. A designated staff representative will officially supervise and personally score and certify every official game. An official representative of a local bowling association may also be present to observe and to certify the scores of all official games.

8.Original scoring sheet utilized in each game, showing scores by frames of each team member, dated and certified as indicated in paragraph C (4), should be maintained at the Medical Center or Outreach Center as they are subject to forwarding to BVL upon request. A team placing in the contest may be in danger of losing their standing if they cannot produce original score sheets, signed by the tournament official on site.

D. Reporting. Please complete the official score sheet. The score sheet will be live on the BVL website after March 1.

1. For each division in which a field station competes, the following information should be submitted to BVL not later than April 15, 2017:

a. Identification of the division competition.

b. Rosters containing at least the first name and last name initial, age, and individual total scores for all competing team members.

c. BVL will send, via email, preliminary results to all team contacts in May. If the contact does not receive an email, contact BVL at info@bvl.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF RESULTS: The final tournament standings will be announced on the website in May.

AWARDS: All competitors in the tournament will receive a certificate of participation. Teams that finish in the top three positions in each division will be granted a small cash award for an awards ceremony and refreshments. The grants are as follows: First Place $75.00, Second Place $50.00, Third Place $25.00. Additionally, each member of a placing team will receive an award.