Rulings on rules.... who's right?

[Lance Rasmussen]

What is your experience when needing to clarify a USBC or other organization rule?
What process do you normally go through to clarify a ruling? How far do you go "up the ladder"?
It use to be that your local association people really knew their rules. Same with bowling headquarters rules commitee's. But now it seems like local association people are not even checking on rules for the current season and spout off rules that were changed years ago.
When calling the rules commitee, I've heard stories of people actually calling 3-4 different times talking to different people each time and getting 3-4 different responses to the ruling.

There is a spirit of competition that is not written, but encouraged, when interpreting rules. But sometimes you can even get "its legal", "its not" for rules that are black and white, such as when bowling against a forfeit, you must bowl 10 pins within your average, unless the league votes a different NUMBER. I.E. You can say you must come within 5 pins or 20 pins... but your certified league can not vote to use 10% or 20% of the average to earn the points.

What you do think? Are the national or state organizations making a good enough effort to educate the secretaries ?

[Angel Zobel-Rodriguez]

When I get someone who states "that's against the rules" the first thing I do is pull out a rulebook and have the person show me what they believe they are quoting. Often enough (you can't practice on your pair before league, etc) there is no rule anywhere that says what they're spouting.

In the extreme cases where leagues have had real issues, I've never called local for a ruling. I do email the rules department directly and deal with someone there. I haven't had the misfortune to have 3-4 different rulings (not disputing that others may have that issue), so having an email in hand speaks volumes in clarifying a position.

I've been a league secretary on and off for over 15 years, and read so much on the various message boards, that it's rare that something completely baffles me (although now that I say that, someone will figure something out this season, just watch). I've learned which secretaries to emulate, which to consult, and what parts of the country have "regional" rules differences, so that I can weigh those answers within the context they might apply.

I would love for Nationals to have teleconference or a convention seminar for sharing ideas on issues that secretaries face. The ones that locals have had in the past basically got no further than showing how to fill out sanction cards and the league app (and that's why I have BLS--hahaha). With a new merged association, I've been told they're working on some seminars held by some of the more successful/active secretaries to mentor the newer or less experienced. Whether they end up being a good use of time remains to be seen.

Truth be told, but there is no other forum out there for league secretaries. I feel this forum could be the best place for some of us to vent/pull our hair out/mentor/inquire/you name it.

[Keith Chambers]

I agree with Angel. I have been a league officer for more than 40 years, served on several different association boards during my 30 plus career in the Navy, and worked for Bowling Headquarters as a Field Consultant for a little over 3 years.
The answer that you get from the Rules Department really depends on the way the question is worded, not necessarily the person that you talk to. Two people can ask the same question in different ways and get two different answers. I rely on email as it results in a written reply that can be presented to the board.
Every year I have one or two incidents that cause me to communicate with the Rules Department. Most are due to someone in the league disagreeing with the way a rule is enforced. Most are also a result of their experience in another league or association. The biggest issue over the past three years has been with requests for postponements and whether the opposing team captain has to be involved in the decision or not.
Attendance at our preseason League Officers Workshops has dwindled to the point that it is not worth the time of the presenters to conduct them. The secretaries that attend come only to complain and the ones that need to attend don't. Perhaps we could convince the USBC to conduct a local area seminar for league secretaries?
I also agree that a forum for secretary to secretary is much needed. Hopefully we can make it a productive place to visit - often.

[Ann Cummins]

I have been an assoc. sec/treas. for the past 10 years, or so. I tried to hold meeting, with the secretaries, to go over rule changes and give them their supplies. That didn't work at all. It was always the wrong time of day, the wrong day, etc. You get the picture. So I started putting out letters with all the info I thought they needed with their supplies.

I have found alot of assoc. sec. are getting really lazy about doing things. I always print out the sanction cards, for the leagues, makes my job a lot easier. We have other assoc. sec., around here, that refuse to do that, guess it takes too much time, who knows.

I encourge my secretaries to come to me if they need help. If I can't help them then I email the rules dept. Like the other, I like to have it in writing.