Fair request to league? Legal by USBC?

[Frank Goebel]

This is a hypothetical; I don't know it will come to pass.

Those that read my thread "What if something happens" already know I'm temporarily disabled and unable to bowl, but the possibility exists that I may be able to bowl before the season ends. I'm still doing secretarial duties as best I can. As in that thread, I'm not detailing specific injuries nor the accident itself.

What I'm considering asking: Instead of bowling as a sub or rostered member using my book average, I would prefer to bowl (as a pacer) three weeks to establish a current season's average first. I may have to bowl with a back brace at that; I won't be switching hands. Still, I would expect my average to be significantly lower than my book. If subbing, that would be disadvantageous to a team.

Would this be a reasonable request, and is this sort of thing legal by USBC?

[Paul Muzio]

Hello Frank, your league by-laws should dictate what average you should use. Most leagues I bowl in do NOT allow pacers, but, maybe yours does, that's OK. Nonetheless you do have an established book average from last year of 192, this would need to be used until you have reached the # of games as specified in your leagues rules. Your league could also evaluate this special circumstance and come up with a solution where you need to reestablish your average. This solution will be solely for your league and your league only, this is in no way will affect your current book average as it will relate to any tournament for the upcoming year. Let it also be known that the average you do establish will not be your normal average under normal abilites, you might have to give this information out in the future to Directors/Associations where you might enter a tournament, no one knows if your dis-abilites will be permanent or not. You should let the local association know of this 'new' established average.

[Frank Goebel]

Thank you Paul, and yes, it would only be for this league. With a disability, I wouldn't be entering any tournaments or "unnecessary" activity. As it stands, I don't know if I'll even be able to bowl this season at all. The injuries are that serious. My association does know of my status (I'm on the Albany board now). Even the Troy Youth Association, with which I maintain contact, is aware.

The league only allows pacing to establish average as it is, and there is one regular team member doing that this season.

But, as for me: I will only deliver a ball once cleared by an orthopaedist, and then, I won't even approach the idea of bowling a whole series until after I feel that I could manage such a task (through open bowling). Right now I'm in a body cast and am not even permitted to drive, nor lift anything heavier than a bowling pin.

However, whatever average, if I can manage 21 games, would be reported as having been bowled. I will purchase a USBC membership for 2006-07 whether I bowl or not (I believe I cannot be a secretary, or an association board member, otherwise). The intent is, of course, that I will eventually bowl when I am physically able. I would like to think that the league members would like me participating somehow.

For what it's worth: Our president asked for secretarial volunteers during my absence (first session, August 28). Over 70 were present, and there were no volunteers....

[Paul Muzio]

Frank, Rule 118b -3., page 58 of the "Playing Rules" handbook, "The leagues Board of Directors may, by majority vote, adjust a player's average due to injury or disability before the player bowls in the league or during the season. Seperate averages must be maintained." This suggests to me that, with the board's approval, your average may be adjusted without having to "pace".

Secindly, you must be a USBC "member in good standing" to hold a league office or to hold office in your local association. So as far as I interpret the rules, you need to have an active USBC membership throughout your term(s) of office. This doesn't imply that you actually must bowl or be a bowler for that matter. I've known a few who have held office both in league and on their local board, but, were physically unable to bowl.

Finally, I'm truly saddened to know the extent of your injuries. I hope you have a full and speedy recovery and may god bless you in your time of healing.

[Frank Goebel]

Paul, thank you for the kind words. Also, thank you for referencing the rule book....I moved in temporarily with my parents (an hour away). Clothing, computers, cats...but, no rule book handy here.

For others reading this discourse: Paul and I have been colleagues together in the same YABA/Youth Assocation over the past several years.

[Lance Rasmussen]

Frank...

tsk tsk... Click Start > Programs > CDE Bowling Software > BLS-2007 > Rule Books. There's your USBC Rulebook in PDF Form.

Rules at your fingertips.

[Frank Goebel]

Frank...

tsk tsk... Click Start > Programs > CDE Bowling Software > BLS-2007 > Rule Books. There's your USBC Rulebook in PDF Form.

Rules at your fingertips.

I was aware of there being some electronic presence, but that would mean starting the PC. I'm doing 99% of my visits to these forums on my Mac.

Having done that, looking at the current season's rules for the first time, I'm quick to notice New Rule 4e. It would apply to me, but given my current status, I can't even see returning to league play anytime soon, much less tournament.

[Patrick Lajko]

Rulebook is also on the USBC web site: www.bowl.com

Can I say DUH?

[Frank Goebel]

I'm on dial-up at my parents. Only "major" web activity has been downloading three versions of BLS-2007, and a separate dowload of the manual. And, I've spent time on the forums here.

Since you guys find it necessary to make me feel less of a person, by ridiculing me in public like this, then enjoy your bullying. I, nonetheless, will find a way to make my comments and responses constructive and uplifting.

[Lance Rasmussen]

Frank... On a Mac....

Boy... you really ARE buggered up..... <grin>

Please believe me what I saw we are just giving you a bad time, without any ill will intended. We also asummed you were using your PC with BLS which would have had the rule book there.

Lance

ps. I can chide Mac users because I owned one (and even did development on it) and unlike the commercial, it had system crashes and it was NOT working out of the box (I had to plug in wires). And beside.... OS-X being virus free is bunk. The OSX/LEAP-A Worm affects the Mac OS-X and came out in Feb, 2006. And the OSX/Inqtana-A worm is out there too.

My 2 nickels worth... The Apple community is really giving some fun challanges to the great and mischeivious minds that make viruses and trojan horses. My motto still is "never compute without "protection".

[Frank Goebel]

I hope I didn't sound too put-off yesterday...apologies to anyone who thinks I'm angry or holding any grudges. I'm certainly one for engaging in banter.

Even with medication, I'm not sleeping well at all. The body cast that I'm in (which I hopefully get off tomorrow). Compare it to shoulder pads, but they *under* the armpits, and cover the abdomen all the way around, and you can't take it off. Even being seated is uncomfortable, and being a passenger in an auto is the most uncomfortable.

Trying to remain optimistic, the original theme behind this post was one of being hopeful that I'll even be able to throw a ball at all during this season. There are just too many unknowns right now. An aside on that: I vacationed by touring Route 66 a month ago. I stopped in the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis. The last bowling I did before the accident was one game with a house ball downstairs there.

I certainly do take your warnings about Macs being "automatically safe" seriously. Though, the greater impetus for not using the PC unless necessary is that I want it to just a small handful of applications, if at all possible: The current season's BLS (and the previous 2006, if I need to compare two seasons' data at the same time), Internet Explorer (for downloading), Acrobat Reader, Installer for any updates, and I do have Word and Excel. My online time is being minimized, even if only on dial-up.

All things aside, Lance and Pat (in no particular order), it's good being able to exchange with you online.

[Douglas Moye]

I was aware of there being some electronic presence, but that would mean starting the PC. I'm doing 99% of my visits to these forums on my Mac.

Having done that, looking at the current season's rules for the first time, I'm quick to notice New Rule 4e. It would apply to me, but given my current status, I can't even see returning to league play anytime soon, much less tournament.

this rules is for tournaments frank.

[Frank Goebel]

Doug - welcome back, I thought a regular figure was missing from these forums.

I did note the new 4e being about tournaments. This thread got lengthy because I wasn't clear at the outset that it was all intended to be "in-league" only. Regardless, with the seriousness of the injuries (lower back) I've sustained, I wouldn't do any "extra" bowling, including tournaments, until I knew I could handle it. Tournaments, this season will see me on an administrator side, given my new position in a merged association.