Section XI

BOYS AND GIRLS BOWLING

1.      Uniforms – Each team must be in uniform; the minimum uniform requirements consist of a bowling shirt with school identification.

2.      Roster – A roster shall be submitted to http://www.suffolkbowling.org/ (our website) before the first match in league play. All additions to the roster must be submitted as well. It is the responsibility of the coach to make sure of the eligibility of their bowlers. All teams will be limited to 12 bowlers in any one match. The roster may have more than 12 bowlers.

3.      Reporting scores – Both coaches are responsible for submitting and accepting scores to our website within 24 hours of the match completion (http://www.suffolkbowling.org/) and Newsday (https://sportscentral.newsday.com/login?redirect=/). Section XI also requires the winning coach to submit the scores through their app ( https://section-xi-scores-02aw.glideapp.io/dl/74c4fe/M/85e47a), which is supplied to you by your AD. Coaches are responsible for online ratings (see your AD for information).

4.      All USBC rules shall be followed. This includes equipment. Since the rule regarding weight/thumb holes in balls was introduced in 2018 and implemented in 2020, the coach must ensure all equipment is in compliance. All holes drilled must be used for gripping purposes on every delivery. If an illegal ball is used, it must be removed immediately and the games are subject to forfeiture.

5.      Substitution – Substitution may be made only after five frames have been rolled with the exception of an injury. In the event of an injury, replacements may be made immediately. Such games will be credited to the starting bowler. No double substitutions will be allowed: i.e., once a player has been replaced by a substitute in a particular game, the original player may not substitute for another player during the balance of the game. An injured player may not return to the match. A substitute bowler may also be substituted for.

6.      Practices – Prior to the match, no member of either team may practice on the pair(s) of lanes to be used for the match. A period of practice may take place on these lanes only when both teams are prepared to start. Up to six (6) bowlers from each team may practice on match pair(s) prior to the match. A team may also practice on a different pair of lanes as long as the practice terminates at the onset of the match. At the home team coach’s discretion, substitute bowlers may bowl during the match on the practice lanes. A substitute may have one full frame or two practice rolls, but only between games. If a bowler participates in a previous game and is removed, they are not entitled to any practice shots.

7.      Forfeits – Forfeits shall be declared against any team if it is more than 30 minutes late and has not made arrangements for the delay. A forfeit will also be declared if a team is unable to furnish three bowlers. Two blind scores will be allowed (100 each). A late-arriving bowler will have until the start of the fourth frame to make up the frames they have missed.

8. Fees – The home team shall pay all bowling fees for each match.

9.  Scoring
    Boys’ matches – Matches shall be on a 36-point basis. Each team gets 1 point for each individual game won per bowler; this equals 18 total match points. The winner of each game will get 4 points per game with a total of 12 points per match, this number is determined based on the five highest scores from that game (lowest score per game is dropped). The team with the highest pinfall for a game will receive 2 points, and the team with the most wood for the match will be awarded 4 points. This totals 36 points. Teams will not have to switch lanes after each game. The winner of the league will be the team with the most points overall, not wins.
Averages can be found on our website ( http://www.suffolkbowling.org/) to help with deciding lineups. A team does not have to win a majority of the games to win a majority of the points. Therefore, every point is important.
(revised 11/24)

   Girls’ matches – Shall be a won/loss system. A 40-point basis: with 6 points for each game won, 1 point for high game, 3 points for total wood, and 1 point per bowler per game for match play. This will determine who wins the match. The team with 20.5 or more points wins the match. Ties are allowed. The team with the highest number of wins will win their respective league.

10. In the event of a tie – when a tie occurs for a qualifying position for the Section XI tournament, the winner shall be determined by the additional match equivalent to the number of games bowled in a match during the regular league schedule. This match shall be conducted under the same conditions and rules governing league play during the regular season, except that the match shall be held at a neutral site.

If at the end of the match, a tie still exists, an additional frame shall be bowled on the lane where the final frame of the third game roll-off was bowled and shall be scored like a tenth frame. If the tie is still unbroken, the teams will alternate lanes for each additional complete frame necessary to break the tie. When more than two teams are involved in a playoff, the total pins in a series equivalent to the number of games bowled in a match during the regular season schedule shall determine a champion.

Scores bowled in such play-offs shall not count toward individual or team averages.

11. In the event that time does not permit the fulfillment of a complete game, a three-frame roll-off, eighth, ninth, and tenth frames will constitute the winner of the third game.

12. Where automatic scorers are used, it is mandatory for both teams to provide a student to keep score manually in case of a blackout.

13. No team pictures will be allowed to be taken during league match play.

14. Only the bowling team members who are in uniform and/or the coach and other school board-approved personnel are permitted in the pit area during any match. If the team has a designated scorekeeper, he/she must wear a uniform.

15. HOME MATCHES: All school's “home matches” must be played at their home center (house). Exceptions due to the center (house) not being available, due to weather, closure, or any other unforeseen circumstance, will have to be approved by Section XI prior to the match for approval. Every effort to play at your home center (house) must be made. (approved 10/24)

                                          CODE OF ETHICS

Coaches have a responsibility to teach athletes more than the mechanics of the sport and more than winning and losing. They have an obligation to teach sportsmanship, proper attitude, pride in themselves, their team and their sport.

Therefore, coaches agree to the following code of ethics as they pertain to athletes and coaches.

                                              ATHLETES

1.    Swearing and/or abusive language will not be tolerated. An athlete will be warned once. A second occurrence will result in automatic removal from the event.

2.    Obscene gestures and/or abuse of bowling establishment property (hitting or kicking returns etc.) will not be tolerated. An athlete will be warned once. A second occurrence will result in automatic removal from the event.

3.    Smoking will not be permitted during any part of a match (warm-up, score tabulating, etc.) or inside the confines of the bowling establishment.

4.    Only the bowling team members who are in uniform and/or the coach are permitted in the pit area during a match. If a team has a designated scorekeeper, he/she must wear a uniform.

5.    Intentional fouling (fouling on unmakeable spare) in order to have a chance to spare will result in removal from event and loss of frame pin count. If this is the first occurrence the athlete will receive a warning in lieu of a penalty.

6.    Intentional attempts at distracting bowlers (gestures, sounds, comments, etc.) while they are in the act of bowling will result in awarding the bowler an option of a re-rack.

                                                COACHES

1.    No smoking during a match.

2.    No swearing and/or abusive language.

                                      Division Tournaments for Boys Bowling

All schools are eligible to participate. These are one-day tournaments. All teams will bowl four games.

The winner will be determined by the highest total series of all four games for the tournament.

Division Tournaments for Girls Bowling

All schools are eligible to participate. These are one-day tournaments. All teams will bowl three games.

The winner will be determined by the highest total series of all three games for the tournament.

Section XI Team Championships

Girls: The top three teams from each league, in a three league alignment, or the top four teams from each league, in a two league alignment. In a three league alignment, one wild card team (the highest scoring non-playoff team) will emerge from the Division Tournament. In a two league alignment, two wild card teams (the highest scoring non-playoff teams) will emerge from the Division Tournament.

Boys: The top three teams in Leagues 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the four highest scoring teams (wild cards) not already in the playoffs from the Wild Card Division Tournament will qualify for the Section XI tournament. (Approved 10/16/13)

The Section XI team champions of boys and girls bowling shall represent Section XI at the NYSPHSAA championships. In addition, teams consisting of the best five boys and the best six girls (respectively) as determined by season averages will represent Section XI in the Section (All-Star) event. The boys guarantee one Section (All-Star) spot to the winner of the annual Singles Tournament.

Rev 4/24