Please read all posts related to the upcoming 2013-14 season entirely in preparation for the start of the year.
TRY-OUTS
The USBC Collegiate has instituted roster limits for the total number of players that we can sanction for a given season. For the 2012-13 season and beyond, the limit is 25 men and 25 women. This means that greater emphasis will be placed on the try-out tournament.
TRYOUT FEE In order to offset the cost of tryouts and to prepare for the season from a bowling shirt standpoint, we are once again requiring a $50 tryout fee for everyone bowling that will go to St. Charles Lanes and entitle you to receive a FREE BOWLING card that entitles you to free bowling all season (when lanes are available). The Vegas Gold shirt used the past two seasons is retired this year and will be replaced with a new shirt. As a result, everyone will also need to pay a fee this year for our second shirt needed for competition. I'm still exploring options, but assume the shirt fee will be at least $50, but it might end up being slightly higher if we get something custom designed. The black shirt from last year will be used again and anyone new to the program will receive this shirt free from the school. Those that pay the shirt portion of the tryout fee, but do not make the travel roster will be refunded the shirt portion of the fee at the conclusion of tryouts.
FREE BOWLING cards for Lindenwood University bowling program student-athletes may be purchased separately for $25.
TRY-OUT DATES Once again this year, the fall semester calendar includes only one week of classes before Labor Day weekend.As a result, based on availability at St. Charles Lanes, and a desire to complete tryouts in two weekends, rather than having it spread out further, the schedule will be as follows:
Day one: Saturday, September 14; 1:00pm Day two:Sunday, September 15; 9:00am Day three:Saturday, September 21; 1:00pm Day four:Sunday, September 22; 9:00am
Each day will consist of eight games (moving pairs after each game) bowled on a different sport pattern.Those have yet to be determined, but expect a short, medium and long pattern in some order the first three days, with the US Open pattern the final day.
This tournament will be used to determine the top 25 and the team on which each player begins the season. Additional details about the selection process will be explained at the organizational meeting, as well as how our free bowling balls from our Brunswick sponsorship are distributed.More on that later.
Our first tournament is in Milwaukee the first weekend of October and we will take one mens and one womens team of eight to that tournament based on entry availability.Generally, the top 6 men and top 6 women from try-outs are guaranteed to go to that first tournament, with Randy and Phil reserving the right to select up to two additional picks from anyone to fill the 8-person roster. Last year, both of us ended up just taking the top eight from try-outs, but its not always guaranteed that we'll do that. I doubt that we'll get an additional mens or womens team, but if that were to happen, expect at least 14 players to go with seven on each team.
Those not making the 25 player travel rosters are still full members of the Lindenwood University bowling program and will still be able to participate in team activities including practice, but will just not be able to travel to collegiate tournaments. They will be funded in the PBA Scholarship league on Tuesday afternoons (most likely) at 4pm at St. Charles Lanes. This funding will also include a regular junior or adult sport sanction depending on your preference. Last year, this funding was done for the entire year for both the fall and spring session and I anticipate that to happen again, but if that ends up not happening for some reason, anticipate it to include at least one session or the other at a minimum.
Rules also require us to declare a varsity team at each tournament. The varsity team is the only team that can receive power points for post-season determination. We can only bring an additional two JV teams each weekend, so expect some rotation required in order to allow everyone on each 25 person roster to have as much of an opportunity as possible to attend tournaments throughout the season.
That being said, you can expect that we might travel with three teams of seven, or we may travel with three teams of eight with the 8th person being a non-bowling assistant coach.Some other combinations may be utilized as well.If you are selected to travel as a non-bowling member, you are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
Because of the valuable nature of a travel roster spot, anyone on the travel roster that has been given opportunities to travel, but has not thrown a ball in competition by the fifth event of the season (except for injury) may be asked to surrender their spot so someone else can utilize it.
-- Edited by philmark11 on Wednesday 5th of June 2013 03:11:12 PM
-- Edited by philmark11 on Monday 17th of June 2013 11:54:15 AM
We always put the patterns out before tryouts so everyone can practice on them. We don't generally have "formal" practices until tryouts are over, but have open practice sessions for anyone wanting to practice on them leading up to and until tryouts are completed . My guess is that Randy will start putting them out the week before school starts about the time that freshmen would start arriving, depending on when lanes are available.
Ricky, good idea about not having the patterns available. However, Phil and I's thinking is that we want to have the patterns out for everyone to practice as much as possible. This is to benefit the new bowlers coming in. We think the incoming freshmen would be at a distinct disadvantage since most of the returning underclassmen have seen most of these patterns before.
Personally, I think these patterns would be especially hard and confusing to someone who has never experienced them. I would like to see everyone get an equal chance of practice time to set up their arsenal so the bowler's talent would be the deciding factor, and not inexperience...
-- Edited by footpba on Tuesday 23rd of July 2013 12:17:13 PM
__________________
"It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
I completely agree with Randy. One of the kids I bowled with for practice before tryouts last year was very greatful to have the patterns available to practice on beforehand. He had never bowled on anything tougher than Middle of the Road so he was glad he could get a taste of harder patterns before tryouts. I think it also helps everybody get acquainted too. New players can meet some of the returning bowlers in a casual setting instead of trying to meet people in a competition setting.
Equal time to practice on the patterns is fair. If you dont let everyone practice on the patterns they will to to a different center and practice on the patterns, then putting some at a disadvantage. Equal practice time is the best way.
We never said it was the 2013 TOC, just that it was a TOC pattern.
Should have a schedule for when the tryout patterns will be out very soon. As soon as I know, I'll post it here, and we'll announce it at our meeting too.
