Delaware OFFICIAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOWLING RULES The Official Special Olympics Sports Rules shall govern all Special Olympics bowling competitions. As an international sports program, Special Olympics has created these rules based upon the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) Rules as well as World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) Rules for bowling competition. USBC Rules shall be employed except when they are in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules. In such cases, the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules shall apply. BOWLING TRAINING GUIDELINES In addition to the Training & Competition Guidelines for SODE the following should be adhered to for bowling: 1. All Athletes & Unified Partners must attend 80% of scheduled practices during the official training season and during officially scheduled practices by the Sport Director or Coach. a. Submission of scores by bowling at another time or location DOES NOT constitute attending practice and should not be accepted. b. Athletes & Unified Partners must attend practice that falls within 1 week of a competition (Area or State) c. BOWLING 10 GAMES DOES NOT QUALIFY A BOWLER FOR AREA OR STATE COMPETITION. All participants must attend practice on a regular basis as described above. 2. All Doubles Teams (Traditional & Unified) must practice together on a regular basis 3. Each practice within the official training season must have a ratio of 1 certified coach for every 12 athletes. a. Practices within the official training season should contain a warm-up, reviewing a previously taught skill/technique, teaching of a new skill and competitive situation (etiquette, game play, etc). b. Bowling 2 games ONLY in a practice does not constitute a practice. 4. Practices should resemble match type situations in that food and snacks should not be consumed until afterwards. Water should be allowed for proper hydration. 619 S. College Ave., Newark, DE 19716 Tel 302.831.4653 www.sode.org
DIVISIONING PROCESS o Athletes are divisioned based on preliminary scores that are submitted during the registration process. All divisions are made up of individuals or teams that presented scores that fall within 20% of each other. Gender may or may not be a determinant in Divisioning. o Handicaps will not be used. o FOR AREA TOURNAMENTS: Bowlers will be divisioned based on an average of all their (minimum of 10) scores from the training season. o FOR STATE TOURNAMENT: The Area tournament scores will be factored into the training season scores to come up with an average for the state tournament. o FOR ALL TEAMS (Traditional & Unified): divisions will be based on the total sum of each team member s TOTAL (ie: Athlete 1 Total + Athlete 2 Total) o Athletes will only compete against other athletes in the same event. (ie: Ramp bowlers will only compete against other Ramp bowlers) Unified Bowling Unified Bowling Teams should be constructed of similar age and ability (whenever possible). However, Sport Directors agreed that having Parent/Child teams was a positive and that they should be maintained. These teams do create some challenges when it comes to divisioning because of age and ability. With that in mind the following will occur: 1. Unified Partner scores will be capped at 150 to help keep the divisions more equitable and allow the athlete the opportunity to contribute to the success of the team. 2. Unified Doubles teams will be divisioned based on the AGE OF THE ATHLETE FIRST and then by the TEAM SCORE. Sport Directors will make sure everyone is aware of this during the season so that if there are age differences in divisions everyone knows the reason. BOWLING EVENTS OFFERED AT AREA COMPETITION: Singles Events: Traditional Singles, Ramp Singles, Bumper Singles (8-12 years ONLY), MATP Doubles Events: Traditional Doubles, Unified Doubles BOWLING EVENTS OFFERED AT STATE COMPETITION: Singles Events: Traditional Singles, Ramp Singles Doubles Events: Traditional Doubles, Unified Doubles UNIFORMS Athletes are expected to wear sports clothing that will reflect well on themselves and on the game of bowling. A collared shirt (provided by Special Olympics Delaware with the SODE and Team Logo) is the traditional sportswear for bowling, worn along with light cotton pants, khaki style shorts/pants or skirt. Doubles Team members must wear the same uniform. Bowling shoes and socks are required. Athletes are not permitted to wear denim jeans at any stage during the competition. Anyone who is NOT IN UNIFORM for competition will receive a participant ribbon. 2 Special Olympics Program Delaware
COMPETITION VOLUNTEERS: The following groups will be in place to ensure a safe, organized and fair competition for all athletes. Competition Officials: Role: Competition Officials will enforce rules set forth in the Special Olympics rule book as well as oversee the management of the lanes they are assigned. They are also responsible for the management of the volunteers assigned to their lanes. Finally, they will ensure that only credentialed participants are in the lane and competition areas. Lane Volunteers: 1 volunteer for every 1-2 lanes Role: Lane volunteers will report to the Competition Officials and will have the following duties: 1. Assist athletes with getting ready to compete (ie: balls, shoes, etc) 2. Ensure that athletes are bowling in correct order and at a pace that will keep the event flowing. 4. Follow the instruction of the Competition Official assigned to their lanes. Ramp Competition Volunteers: 1 volunteer for every lane of competition with ramp bowlers (Athletes may bring their own volunteer, see information under Ramp Bowling section) Role: Ramp Competition Volunteers will report to the Competition Officials and will have the following duty: 1. Provide support necessary to the athletes competing in any ramp competition based on the rules of the event (Ramp, MATP) 3 Special Olympics Program Delaware
COMPETITION INFORMATION 1. Everyone will bowl 2 games. a. If a lane is being delayed for whatever reason and time is becoming a factor, a decision by the Competition Officials will be made as to when the bowling will be stopped. 2. Day of scratches in Unified Doubles and Doubles competition will be handled in the following manner: a. If one player scratches on the day of the State Tournament the remaining player will be allowed to bowl (in the same event) but will receive a participant ribbon for the event. Substitutions are not allowed. 3. Coaching During Competition: Only EVENT REGISTERED AND BOWLING CERTIFIED COACHES are allowed to talk with athletes during competition. The COACH can only talk with an athlete while the athlete is seated. Once the athlete leaves his/her seat and is on the approach there is to be no further communication (verbal or physical). a. Spectators and/or family members will not be allowed on the lanes or in the players area. 4. Eating is not allowed during competition for athletes/unified partners. In order to keep the flow of competition moving and limit the amount of distractions during competition, food will not be allowed in the competition area nor will an athlete be allowed to leave the area to eat. Drinks (especially water) are encouraged for the athletes during competition. 5. The following events will switch lanes: Traditional Singles, Traditional Doubles, and Unified Doubles. 6. The following ramp events will NOT switch lanes: Bumper Singles, Ramp Singles and MATP. 7. Foul lights will be turned on for all events except MATP, Ramp & Bumper Divisions. 8. ALL Ramp event participants will be bowling 5 consecutive frames at a time. 9. Participants should not leave the lane area for any reason. If a participant must leave he/ she must report to the EVENT LANE VOLUNTEER and be escorted by a Coach. If the participant does not return within 5 minutes, the participant will be skipped and receive a ZERO for each frame missed. 10. Athletes & Unified Partners who are competing MUST refrain from using cell phones in the lane area. UPON COMPLETION OF COMPETITION: 1. Athletes should return their shoes and balls and return back to their lanes and wait for awards. 2. Athletes may EAT prior to awards but should report back to the lanes when announced. 3. Awards will be given at the lanes once all lanes have finished. 4 Special Olympics Program Delaware
RULES OF COMPETITION- UNIFIED TEAMS It was agreed that whenever possible Unified Bowling Teams should be constructed of similar age and ability. However, Sport Directors agreed that having Parent/Child teams was a positive and that they should be maintained. These teams do create some challenges when it comes to divisioning because of age and ability. With that in mind the following were determined: 3. Unified Partner scores will be capped at 150 to help keep the divisions more equitable and allow the athlete the opportunity to contribute to the success of the team. 4. Unified Doubles teams will be divisioned based on the AGE OF THE ATHLETE FIRST and then by the TEAM SCORE. RULES OF COMPETITION- RAMP BOWLING 1. Athletes using ramps will be placed in separate divisions from other bowlers for competition. Within the ramp bowling division, there shall be three classifications an athlete may enter: a) RAMP BOWLING i) Rules (1) Athlete aims ramp into position with or without assistance. An assistant may aim the ramp toward the pins for the athlete, but must aim based on the direction (either verbally or by physical cues) from the athlete. (2) Athlete positions ball on ramp with or without assistance. (3) Athlete pushes ball down ramp without assistance from a person or a switch. ii) During competition a bowler will bowl 5 consecutive frames based on the bowling alley s capabilities. iii) Athletes will not switch lanes (Single Lane Style) during competition. iv) Athletes will be placed in divisions with those of similar ability and will be scored and receive placement (1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, etc.) v) RAMP COMPETITION VOLUNTEERS for this event will be instructed to only help, if needed, with placing the ramp in front of the athlete and/or placing the ball on the ramp and/or positioning the ramp based on cues from the athlete. The Ramp Competition Volunteer must have his/her back to the pins at all times. 5 Special Olympics Program Delaware
RULES OF COMPETITION- RAMP BOWLING (CONTINUED) b) RAMP DEMONSTRATION/ MATP i) If an athlete is incapable of giving direction or moving the ball without assistance as noted above, he/she is potentially better suited to participate in the RAMP DEMONSTRATION/ MATP division. ii) All bowlers who use an assistive device, including switches, will be in this division. iii) Athletes will be placed in divisions of those with similar ability and will be awarded a challenge medal for achieving their personal best. iv) RAMP COMPETITION VOLUNTEERS for this event (MATP) will be instructed to help in any portion of the event needed. c) RAMP COMPETITION VOLUNTEERS i) Athletes may use their own Ramp Competition Volunteer at competition to help as described in the rules if: (1) That volunteer is registered for the event through the program (team) as a Practice Volunteer for that particular athlete. (2) That volunteer has completed the requirements to be a Class A Volunteer which includes completing the Class A Volunteer Registration form, Background Check and Protective Behaviors Course. (3) Has trained with the athlete throughout the season. ii) Only 1 athlete per Ramp Competition Volunteer is allowed. iii) If an athlete does not use his/her own volunteer one will be assigned to the lane (including all athletes in the lane). iv) All Ramp Competition Volunteers must agree to adhere to the rules of the event as noted in Sections A, B and C under Rules of Competition- Ramp Bowling. 6 Special Olympics Program Delaware
RULES OF COMPETITION - BUMPER BOWLING Athletes using bumpers will be placed in separate divisions from other bowlers for competition. Within the Bumper Bowling division, there shall be three classifications an athlete may enter. Only athletes who are in ages 8-12* will qualify for Bumper Bowling. *Generally, athletes 13 years of age and older should possess the strength and coordination to bowl a score of over 30 without bumpers if trained properly over a period of time. Athletes 13 years of age and older who cannot score 30 or over can be placed in RAMP competition. DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY - The goal for an athlete should be to have him/her participate in events that do not use bumpers. 1. To determine if athletes are eligible for Bumper Bowling athletes should be scored within the first two weeks of training by playing one game without the use of bumpers. 2. In individual events: Only athletes who bowl below 30 without bumpers should be considered for any bumper division. 3. If the athlete s score is below 30 then he/she is eligible to participate. 4. After 4 weeks of training it is suggested that the athlete be re-scored to see if improvement has been made. 5. If an athlete s or team s score is 30 or above (whether on the first test or any subsequent rescore) then he/she/they should be registered for competition without the use of bumpers. COMPETION RULES 1. Only athletes who are in Elementary School (or ages 8-12) qualify for this division*. 2. Athletes will NOT switch lanes during competition. 3. Athletes will be placed in divisions with those of similar ability and will be scored and receive placement (1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, etc.) 7 Special Olympics Program Delaware