Northwest Bowler Tour
 Rules 2008 Season

Key To Colors and Fonts:

Red – Rule Changes or clarifications

Blue Italic – Explanation or further detail

GENERAL RULES:

• 1.   Any member who has signed the membership agreement on their membership application or elects to compete in any NWBT event agrees to abide to all the following rules. Failure to do so may result in possible non-payment of prize money.
• 2.   The NWBT is comprised of male and female bowlers, duly sanctioned by the USBC.
• 3 .   The NWBT will consist of eleven (11) regular tournaments hosted at various bowling centers throughout the Portland Oregon metro area including the Salem-Keizer Metro and Longview Kelso, WA. The number of regularly scheduled tournaments is subject to change at the discretion of the director.
• 4.    The NWBT tournament season shall run from January 1, 2007 to November 30, 2007, closing entries on final entry day of season.
• 5.    The NWBT shall be structured and guided under the auspices of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
• 6.    All USBC tournament rules shall be used and in force during any and all NWBT competition unless otherwise detailed in these NWBT tournament rules and regulations.
• 7.    Any decision by the NWBT Board of Directors on all tournament disputes and rule interpretations is final unless an appeal is filed with the NWBT Board of Directors within ten (10) days. In accordance with the USBC, any decision by the NWBT Board of Directors may be appealed to the USBC under Rule 329.

MEMBERSHIP:

• 8.    Membership fee into the NWBT shall be $25.00 for one (1) year membership. A membership year is based on a full calendar from the date of purchase. Each succeeding year thereafter, the yearly membership fee shall be an additional $25.00. A bowler who wishes to bowl but is not a current member may bowl, but will be charged an additional $10.00 fee as part of their entry.
• 9.    If membership is formally suspended or disqualified for any reason, the member must re-apply as a new member with entering averages determined by the tournament director or as any new member with no carry over to NWBT averages regardless of the number of games bowled in any one (1) season.
• 10.  Any member who is disqualified or has his/her membership revoked by any NWBT Board of Directors, must ask in writing, within ten (10) days of said suspension, to the NWBT Board of Directors if he/she desires reinstatement. The NWBT Board of Directors will then vote on this appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of suspension. If an appeal for said suspension is not received in ten (10) days or the decision of the NWBT Board of Directors is for revocation of membership, then membership is officially suspended.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT:

Qualifying Round/Cut Scores

• 11. The format for the regular season tournament, all divisions, shall be as follows: Qualifying rounds shall consist of four (4) games bowled across four (4) pairs of lanes, moving one (1) pair to the right after each game. The tournament director will determine lane assignments based on lane availability. All bowlers are responsible for recording their own scores on their score sheets.
• 12.  Members may re-enter the qualifying round as many times as they wish (when multiple squads are available), but only their highest score will count for preliminary round seating.
• 13.  No bowler is to move to the new assigned pair of lanes until all bowlers on that pair of lanes are done bowling. Once they are done bowling and you have moved, you may begin bowling. In the case of a lane breakdown, which will take longer than ten (10) minutes to resume, NWBT will refer to USBC Rule 321, which states that we may authorize the completion of the game and series on another pair of lanes if available. In accordance with that rule, the interrupted game and series must be resumed from the point of interruption, with no practice on the new pair. If a pair of lanes are open during the ten (10) minutes that the pair is broken down, the extra pair may be used by the bowlers to keep warm although the scores will not count, and this warm up pair will be at the discretion of the tournament direct and subject to lane availability.
• 14.  In all qualifying or preliminary rounds, bowlers will be given a 10-minute warm up period before tournament play begins. During this time, all bowlers may practice on all pairs of lanes that will be used by them during the forgoing round of tournament play.
• 15.   Paid places in the tournament will be at a ratio of one (1) paid place for every three (3) entries. The “round off rule” has been removed and will not require an even number of bowlers to advance to the second round.
• 16.   Tournament formats are subject to change and prior notice will be given to the bowlers before the event begins.  Most decisions are made based on a collaborative effort between the Directors and the Bowlers based on unique circumstances.
  
  Match Play Round
• 17.  Match Play will consist of three (3) games bowled across four (3) pairs of lanes, moving one (1) pair to the right after each game when more than five (5) bowlers advance. Match play will consist of two (2) games when 5 or fewer bowlers advance. The order of finish in the qualifying round will determine lane assignments in Match Play for the first (1st) game roll-off. The highest qualifier will bowl against the last qualifier. The second (2nd) highest qualifier will bowl against the second to last qualifier and so on. After each game in Match Play, a new ranking will be announced based on the most points won in Match Play to that point. Thirty (30) bonus points will be awarded for out-scoring your opponent in each position round game. In the second (2nd) and third (3rd) games of the Match Play, the bowler with the most points will bowl against the bowler with the second (2nd) most points. The bowler with the third (3rd) most points will bowl against the bowler with the fourth (4th) most points and so on. In the case of a tie for position seeding, the higher seed will go to the bowler who qualified with the higher score. Scores are recorded and verified by a member of the Director’s staff.
• 18.  Odd number of bowlers advancing to the Match Play round will be allowed and the Bye Rule will be in effect. The Bye Rule will place the odd bowler to bowl the game and the score will be put up against the average of the other bowler’s scores during that game. A win or loss will be determined by the same rules and points awarded.
• 19.  The top five (5) scores from the Match Play with handicap, will advance to the finals. Injury or absence during the final rounds will be considered to be forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:

• 20. The entry fee for each regular tournament is $55.00 for members, $65.00 for non-members. Re-entries into the same tournament shall be $50.00 if multiple squads are scheduled.
• We are no longer offering a discount for pre-registration online due to the fact that credit card processing costs have increased along with lineage rates for 2008.
• 21.  In the event that a bowler is using a free entry to the tournament either won or earned, no more than one free entry will be allowed to be used in one NWBT tournament.
• 22.  Entry fee distribution is as follows:

Re-entries will be at a $5.00 reduction at $50.00 (when applicable)        

• Free Entries will be given away to one member bowler at the director’s discretion based on a random drawing when the minimum entry level is attained.

PRIZE FUND:

• 23.  All categories in rule number 22 are designated as total prize fund except expenses. All money collected and designated as total prize fund will be returned 100%.
• 24.  The NWBT Board of Directors reserves the right to adjust the tournament prize fund on a per tournament basis as they seem fit as long as all guarantees, rules and regulations are met. The amount of prize fund for each place may vary depending on the total number of entries per tournament.
• 25.  Any Special Giveaway prize designated for any regular tournament will be paid for out of the expense fund by the NWBT Board of Directors but is added to tournament total prize fund. The Board of Directors will determine how each Special Giveaway prize shall be won prior to the start of the tournament.

OPTIONAL SIDEPOTS:

• 26.  The optional scratch side pot event held during the qualifying rounds will be $10.00 per bowler and will be paid after all qualifying rounds are completed. This $10.00 entry fee will be split between $5.00 towards the high scratch game and $5.00 towards the high scratch series. Of the $5.00 entry fee for the high scratch game, $4.00 will be returned to the highest scratch score, each game, for all qualifying rounds combined and $1.00 will be kept for expenses. Of the $5.00 entry fee for the high scratch series, $4.00 will be returned on a ratio of one (1) paid place for every five (5) entries and $1.00 will be kept for expenses. Bowlers may cash in the scratch singles event as many times as their scores dictate. This sidepot is not available during the Last Chance Squad.
• 27.   Brackets will be available for 5.00 per bracket and will be computerized within the tournament software paying places 1st and 2nd in each bracket with $1.00 going for expenses.
• 28.  The Winners Pot is an optional additional prize to the first place winner of the tournament. It is a progressive pot, which means any money left over will be carried over to the next tournament. The only way to win the winners pot is to be the tournament champion. The first place winner will receive a percentage of this prize fund depending on how much the member paid into the side pot at the time of check-in. The side pot fee must be paid before the first frame of the first game of qualification and is for that squad entry only. Any re-entry into a squad will require a new side pot fee is desired to enter the winners pot for that entry. There are two payouts possible for the Winners Pot. If you did not enter the Winners pot in the previous tournament latest squad entry bowled, you are only eligible to win the following payout: $5 entry fee, 10% winner’s pot; $10 entry fee, 20% winner’s pot; $15 entry fee, 30% winner’s pot. If you did enter the winner’s pot in the previous tournament latest squad entry bowled, you are eligible to win the following payout: $5 entry fee, 20% winner’s pot; $10 entry fee, 40% winner’s pot; $15 entry fee, 60% winner’s pot.. All funds collected for the NWBT Winners Pot will be returned 100% to the bowlers in the manner outlined above.
• 29. At any Tournament where there are less that 12 total participants, the Winner’s Pot will not be available and all fees paid will be refunded. Bowlers who paid before the refund decision will be eligible for Payout “B” if they were eligible at that event at the next scheduled event; otherwise will be allowed to enter into payout “A” at the next event.
• The reason for this change is we need to have enough competition for the Winner’s Pot in order to maintain the integrity of the challenge and the philosophy of the Winner’s Pot. This protects the pot from being won against limited competition due to weather, scheduling or other that results in only a handful of entries.
• 30.  All members are allowed to enter any of the side pots up until the start of the first frame.   No entries will be accepted after the first ball is thrown.
• 31.  No member may enter any of the optional side pots when bowling the Last Chance Squad. (if applicable)
• 32.   Additional side pot options may be introduced or removed as deemed necessary and based on interest and success.

DISQUALIFICATION/FINES:

• 33.  Any flagrant outbursts or unsportsmanlike conduct demonstrated by any member during any competition is grounds for immediate dismissal, disqualification, or suspension. These outbursts and/or unsportsmanlike conduct include but are not limited to negative attitudes, slapping off shots during qualifying rounds or in other bowlers approach and/or delivery, personal attacks or threats to other bowlers, etc. Speaking negatively about the NWBT tournament or recruiting NWBT bowlers for other tournaments on the same date as an NWBT tournament will not be tolerated at the NWBT tournament site. The tournament director, or acting tournament director, will have the final say on what action to take during the tournament. However, fines and penalties can and will be issued at the director and coordinators discretion.
• First offense is disqualification from the tournament with no returned entry fees.
• Second offense is tournament suspension for thirty (30) days with loss of free entries.
• Third offense is suspension of membership for one (1) year with loss of any free entries for the year.
• 34.  Fines will be issued for the following things: Obscene gestures, hands, arms, or body, obscene language, abuse of bowling alley equipment (hitting equipment, kicking equipment, etc.), loud stomping or yelling at the line or on the approach that could be construed as disruptive to other bowlers.
• First offense is a $5.00 fine.
• Second offense is a $10.00 fine.
• Third offense is a thirty (30) day suspension with loss of any bowler free entries.
• Fourth offense is a one (1) year suspension with loss of any free entries for that year.
• This of course is one area we would hope to never have to enforce. However, there have been some close calls. The amounts have been reduced to 5 & 10 dollars because it was hard to justify a first offense being worth 10 bucks to start.
• 35.  Any member, in the opinion of the tournament director or acting tournament director, who displays any attempt to lower their NWBT average and raise their NWBT handicap by not competing fairly at all times (sandbagging), will be disqualified immediately and their entry fees will be treated the same as any other completed entry. The tournament director or coordinator may disallow any scores from any member and not count them towards any NWBT average logs if, in the opinion of the tournament director, that member has not completed fairly at all times.
• 36.  Any member who “ DNF’s”, fails to complete any round without proper consent and approval from the tournament director, will not be allowed to compete in that same tournament in any capacity for the remainder of the entire tournament. Attempting to re-enter the same tournament after a DNF with a coordinator who is unaware constitutes immediate removal from bowling and a forfeiture of entry fees.
• 37.  All offenses listed in this section are considered to be during one season, not one single tournament. These offenses are cumulative for the season. All fines will be issued at the discretion of the director and coordinators, and any offense can be skipped or upgraded depending upon the degree of the behavior.
• 38.  All fines will be added to the general expense fund and used as added money towards the prize fund.
• 39.  A $5.00 fine will be issued for wearing inappropriate clothing according to dress code. Whether the continuation of bowling will be allowed with the inappropriate clothing will be at the discretion of the tournament director or coordinator. See the dress code section for specifics.
• 40.  Excitable activity during preliminaries, match play, and finals may be allowed briefly as long as it is not personally directed toward any opponent, brief in nature, and not disruptive to any other bowlers. This activity will be monitored and interpreted by the director and coordinators.
• 41.  All fines will be required to be paid in full prior to additional entries or re-entries into any NWBT tournament will be allowed.

DRESS CODE:

• 42.  All members shall wear appropriate clothing during all competition at all times. Collard bowling shirts must be worn during all competition. If a member does not have their collard shirt prior to their competition, they will not be allowed to participate unless the member pays a no-shirt fine of $5.00. All no-shirt fines collected will accumulate until the year-end Tour Finals and go to the funding of the Tour Finals Prize Fund.  Shirts must have the bowlers last name permanently adhered to the back of the shirt in letters no less than 1” high and in a contrasting color. Mock T-Shirts of solid color may be worn in accordance to the trend of Professional Bowlers on TV. The shirt may be of a two color or of a single solid color. No large logos or graphics allowed and may not be of a plain t-shirt design.
• We of courses want to maintain a professional appearance at all times when we are in the bowling centers. Many people take notice of the event and we want to exude a clean cut appearance to entice others to come and bowl with us.
• 43.  Any member may wear shorts at any time as long as the shorts are hemmed and deemed tasteful by the NWBT tournament director.
• 44.  Jeans and slacks are allowed, however sweat pants or other apparel similar in nature that are not able to stay on the hips of the bowlers are disallowed.
• 45.  Hats are not allowed to be worn during any tournament play.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES:

• 46.  The NWBT reserves the right to weigh, check the balance and hardness, or inspect any bowling ball used by any participant at any time during competition. If the ball is deemed illegal by USBC rules, their competitor may be disqualified from that particular tournament. Any member may, at their option, request that their equipment be checked for USBC specifications prior to their participation in any NWBT tournament.
• 47.   All bowling balls must have a visible serial number on them.
• 48.  All qualifying squads are filled on a first come, first serve basis. If the total allotted spots for any qualifying squads are filled, all remaining members must wait until the next available qualifying squad. Squads will start timely. No member may start any qualifying round and “catch up” after the first frame has been completed by all bowlers. Entry to qualifying squads will be closed once there is three (3) minutes left in practice. If any member who has qualified for the preliminary round is not ready to bowl when the announced starting time has arrived, they may, at their option, start to participate in the exact frame when they are ready. All missed frames will score zero (0).
• 49.  All applicable taxes, state, local, federal, and all sales taxes, licenses, and fees, associated with any prizes won by any member are the sole responsibility of the member. In accordance with IRS rules and regulations, form 1099-MISC forms will be issued for any bowler who wins $600.00 or more in a calendar year.
• 50.  All general playing rules of the USBC will be used. All USBC honor scores must be brought to the attention of the NWBT tournament director. USBC Rule 319d will not apply in the NWBT tournaments.
• 51.  All members who have a check returned or credit card denied to the NWBT office for any reason will be charged a $25.00 fee for each and every return. Said member will not be allowed to bowl until such time as he/she pays the initial check or credit card amount and all subsequent fees in cash. If a check is returned or credit card is denied, this member will be on a cash only basis with the NWBT until further notice by the director or coordinator.

AVERAGES/HANDICAP:

• 52.  Handicap is 80% of 225 for both men and women. The maximum handicap allowed per game is 60 pins.
• 53.  Entering averages for all new bowlers in the NWBT tournaments will be determined by the following method:

• a. Current league average of twenty-one (21) or more games will be used if that current average is higher than any previous book average. The current league average used is the average as of tournament qualifying day. If there is a book average for each and every of the previous two (2) years, then the highest of those averages will be used and the current average will not be considered unless the current highest league average, twenty-one (21) or more games, is ten (10) pins higher than any previous one (1) year book average. If these rules cannot apply to any new member, the NWBT tournament director will determine that members entering average and to which division that member will compete in.
• c. Any applicant with an entering average or book average (last year) that exceeds 225 will not be allowed membership into the NWBT.
• d. All PBA and PWBA members who join or participate with the NWBT may do so once their PBA or PWBA card has been dropped no earlier than sixty (60) months.
• e. No summer or spring league averages will be considered at any time unless that is the only verifiable average available.
• f. No other tournament club averages will be considered at any time, unless deemed necessary by the NWBT tournament director.
• g. Any prospective member who does not meet any of the entering average requirements set forth in NWBT Rule 62 (a thru f), will not be allowed to participate until such time as a current twenty-one (21) game average is established in any ABC/WIBC sanctioned league or may be rated by an NWBT director as in NWBT Rule 60 (h).
• 54.  All members must be familiar with USBC Rule 319e governing average adjustment requirements. USBC Rule number 319, applying to the ten pin increase, shall apply at the time of bowling. The NWBT Board of Directors may re-rate a new applicant’s average at any time prior to prize-fund distribution of the applicant’s initial NWBT tournament. If the new applicant disagrees with the NWBT Board of Directors decision regarding their entering tournament average, all of the fees and dues paid by them will be returned. In addition, Rules 319(a)(3) from USBC will apply.
• 55. The bowlers entering average into the next years NWBT tournament will be the previous years ending NWBT competition average total if it is thirty (30) or more games. If this is the case, the member’s initial average into the new NWBT tournament season will continue to be the last thirty (30) game average just as if a new season had not begun. If the member does not have at least thirty (30) games bowled in the NWBT tournaments or has not submitted average and bowled within the past 120 days in the preceding tournament season, that ending competition average will not be considered and the entering average into next season’s tournaments will be calculated as any other new member.

AVERAGE ADJUSTMENTS:

• 56. NWBT tournament averages and adjustments will be computed by the following means:

• a. Between the first eight (8) and forty four (44) games of the NWBT tournament season, if a members current NWBT tournament average becomes ten (10) pins higher than the entering average, the entering average will be adjusted upwards five pins for every ten (10) pins of average increase. In this same period, if the current average falls more than ten (10) pins below the entering average, the entering average will be adjusted downwards five (5) pins for every ten (10) pins of average decrease. This formula will continue to be used on a weekly basis, adjusting the average up or down from the original entering average, until the time that forty four (44) tournament games have been bowled.
• b. After forty four (44) tournament games have been bowled, the original entering average is discarded and a new entering average is established. The new entering average, called the competition average, will be the forty four (44) game NWBT tournament average. (Note: Forty Four (44) game averages are computed only after a tournament is completed. The possibility exists that this initial forty four (44) game average will involve more than forty four (44) games if the forty four (44) game mark arrives during a tournament.) Each tournament thereafter, the total number of games bowled during a tournament will be added to the past forty four (44) games bowled in the tournaments. The number of games added for each new tournament will be removed from the beginning of the forty four (44) game average logs. Example: If a bowler rolls a total of seven (7) games in a tournament, the first seven (7) games from the last forty four (44) games rolled will be replaced by these last seven (7) games. This way, each member’s entering average into each tournament will always be the last forty four (44) games bowled in the tournament format.
• c. Any game that is more than fifty (50) pins under the current entering average will not be added to the current average logs. The NWBT Board of Directors have the option to disregard these games that are under their current entering average if, in their opinion, a bowler intentionally tries to lower their tournament average to gain more handicap pins for future tournaments. If the decision is to disregard, these games or series will not count toward average, total games, or total pins.
• d. The competition average for the entire tournament season may not drop more than twenty (20) pins lower than the initial forty four (44) game average or the initial season’s entering average, whichever is greater, regardless of any new competition average after any tournament for that particular tournament season.

TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY:

• 57.  Any member who is an employee of any particular hosting bowling center and has lane maintenance responsibilities or duties, may not participate in that center during any NWBT competition. Lane maintenance responsibilities or duties primarily includes oiling the lanes for the tournament at any time, and planning or setting up the shot to be used in the tournament, but do not include pin chasing. All other bowling center employees and managers are eligible to participate in any NWBT tournament.
• 58.  Any past or present PBA or PWBA member are not eligible to bowl in accordance with NWBT Rule 62(d).
• 59.  Any member falsifying any average, name usage, USBC card, or social security number, shall be disqualified and banned from all future NWBT tournaments. If said member has received any prize money, prizes or other compensation, the NWBT reserves the right to bring a legal action to recover said money or prizes. The member will be liable for any costs or attorneys fees incurred in bringing this lawsuit.
• 60.  All new bowlers who become NWBT members at a tournament site may have all prize money held by the NWBT until such time as all pertinent information relating to average verification is conducted by the NWBT.
• 61.  If there is a mistake made by the NWBT concerning entering average verification or in NWBT average logs, the correct average may be submitted and the score changed up to the time of prize money distribution. If a mistake is found after prize money distribution and is the sole error of the NWBT, then prize money distribution will remain as distributed. If the error is due to incorrect information provided by the member, then the money will be returned and reissued in the correct manner.

Tour Points:

• 62. Tour Points are given for tournaments entered and final standings in each tournament.
• 63 Points are issued at the conclusion of each event and are available online at www.nwbowlertour.com. The year end winner will be awarded a plaque/trophy item along with a free 1 yr membership along with other awards TBD.
• 64. Tournament points are issued as follows
• 1 st 50 2 nd 40 3 rd 30
• 4 th 20 5 th 10
• Finish Top 8 8 pts
• Cash in Tournament 7 pts
• Entering 5 pts

FINALS:

• 65.  If any injury or absence occurs in the finals and a finalist is unable to proceed, then they will be considered as forfeiture.
• 66.  All finalists shall have two (2) minutes of practice on the championship pair of lanes just prior to their participation. All finalists who are advancing on the championship pair will have an opportunity to deliver one (1) ball on each lane prior to the start of the next championship round game. The new player will determine who is to start the game. The first ball thrown in any championship round game must be delivered on the left lane.
• 67.  The format for the finals shall be as follows:
• a. The format for the championship round will be a stepladder format with the fifth (5th) place finisher bowling one (1) game against fourth (4th) place finisher, handicap included. The winner will advance and bowl against third (3rd) place seed and the loser will be awarded fifth (5th) place. This format will continue with bowlers seeded third (3rd), and second (2nd) until one (1) bowler is remaining. The bowler seeded first (1st) and advancing the second (2nd) place finisher will bowl one (1) game, handicap included, for the championship.
• 68.  Ties during the preliminary round will split prize money for the tied places. Exceptions: Ties for bowlers advancing into the championship round. In the breaking ties for these participations will be done by a 9th and 10th frame roll off for all tied participants.
• 69.  All ties in the finals or any roll-off in will be broken by a one (1) game roll-off for all tied participants (handicap included).

CLOSING:

• 69.  Unusual situations arise during bowling and will be dealt with first by referring to NWBT rules, second by referring to USBC rules. If all else fails, the NWBT Board of Directors, Directors, and Coordinators may govern any contingency not covered in these rules; at any time they deem it necessary.
• 70.   The rulings included here are subject to change and proper notice will be given in advance of the change.
• 71.  The NWBT Board of Directors as of this date affirmed these rules and regulations: November 7 th, 2007.

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