Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF):
Show up Sunday at 6:15, competitive bowling should start no later than 6:30pm
We still have a few free agent spot for interested addons.
Teams should be set, but a few people got designated as “subs” and need to be manually added-averages will be fixed after this week for about everyone.
Our first week went fairly smoothly last Sunday, so things should be worked out for tonight as well. For some teams, players who either pre- or post-bowled (or just missed) were assigned as “subs” and are not pre-populated with their teams tonight. That's ok, it'll get worked out in the scoring for this week. This means that tonight's averages may not be correct, so your points may look different next week from what is expected at the end of tonight's bowling. Check the scoring sheets carefully tonight and next week to be sure that your scores are correct and assignments are correct. We can fix anything that is not correct. If you're not sure of last week's scores, then let me remind you that you can track all of your competitive games with the Lane Talk app. If you post bowled this week for week 1: Please send me your scores. If I do not have them by start time tonight, they will not be counted. If you pre-bowled for week 2 and have not done so already, send me your scores (or at least let me know) so that I can make sure your scores are counted in tonight's totals. If you have to miss a week and can't pre-bowl your blinded score will be used, which is your average minus 10 points. There is no more post-bowling for this season (unless you and I have already made arrangements). Pre-bowling for anticipated missed weeks only. One note on prebowling: We are not allowed our free games on Saturdays. Pre-bowled games are NOT free games and CAN be done on Saturday. If Bowlero gives you a hard time, remind them that pre-bowled games are paid for and allowed at any time. You should receive a score card. If you are there at a busy time, you may not get 2 lanes and lights may not be on, that's just the breaks. If you have issue with them for this, please let me know so I can address it. What to expect on Week 2 (this coming Sunday):
When you arrive, your teams and player names should already be entered in the computer and assigned to lanes. Just find your team/name and set up there. If you are using the League Pals app, you should already know your assignment.
Each lane has 10 minutes of practice, please do not start practice for your lanes until everyone has arrived on both lanes. Starting practice for one starts them for both. Having said that, if it's 6:20 and folks aren't there, get cracking, since we want to start competitive play by 6:30.
Bowl out your 3 games, record your scores and hand them in to me.
If a player on your team is not listed (because they weren't here last week) then you can add them in manually, or check with me and I'll have the front desk add them in.
Folks who didn't play last week will not have an average, so your end score/points may look different once that average is calculated and added.
I still have a few teams with just 3 players so any of your friends interested in joining late can still join us! (They can sign up at www.pindependentbowling.com/sign-up.)
What to expect this season:
Again, we start competitive play no later than 6:30
If you miss a week you can pre-bowl, I've included that information again this week for the new kids (see below). If you miss a week and want to post-bowl, email me first (we usually don't post bowl b/c it gets very confusing, but we can make exceptions for emergencies and the like)
This is a league for fun, so, uh, yeah, have fun.
Don't forget about Lane Talk, the app that will track your scores/games and also help give you more granular information about your games. It's free!
If we have inclement weather that makes driving dangerous, we will review/discuss cancellations when that happens. It's pretty rare, but it's happened before. So stay subscribed to these emails for those updates.
Pre-bowling and Free Practice Games:
Every league bowler will have 2 free practice games per week. These games can be played Monday through Friday until 6pm or any time on Sundays. Check in at the desk and let them know that you are here for practice games, not pre-bowling. You should NOT be given a score card for practice games, and you only get 2. No free practice games are allowed on Saturdays.
If you are going to miss a week, you can pre-bowl prior to Sunday night's start. If you prebowl, please let me know!! Again, you can pre-bowl until 7pm M-Sa or any time on Sundays. Make sure you let the staff at AMF know that you are PREBOWLING (not practicing) so that they have you sign in and give you a score card. Take a picture of the completed score card and send it to me. Make sure the score card has your name, your league/team name and the date you are pre-bowling for. If there is no date on the card, it cannot be used, so DATE YOUR SCORECARD.
I'm going to say this again if you didn't read that: Let me know if you're going to pre-bowl and send me your scores. Date your scorecard.
Bowling etiquette (yes you should read this part too):
Be ready to bowl when it's your turn. I know the snack bar lines can be slow, but try to be aware of your turn to bowl and be ready.
Be aware of other bowlers: if 2 bowlers make the approach side by side, the bowler on the right has the right of way. LOOK AROUND. Make sure that when it's your turn, you're not bowling at the same time as the bowlers in the lanes next to you.
Once your turn is done, finish up and get out of the way. Again, we're trying to keep things moving, so once your roll is complete, do your happy dance and let the next bowler approach.
Wear bowling shoes. This should go without saying, but street shoes can damage the approach and lead to falls. Shoes are NOT included in the price of your season, so make sure to rent your shoes when you arrive if you need to.
Keep an eye on food and drink: don't spill near the approach, wet shoes cause falls (trust me on this one). If you're a sloppy eater, then eat at the table behind the benches on the lanes.
Show up on time! We try to be done around 9 every week.
If you are going to miss a week, let your either me or your teammates know! I can't tell you the number of times we've had to guess if someone is going to show up or not, just be a champ and let us know.
Don't be a jerk. No, seriously. We're all here to have fun. Don't be a jerk.