Welcome to the Microsoft Bowling League. The following page contains general information about our league. Can't find the information you're looking for? Check out the league bylaws.
Teams are responsible for paying fees for four bowlers each night of bowling. Captains are responsible for collecting funds, filling out the pay envelopes and getting them to the Treasurer before the end of the first game. If a team has a balance due (either bowling or membership fees) for more than 2 weeks the team will forfeit until their balance is paid and their account is current. Any bank fees resulting from checks that come back due to insufficient funds will be charged to the team.
Tech City Bowl has asked that that we pay the last two weeks bowling fees by week 8. Your treasurer will send out a reminder as the due date approaches.
The Microsoft league bowls on Monday nights, for 31 weeks. This is a split league (split into trimesters), and because many people travel around the holidays, we have a two week holiday break. This is the schedule for the 2006-2007 season. Additional information on scheduling can be found here.
Rosters consist of a minimum of four bowlers, and a maximum of six bowlers. See league bylaws for additional information on legal line-ups. NOTE: If a bowler is bowling for the first time, the bowler needs to bowl all three games to establish an average and handicap. Be on time! See bylaws for additional information on tardy bowlers.
Everyone starts the season with no average and no handicap. The first three league games establishes your beginning average and handicap. You should not calculate initial handicaps on the score sheet. Please just record the raw score for each bowler, and the scratch total the first time a person bowls. The bowling software that we use automatically calculates the handicap, and determines the winners of the match. If you do wish to calculate your handicaps, keep in mind that if there is a discrepancy or change in the number of points won, the bowling software's handicap calculation and scoring will be the official score. Handicap is 90% of the difference between 200 and the bowler's average. E.g. if the bowler's average is 150 pins, the handicap would be calculated as follows: 200-150 = 50 x 90% = 45 handicap. Per USBC rule 100g fractions are dropped.
One point is awarded for each game won, and one point for total pins, for a total of seven points pins. While it's still possible to tie, it would be very rare for both teams to tie all three games. In the event of a tie game, each team receives 1/2 point. If total pins is tied, 1/2 point is awarded to each team.
Position rounds are played every 10 weeks, not counting weeks we don't bowl. The first place team for each trimester is determined at this time. After each position round, the team standings are reset to zero and the next part begins. On week 31, the first place teams from each trimester, along with the team holding the most number of wins for the season that has not won a trimester advance to the championships. See bylaws for additional information on tie breakers. NOTE: Only team standings and pin counts will be reset after position rounds. All other team and individual stats will continue without being reset.
The winners of the trimesters and the total game winners advance to the Championships. Teams will be randomly drawn to determine who plays whom in the first round. Rounds will consist of single games. The format will be as follows:
In the event of a tie at the end of round 3, see Tie Break in the bylaws.
NOTE: No team may bowl on the same lanes in any championship round. To prevent this, 12 lanes will be reserved for for the championships.
League rules require weekly stat sheets be available before bowling before the next week begins. The results will posted on this web site. The secretary will provide copies at the lanes prior to bowling for that night. This will allow you to input your team’s information and handicaps prior to bowling. If you want to do this earlier than the secretary’s arrival, feel free to bring your own copy. Keep in mind though, that the paper copy distributed by the league secretary will be considered the correct version of the stats, and will be used to resolve any differences in scoring. Each team should review the stat sheets once they are posted to make sure there are no discrepancies when compared to your copies of the previous weeks score sheet. If discrepancies occur, please contact your league secretary.
Please fill out your recap sheets as completely as possible (including team name, lane number, and date). When filling out your team member names, please use their first and last names. Don’t use nicknames. Write legibly and check your work. If you can’t read your own writing, the secretary probably can’t either. Remember, when the captains sign the recap sheet and hand them in to the secretary the submitted scores are final. Make sure you turn your recap sheets in to the secretary immediately upon finishing your last game. If sheets aren’t turned in and the scores can’t be recovered, both teams will forfeit all three games.
The Weekly and Season High scores will be listed on the standings sheets.
Any team or individual can hold as many Weekly High Scores as they qualify for. But each team or individual is only allowed to qualify for one of the Season High Score awards. If a team or individual qualifies for more than one Season High Score, they’ll always receive the higher place. If they qualify for two of the same place, then we go to the order of precedence. The order of precedence for the awards is as follows:
High Scratch Series
High Scratch Game
High Handicap Series
High Handicap Game
For example team A earns 1st place for High Handicap Series one week, and the next week earns 1st place for High Scratch Game. Since High Scratch Game is higher in the order of precedence, the team will now have 1st place for High Scratch Game.
The league will provide team and individual prizes (trophies and/or cash) for the following:
Team Awards:
1st through 4th Place Overall
High Team Scratch Series
High Team Scratch Game
High Team Handicap Series
High Team Handicap Game
Individual Awards:
Men's:
High Scratch Series
High Scratch Game
High Handicap Series
High Handicap Game
High Season Average
Most Improved Bowler
Women's:
High Scratch Series
High Scratch Game
High Handicap Series
High Handicap Game
High Season Average
Most Improved Bowler
In addition, the USBC offer several individual achievement awards that can be found in the center section of your USBC rulebook. Team captains are responsible for reporting and supplying witness names for awards/achievements not based on final score (ex: Dutch 200, All Split Game, etc).
Bowlers must bowl at least 2/3 of the season (60 games) to be eligible for individual end of season awards. Week 31, our Championships week, doesn’t count toward this total.
Towards the end of the season the President will ask for volunteers to head up the Prize/End of Season Party Committee. Please let the President know if you’re interested in helping out.
Tech City Bowl has instituted a No Smoking policy. Currently, smoking is only allowed in the designated smoking room.
Microsoft will reimburse up to $100 per employee and $75 per spouse. Please visit HR's website for specific information on reimbursement policy. NOTE: You can have non-Microsoft people on your team if you don't care about not being reimbursed.