TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Logistics
1. The Teams
2. Gameplay
1. Games
2. Scoring
3. Attendance
4. Sportsmanship

LOGISTICS

1. The Teams

1. Standard teams will generally consist of seven (7) players, selected at random.

1. Team size may vary depending on season league size.

2. Players may request to sign-up with one (1) “buddy” to be placed on the same team. This must be done at the time of the initial sign-up and both players must choose each other. All attempts will be made to match the two players on the same team.

2. Teams have the opportunity to come up with a team name in the first few weeks of the season to be used throughout the remainder of the season. 

1. Team names may not be offensive or use any derogatory terms of any kind.

GAMEPLAY

1. Games

   1. Each team will play as many games as possible in a 2-hour time frame.

   2. Lane assignments are found in the weekly emails, on League Lobster, and posted at the bowling alley.

   3. All players are required to wear proper bowling shoes. Bowlers may use shoes from the bowling alley (no charge) or can bring their own bowling shoes. Non-bowling shoes of any kind are not allowed to be worn by bowling in any circumstance.

   4. Bowlers may use the provided house bowling balls from the venue or bring their own regulation bowling ball

      1. Personal bowling equipment is used at your own risk. BARS & the bowling alley are not liable for any damage that may occur to personal bowling balls. 

      2. Players wishing to use their own equipment may be required to sign an additional waiver to be allowed to at the discretion of the venue

   5. Bowlers are required to bowl on their own lane. Only scores achieved under your own name will count.

   6. You cannot under any circumstance bowl for another person, including an absent bowler.

   7. If your team experiences any technical issues during play, send a team member to the front desk for assistance.

   8. If there is a significant issue that prevents your team from bowling for an extended period, please inform a member of the leadership team, so the issue can be addressed. 

2. Scoring

   1. The highest score each individual player achieves each week will be used to calculate a team average for the week.

   2. If any member of the team is absent, a score 10 pins less than their established average will be used for the team score that week.

      1. A bowler is considered to have established an average for the season after 2 weeks of play.

      2. Should a bowler with an established average withdraw from the league, their average will no longer be factored into the team average.

         1. A bowler must email the Director to formally withdraw from the league.
         2. A bowler who has an established average and misses 3 consecutive weeks will be considered withdrawn and no longer be factored into the average after the 3rd week of absence unless/until they return to bowling.

   3. If an absent bowler has no established average, they will not be factored into the score that week (won’t hurt or help the team).

   4. Should time expire before the completion of a game, the score is still eligible to be counted if it is the highest score of the session.

   5. A team average must consist of at least 4 individual player scores to be recorded for the weekly standings (including both present players' scores and absent players with established averages)

      1. In the unusual situation a team does not meet this minimum number of scores to form an average, a substitute score, determined by subtracting 10 pins  from  the league average, will be factored into the team average place of each player score required to reach the minimum number of team participants.

   6. Scores are posted every week on League Lobster.

3. Attendance

   1. In order to have veteran status for the following season, you must attend 75% of weeks of bowling during the season. If more than 25% of weeks are missed, veteran status will not be granted to the player for the following season.

   2. Attendance is taken by logging all bowlers who have recorded scores. If a bowler is present, but unable to bowl, due to injury, or other outside circumstance, they can still be considered present, but must report to the Director of Bowling, or the Operations Manager to check in for their attendance to count. If a non-participant bowler does not check in with leadership, they will be considered absent.

   3. No make-up days will be permitted for absent players.

   4. Any individual who does not report to bowling for the first two weeks of the season and doesn’t inform the Director Of Bowling and their team, will be given one opportunity to confirm they are still a player in the season. If there is no response, they will forfeit all monies paid and not be permitted to play for the remainder of the season. The next person on the waitlist will be invited to play the remainder of the season.

   5. If you miss more than 50% of games within a given season, you will not be eligible to register for the next season.

4. Sportsmanship

   1. Big Apple Recreational Sports is New York City’s non-profit, community-minded co-ed sports league for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and LGBTQI-friendly New Yorkers who want to play competitive sports in an athletic environment free of harassment, discrimination and drama. Our leagues are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all participants. To that end, all players are expected to conduct themselves with the highest level of sportsmanship.

   2. Sportsmanship is defined as: fairness and respect for one’s opponents, teams, venue employees, and referees, as well as exhibiting graciousness in winning and losing.

   3. Threatening language, verbal threats, or slurs against race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, or gender will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

   4. If any unacceptable behavior as outlined above is observed by any member of the BARS community and found to be true after an investigation by the BARS Bowling Leadership team, it may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game, season or league.