Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2008

June Davis — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:52:41 GMT

The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter

Volume 11, Issue 4 April 2008

"The crisis is upon us, friends. Our sport is in trouble. Many of you, that love the game as we do, will look at the crisis like a friend who is in trouble and needs our help. We must not shrink from the task before us, we should welcome it. It is 'our' generation that has been called to the challenge. If not now, when? If not us, who?"

__________________________________

Letter from the Editor

Milestones

I began working this morning on compiling and editing this edition of The Cornerstone. While working, I realized that we have reached a milestone. This edition of The Cornerstone marks our 100^th publication. That may seem small but in the scope of our publication, it’s actually quite a big deal. You see, there are only a few “staffers” that work on this each month; in fact, there are actually only three of us. With such a small team we each have our parts and we work together to make sure that we put out the best edition we can each month.

So to my “staff”, I say a big THANK YOU; for all of your hard work and contributions, for making sure we get each edition out in a timely manner and just for being the great people that you are. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. You make my job easy and fun. Here’s to at least 100 more editions!

College Bowling

On another note, March marks the time of year when collegiate bowling begins its race to crown a national champion. As I am writing this, ITC Sectional competition is beginning across the country. The four Sectional Qualifiers will be held March 15-16 at AMF Parkway in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill., and the Southpoint Hotel & Casino bowling center in Las Vegas.

Defending Men’s Champions, Saginaw Valley, will be looking to earn a Nationals berth at the Chattanooga Sectional. Defending Women’s Champions, Wichita State, will also be vying for a Nationals berth at the Fairview Heights Sectional.

To all of the teams participating in Sectional competition, Good Luck!

USBC develops new biomechanics technology for bowling

By: Patrick Brettingen; USBC Communications

Measuring pressure on specific points of the human body is becoming a new and growing focus for bowling coaching and training. The United States Bowling Congress has now developed advanced technology that can measure grip and foot pressure to improve the collection of motion data throughout a bowler's approach.

These patent-pending biomechanics systems, which transmit body movement data to a computer via a series of pressure sensors connected to a bowler's throwing hand and feet, are examples of new technology that USBC believes will usher in the future of coaching in the sport of bowling.

"This is the kind of technology we need in the sport of bowling," said USBC Research Engineer Paul Ridenour, who was instrumental in developing the grip and foot pressure systems. "These systems work together with coaching. USBC hopes that by understanding biomechanics and applying these systems to the sport of bowling, we can give our coaches the most advanced tools to analyze bowlers and help teach athletes of all ability levels."

The grip pressure system measures the location and amount of pressure a bowler imparts on different parts of the throwing hand as it grips a bowling ball throughout an approach and delivery. A bowler's hand is outfitted with a specially-designed sports glove with small pressure sensors (0.07 inches thick) attached by medical tape. The sensors, which are made up of tiny, individual sensing units, transmit pressure data from the hand through a data hub worn on the wrist which is connected to a computer. Once a shot is recorded through the system, the data is analyzed on a computer.

"From a coaching perspective, the grip pressure system can provide coaches with valuable information about things such as a bowler's rev rate, if a bowler squeezes the ball in the back swing and how grip pressure changes when a bowler uses a different release," Ridenour said. "Measuring grip pressure can allow coaches to develop effective methods of teaching athletes different releases. From a ball driller's point of view, this can help to learn drillings that minimize a bowler's grip pressure."

The foot pressure system measures the location and amount of pressure placed on various parts of a bowler's feet during the approach and slide. Pads with the same type of sensors used in the grip pressure system are placed underneath a bowler's shoe insoles. As a bowler makes an approach, foot pressure is measured and the data transmitted through hubs worn around the ankles to a computer and then analyzed. Sensors are calibrated based on a bowler's weight.

"Foot pressure provides coaches with important data about a bowler's tempo, consistency of the approach, timing, power step, the slide and posting a shot," Ridenour said. "Foot timing is one of the critical aspects of a bowler's physical game, and we can actually measure within one hundredth of a second the amount of time a bowler takes on a single step and how long a bowler will stay posted in the finish position. Both grip and foot pressure measurement can be synchronized with video footage of bowling students."

USBC plans for this and other new technology to be integral features of its planned 12-to-16-lane combined equipment testing and international training center in Arlington, Texas, if a deal is finalized, as expected, to move the headquarters of the sport's national governing body from Greendale, Wis.

In addition to grip and foot pressure systems, USBC is applying for a patent on another new technology system. These new technologies will be the subject of newly-named USBC Vice President - National Governing Body Neil Stremmel's seminars May 7-8 at the USBC Convention in Kansas City, Mo., and June 24 at International Bowl Expo in Orlando, Fla.

Hambone Haters Beware

By: Brandy Padilla

This PBA season has been interesting to say the least. First of all, Rhino Page; all I can say is WOW. I had seen him bowl before but he is certainly showing the world that he has talent and he is staking one heck of a claim on the Rookie of the Year title. Not only has he broken several PBA records for a non-exempt player coming from the TQR, he also just one his first title after making several TV finals appearances. If I had a vote, I’d certainly give it to him.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Chris Barnes are battling it out for Player of the Year honors. It seems every show, one if not both of them are making an appearance. Right now, Chris Barnes has only a four point lead over Walter Ray with only a few events left in the season. This one definitely could come down to the wire and should keep the remainder of the season interesting.

Perhaps my favorite thing this season has been the addition of Rob Stone to the booth. I know there are many Rob Stone “haters” out there (hey, I read the message boards too), but I must say I really like this guy. He is enthusiastic, energetic, and likable. I think his energy is contagious and it seems like Randy and Rob really click together. The banter between them makes me laugh. It really is a breath of fresh air to me.

Probably his most notable achievement this season has been to rename a four bagger as a “hambone”. I will be honest in saying that hambone is not my favorite term. That said, I LOVE his enthusiasm. He has gotten people to talk about bowling. Its positive press and people are getting into it. Just look at all the signs during the weekly telecasts. I think I even saw some people with hambone shirts on. This kind of excitement and buzz can only be good.

What I think is truly amazing about the whole hambone revolution is that it does have people talking. I even heard some local kids bowling for fun talking about trying to get a hambone. These kids probably don’t watch bowling on a regular basis yet they have heard of hambone and it has made an impression on them. My friend and I even get hambone going during our leagues. It certainly makes everyone smile. We’ve even adopted Yahtzee!

So to all you haters out there, I say back off. Rob Stone is energetic, enthusiastic and genuinely seems to love our sport. We should embrace that and encourage that because he is generating a buzz and positive press which in turn can only help put our sport in a new light. Try yelling hambone one night in league and see how many smiles you get. It worked for me…and I must say, I may not love hambone, but I do love that people are paying attention.

PBA, USBC TO OFFER PBA EXPERIENCE TOURNAMENTS

USBC Sport Bowling members will get even more out of their PBA Experience starting next season. Adding yet another benefit to USBC Sport Bowling membership, the Professional Bowlers Association and USBC are teaming up to expand the PBA Experience program to include PBA Experience tournaments.

Starting this coming fall, USBC Sport Bowlers will have the opportunity to go beyond the current PBA Experience league concept to compete in tournaments on the same lane oil patterns that Norm Duke, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes and other pros battle in Denny's PBA Tour events. Administered by the PBA, PBA Experience tournaments will be formatted like PBA Regional events on a smaller scale, giving bowlers the chance to compete as individuals in a tournament situation.

The PBA Experience, part of the USBC Sport Bowling program, currently exists in a league format for USBC Sport Bowling members. PBA Experience leagues offer bowlers the unique chance to compete on the PBA's five different lane conditioning patterns - Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion, Shark and Viper. These patterns, which have varying oil distances and characteristics, all comply with USBC Sport Bowling rules for lane oil application with at least a 3:1 ratio of oil on the inside boards versus the outside boards. Bowlers in PBA Experience leagues make the same kinds of decisions about adjusting their angles and targets, playing different parts of the lane and changing bowling balls as the pros.

The popularity of PBA Experience leagues continues to grow, with a 55 percent increase in leagues and a 37 percent jump in members from this time a season ago. "USBC is excited to partner with the PBA for PBA Experience tournaments," said Director of USBC Sport Bowling Steve Wunderlich. "Just as in PBA Experience leagues that have become so popular across the country, bowlers now will be able to take their PBA Experience to an entirely new level by bowling on the five Denny's PBA Tour patterns in a tournament atmosphere. I believe USBC Sport Bowling members will be thrilled to add a new dimension to their Sport Bowling membership. This will offer bowlers a new opportunity to fire up their competitive juices on challenging oil patterns in a tournament setting."

The PBA has released the following details about PBA Experience Events

Proprietors who host a PBA Experience league or PBA tournament will have the opportunity to run PBA Experience tournaments, standardized events with a four- to five-hour, one-day format including five qualifying games, single-game match play brackets, PBA Experience lane oil patterns, established prize funds (based on entries) and a basic set of rules and regulations.

PBA Experience tournaments will be open to local bowlers who live or bowl in the USBC association that services the bowling center hosting the tournament. Exempt players on the Denny's PBA Tour and past PBA Tour champions are not eligible. PBA Experience tournaments are operated by PBA members in good standing. In an instance that a PBA member is not available to manage the tournament operation, written permission to operate an event may be granted (by PBA Regional Managers) to bowling center managers or proprietors who host PBA Experience Leagues or PBA tournaments. PBA includes a set of rules, a standardized format, pre-designed entry blanks and score sheets, plus user-friendly tournament software to assist tournament operators. For more information about PBA Experience Tournaments, contact a local PBA Region Manager:

PBA Manager, Gary Mage. West & Northwest Region includes the states of Utah, CA., Nevada, Hawaii, AZ, Oregon, Montana, Washington, WY., Idaho and Alaska.

P.O. Box 87100

Vancouver, WA 98687

Phone: (360) 600-1229

Email: gary.mage@pba.com

PBA Manager, Rich Weber. Midwest Region includes the states of North Dakota,

Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.

P.O. Box 820

St. Peters, MO 63376

Phone: (636) 233-4304

Email: rich.weber@pba.com

PBA Manager, Pete McCordic. Southwest Region includes the states of Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana.

24507 Pelican Hill

Katy, TX 77494

Phone: (281) 627-3976

Email: pete.mccordic@pba.co

PBA Manager, Bobby Jakel. Central Region includes the states of Indiana,

Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia and Ohio.

P.O. Box 88

Lockport, IL 60441

Phone: (815) 483-3032

Email: bobby.jakel@pba.com

PBA Manager, Harry O'Neale, Jr. South Region includes the states of Mississippi,

Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and North and South Carolina.

P.O. Box 393

Ravenel, SC 29470

Phone: (843) 906-6005

Email: harry.oneale@pba.com

PBA Manager, Russ Mills. East Region includes Washington, D. C. and the states

of Maine, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont,

New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania.

P.O. Box 7066

Auburn, NY 13022

Phone: (315) 253-2527

Email: russ.mills@pba.com

USBC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES

Almost $40,000 to be awarded in three national scholarship competitions

GREENDALE, Wis. - Three national scholarship opportunities are available for United States Bowling Congress (USBC) members this spring, offering a total of $39,500 in awards.

"One of the best advantages to being a young USBC bowler (besides tournament opportunities), is the ability to apply for some serious scholarship money to pay for college," said Brian Graham, USBC's director of youth development. "USBC offers several scholarship opportunities throughout the year, providing thousands of dollars in awards to deserving bowlers in high school and in college."

STUDENTS MUST ACT NOW

Students should act now - April 1 is the application deadline for USBC's: “Gift for Life” Scholarships and also for the Annual Zeb Scholarship competitions.

Up to 12 “Gift for Life” Scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded to USBC Youth members who are high school students and demonstrate financial need. Two of these awards are reserved for a son and a daughter of fire department, emergency rescue and/or police personnel.

"USBC's annual “Gift for Life” Scholarships competition began in 2002 in honor of the Sept. 11th heroes who risked their lives to save others," Graham said. "Since the “Gift for Life” awards are based purely on financial need, bowlers who are freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school can apply each year they are eligible, even if they have already won a “Gift for Life” Scholarship in a previous year."

The ZEB Scholarship

The Annual Zeb Scholarship - a $2,500 award - recognizes a USBC Youth member who is a high school junior or senior, achieves academic success and gives back to his or her community through service. The award also includes an expense-paid trip for the winner and a parent or guardian to attend the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the USBC Junior Gold Championships this July in suburban Detroit.

"Since the Annual Zeb Scholarship is named for Jim Zebehazy, who was executive director of USBC's predecessor youth organization during the launch and rapid growth of the Junior Gold program, it's fitting that the Annual Zeb Scholarship is presented at the championships," Graham said.

Earl Anthony Scholarships

High school seniors and college students have until May 1 to apply for USBC's Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarships, a competition which recognizes five USBC members for their community involvement and academic achievements. Financial need also is considered. These awards are $5,000 each.

"Earl Anthony did so much to encourage youth bowlers during his professional bowling career and in his later years," Graham said. "These awards are provided in his memory to uphold the ideals that Earl held dear: good citizenship, fair play and dedicated action to achieve goals."

Application forms for these and other USBC scholarship opportunities may be downloaded from bowl.com (follow the "Youth" and "Scholarships" links). Paper copies of the applications also may be requested by phoning USBC's SMART Scholarship department at (800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3168.

USBC Youth

United States Bowling Congress Youth membership offers fun, exciting opportunities for young people to learn a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime, improve their skills, develop teamwork and leadership abilities, and try for their part of more than $6 million in scholarships awarded to youth bowlers every year.

CONTACT: Joyce Jocham
USBC Communications
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 3223
joyce.jocham@bowl.com

USBC, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Check out the USBC on the Web: www.bowl.com

(NOTE: This message was used for the Cornerstone Newsletter. It was also included on The Foundation web site and was used with permission from the USBC. It was edited for space.)

USBC Board votes its intention to move headquarters to Texas

By: Jerry Schneider; USBC Communications

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors has given approval to announce its intention to relocate the organization's headquarters to Arlington, Texas, where it will reside with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.

The decision, made during a meeting Sunday in Atlanta, came after presentations were made by officials from Arlington and Milwaukee, the homes of the BPAA and USBC, respectively.

"This is a great day for bowling. Relocating to Arlington would allow for the creation of an international bowling campus. We can set the foundation for tremendous growth and opportunities for decades to come," said USBC President Jeff Bojé. "Both cities made excellent presentations and either would have been good locations for USBC. The Board decided Arlington would be the best location should the USBC receive approval of investment from the Texas Enterprise Fund."

Contingent upon TEF approval, USBC Headquarters is expected to move to Arlington later this year. In addition to office space for about 200 overall employees, the new complex will include a 12-to-16-lane combined equipment testing and international training center to form a $14 million international bowling campus. BPAA has pledged to pay for half of the complex while utilizing less than one-fifth of the space.

The property is located at 621 Six Flags Drive, across the street from Six Flags Over Texas in the heart of Arlington's entertainment and sports district. It is about three blocks east of Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, and about six blocks east of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium set to open in 2009. The creation of an international bowling campus at such a high profile location will provide the opportunity to showcase bowling to the world that doesn't exist at the present location.

"Integration of operations can be achieved without the loss of identity or control of the individual organizations," said BPAA President Joe Schumacker. "By working in tandem with USBC, we can fulfill our individual missions, as well as protect and grow all levels of competitive bowling.

"The concept of integrating the operation of the BPAA and the USBC makes sense. Bowling has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. It is imperative the organizations embrace change so they can continue to professionally support their individual constituencies."

The new joint venture is expected to help grow the sport by USBC and BPAA by being more able to work together on joint programs such as youth bowling and coaching. Youth bowling and coaching have been major points of emphasis for the organizations.

An additional factor for the Board's decision was ease of travel. As one of the world's largest airports, Dallas/Fort Worth International makes it much easier for those traveling to and from the international bowling campus, especially those traveling internationally.

USBC and BPAA announced in November that their boards of directors had approved a study of how much their operations should be integrated. The goal was to use such efficiencies to help grow the sport of bowling. The organizations' boards of directors gave approval in January to start negotiations with all parties involved to relocate the organization's headquarters to Texas.

___________________________________________

Membership Report

We have members in all 50 states,
and the District of Columbia

We have members in 49 countries, including the United States:

Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Brazil Canada China Columbia Costa Rica Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Guam Guatemala Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia Malaysia Mexico The Netherlands N. Ireland Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand Panama Philippines Puerto Rico Peru Qatar Scotland Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey U.A.E. Ukraine Venezuela

Corporate Sponsors

The problems that exist in our Sport are “industry-wide” problems that must be addressed by the entire Industry. The Foundation does all that they can to help, but we can NOT do it alone.

The Foundation has well over 1000-Members who have joined-in to assist. Some Members (Founding and Charter) have paid to show their support. Some Members (Associates) have just lent their “voice”. ALL of the members are important.

Even though The Foundation has NOT actively solicited bowling-related companies for help, some realize the importance of our “Mission” and have come forward with donations. We recognize the following companies for their loyalty and support to bowling.

KEGEL

KAT Travel

I.B.P.S.I.A.

EBN Services

Storm Bowling

Classic Products

Bobs’ Business, Inc.

Vincennes University

BowlersParadise.com

Virtualtournaments.com

Wichita State University

David Driscoll & Associates

International Bowling Industry Magazine

Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine

_________________________________________

Please send change of address or email address to the address below, to ensure uninterrupted subscription to the Cornerstone newsletter.

The Cornerstone,

The Foundation’S Newsletter

The Foundation

c/o Kegel

6800 US 27 North

Sebring FL 33870

Phone: 863-382-2643

Email: savrsprt@yahoo.com

The Foundation / The Foundation / The Cornerstone Newsletter / Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2008 / Latest Posts

Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2008