Delaware Valley Bowling Championships - Format and Rules

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TOURNAMENT RULES

- This is a certified USBC tournament

- ENTRIES:

1. Main Event - Bowlers may enter only once and be on one doubles team for the tournament.

2. Singles Championships (Optional) - Bowlers may enter any of the three Singles Championships - Scratch, Handicap, and Women's Handicap (if applicable). Bowlers may cash in more than one singles championships

- AVERAGES AND HANDICAPS:

3. Bowler's average will be calculated based on a composite average of all league averages from the last two season (2023-2024 and 2024-2025). Any sport or challenge averages found will be calculated into determining entering tournament average

4. If a bowler's 2024-2025 highest average of at least 21 games is higher than the entering tournament average, take 50% of the difference and add to entering tournament average.

5. Bowlers are individually responsible for verification of their average, even if they do not submit their average. Failure of a bowler to report their correct average by the end of the first game, of any day of the tournament, may disqualify their scores. If a bowler's average is found to be lower than the actual average, the bowler will use the average reported at the time of bowling, which is the higher average.

6. Handicap based on 80% of 480 team average for the main event. 80% of 240 for Singles Championships and side action for the tournament. 

7. Handicap per game will be limited to 100 pins per game (Main Event only)

8. USBC Rules 319A, 319D, and 319E will be waived

- ELIGIBILITY

9. Bowlers must be at least 18 years old to participate. Youth bowlers are not permitted to bowl in the tournament. 

10. Bowlers must have a current USBC membership for the 2025-2026 USBC season. 

11. Bowlers who arrive after the start time will be subject to receive zeros for frames missed. Teams are required to check in at each center AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to the start time.

12. The Delaware Valley Bowling Championships abides by the one Lane Courtesy Rule.

- SUBSTITUTES & CHANGES

13. Substitutes For Day 1 (Thunderbird Lanes - Holme Ave.) and & Day 2 (Bowlero Bristol) - all substitutes must check in AT LEAST 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the squad. Substitutes will assume the original bowler's position. Any bowler can substitute on Days 1 and/or 2. Teams must still stay under 480 team average cap.

14. Substitutes for Day 3 (Slocum's Bowling, Bar & Grille) - all substitutes must check in AT LEAST 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the squad. Substitutes will assume the original bowler's position. ONLY bowlers that have bowled the tournament on Days 1 and 2 that did not make the first cut can be a substitute for any bowler on Day 3. Teams must still stay under 480 team average cap.

15. Substitutes for Day 4/Finals (Morrisville Lanes) - all substitutes must check in AT LEAST 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the squad. Substitutes will assume the original bowler's position. ONLY bowlers that have bowled the tournament on Days 1 and 2 that did not make the finals cut can be a substitute for any bowler on Day 4/Finals (Main Event only). Teams must still stay under 480 team average cap.

FORMAT - MAIN EVENT

- Qualifying: Teams will bowl 4 games on Saturday 10/25 at Thunderbird Lanes - Holme Ave. and 4 games on Sunday 10/26 at Bowlero Bristol. After 8 games, cut to top half of the field to advance to Day 3 (round up)

- Advancer's Round: 8-game team totals carryover from Days 1-2. Teams will bowl 4 games on 11/1 at Slocum's Bowling, Bar & Grille. After 12 games, top 1:5 teams from starting field will advance to Day 4/Finals (Minimum 12 teams).

- Finals (11/2 at Morrisville Lanes): Totals do NOT carryover. Teams will bowl 3 games, cut to top 8 teams. Top 8 teams will bowl 1 game eliminator format rounds until final 2 teams (8 teams, 1 game, 4 teams, 1 game). Championship Match is best 2 out of 3 games.

FORMAT - ALL SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS (SCRATCH, HANDICAP, WOMEN'S)

- Qualifying: Bowlers will bowl 4 games on Saturday 10/25 at Thunderbird Lanes - Holme Ave. and 4 games on Sunday 10/26 at Bowlero Bristol. After 8 games, top 4 bowlers will advance to the stepladder finals.

- Stepladder Finals (11/2 at Morrisville Lanes): 1 game matches for each round of stepladder finals. Match #1: #4 vs. #3, Match 2: #2 vs. winner of Match #1, Championship Match: #1 vs. Winner of Match #2

TOURNAMENT CASH SPOTS

- All bowlers that make the finals (Morrisville Lanes) in any division (Main Event and/or any singles championship) will cash

- MAIN EVENT: Teams that make the finals cash (approximately 1:5)

- SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS: Top 1:5 bowlers will cash

MISCELLANEOUS

- All tournament cashers (Main Event and Singles) will receive prize money 48hrs after the completion of the last ball thrown in the tournament. Cashers can receive prize money via Cash, PayPal, Venmo, Cashapp, or Zelle.

- On-site entry fee transactions will be cash, Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp, or Zelle. No personal checks.

- PROTESTS must be filed to the tournament director prior to the start of practice for the next day of competition (prior to day 2 or day 4) OR 24hrs after the completion of competition for the day of the tournament (after Day 2 or Day 4).

TOURNAMENT STAFF RESERVES ALL RIGHTS TO THE 33RD ANNUAL DELAWARE VALLEY BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIPS TOURNAMENT