Rules

Monday Night Fourplay Bowling League
BYLAWS and Rules
Winter 2010-2011

I. THE LEAGUE       These rules are effective as of September 13, 2010

A.    The Monday Night Fourplay (MNFP) Bowling League is a United States Bowling Conference (USBC)
member league, sanctioned through the Long Island USBC Association. The league shall be considered a mixed league, consisting of teams with four bowlers per team of any male and/or female combination.
The league will bowl on Monday nights with practice (10 minutes, with pins, 2nd ball for spares,
neighboring lane courtesy unnecessary) starting at 7:45 pm. The league bowls for 34 weeks, consisting
of two 17 week halves, split standing format. The season is divided into two (2) halves. At the
beginning of the second half, all points that were previously won by teams are rolled back to zero to
allow ALL teams a chance to place higher in the second half. Individual averages and series points will
remain and continue to accrue.

B.    The season will begin on September 13, 2010 and will end with the last night of bowling on
May 9, 2011. There will be one holiday observed. Our end-of-year holiday is on December 27, 2010 and the league will not bowl on this date.

C.   The MNFP Bowling League will use an 11-point scoring system. Three (3) points will be awarded per
game, one (1) point will be awarded for total wood, and (1) point will be awarded for high handicap
game.

II. ORGANIZATION:

A.    The management of this league shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which shall consist of (5) league officers plus one team captain from every team in the league. The officers that comprise the Board of Directors shall consist of the president, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, and the sergeant-at-arms. The membership shall elect all officers. The membership shall consist of each and every bowler in the league. When an issue is voted on by either the Board of Directors or the membership, a majority shall constitute a quorum.

B.    The MNFP Bowling League shall establish and maintain membership with the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO). The league shall appoint an IGBO representative and an IGBO alternate
representative through an election process.

C.    Rules shall be adopted at a meeting prior to the start of the league schedule (at the first nights
organizational meeting) by the membership. Each and every bowler that attends the organizational
meeting shall be entitled to one vote on all issues.

D.   League Rule and League Bylaw Changes:

League rules will only be changed by specific procedure. Any member of the league can request a rule
change by documenting their new proposed rule on paper. The rule proposal document must then be
submitted to the league secretary.. A vote on the new rule proposition will take place at the following
seasons league organizational meeting (week #1) prior to the first ball being thrown. The league secretary will prepare ballots, which list both the old rule, the proposed new rule, and vote options of yes, no, or abstain. The membership will then vote on the proposed rule change. Every present bowler will be given an opportunity to vote. (Bowlers not present will waive their right to vote). The sergeant-at-arms will tally
all votes. A voting majority constitutes a quorum. The rule change will be deemed successful if both a quorum is established, and the proposed rule change receives a majority of the yes and no votes (more than 50% of only the yes and no votes). Abstain votes are only used to contribute toward establishing a quorum. After the vote, submitted ballots will be made available for inspection/recount of any bowler that requests same. A successful rule change will be put into the bylaws immediately, but the rule will not take effect until the first ball is thrown in week #1 of the new season that follows the vote. Any defeated rule change proposal may not be resubmitted for at least one full bowling season.

III. ELECTIONS:

The Election for officers for the following year is held on week 31 of the bowling season. Nominations for candidates shall be held for eight days, from the Monday of week 29 through the Monday of week 30. Candidates are nominated by receiving one nomination from any bowler in the league. Nominations shall be in writing and on a designated nomination form, which will be made available by the league secretary. Notification of the upcoming nomination process shall be made to the membership on week 28.

The membership shall elect all officers. The league secretary shall prepare numbered voting ballots and randomly distribute one ballot to each bowler that is present. Bowlers that are not present will waive their right to vote. One completed ballot will be submitted from each bowler (voting will not be done by team to ensure fairness to all bowlers). Each bowler will select their choice for each officer position from the candidates listed on the ballot. There will be no write-ins permitted. The president will appoint a nomination committee that consists of (3) three non-board of director bowlers to count all votes. Winners will only be by membership majority (more than 50% of membership). If a majority is not established for a particular officer position, the candidate with the least number of votes will be dropped from the ballot and another vote will take place. This same process will continue, with the one candidate with the fewest votes being dropped from the ballot until a majority result is reached. All ballots will be made available for inspection/recount by any bowler that requests same. There shall be no exceptions to the election procedure.

IV. ENTERING AVERAGES:

A. MNFP bowlers from the 2009/2010 winter season will use their book average from the 2009/2010 winter season as his or her entering average, OR;
B. if above is not applicable, new bowlers will use highest book average established in a 2010 summer season, based on a minimum of 21 games, OR;
C. if above is not applicable, new bowlers will use the highest book average established in a 2009/2010 fall or winter season, based on a minimum of 21 or more games, OR;
D. if the above is not applicable, new bowlers will use their highest book average established in a 2008/2009 fall or winter season, based on a minimum of 21 or more games, OR;
E. If the above is not applicable, new bowlers shall establish a league average at the completion of their first full series (3 games).

V. HANDICAPS:

A. The MNFP bowling league will use a team handicap system. The team handicap is the total sum of the individual handicaps for each bowler on the team.
B. Individual bowler handicaps will be based on the entering average for each member until a 9 game average has been established. After 9 games, the handicap will be based on the bowlerï¿½s current average.
C. Each individual handicap will be calculated based on 90% of 230. This will apply to all bowlers in the league, whether male or female.

D. Ten Pin Drop Rule: For handicap purposes, a bowler's average cannot drop more than 10 pins below his entering average (when entering average is a book average based on above rule IV A, B, C, or D). For new bowlers, a new bowler's average cannot drop more than 10 pins below his 21-game established average (an average established after bowling his or her first 21 games).

E. For the purposes of the MNFP bowling league, after 21 games, a new bowler will establish a book average equal to his 21-game established average. In other words, for a new bowler without a book average, after his or her 21st game, a book average will be established, which will remain for the entire balance of the 34 week season.

F. Sanctioned bowlers who are on a team roster, but have not yet bowled in the league, will use a vacancy score of 130 (plus applicable handicap) until he or she throws their first ball in the current season.

VI. FEES AND SANCTIONS:

A. The amount to be paid by each bowler each night shall be $23.00 of which $12.15 will cover the cost of bowling (lineage), $0.20 will go to the secretary, $0.20 will go to the treasurer, and $10.45 will be deposited into the prize fund.

B. Each bowler shall pay to the secretary an $8.00 league sponsor fee within 30 days after the start of the schedule. This fee will cover each bowlerï¿½s IGBO membership fee with the balance being applied toward the administrative costs of running the league (such as paper, ink, supplies, etc.)

C. The last two (2) weeks of bowling fees for each half must be paid by Week #8 for the first half, and by Week #25 for the second half.

D. Any bowler more than three (3) weeks in arrears and present may not be permitted to bowl. A bowler more than three (3) weeks in arrears and absent shall be dropped from the league. It is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure his/her team envelope is kept current and to inform the treasurer of any planned extended absences. The week where the bowler is not permitted to bowl, any bowled games shall be recalculated with the bowler's blind score.

E. A bowler who does not complete the season (34 weeks/sessions) must give a minimum of two (2) weeks notice to the league secretary or they waive all rights to prize fund dollars. Teams wishing to collect a full share must pay full league fees (lineage included).

F. A bowler shall complete a USBC sanction card and, if necessary, pay the applicable sanction fee within 30 days of the first game they bowl. Failure to comply with this provision will result with the team forfeiting any points or games won.

G. An account shall be opened in the name of MNFP through AMF Syosset Bowl and in a private bank. These funds must be verified monthly by the league president. The withdrawing of these funds will require the signatures of two (2) league officers.

H. All fees need to be paid and league envelopes brought to the treasurer by the end of the 1st game. Each team is solely responsible for the money in their envelope until the envelope is delivered to the treasurer.

I. Checks must be made out to the bowling house (AMF Syosset Lanes) -- not Monday Night Fourplay. There is a $20.00 fee for returned checks. If a member's check is returned, that member's check writing privileges shall be revoked. If more than one instance occurs during the season, that bowler's membership shall be revoked and all claims to the prize fund will be forfeited.

VII. TEAM ROSTER:

A. The team captain will turn in a roster of team members to the secretary prior to the start of the schedule. Rosters will consist of at least 2 actual (non vacancy) bowlers, and be limited to six (6) players. Any roster changes must be reported to the league secretary prior to the time the new team member bowls.

B. MNFP Bowling League allows up to 6 players on a team roster (4 regular bowlers and up to two alternates), but only 4 can bowl for scoring each week.

C. New bowlers cannot be added to a team's roster on a position night or after the 9th week of the start of each half season of scheduled bowling.

D. Team rosters cannot be changed after the 1st ball is thrown, unless a bowler cannot continue due to injury or illness. An alternate may bowl any remaining full games left for that bowler. All remaining and unbowled frames for a bowler that cannot continue to bowl will be calculated at 1/10 of the bowler's current and real average (this average is possibly not the same as the drop rule average or handicap average).

E. It is the league member's responsibility to notify the league secretary of any extended planned absences. If a team member is absent for three (3) consecutive weeks, without giving notification, that member will be considered dropped from the league and lose all claims to any prize money.

F. For teams without a full roster, the vacancy score will be 130 (plus applicable handicap).

G. Absentee scores, (Blind), will be 10 pins off the bowler's current average.

H. A legal lineup shall consist of (1) one present bowler. A legal lineup must be present by the start of
the 3rd frame by both pairs of teams to the immediate right and the immediate left. For the purpose of this rule, any bowler(s) that has (have) legally pre-bowled will be considered present on the bowling night that the pre-bowled scores are for.

I. Forfeitures: When a forfeit is declared, the team forfeiting receives zero points. The opposing team must bowl within 40 pins of their own team average to earn points.

VIII. SUBSTITUTES AND PACERS:

A. The MNFP Bowling League does not allow substitutes to bowl. Each team is permitted to have a (six) 6 man roster, two of which are designated as alternates, so substitutes are not allowed.
B. Pacers may bowl at a cost of $5.00 per night, paid to the league treasurer only with the permission of both team captains and when a blind or vacancy spot exists on a team.

IX. PREBOWLS, POSTPONEMENTS AND LATENESS:

Full Team Prebowls will be permitted. The team desiring the full team prebowl must notify both the
league secretary and the opposing team captain at least one week before the scheduled match. Otherwise, no full team prebowls will be granted. With the exception of week #4, no full team prebowling will be allowed for position nights or for the last two (2) weeks of each half. A full team prebowl with less than 4 bowlers present will use blind scores and vacancy scores as applicable. Nobody else on the team will be permitted to bowl for the same week at any later time.

Postbowls are not permitted unless authorized by USBC rule 111B.

Individual Prebowls are generally not permitted. However, individual prebowls will be permitted for any night which a religious holiday or holiday period may fall on when the league is scheduled to bowl. The individual desiring the prebowl must notify both the league secretary and his team captain at least one week before the evening that he or she wishes to bowl. Arrangements will then be made to accommodate the prebowler to the best extent possible. The individual prebowler will obtain and keep in his or her possession a computer printout of all games bowled (obtained from the bowling lanes front desk). The prebowl scores will be forwarded to the league secretary and his or her team captain. No individual prebowling will be allowed for the last two (2) weeks of each half.

B. Late arrivals must be present and ready to bowl before the first ball of the 4th frame is thrown by the closest full pair of teams (4 bowlers on each team are present and bowling) that are bowling in a same match to their right.

X. PRIZES:

A. The Board of Directors must approve the prize list. The president shall appoint a committee by the 5th week of bowling consisting of three (3) members. Each member will create a prize fund. A ballot containing each of the three prize funds shall be distributed to each team captain by the 8th week of bowling for a league vote. This vote shall be conducted by team and not by individual bowler. There shall be one ballot per team. A prize list must win by a majority (more than 50 percent of the teams). Otherwise, the prize fund with the fewest number of votes shall be dropped from the ballots and a new vote shall take place until such time that a majority is reached and there is a winning prize list. The only exception shall be when two of the prize funds have tied for the lowest number of votes. In such case, both prize funds will be dropped and a winning prize fund will be declared. In the extreme case that there is a 3-way tie, the president shall immediately appoint a new committee of three (3) new and different members. Each member will create a new prize fund and the voting process shall be repeated.
B. To qualify for individual awards, a bowler must have bowled at least 2/3 of all scheduled games.
C. A bowler can qualify for only one (1) monetary award for High Average, High Series or High Game. When an individual qualifies for an award in each category, and prizes are of equal value, the prizes shall be awarded in the order listed above. In handicap leagues, special prizes and awards shall be on a handicap basis.
D. The award for Most Improved is not included in Rule C.
E. A team can qualify for only one (1) monetary award for High Series or High Game. The same rules apply as for an individual as in Rule C.

XI. SPORTSMANSHIP:

All bowlers must exhibit good sportsmanship while bowling. It is the intent of the Board of Directors
that this league will be fun and accepting, and that each bowler, while on the lanes, acts with decency,
fairness, and integrity. Poor sportsmanship will result in a warning, suspension, or in extreme cases for the habitual offender - expulsion from the league. All reports of Poor Sportsmanship must be brought to the attention of the League Officers by the offended party or his/her team captain at the time the incident
occurs. All of these offenses will be dealt with immediately and hopefully a civil and responsible solution will be found. The league Officers and Board of Directors will follow USBC guidelines for more serious conflict resolutions.

Examples of poor sportsmanship are as follows:

a. Use of ethnic, religious, or racial epithets
b. Excessive taunting or teasing of opponents
c. Excessively loud behavior that is disturbing to other bowlers on the league
d. Dumping - defined as when a bowler manages his/her average in the last frames of a game by purposely throwing low pin frames, clearly in an effort to minimize the games' effect on his/her average.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS:

A. All bowlers must wear regulation-bowling shoes.

B. At no time is anyone or any object on a person permitted past the foul line.

C. Bowlers are required to provide 1-lane courtesy. 1-Lane courtesy means that a bowler is not permitted on the approach when bowlers in the lane to his/her immediate right and immediate left are already on the approach. Once these bowlers release their balls, all is clear.

D. Position rounds will be weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and 17 for the first half and weeks 21, 25, 29, 33 and 34 for the second half.

E. A bowler must meet one of the following two criteria in order to bowl in any position week:

a. With the exception of week #4, he or she must have nine (9) Monday Night Fourplay league games bowled for the current season.

OR

b. He or she must have an established 21-game USBC book average for a USBC league that he or she actually bowled in within the preceeding 365 days. Any bowler that bowls in a position round either by only meeting criteria (b.) of this section, or who has already bowled in week #4, may not bowl again in any other position round unless he or she has nine (9) Monday Night Fourplay league games bowled for the current season by such time.

G. In the event of a tie for a trophy position, a one (1) game roll off will be