Q: Is it too late to sign up?
A: No. You can still join the league. Please contact Brandon Fredzess at brandon.fredzess@ssa.gov for an application form. If you're going to sign up at the lanes on Monday night, please arrive by 6:00 so you can get your paperwork taken care of before the bowling starts. Warm-ups begin at 6:20 and the games begin at 6:30 sharp.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: There are three payment options. At first we were told we had to choose one of three options for the entire league and the participants chose the most expensive option. However, we recently received permission from Pinole Valley Lanes to allow individuals to choose the option they prefer. Your choices are:
1. $25. This pays for your weekly bowling, the sweeper and cash payout, plus a weekend bowling tournament in Reno.
2. $20. This pays for your weekly bowling, the sweeper and cash payout but not the Reno tournament.
3. $15. This pays for your weekly bowling only. No cash payout, no Reno tournament.
All three plans include bowling shoe rental for those who don't have their own shoes.
All three plans include bowling shoe rental for those who don't have their own shoes.
Q: What is a sweeper?
A: The sweeper is the last night of the season during which the league's prize funds are paid out based on standings and scores.
Q: What can you tell me about the weekend bowling tournament in Reno?
A: We depart on Friday, December 4th and return Sunday, December 6th. It's funded by your weekly bowling fees which cover the round-trip bus ride, the hotel, and the entry fee in the bowling tournament. The hotel is to be announced. The bowling tournament with cash prizes will be held at the National Bowling Stadium in downtown Reno.
Q: When does the league's season end?
A: It's scheduled to end on January 11, 2010.
Q: What if I can't put together a four-member team?
A: You can form your own team if you wish but it isn't required. If you don't have a team, we can match you up with a team in need of another member.
Q: Can my children bowl with me?
A: If they are at least age 18. It's required for leagues that pay out cash winnings.
Q: What is handicap scoring?
A: It's a means of equalizing the competition. Obviously, it would be difficult for a bowler who averages 90 pins per game to compete with a bowler who averages 190. Each bowler gets a boost to his/her score based on his average score per game. The handicap is 90% of the difference between one's average and 210.
If you're a really good bowler who averages 210 pins or more per game, you don't receive any assistance. If you average 110 per game, you will receive a boost of 90 pins per game (90% of the difference between 210 and 110). A scratch bowler with no handicap could bowl a 200 game and lose to a bowler with a 110 average who bowls a 115 game. That's because the bowler with the 110 average gets a 90 pin handicap that boosts his/her score of 115 up to 205. So even in you're an inexperienced bowler who averages less than 100 pins per game, you can still compete with bowlers who average over 200 pins per game.
One of the perks not mentioned above is free practice bowling on Wednesday nights from 6PM to 8PM. I took advantage of this last week with one of my teammates.
ReplyDeleteWe went to the front desk and told them we bowl in the SSA league on Monday nights. They had us sign in and then they sent us down to the lanes they reserved for league bowlers. These were lanes 1 through 5.
They didn't have many show up last week. We were told by some of the regulars that they usually set aside eight lanes. We're expecting all four members of our team (Alley Oops) to be there tonight and maybe a few from Incognito. Maybe we'll see you there tonight.