Looking for league format ideas!!

[kingpin279]

I am the organizer for a daytime league in my area. The league is mainly with co-workers ranging in bowling levels from beginners to serious league bowlers. We have completed about 6 short seasons but are now suffering from a lack of interest. I am looking for league format ideas to spark interest and get the league back up to the level we were at in the beginning.

From talking with bowlers they prefer
* A shorter season instead of the traditional 35-36 week season.
* Like the lower $12-$14 weekly dues we've been paying.
* Equal competition and chance for winning money

There are several problems I have encountered. It takes a lot of work starting the league over (filing USBC application, sanction cards, etc.) every 14 weeks. Also, by keeping the dues low the payout isn't very high. Would a 34 week season that is split into 2-17 week mini seasons work and allow teams to leave and join midway through (two mini-season payout and an overall payout)? Or should we just raise dues and plan a longer season around 22 weeks and throw in more off-weeks? I'm looking for ideas on what has or hasn't work for everyone. Any idea is greatly appreciated.

Mark

[J Anderson]

Is it really a lack of interest, or is it a lack of time? It seems that most American workers are being asked to do more and more under shorter and shorter deadlines, resulting in more overtime, both paid and unpaid. Those who have children tend to run 16/7 taxi service between play dates, soccer, scout meetings, music lessons etc.

[Jaescrub]

That's sad to hear we started a spring league for my wife to get her use to Bowling. We only had 7 4 man teams and three have stopped coming all together. :/ it might just be that most people want to spend there free time out side being summer and all.

[Judy clemons]

to help with payout team organizer raffles off tickets weekly (1 for $1.00 or 3 for $2.00 or 5 for $3.00 etc...) however much is collected is split in 1/2 { example you collect 25.00 } so {12.50 goes toward point money pay out} and the other 1/2 of the pot {12.50} goes to the winner of the ticket that got pulled. You have a winner every week and you add to your pin point pay off every week (example if you only collect 12.50 a week for 12weeks you have added $150.00 to your pay out) some weeks may be even more depending on how many participants you have playing and how many tickets they buy to try to win you can do one raffle a night or one raffle each game it can work whichever way is best for your teams and you.

[bowl1820]

to help with payout team organizer raffles off tickets weekly (1 for $1.00 or 3 for $2.00 or 5 for $3.00 etc...) however much is collected is split in 1/2 { example you collect 25.00 } so {12.50 goes toward point money pay out} and the other 1/2 of the pot {12.50} goes to the winner of the ticket that got pulled. You have a winner every week and you add to your pin point pay off every week (example if you only collect 12.50 a week for 12weeks you have added $150.00 to your pay out) some weeks may be even more depending on how many participants you have playing and how many tickets they buy to try to win you can do one raffle a night or one raffle each game it can work whichever way is best for your teams and you.

That's called a "Half & Half"

[bowl1820]

Looking for league format ideas!!

ULTIMATE BOWLING LEAGUE
http://userpages.bright.net/~eslam/UBL-Info.html
1. What is a UBL League Format?
A league format that places teams in two, three or four divisions so a playoff can be created at the end of the season involving more teams to determine the overall league champion. Similar to what all the other professional and amateur sports do to create more excitement at the conclusion of the regular playing season.

2. What leagues should consider this format?
Those leagues experiencing high bowler turnover of 25% or more, and who are finding it harder and harder to maintain league bowler interest during the season. Larger leagues of 16 or more teams. Those leagues that want to make their league more fun, fair and competitive for all the participants.

[bowl1820]

Survivor

The "Survivor" league format is a unique, fun, versatile and competitive USBC Sport Bowling experience originated by Mark Robey at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich. The league's name and internal concepts are based on the popular network TV show of the same name. Survivor bowlers battle in a 14-week league that is comprised of individual match play competition, an individual stepladder tournament, team competition and a team tournament. Bowlers of any average can join Survivor; the league's unique format allows all bowlers to enjoy very competitive matches.



How does Survivor work?



For the first six weeks, individual bowlers battle in a head-to-head, three-game match. Points are awarded for each game won plus totals. Each week bowlers are separated into "tribes" based on their averages. Within each tribe, bowlers are ranked based on their individual winning percentages.



On the seventh week, bowlers compete in a match play tournament. Tribes hold match play competition to determine champions of each division, named for the four suits in a deck of playing cards. These four champions compete for the title of "Ultimate Survivor."



In preparation for the team competition, a draft is held. The leading average bowlers become team captains and draft fellow Survivors to make even teams for the team competitions.



In weeks eight through 13, the focus shifts to team play with Survivor bowlers on these drafted teams bowling for the right to win their portion of the team prize fund, and the title of Survivor Team Champion.



The 14th week is a Baker team tournament. This format calls for head-to-head competition among seeded teams with bowlers from each team alternating frames until the Ultimate Team Survivors are crowned.

[Jaescrub]

This sounds great I would live to try that ;) plus I always wanted to bowl a baker style tournament ;)

[Perrin]

Those both sounds fun but have to admit I think the Survivor one sounds better to me. Mixes different types of bowling along with formats... sounds like a great time.

[kingpin279]

I came up with this. It's a long season that plays like two shorten seasons with a bracket tournment for the overall winners. Looking for feedback on stuff I may have missed or changes that could make it better.

Numbers based on 10 / 3 member teams for each session
You can bowl 1 or both sessions (can only qualify on 1 team for finals)
Weekly dues are $15 for sessions 1 & 2
($10 lineage, $0.75 secretary, $4.25 prize)
Weekly dues are $20 per bracket finals week
($10 lineage, $1 secretary, $9 prize)
20 points are awarded per matchup each week
Handicap 90% of 220

Session 1 - 14 total weeks
12 Regular Weeks + 1 Position Round Week
1st place Wins Money ($600)
2nd place Wins Money ($300)
No Tap Tournament Donation ($97.50)
Remaining prize fund goes to Bracket Finals ($660.00)
Top 4 Places Advance to Bracket Finals

1 No tap Tournament Week
Highest overall team score with handicap for 3 games wins
Winner Take All First Place ($225)

Session 2 - 14 total weeks
12 Regular Weeks + 1 Position Round Week
1st place Wins Money ($600)
2nd place Wins Money ($300)
No Tap Tournament Donation ($97.50)
Remaining prize fund goes to Bracket Finals ($660.00)
Top 4 Places Advance to Bracket Finals (top 4 teams that didn't advance the first time)

1 No tap Tournament Week
Highest overall team score with handicap for 3 games wins
Winner Take All First Place ($225)

Bracket Finals - 3 total weeks
8 Teams from both sessions battle via bracket tournament.
Week 1 Winners move on / Losers are out.
Week 2 Winners will battle week 3 for 1st and 2nd place. Losers battle for 3rd and 4th.
Pay for the weeks you bowl
Money from Session 1 $660
Money from Session 2 $660
Money from Bracket Session $435
Total Prize Fund = $1755

1st place - $780
2nd place - $450
3rd place - $300
4th place - $225