Rules & conditions of entry
South of England Youth Bowling Tournament 2027 · GObowling Dunstable, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD · 16–17 & 23–24 January 2027
BTBA sanction number: 27/00805
Tournament Manager: Louise Humphrey
This tournament is on the BTBA calendar
The tournament is governed by the general playing rules of the British Tenpin Bowling Association, together with the following tournament rules and conditions. Submitting an entry means accepting them.
1. Eligibility
- Open to members of Youth Bowling Clubs registered with the British Tenpin Bowling Association.
- All competitors must have a valid BTBA membership. Prior to bowling all Juniors must have at least a BTBA League Membership. Only entrants who are BTBA members before participation in the tournament are eligible for BTBA awards.
- Competitors may represent only one Youth Bowling Club during the tournament.
- Bowlers from different YBCs may bowl together in Doubles or Team events where permitted by Tournament Management.
- All bowlers must be under the age of 20 on 1 January 2027.
- The age divisions are U10, U13, U16 and U20.
- A bowler remains in the same age division throughout the tournament.
2. Tournament events
Three events: Singles, Doubles and Team, each of 3 games. A bowler completing all three will bowl 9 games in total. Scratch and Handicap competition is offered in accordance with the published format.
3. Singles
- Separate Boys’ and Girls’ divisions within U10, U13, U16 and U20.
- Each bowler bowls three games.
- Placings are determined by total pinfall over the three games.
4. Doubles
- Each pair bowls three games.
- Divisions are determined by the age of the eldest bowler in the pair. An U13 bowler paired with an U16 bowler competes in the U16 division.
- Girls may bowl together in the Girls’ division.
- Where a girl bowls with a male partner, the pair competes in the appropriate Boys’ division.
- There is no points system for the Doubles event.
5. Team event
Each Team consists of four bowlers and bowls three games. Teams may be any combination of boys and girls. The Team event uses the South of England points system:
| Age division | Points |
|---|---|
| U10 | 1 |
| U13 | 2 |
| U16 | 3 |
| U20 | 4 |
The points for all four bowlers are added together. A Team with a maximum total of 11 points competes in the Points Division. Any Team with 12 points or more competes in the Open Division.
6. Handicap
Handicap is 80% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average and 210.
| Average | Calculation | Handicap |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 210 − 150 = 60 × 80% | 48 |
| 180 | 210 − 180 = 30 × 80% | 24 |
| 200 | 210 − 200 = 10 × 80% | 8 |
A bowler’s individual handicap is applied to each game. For Doubles and Team events, the individual handicaps of the bowlers are combined.
7. Entering averages
Entrants must declare their highest qualifying average from a Junior League or applicable Youth Bowling merit table, based on a minimum of 18 games. Tournament Management may request an up-to-date standing sheet or other evidence of average before the tournament, and reserves the right to review or re-rate an entering average where appropriate.
Both Free Fall and String averages will be accepted without differentiation.
8. All Events
Bowlers who complete Singles, Doubles and Team are automatically entered into All Events, calculated using the bowler’s total score across all 9 games. Bowlers must complete all three events to qualify.
9. Scoring
The scoring system for each event is total pinfall over the three games. Bowlers must bowl in the order shown on the official entry or score sheet unless Tournament Management authorises a change. Changes to official score sheets may only be made with the approval of Tournament Management.
10. Ties
Where bowlers, pairs or Teams are tied for an award position, the tie is decided by the highest low game. Where two bowlers have the same three-game total, their lowest individual game is compared and the higher of those scores determines the placing.
11. Entries
- Wherever possible, entries should be submitted through the bowler’s Youth Bowling Club.
- Each YBC should nominate an official responsible for coordinating its entries.
- The YBC official is responsible for ensuring the information submitted for its bowlers is accurate.
- Individual entries may be accepted at the discretion of Tournament Management.
- Entries are accepted subject to squad availability.
- Entries close on Monday 21 December 2026.
12. Entry fees and payment
- Entry fees are £20 for one event, £38 for two and £56 for all three, per bowler. Each of those includes the BTBA Tournament Sanction Fee of £2 per bowler.
- The full entry fee must be paid at the time the entry is submitted.
- No entry is confirmed until both the completed entry information and full payment have been received.
- Places will not be held against unpaid entries.
- Entries are dealt with in order of receipt of the completed entry and payment.
13. Withdrawals, replacements and changes
Where a bowler withdraws, a replacement may be permitted subject to the approval of Tournament Management. A replacement bowler must meet the eligibility requirements, hold a valid BTBA membership, not already be competing in the same event where this would create an invalid duplicate entry, and take the place of the withdrawn bowler. Where a Team replacement changes the Team’s points total, the Team is moved into the appropriate division if necessary. All withdrawals, replacements and other changes must be emailed to the Tournament Manager.
14. Tournament management
The Tournament Manager is Louise Humphrey.
Tournament Management reserves the right to accept, reject, amend or re-rate an entry where necessary, and to make decisions necessary for the fair and efficient running of the tournament. Its decision on tournament administration is final, subject to any applicable right of appeal under governing-body rules.
15. Protests
A protest about an incident during play should be lodged with the Tournament Manager by the registered YBC official within 30 minutes of the incident occurring, so that it can be dealt with on the day. Where a dispute involving pinfall cannot immediately be resolved, a provisional ball should be rolled where appropriate.
In accordance with BTBA Rule 329, a written protest regarding eligibility or playing rules may be made to the Tournament Manager within 72 hours of the incident. Following notice of Tournament Management’s decision, there is a further 72 hours in which to appeal to the BTBA.
16. Conduct
All competitors are expected to behave appropriately and show respect towards fellow competitors, coaches, officials, spectators, bowling-centre staff and equipment. Bad language, abusive behaviour, inappropriate gestures, deliberate abuse of bowling equipment or machinery, or other unacceptable behaviour may result in disciplinary action or disqualification. Competitors may not consume alcoholic beverages during the tournament. Any behaviour considered likely to bring the tournament or the sport into disrepute may result in disqualification.
17. Dress code
- Competitors must be dressed in a presentable manner suitable for a youth bowling tournament.
- Bowlers must wear a suitable bowling shirt with their YBC name clearly visible.
- Alcohol, tobacco and vaping sponsorship must not appear on youth bowling clothing.
- Denim is not permitted.
- Permitted lower-body clothing: skirts, skorts, tailored shorts, trousers and sports leggings.
- Sports leggings may be three-quarter or full length and must not be see-through.
- Tailored shorts, skirts and skorts must be of an appropriate length.
- Cargo or combat-style trousers or shorts, and cycle shorts, are not permitted.
- Lower-body clothing should be dark in colour, such as black, dark blue or dark grey.
18. Players’ area
Only competitors and authorised representatives are permitted within the players’ area during competition. Parents and spectators should remain outside the designated players’ area unless authorised by Tournament Management.
19. Coaching
Coaching or instruction during play may only be provided by an appropriately licensed or authorised coach or instructor, who must wear or clearly display their official badge while coaching. Coaching must not delay the normal speed of play.
20. Registration
Competitors must register 30 minutes before their scheduled bowling time. Where a YBC has submitted the entries, registration should normally be completed by the nominated YBC official, and the YBC representative attending must be identified at registration. For the Team event, all four members must be present before the Team can be registered.
21. Late arrival
A competitor arriving after play has commenced begins bowling at the frame currently in progress, in accordance with the applicable BTBA rule. Missed frames are dealt with in accordance with the governing playing rules.
22. Pace of play
Bowlers must remain ready to bowl and should take their turn promptly once the previous bowler has left the approach. A bowler considered to be unnecessarily delaying play may receive a warning. Following two warnings, a third or subsequent occurrence may result in the frame in progress being recorded as zero, and may result in the bowler being removed from the tournament.
23. Practice and pacing
Unused tournament lanes may not be used for practice by competitors before they take part in their event unless specifically authorised by Tournament Management. A bowler may not act as a pacer until they have completed all events in which they are entered.
24. Squad and lane allocation
Tournament Management makes all squad and lane allocations. Every reasonable effort is made to accommodate requested dates and squad times, but specific times cannot be guaranteed. Official squad information is published before the tournament. Any squad information supplied before the official squadding is issued should be regarded as provisional and may change.
25. Equipment
- Bowling equipment not currently in use must be stored in the designated area.
- Bowlers are responsible for their own equipment and personal belongings. Neither Tournament Management nor the bowling centre can accept responsibility for loss or damage except where legally required.
- All gripping holes drilled into a bowling ball must be used on every delivery. If a ball has three gripping holes, a bowler using only two fingers may not use that ball unless all drilled holes are occupied during the delivery.
- Once official practice has ended, the surface of a bowling ball may not be altered or resurfaced during that event.
- Bowling balls may not be resurfaced or altered between the Singles and Doubles events where those events are bowled consecutively.
- Any ball found to be in breach of these rules may be removed from play by Tournament Management.
26. Bowling shoes
Competitors must wear appropriate bowling shoes when bowling. Outside footwear must not be worn on the approaches.
27. Food, drink and vaping
The bowling centre’s own rules regarding food and drink must be observed. Food or drink purchased outside the venue must not be consumed where prohibited by the bowling centre. Vaping is not permitted inside the building.
28. Awards presentation
Bowlers receiving awards are requested to attend the presentation in appropriate bowling attire. Awards are presented in accordance with the published Scratch and Handicap categories.
29. Photography, video and livestreaming
Photography, filming and video recording may take place before, during and after the tournament. This may include tournament photography, social-media content, live or recorded video, scoring and results coverage, and the awards presentation. If a participant, parent or guardian has concerns about photography or filming, they should notify Tournament Management before the event so that reasonable arrangements can be considered.
Before, during, and after the event there could be photography, filming or video taken of participants and medal winners by anyone attending the event, either as an official, spectator, parent or guardian. If you (as a participant, parent or guardian) object to this, you must make your objections known to the tournament manager prior to the event starting and reasonable adjustments will be made.
30. Additional and sensory needs
The tournament environment may include announcements, music, cheering, applause and other noise. Parents, guardians and YBC or Team officials are responsible for the supervision, welfare and appropriate support of any child in their care who has additional or sensory needs during the tournament. Where reasonable adjustments may assist a bowler, Tournament Management should be informed in advance wherever possible. This does not remove the responsibility of the parent, guardian or YBC or Team official for that child.
31. Acceptance of rules
Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these Rules & Conditions by the bowler, their parent or guardian where applicable, and the YBC submitting the entry. Tournament Management reserves the right to amend these rules before the tournament where necessary. Any significant changes will be published and communicated to participating YBCs.
Questions about any of the above: info@bowlingevents.uk