The bowling league secretary's job

A bowling league secretary's duties each week and at the end of the season, the USBC rules behind the numbers, and how to do it all in a browser.

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Scores on any phone or computer, USBC rules, a standings page for your bowlers. One league of up to 4 teams is free.

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A secretary's week

01After bowling, enter each bowler's games from the recap sheet (absent bowlers get their average minus 10).
02Check the points, then publish the week: averages, handicaps and standings move.
03Share the standing sheet: a link for the bowlers' phones, a printout for the board, a PDF for USBC.

A bowling secretary's weekly duties

Scores: every game for every bowler, or an absentee, vacancy or substitute in their place.
Points: game by game and for the series, by the league's point system.
The standing sheet: next week's lanes, team standings, the night's results, high scores, and every bowler's average and handicap.
Dues: who paid and who owes (a league may adopt a rule that a bowler behind on fees forfeits games, USBC Rule 119a).

Duties at the end of the season

USBC asks the secretary to send final averages to the local association within 15 days of the league's last night. Prize money follows the league's rules: to win an individual prize a bowler must have bowled at least two-thirds of the scheduled games, unless the league adopted another share (Rule 106b).

Software, and doing it without Windows

Most league secretary software is a Windows desktop program, bought again each season. Bowling League Online runs in the browser instead: a phone at the lanes, a laptop at home, a Mac or a Chromebook. It keeps USBC's defaults and lets the league change every rule it voted on.

Try every screen on the demo league, then start your league: one league of up to 4 teams is free; larger leagues run on Pro, 30 days free.

Questions

Does the secretary need USBC certification?

The league is certified by USBC so its averages count; the secretary keeps its records. Local associations train new secretaries, often before the season starts.

Can two people share the secretary's job?

Yes: the standing sheet comes from the scores, so whoever enters a week sees the same numbers.

What if we switch software mid-season?

Enter each bowler's current average as their entering average and start from the next week. Most leagues switch at the start of a season.

More for league secretaries

Bowling league standingsWhat a bowling league standing sheet shows and how each number is worked out: points, pins with handicap, high scores and averages. With a live example league.Bowling league rules to adoptThe rules every bowling league votes on, with USBC's defaults: absentee and vacancy scores, handicap, lineups, playoffs, roll-offs and tardy bowlers.Bowling league software for Mac, iPad and ChromebookLeague secretary software that runs in the browser, on a Mac, iPad, Chromebook or phone: no Windows, no install, no new version to buy each season.