5 things that you would like to see TBA do for you

[Deadman Inc]

1) Scrap the current rankings and replace it with a new rankings system that actually means something to the bowlers. National Teams should be selected according to where they rank ie Top 5 ranked bowlers are automatically selected to represent Australia and if someone is unavailable then the next ranked bowler comes into the team. The ranking system will then give something for bowlers to aspire to and will encourage more bowlers to bowl in National Tournaments to gain ranking points. Thats a "clear cut path" to qualifying for an Australian team. This will also eliminate the need for double ranking points.

2) An annual tournament structure where National Tournaments are held at the same time every year. eg South Australian Cup held on the last weekend of January every year, Australian Open held on Easter long weekend every year, K & K Classics held on Queens Birthday long weekend every year etc. This will help with state and local tournaments and championships from clashing. Perhaps the National Rankings tour needs restructuring. Queensland has 4 National ranked tournaments and I think Victoria also has 4 while Tasmania and WA have none and NSW only 1. A good structure would be 2 National tournaments for Qld, NSW, VIC, SA, WA and 1 for ACT, NT and Tas and have the National All events and Australian Masters rotate between each state every year.

3) 1 National Tournament directer for each national ranked tournament or 1 tournament directer for each state or a National Tournament committee to run all national tournaments. This will help with consistency in how tournaments a run and that gives bowlers, especially those traveling from interstate, peace of mind.

4) Higher membership fees.

5) Annual meetings between the TBA board and bowlers. This gives bowlers the opportunity to voice there opinions directly to the TBA board members like a debate. Meetings could be held during tournaments majors eg SPC

 

[cruzer]

Deadman Inc 1) Scrap the current rankings and replace it with a new rankings system that actually means something to the bowlers. National Teams should be selected according to where they rank ie Top 5 ranked bowlers are automatically selected to represent Australia and if someone is unavailable then the next ranked bowler comes into the team. The ranking system will then give something for bowlers to aspire to and will encourage more bowlers to bowl in National Tournaments to gain ranking points. Thats a "clear cut path" to qualifying for an Australian team. This will also eliminate the need for double ranking points.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but the only problem here is that there is no specific condition laid down these days and its more of whatever a centre feels like is what is laid down,(except at Nationals)
The majority of Asian Zone or World Championships are now bowled on Short and Long patterns,and until we have our Tournaments running with the same lane conditions as at these Championships,it would be pointless to pick bowlers to represent Australia on the current format.
Cheers
Paul K.

 

[gazza-s]

It's fine for you all to talk about national rankings and Australian Teams. But you must remember that they only effect the elite of our sport . So to me the problem is that the average league bowler who just enjoys a league or 2 a week has little or no interest in such things and most probably don't even consider bowling a sport. It's them you must consult before suggesting a large increase in membership fees because at this stage most of them believe they are getting verry little or nothing for their dollars and unfortunatly most of them are right.
Garry Scarlett

 

[nev25]

1. Take immediate steps to halt the membership slide.
3. Introduce attractive Member benefits.
4. Increase the Membership fees dramatically.

I see this as a contradiction
Increasing fees would turn people away ( as gazza-s says).
I don't understand why you all want to pay more (am I missing something)
BTW we have just had a sanction fee increase this year

 

[Andrew S.]

We can't run a National Sporting Organisation on $11 a head membership.

If we want a successful organisation which is capable of getting us sponsorships and media coverage we need to pay professionals to achieve this.
As a sport we have probably the lowest membership fees in Australia.

Cricket, Football all codes, Hockey, Netball, and many others all enjoy reasonable levels of sponsorship and they also have one other thing in common - a membership fee at least 10x that of Tenpin Bowling. Sponsorship has to be sold, it doesnt walk in the door and we need dedicated professionals to sell it.
These other codes are professionally run as business operations. If we are truly serious about our sport we need to be realistic too.

 

[Feral]

1) Scrap the current rankings and replace it with a new rankings system that actually means something to the bowlers. National Teams should be selected according to where they rank ie Top 5 ranked bowlers are automatically selected to represent Australia and if someone is unavailable then the next ranked bowler comes into the team. The ranking system will then give something for bowlers to aspire to and will encourage more bowlers to bowl in National Tournaments to gain ranking points. Thats a "clear cut path" to qualifying for an Australian team. This will also eliminate the need for double ranking points.

As I have said before, only those with money and time can afford to go on the National Circuit. If you a "fringe" elite bowler or less, you won't pay your way and those at the top will continue to cash at no significant cost.

There are many elite bowlers who just cannot get ranking points for reasons of costs and time off work to buy them. Is that fair to them?

 

[nev25]

$11 a head membership..

Im assuming we are talking TBA sancion fees
We are have just had an increase from $15 to $20 a year here in Vic

a membership fee at least 10x that of Tenpin Bowling.

So what you are saying we should be paying $200 a year
Im sure this would almost kill league bowling as it is now

 

[jason_doust]

1) Make all TBA registered centres put down certified lane conditions in accordance with TBA policy. No more ditches, no more bone dry outsides, no more stupid lane conditions.

Here, here...
I can't believe that it took 17 posts before this came up.

Bowling has to respect itself before we can ask the same of others.

 

[mickyd213]

This is more for the victorian associations. I know that both CTBAM and MTBA are affiliated with the TBA, but is there really any need to have 2 associations? Why can't the 2 associations unite and have a one payment fee structure to avoid any confusion when bowlers are covered by both associations.

 

[sampson1791]

mickyd213 has a great point!

Something called the VTBA would be great idea. Then the board would have members from both city and country members.

Nothing would (in reality) would change except the membership fee to the association.

Tournements could be run by one assoc. instead of having calander clashes.

Just my 2 bobs worth (so I maybe wrong)

 

[xpense]

1) Make all TBA registered centres put down certified lane conditions in accordance with TBA policy. No more ditches, no more bone dry outsides, no more stupid lane conditions.

Here, here...
I can't believe that it took 17 posts before this came up.
Bowling has to respect itself before we can ask the same of others.

This is fine for the tournament players. But what about the local average league bowler who just want to bowl there league, have some fun, socialise with others. They really enjoy the wall shots, as it means they can walk in chuck the shot out, make a mistake and not pay for it. They can obtain the milestones they never could before the new technolgy came about, and the wall shot came into play in most leagues.

 

[cruzer]

Posted by Xpense

"They really enjoy the wall shots, as it means they can walk in chuck the shot out, make a mistake and not pay for it. They can obtain the milestones they never could before the new technolgy came about, and the wall shot came into play in most leagues".


What hope have we when ppl like this want to achieve "MILESTONES"....you got to be joking.

What kind of a achievement is it.....next you will expect golf coarses to have ridges both sides of the fairways so the ball stays on the fairway and the greens slop'd so the ball goes straight in the hole.....a real achievment.

I believe BOWLERS need some sought of a challenge not just a "chuck the shot out" and recieve a MILESTONE attitude.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!

Cheers
Paul K.

 

[tonx]

Just on that Paul, I am a huge advocator of tough shots. The wetter the outsides the more fun it is IMO.

I can however see the other side of it, not all bowlers want to have to hit 1/4 a board at 50ft to strike. Comparitively to golf, I'm not good enough to shoot under 120 at a 8k course with thin fairways and lightning fast greens, but I like shooting 70's at the local course.

Perhaps the focus could be at recognising "Milestones" on the ditches differently than on tougher centres, giving more reward to those seeking a harder challenge....

Food for thought.

Great Topic Jase!

 

[xpense]

What hope have we when ppl like this want to achieve "MILESTONES"....you got to be joking.
What kind of a achievement is it.....next you will expect golf coarses to have ridges both sides of the fairways so the ball stays on the fairway and the greens slop'd so the ball goes straight in the hole.....a real achievment.
I believe BOWLERS need some sought of a challenge not just a "chuck the shot out" and recieve a MILESTONE attitude.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
Cheers
Paul K.

Just so you know Paul K l was not talking about myself. I have travelled all over Aus and to NZ to compete in tournaments. I could not care less about the conditions l personally get in league. I am happy to tackle whatever is thrown at me on the night.

what l was meaning is that a number of your league bowlers (who are the majority of registered bowlers) - not tournament bowlers - are happy with the easier lane conditions. The majority of bowlers that always ask for harder lane conditions are the tournament bowlers.

 

[bowlrig]

what l was meaning is that a number of your league bowlers (who are the majority of registered bowlers) - not tournament bowlers - are happy with the easier lane conditions. .

Best quote so far.
What TBA has to realise is that without a base (of which are league bowlers not tournament bowlers) the top few are not stable.

Rather than a tiered membership have 2 sections ~ league / non sporting and then tournament / national ranked.

The more complex it becomes the less favourable it will be accepted.


Rob

 

[speedwaystar]

We had a similar format a few years ago it was $6 membership/year to play league and $11 if you wanted to play TBA tournaments but it was your choice.Asking everone to foot the bill for a few is crazy

 

[Aussie]

As Gomer Pile would Say.
Resign
Resign
Resign
Resign
Resign
Gooollllyyyyy.

 

[mongoliantreesloth]

We can't run a National Sporting Organisation on $11 a head membership

I disagree. You put it to you that you could run the whole show on the current $11 per head. The key, though, is having enough $11 per head memberships to cover the costs.

One of the questions previously asked here and in another forum as well was "how many $11 memberships are there in Australia"? A question that was never answered. Unless this very basic question is satisfactorily answered by TBA we can debate fees all we like, but all suggestions won't have any relevance whatsoever as we don't know how many members there currently are.

Also, what happened to the "ask TBA" section? Can't see it anymore.

 

[craig]

be contactable and be able to assist with any issue, not play telephone ping pong

be able to resolve any issues, as the authority for the rules and regulations in the sport in this country, they should be able to enforce rules and modernise rules

foster all its associations under the same umbrella (not pick and choose, which is evident they do)

be able to unregister associations, centres and players who do not act within the best interests of the sport

cater for all bowlers, not just the elite

 

[kay101]

well based on ONE event, for ONE week of the year;
- organise australian teams with set managers. (thankyou cheryl and john you have done fantastic work due to the circumstances)
- organise shirts and make sure ALL are received.
- organise payments for australian teams and its supporters.
- organise flags being sent on time.
- and maybe, just MAYBE, act as if you didn't send the team away to shut us all up.

imagine a list for a year....