Little weed,
This sounds like the situation that you and i both saw last night that was the result of the centre making a rule at the request of the league president! (No consultation with the league members!) That children and family members of bowlers were not allowed to walk into the bowlers area for any reason during play as well as severe penalties to be implemented for any players who make celebratory noises after a successful shot, or these infringements would result in a yellow/red card. (Fair enough about keeping people out of the players area i guess if the tournament or league is serious enough) Even though it doesnt bother me personally.
The league was last night the most boring unemotional event on the face of the earth. I have never had to try so hard to make something an enjoyable experience for myself in my hole life! No one was game to enjoy themselves! To top it off apparently the president had a whinge about me having a stir with one of the juniors during league! He did this after i left of course, after i said good bye to him!
I will have to clear this up when i see him next!
But the cutting point for me last night was when good old el presidente tugged on one of the league members childrens jacket to tell him to get back up near the tables because, wait for it, HE WAS LEANING ON THE BALL RACK BEHIND THE PLAYERS AREA WATCHING HIS DAD BOWL! Where do you draw the line, it was a disgrace, and if it was my kid the outcome would have been far more unpleasent!
Where is the line in the sand? A kid watches his dad bowl every week and idolises a couple of the better bowlers in the league and high fives them after shots and says how cool it is that he gets to sit and talk to them every week and they actually take the time to talk to him back, and says how he would like to be as good as them one day! TO ME THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT, GETTING THE YOUNGSTERS KEEN AND EVERYONE HAVING A BLOODY GOOD TIME! Correct me if i have missed the point some where?
Now i tell you something else, i think that the centre i am talking about is probably one of the most welcoming professionally run centres in the country, and i have been to quite a lot so i can comment on it! Whenever you walk in you feel very welcome, it has a great family atmosphere where you just feel welcome all the time. There is a certain staff member there especially who makes this place feel so different, and half the complaints are unfortunately, UNNECESSARILY, I feel, directed at family members of this person and i think i could pin point the moment when i was playing with the kids in the family that caused the problem. I THINK IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH US HAVING FUN!
I am ranting now because i am getting pissed off again, so i will end with this and say that i hope the management of the centre in question has got the common sense not to stuff up a winning formula and start changing the rules of the place due to the petty insecurities of a minority! Don't start introducing new rules half way through a season and start to destroy a winning formula that has taken you a long time to build. Because believe me you will find out that it is a lot easier to destroy it than rebuild it! And if it wasn't for one person on your staff in particular, (even thought they are all great!) I personally wouldn't be nbowling in the centre any longer after this week and neither would my team. Which happens to be about 40 points in front of second, i wonder if that has anything to do with the complaints?
Anyway sorry for the ranting but i am pretty pissed about it all. Especially about having to sign another code of conduct half way through the season!
Gee i really did rant on hey!
PS Krystal, you know i like ya mate, but skitching and sledging is not what makes bowling bowling champ!
Ronnie