Tournament Bowling in Australia

[xpense]

it would be good also if some of the major tournaments are televised on free to air tv like they did on channel 10 about a decade ago. it would create exposure and such, and so make the tournaments (and bowlers) more recognised and interesting. thats my little theory tho.

adam

Its just a pity the word FREE is only in the way of those watching it. The reason behind bowling no longer being on free to air, is the price tag to get a series aired. its has been around 1/4 mil mark for this to happen.

Lindz,

great thread mate. The calendar idea makes heaps of sense as well.

 

[aok1]

Could everyone get together and set the calendar to the point of streamlining the dates so that anyone player could go from event to event
say like what they do in tennis and that way it gives people the opportunity to bowl 3 or 4 events in the one state if they decide to go to Melbourne for say a holiday and then they can bowl the events while they were there and for those who dont want to travel have a got a year to save for the tournaments and as they say the more tournaments you bowl in a period of time the better you become and then if they happen to accumulate a kitty they may decide to pick one event to go to, to see how they fair, I just see no point with multiple tournaments on the same weekend states apart.

All this tournament talk is making me think of bowling competitively again!!
As they say once a bowler always a bowler.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[LindZ]

Hey,

A few things agreed upon are:
* A more established Tournament Calender for Australia needs to be created: which coincides with each States Calender.
* Major Tournament's need to be cut down.
* More promotion and support is needed.

It's all very well for us to express our opinions and ideas, but we really NEED to do something about it.

These are'nt little changes we are talking about either, but something has to change... For changes like these to occur we need the backing and support of our governing body TBA.

AdrianS,
From what i've heard the ATBA circuit was awesome... Think of the Sport Series as the same thing, just a different format and banner.

Thnaks

Lindsay

 

[akdefl]

* More promotion and support is needed.
It's all very well for us to express our opinions and ideas, but we really NEED to do something about it.
These are'nt little changes we are talking about either, but something has to change... For changes like these to occur we need the backing and support of our governing body TBA.

Hey Lindz,

Maybe we will get some support if someone win the $30 million powerball jackpot tonight, maybe its our only chance!!!!!!!

But in the mean time, see if you can double it as the casino!!!

Andrew

 

[LindZ]

Andrew,

Yeah very true

Sure $$$ helps (ALOT)... I think the decline in numbers is due to lack of interest... WE (everyone) need to bring that interest back, if WE dont, who will??

WE can have our say, post our opinions for a month, maybe 2... let this thread be forgotten about, and let the DECLINE in entries continue. - OR we can start preparing next years calender, leading the way for years to come.

I honestly dont have a clue what to do or where to start... >????

Thanks

Lindsay

 

[akdefl]

Hey,

My visions probably are similar to others.

-1 National Event each year, that moves from state to state.
-6 Major Events, on a bi-monthly basis. Trying to make sure that they use the long weekend public holidays. Not completly possible,but worth factoring in.
-Each state has a series that runs on the alternate months. 6 rounds with a points score that works to a championship. The winner of each championship gets their entry to the Nationals.
-Then if the centers want to run smaller cheaper tournaments in between, that the winner can get a bit of cash and/or entries to State series, majors or even the National Event, then so be it.

Now is there any reason why:
- Each state series event that is run, the winner of that event gets an entry into the next major of their choice. Surely if the bowler numbers are there, that this can be done, even with a decent cash payout.
- Each major winner get a entry into the National Championship. Same as before, even with a decent prize fund, a small scraping can be taken off to fund the entry.
-The winner of the National Event will be the one (if it was able to be worked out with them) that represents Australia at the World Cup, or similar event.

So with this, everyone will know say:
- The last weekend of each odd month is for the State Series.
- The last weekend of each even month is for the Majors (i know that if they are to try to be on long weekends this isn't always the case)
- The 2nd weekend of say (as an example) September is for the national event.

Then the centers or state associations can run other events in between the ones listed and everyone is happy. In a perfect world!!!!

I am also of the belief that with structure and order in place, then there is also more chance of gaining sponsorship. A well structured organization that can show all the details and answer any question that the potential sponsors have, well they are the ones that are more likely to benifit.

Andrew

 

[LindZ]

Andrew,

See now that is STRUCTURE!

"-Then if the centers want to run smaller cheaper tournaments in between, that the winner can get a bit of cash and/or entries to State series, majors or even the National Event, then so be it." -
It is important for these events to be supported and not clash with other events... just as a courtesy, also maximising the potential number of competitors.

I like it... Simple, sounds like it could work.

But how do we organise something like that???

 

[Jase]

Hey Lindsay

Start a player’s organization and start running tournaments ourselves...Set up a Tournament committee and negotiate our own sponsors and game rates…

If we want Tournaments to run and stay around…WE NEED to get off our buts and take control…No point waiting for others to do things for us…Just a suggestion…

I know my calendar would be more up to date if I was sent more information…

 

[LindZ]

Jase,

Ok... So i get this straight, this is what we need to do:

- Form a National Tournament Committee - with sub body State Committee's
- Have a Sports Series or State Tournament schedule of some sort in each state.
- Produce a National Tournament Calender.
- Majors - we just pick top 6 National tournaments and change dates to suite????

Doesn't sound like much, but its a huge re-structure. Lets do it!

 

[Jase]

If you need any help just let me know mate...

 

[Easy Tiger]

The issue I see is that the 6 majors are under the AMF banner. How do you run them independently?

If this happens, can we move some majors to some private centres for once?

 

[LindZ]

Jase,

HELP?? i wouldnt know the first thing about any of this... where to start??? who do we approach... As i said this is bigger than just a few guys on a forum re-structuring Tournament Bowling in Australia... We NEED TBA. (I think)

 

[akdefl]

Hey Lindsay
Start a player’s organization and start running tournaments ourselves...Set up a Tournament committee and negotiate our own sponsors and game rates…
QUOTE]
Jase,

I would like to put forward a suggestion of name
National Orginazation for Tournament Bowlers Association
What do you guys think?
Andrew

 

[Jase]

I feel you still may need TBA…

In QLD we lost a Scratch series a few years ago and more and more handicap events kept popping up here and there and less scratch events were to be bowled in…

So I decided to get off my but and do something about it…I met with all the involved Managers in the Circuit that I put together and we all banged heads together, prize funds/game rates/ dates and amount of events… and this is what we have so far…In its first year we have had 100 competitors male and female to the first 4 events…The lowest number at any one event was 45 on the Mothers Day weekend and the most we have had is 66 at anyone event…Not to bad at all in its first year in the South East Queensland section…With 4 events still to go I am sure it will only increase from there…As for the exposure of the events, I have been approached by 2 Sponsors who maybe keen to come on board next year for the circuit…Obviously this may open this up to bigger and better things…

What I am trying to say is that YES it can be done…YES we Need TBA on our side and Yes if we want a National Scratch Tournament Circuit that will survive then WE as bowlers need to either suggest to TBA or AMF what is required or WE need to help with the running of the existing circuit…

I don’t think we need to start and US vs. THEM…At the moment that could spell disaster…

If we are looking to put together some sort of players organization or committee or what ever you want to call it, then there should be a Representation from EVERY STATE…It’s a National circuit not and East side circuit…We should start a thread and have someone nominate or be nominated for there state, and if we get several people apply from one state then we need to go to a vote or poll system to select just one…

I am happy to put my hand up for South Qld side of things…I am sure there will be others also…

Just my thoughts…

 

[LindZ]

Hey,

So this is the direction we're heading:
- Form STATE COMMITTEE'S
- Create a STRUCTURED CALENDER
- Put forward to TBA + AMF + INDEPENDENTS for support.
- PUSH/PROMOTE til we get this off the ground.

We need as much support and feedback from everyone in every aspect of the idea.

Thanks

Lindsay

 

[akdefl]

Jase,

I do agree with you, we don't need to start a us vs them situation. But don't you think that it is already heading that way with some of the stuff that has happened lately?
Take the calender for example, people have brought this up for ages, yet has anyone from the TBA actually stood up and said, they are right, maybe we should try and structure something sensible. Yeah, i understand that they are a voluntary group, but they try and fix everything else that isn't broken.
I think until Fairlanes in Perth closed and the Perth Cup wasn't on, there was 3 majors in the space of 4-5 weeks. Did anyone not sit back and think about this?

I wish this all the luck in the world, and i hope it works, i want to see 150+ entries for events. But also i want to see at least 1/3 of them females as well. How about some of the woman voice up and tell everyone why they wont turn up to events and what can be done to change this. This is for everyone.

 

[CSP]

Jase, Andrew & Lindz,

We need TBA to help. Remember TBA and its members (bowlers) are customers of the bowling centres and we need to control the sport. I have said it all along, that tenpin bowling can be run recreationally and as a sport from a business point of view.

I'm willing to help in the direction of our sport. I have already put all these plans and some of my ideas into a letter to be sent to the TBA CEO. The first plan is to create a TPA (Tournament Players Association) with two members from each state/territory on the Player Committee to discuss relevent information with the TBA board at meetings.

When I receive a positive reply we can start proceedings on structuring a national tournament plan. It is a huge job to organise but we can do it.

Regards,
Christian Purdue

 

[CSP]

Once the tournament calendar is re-structured. The womens division must be included in each national event that is staged.

 

[FLOWER]

To those who are involved in this plan: please, please don't forget that there are also women's 'stand alone' tournaments on the national calendar - Adelaide Cup, Vic 150 and the Qld. Ladies Classic .... with the current climate for women's bowling in this country, it is essential that these events maintain their integrity.

Not all bowlers, male or female, necessarily wish to bowl only in a mixed environment. Good luck with any plans and as this subject has been raised so many times, it would be hoped that at last something may come of it.

And some input would be much appreciated from the female bowlers in this country also.

Flower

 

[LindZ]

Christian,
I think a Thread should be created in each State Forum for people who want to be part of the committee.

Just an idea: would this work???
- Ladies -
As has been done and suggested before - Giving Ladies 8 pins per game (optional - if they dont want it, so be it... must be stated at the start of the tournament)
- Juniors -
8 pins per game (same deal) Also a smaller entry fee $150 - but if they cash, they are only entitled to money back + % portion of the remainder: the rest goes into prize fund for the next tournament.
- eg. $150 consists of $100 (game rates) $50 prize fund (which is say 30% of what adult bowlers are paying): If they cashed $500 they would recieve their original $150 + 30% of the rest - which is $105 - in total they would cash $255 plus gain all the experience of bowling at a higher calibre.
- Youth -
Same deal as juniors without the 8 pins, unless a Lady.

NOTE: If junior or youth bowlers wish to pay the full Entry ammount and recieve full dividends thats fine.

Still have Junior, Youth + Lady Tournaments... This is just another avenue for them.