GUIDELINES FOR THE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING FEDERATION

1.  School Classification
1.1.  Competition in bowling is permitted for students in 9th through 12th grades in all participating high schools.

2.  Eligibility and entry fees
2.1.  A participation fee for non-member (BPAA and/or Federation) bowling centers may be added and centers notified prior to the start of the season. Where applicable, the Nebraska High School Bowling Federation shall abide by the Nebraska Department of Education and the NSAA eligibility rules.

3.  Conference Structure
3.1.  The goal of each individual school shall be to field a minimum of one boys and/or one girl's varsity and junior varsity team (a total of four teams per school). However, a school will be allowed to participate in the program with less than recommended number of teams. It is recommended that each school field teams solely from their eligible student body. In the event that the above is not possible a conference or high school may elect to allow a co-op team consisting of students from more than one school to participate. The High School Bowling Conference District President/Commissioner and the Nebraska High School Bowling Federation state office must be contacted in writing for approval of this variation prior to the start of competition each season.


4.  Team Structure
4.1.  Classes are to be determined by enrollment. The NHSBF Board will determine school Class participation prior to the start of season competition. The NHSBF board will also be granted full power to change these classes at any time during the first three years of competition.
        4.1.1.  Classes A & B -A Varsity and Junior Varsity team shall consist
        of no more than seven traveling bowlers (five bowlers and
        two substitute bowlers). A team may have an unlimited
        number of bowlers.  A lineup consisting of no more than
        seven players will be submitted to the opposing coach prior
        to competition and no changes to the lineup are allowed
        once the first ball of the match has been thrown. The five
        member team is mandatory and will bowl each game with all
        five scores being used to determine the team that wins the
        standing point. (See Substitutes)
        4.1.2.  Classes C & D - Varsity and Junior Varsity team shall consist
        of no more than six traveling bowlers (four bowlers and
        two substitute bowlers). A team may have an unlimited
        number of bowlers.  A lineup consisting of no more than six
        players will be submitted to the opposing coach prior to
        competition and no changes to the lineup are allowed once
        the first ball of the match has been thrown. The four
        member team is mandatory and will bowl each game with all
        four scores being used to determine the team that wins the
        standing point. (See Substitutes). During Baker competition,
        the team will follow this progression; 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2.

4.2.  A legal lineup will consist of at least ½ of the regular roster (Classes A & B - 3 members, Classes C & D - 2 members). (See Forfeits)

4.3.   The Commissioner (district or state) may, at any time, ask for the bowler to present his/her student identification card for verification purposes.

5.  Point System
5.1.  The Match Point System will be used (1 point for each individual game; 3 points for each team game; 5 points for the Baker match) with the winning team receiving 1 conference point. All bowling will be done on a scratch basis. Each match will consist of three games (2 regulation and best 2 of 3 Baker). Conference standings shall consist of the sum of all matches. Half points will be used in the case of tie situations with specific exceptions (see Absentees and Vacancies). In the event of a split decision, a 'sudden death' frame will be conducted. Sudden Death will be one 10th frame roll-off. The coach will decide what player participates. The lane assignment will be the lane the team finished the regular baker game on. In the event of a tie after 'Sudden Death', the teams will repeat 'Sudden Death' until a winner is decided, alternating lanes each round of 'Sudden Death'.

5.2.  Classes A & B - 21 Point System - 8 points per team game (5 individual and 3 team - 16 points maximum) and 5 points for the baker match.

5.3.  Classes C & D - 19 Point System - 7 points per team game (4 individual and 3 team - 16 points maximum) and 5 points for the baker match.


6.  Competition Playing Rules
6.1.  Team Presentation: A team is expected to present a legal lineup on the lanes at the scheduled starting time for each match. If a team cannot attend a meet due to weather or other extreme emergency, the team match must be made up before the conference playoff. Teams not making up games within that time will forfeit those games. 

6.2.  Practice Balls: There will be 10 minutes of practices, either with or without pins (proprietors discretion). A team will only practice on one lane, after 5 minutes the teams will switch lanes. Substitutes will not be allowed to practice on any extra lanes. Bowlers are not permitted to bowl on the same day, prior to competition, in the bowling center where the competition is to be held with the exception of PE classes and school sponsored events.

6.3.  Lineups: The visiting team is to enter their lineup first, within the first 5 minutes of practice. The home team must enter the home team lineup prior to the end of the practice session.
        6.3.1. Eligibility: It is the responsibility of the coaches to insure that
        all bowlers meet academic eligibility requirements as established by
        their local high school. Coaches allowing ineligible students to bowl
        in competition may forfeit all matches that the ineligible student
        competed in. Students bowling in the Nebraska High School Bowling
        Federation must maintain amateur status, meaning that they cannot
        participate or substitute in any type of bowling activity where
        money or merchandise awards are offered to any participant on the
        basis of bowling score, bowling skill or position. This includes bowling
        as a regular or a substitute on any adult bowling league. Students
        may, until or unless in violation of Nebraska Department of Education
        rules, participate in outside YABA sanctioned bowling leagues and/or
        tournaments during the school-bowling season. DOE eligibility rules
        apply in those areas not covered in these rules. Any question
        regarding eligibility should be referred to the Nebraska High School
        Bowling Federation. 
         6.3.2 Substitutes: A coach may substitute a bowler at any time
         during the game or match. Once a bowler is removed from a game,
         he/she cannot return to bowl during that same game. If a bowler is
         replaced by a sub, the credit for the game score will go to the
         bowler that started the game. A maximum of two substitutions will
         be allowed during a game.
         6.3.3 Absentees: There shall be no absentee score. Players without
         a full roster will receive '0' for each missing player. A player arriving
         late may enter the game at any time, but will receive '0' for missed
         frames.
         6.3.4 Roster:  Coaches are to submit the roster for each match to
         the opposing coach prior to the first ball of competition.  Roster
         changes or additions will not be allowed after competition begins.
         A student is limited to five games of competition against the same
         opponent on the same day.  The exception to this rule is during
         district or state tournament in which the double elimination format
         is used to determine the champion. Varsity roster must be
         submitted prior to the district playoffs and will remain in effect
         throughout the playoffs.  No changes to the roster are allowed
         without the written consent of the NHSBF State Commissioner.
 

NHSBF Guidelines pg.2