Rule 1 - Membership

1. Team membership shall be restricted to boys and girls, grades 9 through 12, who have not reached their 19^TH birthday by June 30 immediately preceding the school year.

2. Athletic eligibility extends only until the student has reached the end of their fourth consecutive year beyond the eighth grade. Therefore, if a student repeats a grade after eighth, he/she will be ineligible as a senior.

1. Any member under suspension by his/her high school, or the local USBC association, shall be ineligible to participate on the team.

2. Each bowler must be a student of the high school that they are bowling for except for students who attend charter schools with no bowling team, home-schooled children and students of cyber schools within the school district as per Article III of the PIAA Constitution.

3. Transfer Students – The WPIBL will follow Article VI of the PIAA By-Laws regarding transfers on a case-by-case basis.

4. No WPIBL high school bowler shall bowl in an adult league if there is prize money distributed. The bowler may participate in a league or tournament providing only plaques, trophies, or scholarship may be won.

Rule 2 - Supervision

1. Each team shall be under the supervision of its head coach, who will be selected by the high school.

Rule 3 - Fees

1. Each team shall be responsible for their bowling costs at each match.

Rule 4 - Team Captain

1. Each team shall elect its own captain who will also serve as a member of the WPIBL Board of Directors.

Rule 5 - Team Coach

1. Must attend or send an appropriate representative (assistant coach or captain) to all meetings of the Board of Directors.

2. Shall select the high school bowling team members from the eligible students per Article III of the PIAA Constitution. Coaches are recommended to have their rosters verified by their administration for eligibility issues.

3. Shall forward to the WPIBL League Statistician a fax or e-mail of all Varsity score sheets of matches.   Proprietors may accommodate coaches by faxing results immediately after the match.

1. Shall contact the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at 412.263.1621 and the Pittsburgh Tribune at 724.834.1151 after each match with Varsity results based on the seven (7)-point total.  This responsibility applies to the home team coach.

2. Can be in the settee area, but a reasonable distance from the approach. The coach should make every effort not to distract the opposing team members.

3. Shall sign the opponent’s score sheet verifying the accuracy of the score.

4. Shall enter the names of his/her players on the score sheet, in the order that each will bowl, before the start of each match.

5. Shall designate a scorekeeper from their team to be at the score table during matches in houses that do not have automatic scoring.                                

   Rule 6A – WPIBL Varsity Awards

   1.   The following awards may be presented by the WPIBL:

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

1^st Place Team:          Two Crystal Pins (one for the Boys Team and one for the Girls Team)

1^st Place Team:          14 rings at an average cost per ring of approximately $200.00.

(seven for the Boys Team and seven for the Girls Team)

Rings shall include a gemstone of the winning team’s choice from a selection provided by the vendor.  The team will be permitted to select one color for the entire team.

(Additional Rings may be purchased by 1^st Place Teams payable in advance)

Any additional cost will be absorbed by the team.

2^nd Place Team:         4 Plaques (two for the Boys Team and two for the Girls Team)

2^nd Place Teams:        Maximum 20 plaques

(10 for the Boys Team; 10 for the Girls Team)

5 Minimum, 10 maximum per gender, only 5 awards will be presented without a request from the head coach for additional awards.

Request to be made within one week after completion of championship

3^rd Place Team:          4 Plaques (two for the Boys Team and two for the Girls Team)

3^rd Place Teams:        Maximum 20 plaques

(10 for the Boys Team; 10 for the Girls Team)

5 Minimum, 10 maximum per gender, only 5 awards will be presented without a request from the head coach for additional awards.

Request to be made within one week after completion of championship

• In the event of a tie for any of the following awards, duplicates will be awarded by the WPIBL.

   

  Top five Boys Series in Team Championships:         5 large gold medals

  Top five Girls Series in Team Championships:          5 large gold medals

   

  SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

  1^st Place:                     2 rings at an average cost per ring of approximately $200.00.

                                      1 for the Boy’s Singles Champion and 1 for the Girl’s Singles Champion

  Rings shall include a gemstone of the winning individual’s choice from a selection provided by the vendor.

  Winners of previous years may purchase a ring to commemorate their achievement.

   

INDIVIDUAL

All WPIBL 1^ST Team (Top 5 Averages):         10 Plaques (5 Boys; 5 Girls)

All WPIBL 2^ND Team (Averages 6^th-10^th):      10 Plaques (5 Boys and 5 Girls)

High Average:                                                 2 Plaques (1 boy and 1 girl)

High Scratch Game:   6 Plaques (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place boys and 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place girls)

High Scratch Series:   6 Plaques (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place boys and 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place girls)

MVP

MVP Section:  2 Plaques per section (one for the Boy MVP and one for the Girl MVP)

MVP League:  2 Plaques (one for boy and one for girl)

SECTION                                                                                                                                           1^st Place Team:     2 Enhanced Plaques per section (One for Boys; one for Girls)

      Maximum 20 small plaques per section (10 boys; 10 girls)

5 Minimum, 10 maximum per gender, only 5 awards will be presented without a request from the head coach for additional awards.

An additional team plaque can be ordered upon request

Requests are to be made within one week after completion of WPIBL championship.

2^nd Place Team:    2 Plaques per section (One for Boys; one for Girls)

                              Maximum 20 small plaques per section (10 boys; 10 girls)

5 Minimum, 10 maximum per gender, only 5 awards will be presented without a request from the head coach for additional awards.

An additional team plaque can be ordered upon request

Request to be made within one week after completion of championship.

1. The quantity of awards can be reduced based on need by request of the coach.

2. The awards will be presented to both Boys’ and Girls’ divisions.

3. To qualify for high average and 1^st and 2^nd Team All-WPIBL, a bowler must bowl a minimum of 21 games (70% of the ten (10) week season).

4. A bowler shall not win more than one award for high scratch game or high scratch series.

5. The League MVP will be determined by a set of criteria based on performance. A point system will be created in which the player who accumulates the most points will receive the award. See Appendix #1 for point system structure.

6. All awards shall be in accordance with regulations of the USBC.  Their cost shall not exceed the cost limit set by the association for sports recognized by that state association.

7. Awards will be presented at the four (4) championship events.

8. All awards will be labeled with the following detail:

   Award Type    (e.g., Team, MVP, Section)

   Place Finish    (e.g., 1^ST place, 2^ND place)

   School Year    (e.g., 2015-2016)

   Gender            (e.g., Boys, Girls)

9. 1st and 2nd place teams will be determined and awarded based on the tie breaker system.

   Rule 6B – WPIBL Individual Achievement Awards

   1.   The following individual achievement awards may be presented by the WPIBL:

    

   Series:

   Boys 800 series:              WPIBL ring

   Girls 750 series:               WPIBL ring

    

   Game:

   Boys 300 game:              WPIBL ring

   Girls 300 game:               WPIBL ring

    

   Eleven strikes in a row:

   Boys:                               WPIBL plaque

   Girls:                                WPIBL plaque

1. The award must be earned during a varsity match.

2. The award is limited to one award per classification (e.g., series, 300 game, 299 game, eleven in a row) per bowler per season.

Rule 7 - USBC Awards – No longer applicable

Rule 8 - Bowling Averages

1. Are determined by dividing the total number of pins credited to a bowler divided by the number of games bowled.

Rule 9 - Team Bowling

1. All regular section and non-section play will be on a scratch basis.

   a.   Before a varsity match, each team will list their five (5) starting bowlers, and may add up to five (5) additional starters during the match.

   b.   During a Junior Varsity match each team may use as many players from their team roster.

2. Junior Varsity matches do not count toward WPIBL Varsity averages for league awards.

Rule 10 - Team Substitutes

1. Substitutions may be made for any boy or girl any time during the game.

2. A player that is substituted for may not return to the team’s lineup until the completion of the game.

3. The player who starts the game receives the credit for the score.

4. Notice must be given to the WPIBL Statistician forty-eight (48) hours in advance of any changes in the team master roster personnel.

1. If a team uses an ineligible bowler (Refer to rule no. 1 – Membership) in WPIBL matches, that team will forfeit all points won as a result of the ineligible bowler’s participation.

Rule 11 - Legal Lineup

1. A maximum of ten (10) bowlers may be chosen from the team roster and placed on the Game Day roster.

2. All players on the school’s Game Day roster shall count toward the legal lineup.

3. A minimum of one (1) player must be present to have a legal line-up.

4. A maximum of five (5) players can be chosen from a legal game day roster to begin the match.

5. The use of bowlers not on the team Game Day roster is prohibited.

6. Line-up changes (see substitutions) can be made at the beginning of each game.

Rule 12 - Blind Scores/Absentees

1. Blind scores shall be zero (0) when a team has a legal line-up (at least one player) but less than five (5) players to start any game.

Rule 13 - Postponements

1. If either school’s day is cancelled, the match scheduled for that day is postponed.

2. All high school matches will be bowled on the day they are scheduled unless postponed due to adverse conditions.

3. Postponed matches will be bowled under the same conditions and rules governing regular play between high school teams.

4. The high school requesting a postponement must notify the other high school and then reschedule the match ASAP.

5. Notification of postponed matches shall be made to the WPIBL Statistician, the WPIBL Secretary, and the opposing school by the school requesting the postponement.

6. All make-up matches must be completed prior to the Friday of Week 10.

Rule 14 – Forfeits

1. A forfeit will be declared if:

   a)   League Fees have not been paid. Teams will continue to forfeit until fees are paid.

   b)   A player declared ineligible by the league or their school is used during a match.

   c)   Any other appropriate violation occurs for which a protest is filed and upheld by the Board of Directors.

2. Any high school team forfeiting more than one match will have to re-apply for membership in writing before the next bowling season.

3. In case of forfeit, the high school not at fault will have the choice to bowl at its own lanes to receive the points.

1. The high school not forfeiting will bowl the scheduled match in match format, meaning the first bowler cannot bowl their second frame until the fifth bowler has begun their first frame.

2. Scores must be sent to the WPIBL League Statistician to receive all points for the match and must be verified by the coach.

Rule 15 - Tardy Players

1. Matches shall begin no later than 3:30 p.m. with a 15-minute grace period.

Rule 16 - Bowling Format

1. Seven (7) points can be awarded per match.

   1. Two (2) points per game won.

   2. One (1) point for total pins.

   3. In the event of a tie for the match, each squad will have a two-frame roll-off with total of this frame being the winner.

   4. The roll-off will constitute the 9^th and 10^th frames.

2. Standings will be based on match scores, e.g., a team wins the first match by a score of 5-2.  The standings would be 1 - 0 for the winner and 0 - 1 for the loser.

3. Non-section matches shall not count in the WPIBL’s section standings.  However, a bowler’s scores in non-section matches will be applied to the bowler’s average.

1. In the case of a match record tie at the end of the season within a Section, the following tiebreakers will decide order of finish:

   1. Head-to-Head match results

   2. Head-to-Head match points

   3. Total section points for the season

   4. Total Head-to-Head match pins

   5. Total Section pins for the season

   6. Total Section pin “differential” for the season

   7. Coin flip

2. Practice Warm-up will be ten (10) minutes of practice – 5 minutes on each of your starting lanes.  No teams may bowl on any lanes on the day of the game prior to the start of a match.  Any bowler bowling prior to the start of the match will be ineligible for that match.

3. To ensure a good condition the match pair must have fresh oil prior to the beginning of practice warm-up.  If lanes are not oiled within two hours before match, visiting team shall insist on it.  If bowling proprietor refuses then match will not take place until proprietor agrees to lane conditioning.

4. A match shall not be stopped or delayed once it has started for any reason other than mechanical failure or an injury that interferes with play.

Rule 17a - WPIBL Team Championship

1. The WPIBL Team Championships will be held at sites within the WPIBL.  The event will be put out for bid at the conclusion of the first meeting of the society. To be considered all bids must be received, in writing by October 15^th of the current year and must meet the following criteria:

1. Must have an adequate number of lanes available as follows:

   1. Number of teams bowling, plus

   2. Two (2) lanes available for breakdown, plus

   3. Two (2) lanes available for practice/warm-up, plus

   4. Six (6) lanes available immediately following qualifying to complete finals

2. Must have automatic scoring.

3. Must oil lanes within two (2) hours play time.

4. Must meet the lane conditions requested of the specific Kegel pattern.

5. Boys’ and girls’ teams will bowl on two (2) different days.

1. The WPIBL Team Championships shall consist of two (2) rounds, in the following format:

   a.   The top two teams from each section will advance to the Championships.  The top four (4) team averages in the league that did not qualify as a 1st or 2nd place team as a result of their section finish will advance to the Championships.

   b.   Lane assignments will be done based on team averages using a predetermined assignment grid.  These assignments will be determined prior to that day.

   c.   All teams will bowl three (3) games of qualifying, changing lanes after each game.

   d.   The top three (3) teams based on their three (3) game total will qualify for the Championship Finals which will be a best of three (3) Baker bracket format immediately following the qualifying round.

   e.  The Finals match-up will pit the three (3) seed vs. the two (2) seed with the winner advancing against the one (1) seed.  Any tie games will be broken by a modified 5 frame Baker roll-off consisting of frames 6-10 on the same lane that the last game was bowled on.

   f.   In the event of a tie for a team-awarded position (1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd), each squad will have a two-frame roll-off with the total of these frames being the winner.  The roll-off will constitute the 9^th and 10^th frames.

Rule 17b - WPIBL Singles Championship

1.   The WPIBL Singles Championships will be held at sites within the WPIBL.  The event will be put out for bid at the conclusion of the first meeting of the society. To be considered all bids must be received, in writing by October 15^th of the current year and must meet the following criteria:

1. Must have an adequate number of lanes available as follows:

   1. 36 Lanes for boys (this includes a breakdown pair).

   2. 28 Lanes for girls (this includes a breakdown pair).

   3. Ten (10) lanes available immediately following qualifying to complete finals.

2. Must have automatic scoring.

3. Must oil lanes within two (2) hours play time.

4. Must meet the lane conditions requested of the specific Kegel pattern.

5. Boys and girls will bowl on two (2) different days.

   2.   The WPIBL Singles Championships shall consist of two (2) rounds, in the following format:

1. All bowlers who meet the following criteria are eligible to bowl in the WPIBL Singles Championships:

   1. Bowler must have bowled a minimum of 70% of total possible varsity games in the WPIBL (21 games).

   2. Boys must have a minimum average in the final standings of 170 and girls must have a minimum average in the final standings of 130.

2. All bowlers will bowl three (3) games of Qualifying, changing lanes after each game.

3. The top six (6) bowlers will qualify for the Championship Finals which will be a single game elimination bracket format held immediately following the three (3) games of qualifying.

   1. In the first round of the finals the three (3) seed will bowl against the six (6) seed and the four (4) seed will bowl against the five (5) seed.

   2. In the second round of the finals the winner of the 3 vs 6 match will bowl against the two (2) seed and the winner of the 4 vs 5 match will bowl against the one (1) seed.

   3. The winners of the second round matches will then bowl for the Singles Championship.

4. Any ties for the top 6 seeds and any ties during the finals will be broken by a 9^th & 10^th frame roll-off.

Rule 17c - WPIBL Championship Additional Items

1. All lineage fees for the costs of the Championships will be borne by the WPIBL league.

2. The lane condition for the WPIBL Boys and Girls Championships (Teams and Singles) will be as follows:

         a.   A rotating shot of four (4) different Kegel patterns from the challenge series:

   A. 2021-2022 Great Wall of China

   B. 2022-2023 Big Ben

   C. 2023-2024 Stonehenge

   D. 2024-2025 Gateway Arch

   b.   These patterns would rotate each year as in above.

   c.   The WPIBL officers would make sure the lanes hosting the championships would use the proper shot for that year.

Rule 18 - Bowling Out

1. Team members shall not be allowed to finish the final game, or any other game, before his/her teammates or opponents.

Rule 19 - Foul Line Observance

1. The foul line shall be observed during all high school bowling matches.

2. No WPIBL awards shall be awarded if the automatic foul detecting device or human foul judge is not used.

3. A deliberate foul by a player to gain advantage shall bring immediate disqualification of the player for the remainder of the match, plus zero (0) pins in the frame where the foul was committed.

Rule 20 - Conduct of Members

1. No tobacco products will be permitted in the bowling center during match games.

1. Alcoholic beverages, and/or illegal drugs and gambling will not be permitted in the bowling area during match games.  This applies also to parents and other spectators at the event.

1. Bowlers will remain in the settee area during the entire match.

1. Unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as disruptive and disrespectful behavior in the bowling center during a match and/or the use of vulgar language, or abuse of equipment and facilities is not permitted and shall bring immediate disqualification of that bowler.

2. No electronic devices (i.e. phones) are permitted to be used by the bowlers during match play.  Coaches are permitted to use tablets or phones whether it is for streaming or as coaching tools.  The use of these devices may not cause the match to be delayed.

Rule 21 - Uniforms

1. All participants during regular season matches and tournament play shall wear a shirt with a collar.

2. All male participants must wear dress slacks (e.g., khakis). Material may not be denim, fleece, sweatpants or nylon pants.

3. All female participants must wear dress slacks (e.g., khakis), dress skirts, or dress skorts.  Material may not be denim, fleece, sweatpants or nylon pants.

4. Capris, cargo pants, and yoga pants are not permitted.

5. Pants Pocket Rule is being used for clarification.  Please see Appendix #2.

6. There can be no markings on the shirt other than school name, school mascot, normal trim of the shirts, and/or bowling symbols.  School name and/or mascot is permitted on the front and/or the back.  Bowler’s names are permitted on chest pockets or sleeves only.

7. Headgear (caps, hats, etc.) during matches is prohibited.

8. Coaches must instruct their players to dress in good taste.

Rule 22 - WPIBL Schedule

1. The President of the WPIBL will appoint a Scheduling Committee.

2. The Scheduling Committee will be responsible for arranging the Section schedules.

3. All section teams will bowl on a home-and-away basis.

4. All bowling costs will be borne by each team.

5. Matches will normally begin at 3:30 p.m. each Wednesday.  However, match dates and times may be changed by agreement of both teams.

Rule 23 - Conflict of Rules

1. In the event of conflict of USBC rules and WPIBL rules, the rules of the WPIBL shall prevail.

Rule 24 - Hardship Exemption

1. A high school may request a hardship exemption to any of the above rules.

2. Such requests shall be made in writing to the elected officers of the WPIBL.

3. A unanimous decision of the elected officers shall be required for an exemption.

4. In the event that unanimous support is not obtained for the elected officers, the high school may appeal to a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Rule 25 – Pennsylvania State Regional Team Qualifier

1. The first place team from each section of the WPIBL final season standings will advance to the Western Regional Team qualifier.

2. The remaining seven (7) six (6) berths in the Western Regional Team Qualifier will be based on how the remaining participating teams finish in the WPIBL Team Championships. 

Rule 26 – Pennsylvania State Regional Singles Qualifier

1. The top finishing 40 boys and the top finishing 40 girls (including all ties) from the WPIBL Singles Championships will advance to the Western Pennsylvania Regional Singles Qualifier.

2. The top two (2) boys and the top two (2) girls, with qualifying games and averages as set forth in Rule 17b, from each section will advance to the Western Pennsylvania Regional Singles Qualifier.

   1. When a bowler qualifies for the Western Pennsylvania Regional Singles Qualifier as a top 40 finisher in the WPIBL Singles Championships and is also one of the top two (2) averages in their section, bowlers in that section will not move up into one of the top 2 spots for the section.

3. The remaining openings for the Western Pennsylvania Regional Singles Qualifier will be filled with the top averages from the entire WPIBL of bowlers who did not qualify from the WPIBL Singles Championships or as the top two (2) averages in their section and who have met the qualifying games and averages as set forth in Rule 17b.

Rule 27 – Hall of Fame

1. Purpose is to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to high school bowling as a player, coach, or administrator.

2. Committee Organization

   1. The President of the WPIBL shall appoint a Committee. The Committee term is two (2) years.

   2. The Vice President of the WPIBL shall serve as chairperson of the Hall of Fame Committee.

   3. The Committee shall be composed of no less than three (3) and no more than seven (7) members, including the Chairman. The Committee members must have a thorough knowledge of the WPIBL history and the game at all levels.

3. Selection Process for Nominations

   1. Nominee’s selection shall be initiated by individual teams or a member of the WPIBL Board of Directors.

   2. Candidates may be nominated three (3) times. If not selected after three (3) nominations, they will not be given any further consideration unless recommended by the Hall of Fame Committee.

   3. Anyone nominated before this organization may be re-nominated by the Hall of Fame Committee.

   4. The nominee’s resume shall be concise and reflect the chronology of major contributions and achievements.

   5. All resumes shall be typed on the WPIBL Hall of Fame Application.

   6. Completed nomination forms shall be sent to the WPIBL office by February 1^st. The nomination form shall be recorded at the office and copies shall be sent to the Hall of Fame Committee for review.

   7. The Committee will only accept resumes received at the WPIBL office.

   8. The Committee shall make a decision on all nominees by March 1st.

   9. The WPIBL Board of Directors shall make the final decisions on the nominees recommended by the Committee.

   10. Installation of newly elected Hall of Fame members shall take place at the WPIBL Annual Awards Banquet.

4. Criteria for Selection

   The WPIBL Hall of Fame nominee should reflect all contributions with the emphasis on high school bowling achievements.

   1. WPIBL Hall of Fame Nominee

      1. Selection: The Hall of Fame Committee may select a maximum of three (3) individuals each year to the Hall of Fame, or it may choose to select none, if it is felt that the nominees proposed do not meet the qualifications.

   2. WPIBL Hall of Fame Player Award

      1. Eligibility: All players nominated shall have distinguished themselves with a high standard of play under the guidance and auspices of WPIBL. This includes competition at the local and State level as a member of a team representing their high school.  To become eligible for nomination to the WPIBL Hall of Fame, a minimum of two (2) years of varsity high school bowling is required.  Players shall be eligible for nomination three (3) years after completing their eligibility to play in high school bowling.

      2. Selection: The Hall of Fame Committee may select a maximum of two (2) players (one boy and one girl) each year into the Hall of Fame, or it may choose to select none, if it is felt that the nominees proposed do not meet the qualifications.

   3. WPIBL Meritorious Service Award

      1. Eligibility: Nominations for this Award are for individuals involved in bowling in non-playing capacities at Team, League, and State levels.

      2. Selection: Nominations may be made at any time.

5. Awards

   1. WPIBL Hall of Fame Inductee: Each individual inducted into the Hall of Fame shall receive a suitable award and certificate.

   2. WPIBL Hall of Fame Player: same as above.

   3. WPIBL Meritorious Service: same as above.

   4. Awards will be presented at the WPIBL Singles Championships.

      Rule 28– Funeral Expenses

1. When any member of the WPIBL or immediate family passes, the WPIBL will send a mass card if the WPIBL Secretary is notified.

    

Appendix #1

MVP Award Point System

The following point system will be used to determine the League and Section MVP.  The Boy and Girl who attains the most points overall will be declared the League and Section MVP.

• Section MVP points are calculated against other bowlers in their section only while League MVP points are calculated against the entire league in a separate calculation.

• Only bowlers with a league qualifying average (21 games or more) will count when ranking for average points.

• All games and series will count regardless of how many total games were bowled when ranking for game and series points.

• Multiple games and series by an individual are counted when ranking for game and series points.

• All points are based on regular season statistics.

   

  STANDARD POINTS:

Total games bowled

Each game bowled = 1 point                                All 30 games bowled = 5 additional points

BONUS POINTS:

Individual Games and Series (BOYS)                  Individual Games and Series (GIRLS)

Each 300 game bowled = 10 points                     Each 300 game bowled = 10 points

Each 800 series bowled = 10 points                     Each 700 series bowled = 10 points

Each 700 series bowled = 5 points                       Each 600 series bowled = 5 points

Appendix #2 Pants/Pockets Rule

Jeans Style Pants (prohibited for WPIBL League, Regionals, and States)

Front Pocket                                                  Rear Pocket

*Regardless of material, any pant that has these style pockets is prohibited.

Cargo pants (prohibited for WPIBL League, Regionals, and States)

Side Pockets

Dress Pants pockets (what’s expected unless it has no pockets)

Front Pocket                                                  Rear Pocket

                                                                        *may have a pocket flap

                                                                        *may not have an outline of the pocket