Month: October 2018

From the FCUSBC Youth Committee Chairperson,

What a tremendous first three months of the 2018-2019 youth bowling season!  I am very pleased to see strong participation overall in youth leagues and tournaments, and the accomplishments just keep stacking up.  Here are some highlights from the past three months:

• The JJBT has already awarded over $1400 in scholarships!
• The NFSSS has already awarded 15 Junior Gold spots, in addition to scholarship funds awarded and added to the year-end scholarship pool!
• Challenge Tournament participation is the highest in several years!
• Travel League participation is up almost 50% from last year!
• Three youth bowlers have accomplished their first sanctioned 300 game (one was on a sport shot pattern)!
• Our local Youth Leaders chapter elected new youth officers and is looking to grow, both in numbers and in leadership skills!
• Enhanced use of technology within the JJBT and Challenge tournaments!

What’s on the horizon for the next three months?  Quite a lot!  Regional tournaments like Landen and USA Bowling (Baker teams)… Pepsi / FL Handicap tournament qualifying during youth leagues… local monthly tournaments like JJBT, NFSSS, Challenge.. and special events including the Christmas Classic, Ray Potts Memorial, and of course our Annual City Championship!  Let’s also not forget to show appreciation for volunteers, coaches, and past youth bowlers by nominating them for annual recognition.

We want your feedback… what is working well, what could be improved, etc… as that is how we can make the experience better for everyone.  Please share constructive feedback frequently with your center director or with me directly.

Keep up the momentum!

Ryan Waters, USBC Silver Coach and First Coast USBC Youth Committee Chair

Youth bowlers, parents & coaches:

Below is a summary of all the Association’s youth bowling events during the very busy month of November 2018, plus a few major events coming up in future months:

• Sat 11/3 – Mixed Scotch Doubles BVL Charity Tournament at Batt Family Fun Center.  2 squads (1:30pm and 3:30pm), cost is tentatively $20/team ($10 per person), teams consist of 1 male and 1 female ages 12+.
• Sat 11/3-Sun 11/4 – The Florida State Youth Leaders will hold their annual “Bill and Millie Landen Tournament” at Break Point Alley in Tavares.  This 2-day tournament consists of three 5-game blocks (on 3 different oil patterns), followed by step-ladder finals in all 3 divisions (1 handicap, 2 scratch, split by average).  Entry fee is $80, plus an optional Junior Gold Qualifier and/or brackets.  Bring a current standings sheet with you!
• Pepsi Qualifier Week #1: Sat 11/10 – Fri 11/16 – During regular youth leagues, bowlers will have a concurrent qualifier for the FL Pepsi and FL Handicap tournaments (both held in late March through early May 2019 in Brandon, FL).
• Sat 11/10 – The Jacksonville Jr Bowling Tour (JJBT) will have its third tournament of the season at Bowl America Southside.  Check-in is Noon to 12:45pm; tournament begins at 1pm sharp!  Open to bowlers with a current average of 120+ (minimum of 9 games bowled in a league this season).  NOTE: This is the Bill Kuchler Memorial event, with added scholarship funds awarded out!
• Sun 11/11 – Week 5 of the FCUSBC Youth Travel League takes place at the new center, Splitz!  Group coaching corner is at 10:45am; league play begins promptly at 11:00am!
• Tues 11/13 is the deadline for Center Directors to submit rosters for the Christmas Classic tournament.  If you are a youth bowler seeking to compete on a team, please contact your Center Director.
• Sat 11/17 – The local Youth Leaders chapter will be holding a membership meeting at 12:30pm at King Pins.  All youth bowlers are invited to join the meeting and the Youth Leaders group, which helps to develop the leadership and volunteering skills of its youth members.
• Sat 11/17 – The monthly Challenge Tournament will be held at King Pins Bowling Center.  Team check-in is from 1pm to 1:45pm; Tournament starts at 2pm.  See your Center Youth Director to be added to a team roster.
• Sun 11/18 – Week 6 of the FCUSBC Youth Travel League takes place at Batt Family Fun Center.  Group coaching corner is at 12:15pm; league play begins promptly at 12:30pm.
• Sun 11/25 – The North Florida Sport Shot Series (NFSSS) holds its fourth tournament of the season at Splitz of Jacksonville.  Check-in is 9am to 9:45am; bowling starts by 10am.  Open to all youth bowlers.  Compete for experience, Junior Gold entries, or scholarship contests!

SIGNIFICANT FUTURE EVENTS:

• Sunday 12/2 – Annual Christmas Classic at Batt Family Fun Center.  Talk to your Center Director if interested, as teams are limited and consist of 2 bowlers under 12 and 2 bowlers 12+ (ages as of 8/1/18).
• Saturday 12/8 – Ray Potts Memorial Scholarship Tournament at Bowl America Mandarin.  Check-in starts at 11am; bowling at Noon.  $30 entry fee. 3 Divisions: Boys Scratch (all ages), Girls Scratch (all ages), and Handicap (Under 15 only).  At least 2 Junior Gold spots awarded at no additional cost, plus at least $800 in SMART scholarships will be awarded.
• Sat 1/5/19-Sun 1/6/19 – USA Bowling Coastal South Regional Baker Team event at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park.  Contact Ryan Waters if you need to be matched up with a team (Under 12 and Under 15 age groups only).
• Sat 1/19/19-Sun 1/20/19 – Start getting your teams together for our Annual City Championship tournament, which is held at Mayport Bowling Center (Team event) and at Bowl America Mandarin (Doubles/Singles events).

Please submit questions or feedback via email to fcusbcyouth@gmail.com — we want you to be informed and we also want to hear from you!

Bowlers and parents,

We are forming Under-12 and Under-15 teams to compete in the USA Bowling regional tournament this January.  Bowlers from our association have competed in this event in the past 4 years, and several local teams have won the regional in years past (advancing to the National Championship, which this season will be in Detroit, Michigan in July 2019).

The Coastal South Regional takes place the weekend of January 5th & 6th at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park.  Teams consist of 4-6 bowlers, and the team entry fee is $110 (so, $18-28 per bowler depending on team size).  Teams will bowl 8 Baker-format games on Saturday; teams then bowl a double-elimination playoff bracket on Sunday.

If you are interested in signing up, or want more information, please contact Silver Coach Ryan Waters at fcusbcyouth@gmail.com

Youth bowlers, parents & coaches:

Below is a summary of all the Association’s youth bowling events during the month of October 2018, plus a few major events coming up in future months:

• Sunday 10/7 – Week 3 of the FCUSBC Youth Travel League takes place at King Pins Bowling Center.  Group coaching session is at 1:45pm; 2pm league play begins.  Open to all youth bowlers… not too late to join!
• Saturday 10/13 – The Jacksonville Jr Bowling Tour (JJBT) will have its second tournament of the season at King Pins Bowling Center.  Check-in is Noon to 12:45pm; tournament begins at 1pm sharp!  Open to bowlers with a current average of 120+ (minimum of 9 games bowled in a league this season).
• Sunday 10/14 – Week 4 of the FCUSBC Youth Travel League takes place at King Pins Bowling Center.  Group coaching session is at 9:45am; league play begins promptly at 10:00am!
• Saturday 10/20 – The monthly Challenge Tournament will be held at Jax Lanes Grove Park.  Team check-in is from 1pm to 1:45pm; Tournament starts at 2pm.  See your Center Youth Director to be added to a team roster.
• Sunday 10/28 – The North Florida Sport Shot Series (NFSSS) holds its third tournament of the season at King Pins Bowling Center.  Check-in is 9am to 9:45am; bowling starts by 10am.  Open to all youth bowlers.  Compete for experience, Junior Gold entries, or scholarship contests!

SIGNIFICANT FUTURE EVENTS:

• Saturday 11/3 – Mixed Scotch Doubles BVL Charity Tournament at Batt Family Fun Center.  2 squads (1:30pm and 3:30pm), cost is tentatively $20/team ($10 per person), teams consist of 1 male and 1 female.
• Sat 11/3-Sun 11/4 – The Florida State Youth Leaders will hold their annual “Bill and Millie Landen Tournament” at Break Point Alley in Tavares.  This 2-day tournament consists of three 5-game blocks (on 3 different oil patterns), followed by step-ladder finals in all 3 divisions (1 handicap, 2 scratch, split by average).
• Sunday 12/2 – Annual Christmas Classic at Batt Family Fun Center.  Talk to your Center Director if interested, as teams are limited and consist of 2 bowlers under 12 and 2 bowlers 12+ (ages as of 8/1/18).
• Saturday 12/8 – Ray Potts Memorial Scholarship Tournament at Bowl America Mandarin.  Noon start; contact Coach Josh Williams for details.
• Sat 1/5/19-Sun 1/6/19 – USA Bowling Coastal South Regional Baker Team event at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park.  Contact Ryan Waters if you need to be matched up with a team (Under 12 and Under 15 age groups only).
• Sat 1/19/19-Sun 1/20/19 – Our Annual City Championship tournament is held on this weekend at Mayport Bowling Center (Team event) and at Bowl America Mandarin (Doubles/Singles events).

Please submit questions or feedback via email to fcusbcyouth@gmail.com — we want you to be informed and we also want to hear from you (both good and not-so-good feedback)!