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Youth Bowlers,

Here’s a quick glance at youth bowling events coming up between now and the end of November:

• Sunday, Oct. 29th – The North Florida Sport Shot Series will hold its second tournament of the season at King Pins. This tournament is open to all youth bowlers and is an optional Junior Gold Qualifier event.  Pre-register on their Facebook page, check-in is 9:00am-9:45am (bowling starts at 10am).  Cost is as low as $25 for 5-game block, plus we have some fun optional events to earn additional SMART scholarship funds.
• Saturday, Nov. 4th – The Bowling for Veterans (BVL) Tournament will take place at Batt Family Fun Center.  This is a mixed scotch doubles tournament with a youth division (ages 12-20), and walk-in squad times are 1:30pm and 3:30pm.  Cost is $20 per team.
• Saturday, Nov. 4th & Sunday, Nov. 5th – The Florida State Youth Leaders invite youth bowlers to compete in the Bill & Millie Landen tournament at Brandon Crossroads Bowl in Brandon.  This scholarship tournament is also a Junior Gold Qualifier.  For details, visit the state youth bowling website at http://fsusbcy.com/Tournaments/LANDEN
• Saturday, Nov. 11th – The Jacksonville Jr Bowling Tour (JJBT) monthly scholarship tournament will be held at Nassau Bowling Center.  Registration is from 12:00pm to 12:45pm, and the tournament starts promptly at 1:00pm.  $40 entry fee.  This is the Bill Kuchler Memorial tournament, where the Kuchler-Peterson family has donated $300 towards added scholarship awards!
• Saturday, Nov. 11th is also the deadline for Centers to submit team entries for the Christmas Classic.  If you are interested in representing your center in this annual tournament (held Sunday 12/3), please let your Center Director know.
• Saturday, Nov. 11th marks the start of Pepsi / FL Handicap Tournament qualifying week.
• Sunday, Nov. 12th – Travel League Week #6 is at Bowl America Orange Park.  Lane assignments start at 12:30pm, we start bowling at 1pm.  The cost of the league $16 each week, where we bowl 4 games on a certified sport pattern.  Even though the league has already started, youth bowlers are certainly welcome to join mid-season to gain experience on sport shots!
• Saturday, Nov. 18th – (Tentative) “Baker Team Information Session”.  All youth bowlers who are interested in competing in an upcoming Baker-format tournament should attend (Location & Time TBD).
• Sunday, Nov. 19th – Travel League Week #7 at Batt Family Fun Center.  We start bowling at 12:30pm.
• Sunday, Nov. 26th – The North Florida Sport Shot Series will be held at Nassau Bowling Center.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your Center Youth Director or send us a message at fcusbcyouth@gmail.com

Adults,

We are in need of volunteers to help build and shape our youth bowling programs!  Specifically, the Youth Committee is seeking a Youth Leaders Advisor.  A Youth Leaders Advisor essentially provides guidance and support to the local Youth Leaders chapter.  Candidates for this important role will need to hold (or obtain) RVP status and demonstrate a willingness to promote leadership qualities within youth bowlers.

Those interested in being considered will need to submit a brief email to fcusbcyouth@gmail.com, indicating their experience with our youth bowling programs, recent volunteer work, and any other information that may help us narrow the search.

Thank you!

– First Coast USBC Youth Committee & Youth Leaders

Youth Bowlers,

First off, welcome to the 2017-2018 youth bowling season!  For those bowlers that are interested in doing something beyond their weekly bowling league, here are the upcoming youth bowling events in September:

• Saturday, Sept. 16th – Jacksonville Jr Bowling Tour (JJBT) monthly scholarship tournament at Batt Family Fun Center.  Registration is from 12:00pm to 12:45pm, and the tournament starts promptly at 1:00pm.  $40 entry fee.  Minimum average of 120 (prior year or current year w/ 9 games).
• Sunday, Sept. 17th – Youth Leaders Meeting, starting at 12:00pm at Nassau Bowling Center.  All youth bowlers are welcome to attend and participate!
• Sunday, Sept. 17th – Travel League Week #1 at Nassau Bowling Center.  Registration is 12:00pm-12:45pm, as we will have a league meeting at 12:45pm and start bowling 1pm.  The cost of the league $16 each week, where we bowl 4 games on a certified sport pattern.  Our league will award Junior Gold National Tournament entries, SMART scholarships and equipment.
• Saturday, Sept. 23rd – Challenge Tournament at King Pins.  1:00pm-1:45pm check-in, 2:00pm start.  See your Center Youth Director to form a team.
• Sunday, Sept. 24th – The North Florida Sport Shot Series will hold the very first of its monthly tournaments at Batt Family Fun Center.  This tournament is open to all youth bowlers and is a Junior Gold Qualifier event.  Pre-register on their Facebook page, check-in is 9:00am-9:45am.  Cost is as low as $25 for 5-game block, plus we have some fun optional events to earn additional SMART scholarship funds.

If you have any questions about these events, contact your Center Youth Director or send us a message at fcusbcyouth@gmail.com

The First Coast USBC Youth Leaders Chapter met on Sunday 7/30 for their Annual Meeting.  During the meeting, elections were held for all Officers — here are the results:

President: Matthew Waters

Vice President: Chyna Romedy

Sergeant at Arms: Isiah Bautista

Office Manager: Amber Thomason

We’d like to thank Liz Speight for her efforts over the past year as the outgoing President.  Additionally, we thank Harley Romedy for her contributions for the past 8 years in various capacities, both locally and on the State level.

The first Youth Leaders meeting for the 2017-2018 season will take place on Sunday, September 17th (time and location to be arranged).  All youth bowlers interested in joining our Youth Leaders group are invited to attend.  For more information, visit the Youth Leaders page of our website.

We are working on the calendar of events for the upcoming bowling season, and want to hear from YOU!  If you have a suggestion or two for any of our tournaments (City, Scholarship, JJBT, Challenge or Christmas Classic)… or for the Travel League, please share it.  Use the comments feature on the main page of our website or email fcusbcyouth@gmail.com with your suggestions.

 

Here are a few topics being discussed right now (to get your thoughts flowing):

• Medals vs. Certificates
• Format for a new fun tournament (ex: plastic ball, 3-6-9 No Tap)
• How the 6 Association-paid Junior Gold spots should be awarded
• Player / Parent Sportsmanship Pledges

Did you miss the recent news segment highlighting the First Coast USBC bowlers headed to Cleveland for Junior Gold Nationals / USA Bowling Nationals?  Here is the link to the web article and video segment — https://www.news4jax.com/sports/33-youth-bowlers-are-headed-to-national-junior-gold-championship

The next Youth Leaders meeting, which is the Annual Meeting (where all officers are elected), will take place on Sunday 7/30 2pm at Bowl America Southside.  All existing Youth Leaders, along with anyone interested in joining, are encouraged to attend this important meeting.  If you have additional questions, contact anyone listed on the Youth Leaders page or send an email to fcusbcyouthleaders@gmail.com

Being prepared for Junior Gold, or any tournament, is more than just packing a suitcase and bringing your bowling bag stocked with supplies.  The most overlooked aspect of bowling is what’s called the “mental game.”  But what does that mean?

Some believe the mental game is about how a bowler thinks about their attempt at the pins… thinking through which boards and line they need to play to make a certain shot.  Others may believe it has to do with knowing how their equipment will react.  To me, it’s about checking your emotions at the door, controlling your thoughts towards the next shot, and eliminating distractions.  It’s about how you react when things go your way or, more often, when they don’t… if you react at all.

One thing a lot of youth bowlers forget about is that there’s ALWAYS someone watching you.  Someone is noticing if you are beating yourself up with negative self-talk — very easy to see when a bowler misses a shot and looks down, shakes their head,  extends their hands/arms when pins remain standing like the pins were glued to the lane.  It’s also evident when a bowler has “checked out”… just throwing the ball without any rhythm and has that “awe shucks” shoulder shrug when walking back to their seat.  Other bowlers see these behaviors and they instantly know you aren’t on your game, which can boost their confidence in turn.  Parents see these non-verbal clues and may react in a not-so-favorable way.  Potential college coaches will see those behaviors and make a note (written or mental) of who they would rather not deal with down the road.

Parents, this applies to you too.  Your behavior is seen by your kid(s), other parents, and coaches — and a difficult / negative / “helicopter” parent can be an eliminating factor for a college coach looking for that last team member & scholarship offer to give.  Seeing a rolling of the eyes, or hearing a loud comment of frustration from the crowd, can mess with a kid’s psyche.  Be supportive yet genuine; keep emotions and comments in check.

So, what are some methods for dealing with the stress of bowling competition?  First off, everyone has to treat each shot as a learning experience, not a grade on a school test.  Watch the ball the entire time it rolls down the lane to see what’s going right and what’s happening when things go awry.  Make a mental note (or better yet, use pen and paper) to record and analyze how you are playing that lane, that shot, that situation.  Watch other bowlers and how they are playing the lanes to get a feel for when the lanes break down.  Realize that almost every shot made on a pair of lanes alters the oil layout a little bit, and over time there will be a need for adjustments.  You don’t have to act like a robot or overly enthusiastic when leaving a split, just keep a level head in the situation.

Bowlers will often have time in between frames to sneak over to a parent or coach for advice.  My advice for giving advice is to keep it simple — work on one thing at a time, not 5 things, and don’t guess.  For the bowlers, be humble and receptive but also bring an idea / solution to the conversation.  Trust your bowling instincts, and do not allow emotions or distractions to interfere with your game.  One final thought: if you really get stressed and need to let it out, in between games switch your shoes and quickly step outside of the bowling alley (where practically no one is watching) to “get it out of your system”… then leave that emotional baggage at the door and make the next shot.

 

(The first in a short series of posts aimed at Junior Gold bowlers and parents, regarding the unique experience that is National Junior Gold Championships)

Today’s message is about preparation… but we’re not talking practicing spares (that’s a given), we’re talking about logistics and supplies.

In Cleveland, there’s going to be a LOT of distractions and things to do Friday through Sunday to keep you running all over town.  Then it’s going to be very different Monday through Thursday — each day has much more “down time” than the weekend, but you’ll still be off your routine.  Friday and Saturday is a return to the hectic pace for those still competing, though there are events for those missing the cuts.

Do you know what you are doing… and where you have to be (and when)… each day?  I’ve found it’s best to take a notebook and write down a loose schedule for each day of your trip.  Start with the essentials (registration time & squad times/locations), build in travel times (overestimate), and don’t forget to set aside time for meals.

Meals “on the go” get expensive and usually are not very nourishing for an athlete.  If you have the ability to cook meals at your hotel or rental house, create a meal plan and stick to it.  If you can work proteins into each meal, that will pay off with more sustained energy and less fatigue.  Try to avoid excess sugar.  Buying a 24-pack of Gatorade at the grocery store will cost the same as about 6 individual bottles they sell at the bowling center.  (Better yet, get the big powder canister and refill a couple bottles all the time)

Rest often!  Everyone is going to experience some form of travel fatigue, and it can be compounded by a swim out in the sun at the hotel.  I’m not saying “don’t swim”; rather, be mindful of your body and be cautious when filling up your schedule with day trips.  Sure, Niagara Falls is a memorable experience, but a 4-5 hour drive each way isn’t a good idea before an 8:30pm squad.  Sitting around playing video games or lounging on a couch all day isn’t exactly good for you either.  Find a healthy balance.

Parents… your job is to support your athlete in this experience.  Again, having a healthy snack available and offering a reassuring word of support will go a long way.  Here are a few more things for the parents to consider having on hand during the tournament:

• Cushions to sit on.  The bleachers will be cramped uncomfortable.
• Small notebook with a pen.  You will meet many parents and likely start new friendships (or perhaps ask questions about what they did to prepare, or develop a “seat saving buddy” for each game)
• Small portable cooler with ice packs.  Again, snacks!  If it looks like a purse or camera bag you might be able to sneak it in the alley; otherwise, purchase 1 drink then refill it from supplies in the car.
• 2 battery operated hand-held fans… one for your bowler and one for you.
• Have a full change of clothes for your bowler in the car each day.  Not to embarrass anyone, but I know of someone who ripped his pants during warmups of a tournament and had to quickly change in the car.  Been there.

Next time… we’ll talk about the mental game of bowling.

Here’s a summary of the key updates from the FL State Youth Association Annual Meetings:

• Youth Leaders: Our zone representatives were re-elected for another year… Chyna Romedy is the Zone 1 Director and Brianna Pisani is the Zone 1 Director-at-large.
• 2017 Landen Tournament: The annual Bill & Millie Landen Tournament will take place 11/4 – 11/5 at Brandon Crossroads Bowl.  The optional Junior Gold add-on fees will increase but entries will be awarded at a 1:4 ratio (last year it was 1:5).  This tournament will be dedicated to Bradley Hartsfield, the outgoing State Youth Leaders President.
• Pepsi Tournament Winner: During the luncheon, John Nunn received awards for winning the U12 Boys Division of this year’s State Pepsi Tournament.
• Youth Hall of Fame: For the 3rd year in a row, the State Youth Hall of Fame inducted a former youth bowler from the First Coast USBC.  This year, Derek Freitag-Mee joined the Youth Hall of Fame for his Bowling Achievement.
• FL State General Scholarship Winners: Two youth bowlers from First Coast USBC were among the 15 recipients of $1,000 scholarships — Octavious Cook from Jax Lanes Grove Park and Jesstina Farrell from NAS Jax Freedom Lanes!
• 2018 Pepsi Tournament: The State Youth Council of Delegates selected the location for next year’s Pepsi / FL Handicap Tournament… Pin Street in Fort Myers.
• 2019 State Tournament: The Council of Delegates selected the locations of the State Tournament for 2019 — Pin Street in Fort Myers and Coral Lanes in Cape Coral.  As a reminder, the 2018 State Tournament will be along the Space Coast (Titusville area).