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Lee Evans Tournament of The Americas - August, 2002

RULES AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1. The 40th Annual Lee Evans Bowling Tournament of the Americas officially begins Saturday, August 17, 2002 with Registration, Official Practice and Opening Ceremonies. Competition begins Sunday, August 18, 2002 and ends Saturday, August 24, 2002.

2. All competition will be on a scratch basis.

3. Adult division representation shall consist of two men and two women for each designated nation and territory participating.

3S. Senior division representation shall consist of two men and two women for each designated nation and territory participating. Senior men and women must be at least 50 years of age before the first day of the tournament.

3J. Junior division representation shall consist of two boys and two girls for each designated nation or territory participating. 

a. Juniors must be at least 11 years of age as of January 1 of the year of competition and must be no older than nineteen (19) and 364 days on January 1 of the year of the competition.

b. Smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages by juniors during competition or other scheduled tournament functions are prohibited.
Note: the State of Florida law specifically states that no alcoholic beverages be served to any person under 21 years of age. (this will also apply to a bowler under 21 who may be bowling in the adult division.)

c. Junior conduct is the responsibility of each delegate. Delegates are required to enforce rules for their junior bowlers. Any delegate who cannot control their junior representatives subjects their bowlers to disqualification from the competition.

Note: If a country does not have a complete team in any division, they may  field an incomplete team to represent their country.  These bowlers will participate in all scheduled events in order to be eligible for awards in Singles, Individual All Events and the appropriate Doubles or Mixed Doubles event. 

4. Entry fees will be $150.00 (U.S.) for Adult, Senior and Junior bowlers to compete in official tournament events. Regular lane fees will apply during unscheduled practice sessions. Delegate/Coach/Guest fee will be $75.00 (U.S.): All entry fees must be paid prior to Official Practice and Opening Ceremonies.

5. Winners in mixed foursomes, mixed doubles, doubles, singles, all events and national all events shall be determined by total pinfall. This rule applies to Adult, Senior and Junior bowlers.

a. The term "all events" shall include all games bowled in mixed foursomes (12), mixed doubles (6), doubles (6) and singles (12), Adult, Senior, and Junior divisions.

b. The term "National All Events" shall include all games bowled in mixed foursomes, mixed doubles, doubles and singles by each country's team members, Adult, Senior and Junior divisions.

NOTE: Bowlers who cannot compete in an event due to their team's incomplete representation will bowl at the same time the regular event is rolled. Every bowler will be assigned a lane so his or her score will count toward the number of games required for all events. For equal representation on the lanes, pacers may be provided.

6. In the event of a tie for medal position in first place in mixed foursomes, mixed doubles, doubles, singles and all events, there will be a one game roll off with the winner determined by total pinfall. The Tournament Director and/or the Tournament Coordinator will choose roll off time. Second and third place ties will be awarded appropriately - a tie in second place will result in each team/bowler receiving identical second place medals and no third place will then be awarded, a tie in third place will result in each team/bowler receiving identical third place medals.

7. Medals will be awarded to those finishing among the first three placed in each event. Duplicate medals will be awarded to all members of doubles and foursomes teams finishing among the top three. An additional medal will be awarded to the team's Federation for National All Events in the first three places.

8. Hi score awards will be given for men and women - Adult, Senior and Junior divisions - for highest set and highest game score bowled during the tournament. Scores for awards given by ABC/WIBC/YABA to its members will be filed by the Tournament office if following conditions are met: bowlers/delegates must make tournament office aware of ABC/WIBC/YABA eligible award scores bowled immediately following game set in which award scores were bowled. Bowlers must complete and return required application forms to be eligible for these awards. Should any event be conducted in sets of more than three games, only the first three will count toward high set honors. Where 6 games per day are bowled it will be considered to be two sets of three games.

9. Bowling balls will be checked for compliance with weight and balance regulations and must be on the "approved ABC" ball list within time limits as set forth by the Federation Internationale des Quilluers and
  may be called for checking at any time during the tournament at the discretion of tournament officials. Bowling balls found not in compliance at any time during the competition will be disqualified for use in competition play.  Bowling balls will not be allowed to have surface changed in any way during the period of each day's competition, beginning with the practice time.

10. Participants shall report to Cloverleaf Lanes in time to start competition promptly. A bowler arriving late will be permitted to bowl with his or her score beginning with the frame being bowled when he or she is ready to bowl. Bowlers will NOT be permitted to make up missed frames or games and will receive a "0" score for each frame missed.

11. Slow bowling (in accordance to WTBA rules) - Players preparing to step on the approach and deliver a ball shall have the right to claim right of way only over a player moving to the approach or preparing to bowl on the lane immediately to their left; they shall yield to a player on their right. Players shall be ready to bowl when it is their turn. If a player does not observe the procedures, it may be construed as slow bowling. A player failing to observe these procedures shall be warned by an authorized tournament official as follows:

a. A white card for the first offense (no penalty).
b. A yellow card for the second offense (no penalty).
c. A red card for the third and each succeeding offense in any block of games (six games for singles, doubles, mixed doubles or team). The penalty shall be zero pinfall for the frame.

For interpretation of the enforcement of this rule, the " Delegate Referee of the Day" shall specifically monitor any player or team that gets more than four frames behind the leader in singles, doubles or mixed doubles or more than two frames behind in team. Whenever there is any question concerning the enforcement of this rule, or lack thereof, the final decision shall be made by the Tournament Director or her designee, notwithstanding the reference to the Delegate of the Day in WTBA Rule 313.

12. DELEGATES: Each country shall appoint an official Delegate, who will be deemed by the tournament to represent the interests of the entered country's team, in all matters. Their responsibilities will include registering their team, insuring that all fees due from each team are paid before tournament opening, insuring the entered team is aware of and follows all tournament rules, attending meetings, seeing that scoresheets are signed by their bowlers, any paperwork required and scoresheets are completed and turned in promptly, requesting substitution of players and serve as Delegate Referee of the Day when required by the tournament to do so. Delegates shall wear official tournament uniform.

13. No food or drinks will be allowed in the bowlers' circle during participation in tournament competition. Smoking is not permitted in the Cloverleaf except for the "lounge-bar" area during competition or official practice times.

14. Official tournament shirts must be worn during tournament competition and for Opening Ceremonies. The "Official shirt" is that which has been designated by and having been ordered through the tournament office.  Badges, pins, ribbons and patches must not obscure names on tournament shirts. Men/Boys are to wear black trousers and Women/Girls are to wear black skirts to match tournament shirts. Women/Girls will not be permitted to wear slacks, "split skirts" or shorts. Men/Boys will not be permitted to wear shorts.

15. Adult, Senior and Junior bowlers will move one pair of lanes to the right after three games of a six game block. Bowlers using the last pair for men's or women's Adult division, Senior or Junior division will move to the first pair of lanes in their division.

NOTE: An effort will be made to vary pairs of lanes for different sets as much as possible. Only two practice balls on each lane will be permitted before the beginning of each set, unless otherwise directed before bowling competition begins.

16. a. A bowler shall not be eligible to participate in the tournament if:

1. He or she identifies himself or herself as a professional.
2. He or she does not qualify under Rule 17.
3. He or she is a junior not qualifying under Rule 3J.
4. He or she is entered as a senior not qualifying under Rule 3S.
5. His or her conduct is detrimental to the best interest of the AMF Lee Evans  Tournament of the Americas.

     b. Rule 16a.5 also applies to Delegates and Coaches.

17. A participating bowler must be a citizen or native by birth and permanently reside in the country they represent or be a permanent resident although not a citizen of that country. In any case, a bowler must have the approval of the recognized bowling association or federation of his or her country in writing which must be included with each bowlers' entry form.

NOTE: Within general guidelines set forth by the Bowling Tournament of the Americas Association, WTBA and FIQ American Zone, qualification for representation shall be determined by the national federation given responsibility for organizing participating bowlers. All participating countries must be in good standing with FIQ/ WTBA/FIQ AZ. Non-member countries are eligible for entry under WTBA Rule 204: Players from countries whose federation is not a member of FIQ may participate not more than twice within 24 months following the first entry in WTBA sanctioned tournaments, after which the federation must obtain FIQ membership for its members to again be eligible for sanctioned competition. The WTBA Presidium may authorize further participation by players from such non-member federations as described herein.

If a country wants to participate in the tournament and is not affiliated with FIQ, they should apply for membership to the American Zone for corresponding affiliation in accordance with FIQ rules.

NOTE: United States citizens permanently residing in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are eligible to represent the commonwealth or territory of their residence but may not represent the 50 states.

18. Beginning with the second day of competition in any event, bowlers will be grouped, when possible, according to standings through the previous day of that event of the competition.

19. Each bowler in singles, or team captain in doubles and foursomes events, will be given a scoresheet at the beginning of each squad for the event scheduled during that squad.

a. Official scorekeepers or if not available, bowlers, may fill in appropriate results and totals on scoresheets.

b. Bowlers are responsible to see that scores are correct on the overhead scoreboard and scoresheets are filled in properly, completely and accurately. Do not leave your assigned lanes before completely checking your scoresheet. It will be the responsibility of each delegate to see that their bowlers sign their individual scoresheets.

c. Game score entries will be considered correct and official once the scores are automatically entered into the computer.  Games score entries will not be changed other than for obvious errors in addition. 

20. The Tournament of the Americas will operate in accordance with rules and guidelines issued by the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs, World Tenpin Bowling Association, American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, and Young American Bowling Alliance.

a. Penalties for rule violations, when the rule does not specify a penalty, are governed as follows:

1. A player failing to observe a rule(s) shall be warned by an authorized tournament official with a yellow card for first offense (no penalty).
2. For a second offense in the tournament, the player will be disqualified from the tournament.
3. All offenses shall be reported by the Tournament Director to the General Secretary of WTBA.

b. Problems and questions of rule interpretation should be brought to the immediate attention of tournament director as they occur.

c. The tournament directors reserve the right to rule interpretation and their decisions shall be final unless an appeal is made to FIQ or WIBC/ABC/YABA in accordance with applicable rules.

21. Only competing bowlers, scorekeepers, delegates and official tournament personnel are permitted in bowler's circle during competition. When competition begins, coaching of any bowlers will be permitted behind the bowling area only. In no case, is bowling to be held up because of coaching.

22. Substitution of entered players unable to bowl by reason of accident or illness will be allowed during competition. The official Delegate must make a request for substitution to the Tournament Director or Coordinator. All required forms must be in order and submitted by the delegate to the Tournament Office before a substitute may bowl. (Substitute bowlers scores will not be added to the originally entered player's scores during any event being bowled when the substitution occurs or for individual All Events.) Once a substitute player is entered on a team, the original entrant may not return for the balance of the competition.

23. National Acceptance form is due by JULY 1, 2002. All other forms should follow promptly or as required by dates designated.