Bowling World Aug/Sep 2019

August/September 2019- www.bowlingworld.com 41 TNBA Youth Weekend Celebrates 10Th Year At ITRC Save By Terry Bigham ARLINGTON, Texas – For the 10th consecu- tive year, The National Bowling Association Youth Weekend is tak- ing place at the Interna- tional Training and Re- search Center, provid- ing eight student- athletes with the oppor- tunity to train under the watchful eyes of Team USA coaches. Over the course of the three-day event, which started Thursday, play- ers receive on-lane training and drills along with classroom sessions from the ITRC staff. Participants also have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers and tour the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Kaia Gray of Chicago bowls in TNBA and United States Bowling Congress events and said to see the organizations work together on the program for youth bowlers is amazing. She had previously visited the ITRC and learned about the state-of-the-art bowling technology used during training sessions. “When I heard about this opportunity to train under (Team USA head coach) Rod Ross, it was just a phenomenal opportunity,” said Gray, who will bowl at Jackson State starting in the fall. “They told us they would work on the weak part of our game. I really hope they help me with that because I want to be more consistent with my shots.” When the Junior Gold Championships were held in the Dallas area in 2018, Adam Atkins of New Orleans visited the ITRC and had the chance to bowl on Sport pat- terns. He was excited for the opportunity to return as part of the TNBA Youth. “It has Specto and all kinds of technology that really help you out with your game,” said Atkins, who is starting his senior year of high school. “It‟s a good experience. So few have the opportunity to come here. What I‟m going to do with the information I learn, we have a lot of young kids back in our program and I‟m going to help them out.” He also works at a pro shop and wants to learn more about bowling balls. “I just want to learn more about drilling, ball motion, cores,” Atkins said. Other participants in the TNBA Youth Weekend are Savanna Razor, Jailyn Rogers, Jordan Shipp, Alex Horton, Nykolas Walker, and Purely Williams. Veronica Green, the TNBA National Youth Pro- gram Director, plus coaches Donald Armstead and Charles Horton also are part of this weekend‟s program. Barbara Armstead, as the TNBA Youth Weekend Project Coordinator, over- sees the program. “I am so happy to say this is our 10th year – 10 years of working with this wonderful program,” Armstead said. Armstead sent out applications to TNBA youth members, between the ages of 16- 19, at the start of the year. As part of the application process, players are asked to submit a video, showing their bowling style from different angles, along with a re- sume of accomplishments. She said they look for the top players – those participating in competitive events throughout the season – and pointed out that one of last year‟s TNBA Youth Week- end attendees captured a national title this summer. “We had a group of phenomenal players and one of them, Patricia Rosales, just won the U20 Junior Gold Championships,” Armstead said of last year's group. “She is a talented individual and she will credit some of her accomplishments to her trip here. It was a wonderful experience for her and for us.” Visit TNBAInc.org t o learn more about The National Bowling Association. USBC Will Lower Youth Membership Maximum Age To 18 Starting With 2020-2021 Season By Terry Bigham ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress will lower the maxi- mum age for USBC Youth membership to 18 starting with the 2020-2021 season. The decision to lower to the maximum age from 20 to 18, with agreement from the Bowling Proprietors‟ Association of America and the International Bowling Campus Youth Committee, will align bowling with other youth sports. “Over the last decade, we have made changes to USBC Youth programs and tour- naments to provide a model comparable with other youth sports,” IBC Youth Manag- ing Director of Youth Development Gary Brown said. “We moved to age-based divi- sions, as opposed to average, for events, to provide peer-to-peer competition. Set- ting the maximum age for youth bowlers to 18 aligns us with the standard of other national youth sports organizations.” A U18 division will become the top division for the Pepsi Youth and Bowling.com Youth Open Championships for the 2020-2021 season. During the next season, USBC will address how the age change will impact the 2021 Junior Gold Champion- ships, which will have a separate U20 division. Starting with the 2020-2021 season, USBC Youth membership policy will state youth membership is available to individuals who have not reached the age of 18 prior to Aug. 1 of the current bowling season. The decision to lower the maximum age will directly impact 3.3 percent of the total youth membership. The change also better aligns USBC Youth membership with new regulations from the U.S. Center for SafeSport requiring training for those over 18 who participate in a sport with minors. Any USBC Youth member who reaches the age of 18 during the bowling season is required to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport online education program, which is free, to continue to compete in leagues that have participants under age 18. This requirement was announced with the release of the revised Registered Volunteer Program (RVP) handbook. The new age limit marks the second time the USBC Youth maximum age has been lowered. In 2009, USBC lowered the maximum age for youth bowlers from 22 to 20. Did you know you can read Bowling World as a flip book with your cell phone? bowlingworld.com It’s easy, no app needed and it is FREE!