New & Interested Persons – FAQ
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Q: Do I have to bowl every week?
A: You can if you want to! Most people do, however each team can carry 2 extra members to allow for rotation and absences.
Q: Do I need my own shoes and ball?
A: The game is always better when you have your own equipment. However, Silva Lanes will offer free shoe rental for the first few weeks. House balls are available at no charge. The Pro Shop at Silva’s offers packages for all skill levels and affordable prices that include shoes, ball, and bag. You can contact them at 505-298-5583.
Q: What time is bowling every Sunday? How long is the season?
A: Bowling begins promptly at 5:45pm with 15 minutes of practice, and league bowling starting at 6:00pm. We play three games, and bowling usually lasts 2-2.5 hours dependent upon bowlers and game play.
SNO consists of two halves. The whole season is 32 weeks, split into Spring and Fall sessions. The last night of each Spring and Fall session is a Fun Night with Potluck and Awards for all teams. If you are interested and would like to join us, please sign up here. (SEE LEAGUE SCHEDULE)
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Each week is $19. This includes
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- – lineage (what we have to pay the bowling center),
- – secretary & treasurer fee (someone’s gotta do the weekly league stuff! LOL),
- – IGBO fee (we support ourselves and our bowling community), and
- – prize fund (yay, money for awards!)
There is an annual fee of $34 for the CNM USBC (due every August, or in January, if you didn’t bowl the prior August-December).
If you want to pay for the entire season at one time, the amount is $304 (or $338 if you are also paying the USBC sanction fee). You can pay this the first night of league, by check or cash.
Q: I don’t have a full team. Can I still bowl?
A: Of course! There are often others who are also looking for a team. Here’s a chance to make new friends. Subscribe to our mailing list (we send out social notices) and like us on Facebook to make connections ahead of time!
Q: I don’t have a lot of bowling experience. Can I still bowl on the league?
A: Absolutely! The league is open to all skill levels. We will use 100% handicap which gives everyone a chance to win. The primary goal is to have a good time!
Q: What is USBC?
A: The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) is the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The USBC is a membership organization that provides standardized rules, regulations and benefits to make bowling fair and fun for everyone. USBC stands for values that include commitment, innovation, integrity, inclusiveness and fun. Today, the USBC serves approximately 1 million members.
Q: What is IGBO?
A: IGBO is the International Gay Bowling Organization. It is the collection of gay and gay-friendly bowling leagues and tournaments around the US and the world.
Q: Are we required to wear masks to bowl?
A: During the height of the COVID pandemic, everyone HAD to wear masks bowling.
Due to the current status of a pandemic (2024) and lack of any local health order, it is up to your discretion. Whatever you are comfortable with…no one will judge you. We are all here to be ourselves, and if you need to wear a mask for any reason, go right ahead.
If local jurisdiction(s) change this requirement, we will notify you via email (please ensure you are receiving our emails if you are on our subscription list).
Q: Ok, I am convinced! What do I need to join?
A: Download a Team Roster Form here, complete, and email back to the League Secretary/Treasurer, or sign up online.
You will need to show up to the first night of bowling at Silva Lanes at 4:30pm for a league meeting, and bring your team with you (if you have one), as this is also the first league night we bowl!
Due the first night: An annual USBC sanctioning fee of $34 (renewable every August), plus the first week’s fees of $19 for a total of $53. Every week thereafter $19 will be due.
You are more than welcome to pay for the entire season at one time, if you are able to and wish to. The full amount is $304 for the full 16 weeks or $338 if you are also paying the USBC sanction fee. You can pay all of this the first night of league, by check or cash.
Please contact us if you have any other questions.
CURRENT LEAGUE BOWLER – FAQ
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Can we pay for the entire season at once? OR can we pay for more than one night of bowling at once?
Certainly! We don’t mind you paying in advance…we just don’t want you to get in arrears (behind in payments). We accept payments in $19 increments, for as many weeks as you wish to pay in advance. If you pay over $19, but under the next $19 increment, you will receive change in your team envelope the next week, as we do not keep any running balances.
Should you want to pay for the entire season at once, we will gladly take your full payment! 🙂 The amount for the full season is $304.00. You can pay in cash and/or check made payable to “Sunday Night Out”.
My team members didn’t show up? Can I/we bowl?
A legal lineup is AT LEAST TWO full time team members (NOT substitutes; you can use the other two absent bowlers averages, minus 10 points, as their score each game of the evening).
A team member will be late. Can we bowl? Can the late member still bowl?
Tardy bowlers will be permitted to bowl, provided the first bowler of the opposing team has not bowled the third frame in any game. If so, the tardy bowler must wait to bowl for the 2nd and 3rd game and will receive an absent score for the first game.
What if I cannot show up to bowling due to an emergency?
- First, please contact your team as soon as possible.
- Second, contact us at snopresident1@gmail.com or text Wendy (505-975-1996) or Gina (505-379-0069).
- You and/or your team can choose to use your points minus 10 points (total) as an absent bowler the date you are absent, OR they could find a sanctioned substitute to play in your place that evening.
- You and your team also have the option to post bowl with your team (at least two FT members need to post bowl). You will have one week, until the next Sunday night bowling, to complete your post bowl.
My scores or team scores do not look correct on Silva’s standings sheets, what can I do?
Please let Wendy or Gina know as soon as you notice the possible score discrepancy – standings sheets are emailed to all bowler emails usually by Thursday or Friday after that Sunday’s bowling.
Please email us (recommended and preferred) at snopresident1@gmail.com. Or you can talk with us at league bowling DURING the 2nd or 3rd game. We ask this because try to finish the accounting of nightly monies during our first game, and the quicker we get this done, the easier and nicer it is for…us and our team to bowl AND for us to have time to answer your questions.
I haven’t received an award for a high score or high series, but you’ve called many others names for awards throughout the season.
The awards announced throughout the bowling season are USBC awards (which are managed by the local association CNM-USBC). Scores are submitted to the local association throughout the 16-week half season. If you feel a USBC award may have been missed for you, please let Wendy or Gina know as soon as you believe you have not received an appropriate award.
Please email us (recommended and preferred) at snopresident1@gmail.com. Or you can talk with us at league bowling DURING the 2nd or 3rd game. We ask this because try to finish the accounting of nightly monies during our first game, and the quicker we get this done, the easier and nicer it is for…us and our team to bowl AND for us to have time to answer your questions.
NOTE PER USBC: USBC gives one adult lifetime award per achievement (300 game, 800 series and 900 series). A member may purchase an award (www.keepsakebowling.com or www.USBCBowlingAwards.com) for multiple high score awards rolled as a USBC member. If you need additional information or have further questions, please contact USBC at 1-800-514-2695, ext. 8953.
LEAGUE AWARDS are handed out the 15th week of league.
My team needs to pre- or post-bowl. What are the rules again?
You must notify us PRIOR TO THE SUNDAY YOU ARE BOWLING FOR using the pre/post bowl request form (preferred) or email us at snopresident1@gmail.com. (We do not recommend texting us this information.)
What if we bowl an absent team or the “ghost” team (if there is one that season)?
If you are matched with a team that is not at the alley for the evening, it depends on if they have pre or post-bowled, or if they decided to forfeit the evenings’ games. The league rules (VIII., E.) state that “Any team bowling unopposed (ghost team), or if an opposing team forfeits, must bowl at least the team average minus forty (40) pins per game in order to win the points.”
If there is a vacancy on the team, that score will be 120 with a handicap of 105.