By-Laws for the Ball & Chain League – 2025-26

1. The league’s name will be “Ball & Chain League”. 
2. The league will be made up of up to 10 husband & wife teams.  The first exception to this rule shall be when one member of the team is unavailable.  If the duration of their unavailability exceeds one year, approval of the league is required for that team to remain in the league.  The second exception is that if within two weeks of the start of the season no husband-wife team is available, unmarried teams will be accepted.
3. A four-point system will be used.  One point per game and one point for total pins.
4. A 90% handicap will be used.
5. The league will bowl for 35 weeks, starting the Wednesday before Labor Day.  We will bowl 2, 17-week Halves.  The 35^th week will be for the Roll-off of the winners of each half and the “KANN Tournament” for the remaining teams.  Bowling will be at Earl Bowl Qtown and will start at 7:00pm every Wednesday except holidays.
6. Weeks 1-34 – Bowling fee will be $28.00 per couple per night.  Week 35 – Bowling fee will be waived but we will collect $5.00 per person to defray the cost of hosting the Bowling Picnic.
7. Averages from last season will be used to calculate the handicap for the first night.  Those without an average from last season will establish an average the first night.  We will use last year’s team average (highest to lowest), for team numbers.
8. New teams coming in during the season will take over games won and lost of team dropping out.  Handicap will be figured after the completion of their first night.
9. All matches to be rescheduled must be made up by the opposing teams by the Saturday following the scheduled match.  This allows for ten days for rescheduling, beginning with the Thursday before the scheduled match.
10. Any bowler missing the money pin will be required to pay a fine.  The money pin will be designated the 5, 7, 10 pins and will be alternated each week.  The 5 pin will be the money pin for all tournaments.  The 5 pin will be the money pin for all knockdown nights.  The fine will be $0.25 for the 5 pin and $0.10 for the 7 and 10 pin.
11. The roll-off of the winners of each half will be based on total pins of three games.  If a tie on total pins occurs, an extra tenth frame is to be rolled.  In the event the same team wins both halves the second-place teams from each half will roll-off for the runner-up position.  If the same team finishes second in each half, no roll-off is required.
12. If a tie occurs for first and second of either half, first place will be determined by a roll-off at the league’s expense.
13. Trophies as received from the house will be awarded to the Champions, and the Runners-up.  The champions will receive $20.00; the runners-up will receive $15.00.  Twelve cash awards will be made to individuals.  $10.00 and $5.00 awards respectively will be given for first and second high average, high series, and high game, for men and women.  No individual may win more than one award.  The order of awards is as follows: 1st average, 1st series, 1st game, 2nd average, 2nd series, and 2nd game.
14. Figure most improved male and female bowler from last year’s average.  For a new bowler, figure from average after 21 games.
15. The secretary’s annual salary is to be $6.00 per person plus $6.00.  The treasurer’s annual salary is to be $2.25 per person plus $2.00.
16. In the event a team or individual is late, the team they are bowling should start at the given time.  If the team arrives before the first three frames are bowled, they may make up the lost frames and continue through the game.  But if the said team has bowled more than three frames, then the late team will have to forfeit that game.  They may bowl along with the opposing team, but their scores will not count.  The balance of the games may be bowled as usual.
17. If a team fails to call and reschedule or cancel by 6:30pm the night of bowling, a $15.00 penalty will be assessed.  A last-minute emergency would negate this by-law.
18. Substitutes are allowed for family emergencies, and medical reasons. Use substitute’s average after three games to figure handicap.  Regular bowler is responsible for all regular fees. Substitutes are not eligible for any prizes. [Substitutes may not be used for position nights or roll-offs unless they are a “long-term” substitute.  Long-term defined as: Subbing for the same bowler for at least six weeks immediately preceding position night or roll-off.] 
19. Bowling Blind: If a bowler is missing, deduct 10 pins from the bowler’s average.  This can be used for six consecutive weeks.  After that, 80% of average of the missing bowler will be used if no temporary replacement is brought in.  If a bowler is missing the first night, use `blind’ score from last year’s average.
20. A scheduled meeting for the first & last night of bowling season, last night to elect officers for the coming year.  The vice-president will automatically become the President the following year.
21. There is a waiting list to enter the league.  The first time the name gets to the top of the list if they decline to join the league, their name may stay at the top of the list.  The second time, if they decline to join the league, their name will move to the bottom of the list if they want to remain on the list.
22. While the league voted to NOT Certify for the 2025-26 season, the rules in the USBC handbook are to be followed, except for the rules specified in our by-laws.