Individual State Tournament

[catsbackr]

What are everyone's thoughts on the qualification criteria for State individuals?

 

Last year, in the girls division, we had girls that averaged less than 120 qualify for the State. In the boys division, you had bowlers averaging less than 150 qualify.

 

Should there be District/Region tournament for the individuals? It seems like you would want to have the BEST bowlers in the state at the State tournament.

 

What if one district had 6 girls averaging over, say 190, and only 4 could make it but another girl averaging 120 makes it from another District. Does that feel right to everyone else?

 

Just trying to start some conversation.....

[Catshater]

Well maybe catsbackr not all lanes have grooves in them ,so that the kids can score well.

[catsbackr]

Well maybe catsbackr not all lanes have grooves in them ,so that the kids can score well.

 

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

All of the lanes are set up just so the kids can score well. Then they probably change them for regular league bowling so the league bowlers won't bowl as good. Or, they leave them GROOVED so everyone at Hixson Holiday Bowl shoots around 200.

 

Yeah, that's probably it.

 

Nah, that's not it.

 

You're probably just an idiot.

 

Yeah, pretty sure that's right.

[Catshater]

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

All of the lanes are set up just so the kids can score well. Then they probably change them for regular league bowling so the league bowlers won't bowl as good. Or, they leave them GROOVED so everyone at Hixson Holday Bowl shoots around 200.

 

Yeah, that's probably it.

 

Nah, that's not it.

 

You're probably just an idiot.

 

Yeah, pretty sure that's right.

 

I know I am right. They bowled in dunlap and that groove wasn't there. and bet they didn't find that groove at tristate either. "Idiot", don't think so just observant. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

[catsbackr]

I know I am right. They bowled in dunlap and that groove wasn't there. and bet they didn't find that groove at tristate either. "Idiot", don't think so just observant. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

 

Didn't find the "groove"?

 

You're kidding right? Our girls are 19-0! They have won at Hixson, Brainerd, Tri-State, Columbia and at Savannah's lanes. Did they take the "groove" with them? Maybe they can't find the "groove" wherever they bowl, but they sure find something. I think that something is..........A WAY TO WIN!

 

Who are you talking about that can't find the "groove"? Since you mentioned Dunlap, something tells me you're with the Sequatchie County bowling team.

 

Make it out of the District, then the Regions, then the Sectionals and go to the State before you start talking about a "groove." I think Hixson's boys found some kind of "groove" last year. They won the State! And the year before that, they were runner-ups.

 

Oh, and as for your screen name, don't hate, back your team. And I apologize for the idiot comment, I got carried away.

 

Anyway, can we get back on topic? What about the way the TSSAA chooses singles?

[Bigdog01]

No matter how you limit the qualifiers for state tournament someone some where will have a complaint. I like the idea of having the top 10 or 15 percent qualify state wide, but then you have to level the playing field and only allow a maximum number of matches to allow for equal opportunities.

[catsbackr]

In most other individual sports, you have to beat the best to be the best.

 

Unfortunately, in bowling, some of the best may not even be at the State Individual Tournament. You are right though, some will always complain. It is quite possible that some Districts may not even be represented at the State if only the best qualified.

 

But the real question is, should all of the Districts be represented? If a District's top bowler's average is 60-70 pins lower than the 10th best bowler in another District, should they go to the State? And if they should, is the State tournament about identifying the best bowlers or just having someone from each District represent their District.

 

As far as a maximum number of matches to qualify, I would think you would have to have a minimum number of games to qualify. After the minimum is satisfied, if you bowl, you take your chances on lowering or raising your average. You can't punish teams for bowling more.

 

I don't know, it just seems like there should be some kind of minimum average criteria to qualify for the State. If one District has 12 bowlers all averaging, say 190, should they not go?

 

I don't know....

[patsfan820]

In most other individual sports, you have to beat the best to be the best.

 

Unfortunately, in bowling, some of the best may not even be at the State Individual Tournament. You are right though, some will always complain. It is quite possible that some Districts may not even be represented at the State if only the best qualified.

 

But the real question is, should all of the Districts be represented? If a District's top bowler's average is 60-70 pins lower than the 10th best bowler in another District, should they go to the State? And if they should, is the State tournament about identifying the best bowlers or just having someone from each District represent their District.

 

As far as a maximum number of matches to qualify, I would think you would have to have a minimum number of games to qualify. After the minimum is satisfied, if you bowl, you take your chances on lowering or raising your average. You can't punish teams for bowling more.

 

I don't know, it just seems like there should be some kind of minimum average criteria to qualify for the State. If one District has 12 bowlers all averaging, say 190, should they not go?

 

I don't know....

 

 

No, there shouldn't be a district and regional tournament for individuals. If you bowl at the same houses as 4 other people and cannot average higher, you should not make the state tournament. The better bowlers in the state end up making it to the state tournament anyway. And besides, there are definitely bowling alleys that are easier than others...

[catsbackr]

(Just a couple of questions now.)

 

No, there shouldn't be a district and regional tournament for individuals.

 

Why?

 

And besides, there are definitely bowling alleys that are easier than others...

 

The house you bowl in has nothing to do with it. If it did, Smyrna or a team that bowls out of Smyrna Bowling Center would win every year. They don't.

 

If you bowl at the same houses as 4 other people and cannot average higher, you should not make the state tournament.

 

That makes no sense either. Look at last years individual qualifiers 2007 State. Are you telling me that someone that averaged less than 150 should go to the State tournament? Some of these boys couldn't even start for many girls teams with those kind of averages.

 

The better bowlers in the state end up making it to the state tournament anyway.

 

Uhh, no they don't. Many are left out so that each district can be represented.

[Bigdog01]

There is a minimum required, you must compete in 2/3 of your district matches games. The only bowlers that are getting additional games are the individuals that happen to be on the strong TEAMS. That is a benefit of belonging to a strong team, but it is a negative for a good bowler to be on a weak team. Be glad that your bowlers are on good teams that's a positive experience! Bottom line in this state the shots are powder puff cake walks to say the least. TSSAA should require that all high school matches are to be bowled on a flat oil condition and then we'll see how many kids average 200 - 230.

[catsbackr]

I'm confused.

 

Bottom line in this state the shots are powder puff cake walks to say the least.

 

Then why are ALL of the bowlers not averaging over 200. I mean if it's "powder puff cake walk" lane conditions then anyone and everyone should be able to shoot at least 200 every single game.

 

TSSAA should require that all high school matches are to be bowled on a flat oil condition and then we'll see how many kids average 200 - 230.

 

So, why don't all houses, and I mean ALL houses, set their lanes up with flat oil patterns? I mean, set it up that way for all leagues and recreational bowling too. Everyone loves to watch people shoot 150. In the State individuals, most of the games are on the sport shot pattern and you're right, scores go down. It really doesn't matter as long as everyone is bowling on the same pattern.

 

And finally, how do the other states set up their high school bowling patterns? They probably vary but I thought you might know.

[patsfan820]

Every district needs to be represented. People who averaged in the 180s and 190s qualified for the semifinals at singles state last year. If there were a requirement of a 200 average, then many inflated averages from easier houses would make up the participants in the tournament. If you cannot average higher than 4 other people in your district then you should not be at the state tournament. You have enough chances to prove yourself throughout the year. Yeah, you want to find the best bowlers in the state tournament, but the best bowlers prove themselves through averaging in the top 4 and bowling their best at the tournament. If you are 5th or 6th, you need to wait until you get better.