Gay/Lesbian Invitational Fellowship Tournament

Rules and Regulations

1) Entry in Cleveland's G.I.F.T. is by invitation only.

2) The G.I.F.T. tournament shall not be an USBC sanctioned tournament.  However, USBC rules shall apply to matters not explicitly covered in these Tournament Rules.

3) This tournament shall consist of three (3) events: Singles, Doubles and Team Event with additional payouts for individual all events.

4) The number of games per event shall be three (3).

5) Team strength shall be four (4).

6) Each entrant may compete only once in each event.

7) Men and Women shall compete on an equal basis.

8) Each entry must be accompanied by payment in full. Non-bowler entries shall be accepted under the same conditions. Please enclose a check or money order in U.S. Dollars made payable to "Cleveland G.I.F.T.". Personal checks will
not be accepted after May 22, 2010.  Once an entry is accepted, there will be no refunds. Entries must be postmarked by May 22, 2010, and mailed to:

Cleveland G.I.F.T.
PO Box 93413
Lakewood, OH 44101-5413

9) Substitution will be allowed at the Directors' discretion.

10) Claims of errors in scoring must be presented in writing to the Tournament Committee within two (2) hours of the completion of bowling on the day the error allegedly occurred.

11) Late bowlers shall start bowling in the current frame upon arrival. Prior frames shall be scored zero (0).

12) Bowler check-in time shall be 1 hour prior to the start of bowling each day.

13) All prize monies collected will be returned in full.

14) NOTICE: Music may be played during all bowling sessions.

 

Entering Averages

1) Any bowler entering G.I.F.T. 2010 must establish an acceptable standard ten-pin average based on 21 or more games of league bowling.  League standings sheets or other acceptable verification must be submitted from all leagues (gay or straight, sanctioned or non-sanctioned) in which a bowler has 21 or more games.  The following rules will apply to entering averages:

a. Bowlers must submit both their league ending averages from the 2008-2009 fall/winter season (minimum 21 games) and their averages at 4/1/10 (minimum 21 games).  The highest average will be used.

b. If the bowler does not have a 2008-2009 average, or a 4/1/10 average, then the highest 2009 summer league ten-pin average (minimum 21 games) can be used.

c. If an entrant does not have a verified average in accordance with Rules 1a-1b, then the bowler will use 225 as the entering average.  NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

d. The G.I.F.T. tournament will NOT accept Sport Bowling League averages, or make average adjustments for Sport Bowling League averages (USBC rules 200-212 will not apply).

e.  Entrants must report averages from all leagues as defined in Rules 1a - 1b.

2) Any entrant who has bowled in 21 or more tournament games (excluding no-tap tournaments) during the period from June 6, 2009 through June 6, 2010, must submit their tournament scratch scores to the G.I.F.T. Statistician before the entrant bowls for possible re-rating.  If a bowler's accumulated 12-month tournament average is higher than the entering average established under Rules 1a-1c, re-rating will occur and the bowler's tournament average will be used for handicap purposes.  Failure to report this information shall result in AUTOMATIC disqualification without a refund and loss of all winnings.  USBC Rule 319e (as modified by this paragraph) will apply.

3) A bowler is not required to report any previous tournament prize winnings as a condition of entry (USBC Rule 319d does not apply).

4) The average of a bowler may be adjusted upward, at the discretion of the Tournament Directors, before the entrant bowls.  A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment is entitled to a full refund of the entry fee.

5) Handicap for the tournament shall be based on 90% of the difference between the bowler's entering average and 225.  Negative handicaps shall not apply.

6) It is each bowler's responsibility to ensure that proper average verification is on file with the Statistician and to verify the accuracy of his/her average, whether originally submitted by the bowler, his/her team captain, the league secretary, or others.  Failure to use the proper average or make correction before an entrant bowls shall disqualify the bowler if the submitted average is lower than the actual average.


P.O. Box 93413
 Cleveland, OH 44101-5413

info@clevelandgift.org