UBA 2017 PLAYOFF RULES & FORMAT:
There will be no entry fee for playoff matches. Handicap will automatically be assigned to each team's middle & 3rd pair. All side action will be ran by an official UBA Bracket runner. The UBA Max score will be 300 for all pots. If 2 or more UBA bowlers bowl 300 or over with handicap they split the handicap pot. Brackets will be highest score advances.
Each team puts in 9 Bowlers which the team President or a designated team officer divides into three 3 person teams.
One of these 3 person teams will bowl scratch while the other 2 teams bowl using handicap (80% of 250).
For bowlers on the 2 handicap pairs, their handicap total will be included into the match & added to their score.
Each three person team will receive 2 (two) points for each game won and 4 (four) points for total wood. This makes the maximum allowable points on each pair 10 (ten). 10 (ten) Bonus points will be awarded to the team with the most total pins making the maximum allowable points per match 40 (forty).
If there are any ties, then the points will be divided equally. Ex: Game Tie = 1 per team, Wood Tie (per pair) = 2 points given to each team, Total Wood Tie = 5 points per team.
If a match ends up in a 20-20 tie, all 3 pairs will immediately bowl a 1 game (+ handicap) roll off. Total pin fall adding up all 3 pairs will break the tie. If the bowling center cannot accommodate the roll-off match, the UBA Executive Board will make a decision on which day & time the match will take place. Match will be at the same center where the tied match took place.
Each playoff venue will have a designated start time with a check-in time an hour prior. Late bowlers cannot enter the match if either match on each side of them has completed their 4th frame. Bowlers must be in settee area ready to bowl.
- Rosters and averages will be checked by the assigned UBA Staff member.
- Each bowler must wear his or her own, unique, UBA team Jersey or they will not be allowed to bowl. Name must be visible at all times while bowling from the start of practice. Roster and/or jersey infractions are to be reported to the assigned staff member prior to the last ball of the first game. Roster and /or jersey infractions that are reported after the last ball of game one must be filed and protested to the Operational Manager. Bowlers found in violation will be subject to no less than a 3-month suspension. If the infraction is not caught by the last frame of game one, then ALL SCORES WILL COUNT throughout the duration of the match.
- Averages: Refer to the UBA Bylaws regarding average establishment. Bowlers will establish a UBA average after 9 games. A "NO PIN DROP" rule will be in effect meaning bowlers will never use an average lower than what they entered the 2016-17 season tour with. Any bowler that joins the UBA with no entering average will come in with a base average of 250 and will not establish an average until they reach 9 tour stop games or a re-rate request is sent in and approved. (See re-rate policy/form on the UBA website)
- If a team is discovered using a bowler not on the team's roster or listed on roster as inactive in a tour match, that bowlers scores in that particular match are null & void & will receive a zero score with no handicap.
- If a team cannot field 9 bowlers for a match, each vacant spot will be considered a blind 170 with no handicap assigned.
- If a team has a pair of all blind bowlers, the opposing team will have to bowl their UBA average minus thirty pins as a team scratch to earn points on that pair. The pair of blind bowlers will not be able to earn points. Teams with 1 or 2 pairs of totally blind teams will receive 1530 per pair towards their overall pin fall. This will apply only if you have 1 pair with a legal lineup.
- Substitutions: Teams are only permitted 1 sub per playoff match. Subs are only allowed to enter at the start of a game. Bowlers not being able to continue their game for any reason will receive zero for the remainder of the current game. Subs will enter game and receive their proper handicap towards the match (if used on a hdcp pair)
- Round Robin: This format is ONLY for conferences that have an uneven number of districts or will have an uneven number of advancers once a round is completed. The Round Robin playoff format will go as follows:
Double elimination round-robin to determine the conference champion. If a team "wins" both initial head to head match-ups (21+ points in each), that team will advance automatically.
This option gives a team to win both matches and advance, and in the event of all 3 teams going 1-1, we do double elimination, with the lowest point totals bowling in the elimination match first.
- Seedings: Seedings for the Atlantic, Northeast & Southeast Conference Semi-Finals & Battle Bowl Final Four will be based on each team's average points per post season match bowled. (1v4 2v3). If there is a tie for 1st or 3rd, highest total pin fall for all postseason matches will break the tie.
Any team that is a no show, the opposing team will automatically get the win
***DISCLAIMER ****
The Underground Bowling Association, Inc. follows the Rules and Guidelines of The United States Bowling Congress Tournament Certifications Hand Book. Any rule or violations not covered by the USBC or any infraction found to be not in the best interest of the Association will be governed by the UBA and its By Laws.
