Utilities League Rules 2025 - 2026

  1. This shall be a league of 14 teams with 5 members on each team. Each team may have 3 alternates. Alternates may bowl. Alternates will be considered as regular bowlers if bowling on the team that they are listed as an alternate. Alternates can NOT bowl as a sub on other teams. This is an uncapped league. If a bowler should join the league with an average exceeding the handicap high (235), handicap structure would be adjusted to accommodate.

  2. The league management shall be by the elected Officers and the 12 Team Captains. If the captain is an elected officer he must appoint a team member to vote at all meetings.

    Elected Officers are:

    • President – Jim Brock
    • Vice President – Rod Anglin
    • Sgt. Of Arms – Manny Casados
    • Sec/Treasurer – Randy Krohn

    The season will be 32 weeks starting on August 27, 2025 and ending on April 22, 2026. There will be a bye weeks on 11/26, 12/24, and 12/31 for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. The team awards and all monies will be given out at the league banquet in cash on April 29, 2026. If not in attendance, checks will be mailed following our awards banquet. Location: San Francisco Deli (Tentative).

  3. There will be a split season with the first ½ winners bowling the second ½ winners for the championship, on the 31rd week (4/15/25). Position rounds will be on the 15th (12/3/2025) and 30th (4/8/26) week of bowling. If the same team wins both halves, the team with the most wins that did not win a half will be deemed league runner-up. Sweepers will be held on the 34nd week of bowling. We will establish the bowlers average and handicap on the first week of bowling. All bowlers must have a 21 game average to bowl on a position round or the last 3 weeks of either ½. No bowler will be allowed to switch hands to establish a new average during the last 3 weeks of bowling

    • Handicap will be 90% of 235
    • The vacant average will be 150 + handicap with ten-pin drop. It is the full responsibility of the team/team captain to fill vacant spots on their team. The house, and pro shop will assist in finding members for vacant teams.
    • A team that joins after the start of the either half will be able to make up as many as (3) previous weeks. The makeups must follow USBC rules and bowled as a team, and cannot be more that (3) games at one time. The scores will be applied to the weeks and the team that their team number was placed against for that week.
    • Any absent bowler will have 10 pins taken off his current average on the second successive absence and beyond. For the first absence the bowler will be given his current average.
    • Injured bowlers will not receive a 10-pin drop for absences for the first 3 weeks of absences. A 10-pin drop will occur if the player has not arranged for an alternate to bowl in their place.
    • Bowlers will begin league with either the finishing average from the Utilities League previous season, or their current highest book average. Averages will be reset after 9 games.

  4. Practice bowling will begin at 6:15 – League bowling begins at 6:30.

  5. This is a sanctioned league and all bowlers will buy a card on the first night of bowling or show proof of having one on another league or their scores will not count. This a USBC rule.

  6. The league fees are as follows:

    • $16.00 Lineage
    • 1.00 Secretary/Treasurer Fee
    • 2.10 Singles/Team Sweeper
    • .25 Expense Fund
    • 5.65 Point money determined by points
    • 25.00 Total Fees per week per bowler

    Singles and Team sweepers are part of our league fees. Doubles will be a $1/per bowler buy in. Pairings sheets to be passed out the 2nd to last week of bowling to allow everyone to make their pairings before sweeper night.

    The total fee will be due each week and no envelope can be more than 1 week in the arrears or they will have to forfeit that weeks games. No player may go more than 2 weeks in arrears, or that player’s team will forfeit all points for that week. Each envelope will contain $125.00 per week or the amount to keep the team current. League fees are to be paid in $25.00 increments – NO OTHER AMOUNTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. If you wish to pay for multiple weeks, it must be in $25.00 increments or your envelope will be returned to your team for corrections. Any envelopes containing other amounts will be returned to the team for corrections. League fee envelopes must be brought to the secretary no later than the 6th frame of the first game – otherwise fees for that week will not be accepted – secretary will not pick up envelopes, it is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure league fee envelopes make it to the secretary.

  7. The final two weeks of bowling fees will be $50.00 and will be paid by all regular bowlers. It will be due no later than November 20. It will be used to pay the final 2 weeks of league fees for all bowlers finishing the league. It is a non-refundable, non-transferable fee. The sponsor’s fee is $100.00 and shall be paid by each team. This is also due by November 19th. If not paid on time, all previous games will be declared a forfeit. This fee will be used towards awards at the end of the league. Awards will be given out for Individual High Series and Game – Scratch and Handicap, League High Average, and most-improved average (most improved average will be determined after 9 games, and evaluated at the end of the league for pin differential).

  8. A legal lineup or at least 2 regular/alternate bowlers must be on the lanes by the 3rd frame of each game or the team will forfeit that game. An alternate can be considered a 2nd member to make a legal lineup. A bowler must be on the lanes by the 3rd frame or he will use the absentee average. He can bowl the next game or games.

  9. Alternates/Substitutes. Alternate team members are bowlers that bowl only on a specific team. If an alternate has 9 games and an established average in the current Utilities League they are eligible to bowl in position and roll-off rounds. Substitute bowlers can bowl in any paying sport on amy team. Substitues are NOT allowed to bowl in position rounds, roll-offs, or sweepers. Alternates/Substitues will use the most recent Utilities League average, or highest book average after minimum of 9 games

  10. Any team needing a make up game must give 48 hour notice to the league officers and the secretary must make all arrangements and be present during the games. If the secretary is unavailable, another officer will be appointed. All emergency situations will be decided by the board. These can be pre or post bowled unopposed. All make-up games must be bowled before the position round of that quarter. PRE BOWLING IS ALLOWED AS A TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL. Pre bowling is open from 12:00pm to 5:00pm M-F and before 12:00noon on Sat and Sun.

  11. Prebowling is limited to (5) times per season. If you need more opportunities, please consult the board for approval. Bowlers who join the league and pay their league fees, but cannot bowl for an allotted/agreed upon by team captains/officers timeframe will be allowed to prebowl if they cannot make it at the regular bowling time

  12. Delay of game rule: If a team or player is causing a delay in the game, and a league official is notified of this delay, it will be addressed the following week. The offending team/player will be notified of the complaint, and if the instance occurs thereafter, a penalty of 0 pins for that frame will be assessed.

  13. Bowlers are NOT allowed to switch bowling hands in the middle of a game or series. If the player is injured, he must take his average for the remainder of that game/series. If a bowler is going to switch hands and has not competed that week, he may do so, but will be required to re-establish average and bowl for a minimum of 9 games thereafter before switching back to their original throwing hand.

  14. There will be 0 tolerance rule for kicking, hitting, or misusing of any equipment, this includes chairs, ball returns, scoring consoles, etc. If a bowler has misused/abused any equipment, he/she will be ejected for that week of bowling, and all scores will be deemed a forfeit. A second offense may result and dismissal from the league.

  15. No outside food or drinks are allowed in the center.

  16. Teams are assigned to a specific lane. This assignment gives that team free reign of where players/guests may sit in regards to that lane. Lane assignments specify that a team can sit on the assigned side of the settee area, as well as the concourse/counter behind the settee area. No team will be allowed to take over another teams seating area in the settee area, or at the counter/concourse behind that lane. NO EXCEPTIONS. Teams violating this rule will be warned and asked to move, if not action is taken, that team will forfeit it’s points for that night.

  17. The league shall use a 7-point scoring system, 2 points per game and 1 point for total pins.

  18. All USBC rules will apply to any situations not covered by the above rules

Randy Krohn Secretary/Treasurer (530)949-0904 Cell

These rules voted on and ratified by Utilities League on 8/20/2025
_____________________ – President - Jim Brock
_____________________ – Vice President - Rod Anglin
_____________________ – Secretary/Treasurer Randy Krohn