USBC is making a change to the special achievement award program designed to give local associations more flexibility to serve bowlers. Effective the 2014-15 season, local associations will be able to choose awards and create a structure that fit their membership. USBC National no longer will set requirements for special achievement awards and will discontinue sending special achievement, year-end league and association championship tournament awards to associations. Special achievement awards are currently bag tags and lapel pins. High score awards such as rings, plaques and trophies for 300 games, 800 series and 11-in-a-row are not affected by this change. Sport Bowling awards also are not affected.

In this new model, associations will be able to create or expand its local awards programs while still receiving support from USBC National. USBC will contract with a top national vendor to provide volume discount pricing on awards for local associations. This allows local associations to take advantage of USBC's purchasing power without being forced into a "one size fits all" model.

As part of this change, the USBC Board of Directors is recommending a bylaw change as part of 2013 legislation to remove the cap on local association dues. This will allow local associations the flexibility to adjust prices to support a more robust awards structure, if that is what local members want.

USBC has conducted several test programs and surveyed associations about award structures. The data shows local associations often know their bowlers best. Many associations currently run outstanding awards programs and would prefer to set their own standards when it comes to earning awards.

USBC leadership understands this change will lead to operational and potentially budgetary adjustments for local associations. The USBC staff is working to make the transition as smooth as possible. We realize there will be questions about the change, so in conjunction with association leaders on the USBC Board, we have answered some anticipated questions. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

This change is approved by the USBC Board of Directors and workshops are planned for the 2013 USBC Convention to provide additional details. USBC staff will be reaching out to association leaders in the coming months for input so together we can work toward making this a positive change for our bowlers.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions