Diversity Resources

Diversity and Inclusion FAQ

1. Why is USBC involved with diversity and inclusion in the sport of bowling? The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are required to ensure members are treated fairly and are allowed to participate without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.
2. What does USBC do to support protections against discrimination? USBC’s bylaws explicitly provide this protection. The bylaws require USBC provide an equal opportunity to amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur bowling competition without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, or National origin, and with fair notice and opportunity for hearing to any amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official before declaring the individual ineligible to participate.
3. What specific initiatives has the USBC done in this area? The USBC works with a variety of partners at the grassroots level with an aim of creating an inclusive environment. Every four years in collaboration with USOPC, USBC creates a formal Diversity Plan. For some specific examples, please visit our Diversity Plan page here, where we’ve highlighted some of those initiatives and their outcomes.
4. How can individuals help with USBC's diversity and inclusion? It starts at home in your local league. Be inviting to new individuals and inclusive of those who are different. Create a welcoming culture. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all share a common bond in bowling.
5. Are there specific resources available for underrepresented groups in bowling? Yes, we provide resources tailored to support underrepresented groups, including educational materials, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities. Our goal is to help reduce barriers and promote opportunities for everyone in the sport.
6. Does USBC provide education about inclusion? Absolutely. We regularly provide training programs at the staff level and also offer sessions for association leaders at the USBC Convention. These programs aim to create a more inclusive environment and promote respectful interactions within the bowling community.
7. D&I is a politically controversial issue. Why is USBC involved in something political? We don’t view USBC’s approach to be controversial and USBC is not seeking to take a political stance. USBC believes everyone who wants to participate should be included in bowling, and everyone deserves to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and without discrimination.
8. What should I do if I encounter discrimination in bowling? Contact the USBC Rules department for guidance. USBC employs rules counselors to help guide our members through their specific situation.

Transgender FAQ

1. What is the USBC's stance on transgender individuals participating in bowling? As a National Governing Body (NGB) under United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), we follow the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) framework in this area. IOC initially released guidelines in 2015 and then a subsequent IOC framework on inclusion and non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations was announced in 2021. Under this framework USBC has developed a policy to allow for inclusion of transgender individuals with provisions to protect against unfair competition advantage.
2. How is the USBC inclusive of various gender identities? USBC does not ask for individuals to make a binary gender identity declaration when joining. USBC asks for individuals to let us know their competition category. USBC encourages gender competition categories to be either Open or Female. Open gender competitions are inclusive of any gender identity without limitation.
3. What if an individual doesn’t want to pick a competition category on their membership application? USBC will assume bowlers are competing in the Open competition category if none is provided.
4. What if a transgender individual is unable to meet all the conditions due to circumstances beyond their control? We encourage members to contact USBC staff to discuss their situation. USBC’s counselors have worked with many individuals. Our team is here to help.
5. How should local officials handle eligibility of transgender athletes? Transgender athletes should be treated the same as other members. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure they are eligible to enter a competition. This includes entering average, age and competition category. If there is a concern that a bowler is not eligible for whatever reason, USBC headquarters can be contacted to verify. If that’s not possible due to timing of the event, officials should always allow individuals to compete in the category of their choice and contact USBC after the fact. Never prohibit participation based on gender identity.
6. How can transgender individuals get assistance regarding discrimination or harassment? If you experience discrimination or harassment based on your gender identity, we encourage you to contact the USBC Rules staff. USBC Rules Counselors will provide guidance to any member experiencing issues in USBC competition about avenues that might be available to help.