Making a Prize List

What to Consider

A prize list should be fair and consider all teams and bowlers. Remember, everyone is contributing to the prize fund and should receive a reasonable amount in return. Some prize lists pay team prizes only while others pay team prizes and special individual/team prizes. Popular prize lists are the drop down, in which the dollar amount decreases with the standings, or base amount for each team plus point money, or just point money.

USBC Rule 117b allows a bowler or team to win once in each special prize category. This means a bowler can win a prize for each accomplishment but only once in a category. For example, a bowler bowls the highest scratch and handicap game in the league and also the third highest scratch game in the league. The bowler, according to Rule 117b, is eligible for the first place prize for both the high scratch game and high handicap game categories, but not the third place prize in the high scratch game category.

Leagues often adopt rules to limit one prize per bowler to allow more bowlers to earn prize money for accomplishments. In this case, the league should adopt a rule to determine what category takes precedence; scratch or handicap, game or series.

How to Vote

A meeting should be held to discuss and vote on prize list proposals. This gives league members or the board (whichever has the authority to vote on the prize list) the opportunity to discuss and possibly amend the prize lists presented prior to voting.

Prize lists are adopted by a majority of the votes cast, not the most votes. A majority is one more than half the votes cast. In instances where a league passes prize lists during bowling with directions to vote for one, the voting members should be told to vote no if none of the proposals are satisfactory. A lower number of votes cast will create a lower majority, which could result in adoption of a prize list favored by a minority of the league.

For example, there are 22 members on the league board. If all 22 members cast a vote, one proposal must receive 12 yes votes to be adopted. However, if half of the board members do not like the prize list and do not vote, they have abstained and only 11 votes are cast reducing the majority vote needed to approve the prize list to 6. If the 11 captains who abstained voted no, the majority remains 12 to pass or defeat a proposal.