The Importance of Youth Bowling

Four major bowling ball manufacturers have been invited to the International Bowling Campus (IBC) in Arlington, Texas August 24, 2010, for a historic meeting on youth bowling, according to the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA).

Leaders from Brunswick Bowling, Ebonite International, Storm Bowling Products and 900 Global/AMF, along with Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA and Stu Upson, executive director of the USBC, will take part in the one-day meeting to discuss the future of youth bowling, explore ways the group can partner together to improve existing programs and review potential new initiatives.

"I believe youth bowling can be helped by a myriad of support, and to that end we have invited some of the most powerful people in the industry to Arlington to exchange ideas," said Chad Murphy, BPAA Director of Youth.

A day after the summit, a representative sampling of proprietors and youth directors from around the country will meet at the IBC with the BPAA for an orientation on a new project to be kicked off this fall. A new youth experience/coaching concept is scheduled to be tested in as many as fifteen centers across the U.S.  This project will be a joint program supported by BPAA in conjunction with USBC.

The BPAA also provided a recap of another successful summer of scholarship tournaments that awarded over $170,000 to youth bowlers to use toward college expenses. 

"Because of these tournaments, and the volunteers from the proprietor ranks, dozens of kids will now have the opportunity to offset some of their present and future costs of achieving their college education," said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA.  "We are grateful for their time and willingness to work with our youth and the future of our sport."

For more information, or to become involved in these programs, contact BPAA Youth Director Chad Murphy at chad@bpaa.com or call 817-385-8469.