Please read the information below carefully and in its entirety. Bowlers and their guardian(s) are responsible for knowing what they are agreeing to.
SECTION 1 of 3: ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY
(Age; Participation Years; Amateur Status; Bowling For Awards)
Minnesota High School Bowling (MHSB) is a league administered by the Bowling Proprietors Association of Minnesota (BPAM). The yearly maximum participant activity fee for this league that can be charged by a sponsoring bowling center is a $150.00. Schools that recognize bowling as a club may have their own (additional) set of fees and requirements above and beyond these. Some bowlers may be required to purchase a team jersey for an additional fee.
League participants must be less than 20 years of age as of September 1, 2025. A bowler cannot have graduated from high school or have earned their GED. In the case of a bowler who has been held back in school anytime during grades 9 - 12, no bowler shall participate in more than four seasons of Minnesota High School Bowling while in grades 9 – 12.
Athletes and guardians, by signing below you acknowledge that you understand and agree to the following:
From the day a bowler joins Minnesota High School Bowling until the day they no longer wish to participate in the league (i.e. if a bowler participates from 7th – 12th grade then it is a period of over 2000 consecutive days), they are not allowed to bowl in any league, tournament or open-event (including, but not limited to, moonlight or cosmic bowling) where cash prizes are awarded to anyone in the league. Whether cash prizes are accepted or declined, the bowler is guilty of misconduct and will be excused from MHSB indefinitely. Prizes that are won in USBC youth certified events are legal. Cash prizes awarded as scholarships won in an adult SINGLES tournament competition are also legal IF the tournament rules state clearly that this how youth prizes will be awarded. Bowlers may also participate in an adult singles competition IF the bowler signs a USBC Consent Form (for Youth bowling in Adult competition). The Consent Form is acceptable only for use in adult singles competitions where cash or bonds are offered and/or any merchandise prizes valued greater than $500. The USBC Consent Form is NOT ACCEPTABLE for use in team (2 or more players) competition including, for example, adult/youth team competitions.
I understand that a copy of the rules and guidelines for MHSB, which contains a summary of the eligibility rules, are on file with the BPAM state office, on file with my conference’s coordinator, and available online at www.GoBowlingMinnesota.com. I understand that is my responsibility to understand any and all rules or guidelines printed in that document. I agree to abide by the rules set forth by the BPAM and the rules of MHSB.
SECTION 2 of 3: ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY
With any competitive sport, there is a risk of bodily injury to your child while he or she is participating in Minnesota High School Bowling events and activities, whether caused by your child or someone else. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic presents an additional potential health risk to your child.
THUS, THE BOWLING PROPRIETORS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA IS HEREBY NOTIFYING YOU OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS TO ITS LIABILITY. AS A MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING PARTICIPANT, BY YOUR SIGNATURE BELOW AS YOUR CHILD'S PARENT OR LAWFUL GUARDIAN, YOU HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
You expressly and voluntarily accept and assume your child faces all of the risks inherent in participating in Minnesota High School Bowling events and activities, including but not limited to bodily injury, or disease strains (e.g., fractures, sprains, muscle and/or ligament tears, eye injury, heart attack, or other ailments that could cause serious disability), that might be caused to your child by the negligence of Minnesota High School Bowling and all of its directors, officers, owners, agents, employees, predecessors, attorneys, insurers, affiliates, subsidiaries, related corporations, parents corporations, and successors or the owners, lessors or occupants of the premises on which any Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity takes place. You expressly and voluntarily accept and assume these inherent risk to your child by signing this document below.
You hereby voluntarily release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Minnesota High School Bowling's Released Persons and Entities from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action which are in any way connected with your child's participation in any Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity arising from negligence on the part of Minnesota High School Bowling's Released Persons and Entities. This release does not apply to claims arising from reckless or intentional conduct.
You acknowledge that neither Minnesota High School Bowling's Released Persons and Entities nor the owners, lessors or occupants of the premises on which any Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity takes place owes any duty to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others participating in any recreational activity, including but not limited to competitive bowling activities, or to give warning to you or your child of any hazardous condition, activity or use of any structure on the premises to persons entering for those purposes.
You further acknowledge that by your child competing in this club, neither Minnesota High School Bowling's Released Persons and Entities nor the owners, lessors or occupants of the premises on which any Minnesota High School Bowling's event or activity takes place are extending any assurance the premises are safe for the purpose of competitive bowling or assume responsibility for or incur any liability for any injury to your child or property caused by any act of persons to whom permission is granted to participate in such Minnesota High School Bowling's event or activity.
Safety is a team sport. If you or your child observe any unusual or significant hazard during your child's participation at any Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity, please personally notify or direct your child to notify the nearest Minnesota High School Bowling or competition official and remove yourself and your child from the situation as soon as possible.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY REGARDING COVID-19.
We ask you and your child to be mindful of the fact that participation in Minnesota High School Bowling events and activities includes your child's possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Although particular rules and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of your child contracting an infectious disease, including COVID-19, remains.
By participating in a Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity, you freely and fully assume the risk of your child's possibility of contracting an infectious disease, including COVID-19, and understand this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form is intended to cover any and all claims, demands, or causes of action which are in any way connected with your child's contraction of any infectious disease, including COVID-19, at any Minnesota High School Bowling bowling event or activity arising from negligence on the part of BPAM’s Released Persons and Entities. This release does not apply to claims arising from reckless or intentional conduct.
By signing this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form, you, as your child's parent or lawful guardian, expressly acknowledge that you have had sufficient time to read this entire form and, should you choose to do so, consult with legal counsel prior to signing. Also, you understand that your child's entry into the league might not be made available to your child or that the cost of entry would be significantly greater if you were to choose not to sign this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form, and you agree that the opportunity for your child to compete at the stated cost in return for the execution of this form is a reasonable bargain.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS DOCUMENT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS. BY SIGNING BELOW, I CERTIFY I AM THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE MINOR NAMED BELOW. I HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CONSENT TO AND, BY SIGNING BELOW, I DO HEREBY CONSENT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY FORM, AND I SIGN OF MY OWN FREE WILL.
SECTION 3 of 3: ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LEAGUE'S CODE OF CONDUCT & AGREEMENT TO ABIDE BY ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LEAGUE'S CODE OF CONDUCT
The board of directors of the Bowling Proprietors Association of Minnesota (BPAM) and the commissioners of Minnesota High School Bowling (MHSB) believe that all students and their guardians should consider participation in MHSB as both a privilege and a responsibility.
The privilege is the opportunity to take part in the league provided by the BPAM and its participating bowling centers. This privilege may be revoked when a student, coach, guardian, or spectator fails or refuses to comply with league rules or when it is clear, according to common sense, that an individual is causing unnecessary disruption or stress to coaches, teammates, opponents, bowling center employees, and others.
The responsibility involves maintaining high standards of citizenship and sportsmanship at all times. Respect for and compliance with the league's rules and code of conduct is expected and required of every student who participates; every coach that coaches; and every spectator.
All individuals involved with MHSB, including, but not limited to, athletes, guardians and coaches must understand that if the commissioners of MHSB determine that any person(s) has abused their privilege or not acted responsibly, that person(s) can be suspended or dismissed from any and all MHSB events, including practices and competitions. Failure by a guardian to abide by a suspension or dismissal will likely result in the guardian's bowler being suspended or dismissed from MHSB practices and/or competitions.
Grievance Procedure: The grievance process is intended to be a process whereby concerns of alleged unfair treatment of any individual can be addressed in a timely manner. The list below of legitimate and non-legitimate grievances is intended to be a guideline, not an all inclusive list.
Legitimate grievances:
● Failure to provide due process in disciplinary action
● Mistreatment of any individual
● Any violation of an adopted code: ethics, conduct, and expectations
Non-legitimate grievances:
● Athlete not given enough playing time
● Athlete not playing the right position
● Strategies used by the coach
● Win/Loss record of the team or coach
Legitimate grievances should be addressed first with the coach at a scheduled time (not before, during, after practice or contests). If this meeting does not bring about a satisfactory resolution, the league's executive director should be contacted (preferably by email).
Social Media Policy:
Athletes, guardians, and coaches are responsible for good behavior on the Internet just as they are in a school building or in a bowling center. If an individual's use of the Internet creates a disruption to a school, bowling team, or bowling center, the individual will be held responsible and will face consequences as determined by the commissioners of MHSB, including but not limited to:
● Suspension from the team or team events
● Dismissal from the team or team events