MSDWBA TOURNAMENT RULES
• Rules: Tournament is governed by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) rules.
• Prize Ratio: Ratio is 1 to 4 (1:4) entries in Team, Doubles and Singles Handicap events. Ratio is 1 to 8 (1:8)
in All Event Handicap Events. All prizes are returned 100%.
• HANDICAP: Handicap shall be based on 80 percent of 210. Limit 72 pins per game in team, single and
double events. Minimum Average is 120.
• USBC Membership: All bowlers must present USBC membership card upon request to the Tournament
Director. Bowlers, who do not have an USBC card, must pay an association membership fee for $21.00
(USBC Rule 300c-2) to the Tournament Director before bowling or pay a single tournament participation fee
for $5.00 (USBC Rule 300c-1).
• Average:
1. Highest USBC final sanctioned average; minimum 21 games of 2024-2025 yearbooks must be used.
2. If no average from the previous season, the entrant’s current average at minimum 21 games as March 1,
2026 may be used.
3. Current average based at 10 pins or more before March 1, 2026; the current average must be used.
4. Effective 2022, your average will be compared to our tournament average based on the last 3 tournaments,
whichever is the highest average will be used.
5. If the above rules do not apply, then the entrant will bowl with a 210 average.
6. USBC Rule 319e has been waived.
7. Failure to use the correct average shall result disqualification if the entrant submitted her average lower
than the correct average. Prize winnings shall be based on submitted average if it is higher than the correct
average. However, corrections in average may be permitted to the completion of each first game of series.
(USBC Rule 363a-3).
8. Re-rating depends on winning over $300.00 per event from last MSDWBA tournament until present
MSDWBA tournament date. Winning over $300.00 automatically gives 3 re-rating points. Bowler must
report to the Tournament Director prior to the deadline, before bowling the first game. (USBC Rule 319c).
9. Each league shall adopt a rule to determine the number of games required to establish an average in that
league. When establishing an average, a right-handed bowler must always bowl right-handed. Similarity, a
left-handed bowler must always bowl left-handed. Penalty: Forfeiture of game (USBC rule 118b).
• Miscellaneous:
1. All bowlers must pay Combo ticket, Membership dues, and team, double and single events.
A. Combo Ticket ($30.00) is included Saturday Award night and registration fee.
2. Tournament will consist of Team, Double, Single, Maggie Hipp Queen and Senior Citizens Queen
Events.
A. Maggie Hipp Queen Handicap Event will be on Thursday/Friday at the determined time of the
weekend.
B. Senior Citizen Queen Handicap Event will be on Thursday/Friday at the determined time of
the weekend.
C. Team event will be on Saturday Morning at the determined time.
D. Double event will be on Saturday Afternoon at the determined time.
E. Single event will be on Sunday Morning at the determined time.
We might bowl 2 squads: Team event, Double event and Single event will be bowled on the
determined dates and times. Please recheck the entry form for those dates and times.
3. No Touring LPBA members allowed.
4. No High School Students allowed.
5. All regularity organization bowling team composed of the female sex from any state in the United
States, who are deaf, partially deaf, and are qualified under the rules of the USBC are eligible for
membership in this organization. There shall be no hearing bowlers allowed. (Children of Deaf Adults ~
CODA allowed.) Grandfather clause: hearing bowlers who participated in 2005 may bowl.
6. Participants may only participate in each event once.
7. If a bowler arrives late on any event, the score shall be 0 (zero) until she arrives at the frame being
bowled.
8. Prize checks will be sent to the participants within 15 (fifteen) days after the closing of the tournament.
9. Participating in the general meeting will result to get a refund of $5.00. You have a choice to donate
your refund for bank night. Who did not attend the meeting will have their refunds go to MSDWBA
General Funds.
• We reserve the right to schedule each team, double, and individual to make necessary changes and/or refuse
any entries.
• Use any abrasives on bowling balls during the tournament will result in disqualification.
• No fourth hole on bowling balls are allowed. (balancing hole) You will be disqualified if you use it.
• DRESS CODE: Proper clothing is required to show respect and sportsmanship to the tournament bowlers;
however there are no rules on clothing except for one: Shorts must not be more than 3 inches above knee.
If any questions, refer to the general meeting.
• PROTEST: If any complaints, protests, and constitution as to score bowled shall be made within one hour
after the game in question have been bowled, in writing to the Tournament Director, to taken up with the
executive board.
• BOUNCED CHECK: It will result in $25.00 dollars penalty fine and suspended from bowling until all fees
are paid.
Maggie Hipp Queen Handicap Tournament
The Mid-Southeastern Deaf Women Queen Tournament will be held in conjunction with the annual MSDWBA
tournament. It is conducted on handicap basis and is open to all MSDWBA bowlers who enter all events (teams,
doubles, and singles.)
**All bowlers participating in either Maggie Hipp or Elaine Bice Tournament will be your choice, bowl either one
tournament (Maggie Hipp or Elaine Bice) or you can bowl both tournaments at the same time with understanding
that the scores will be same for both tournaments.
The rules of USBC will be governed on all games and the following general rules are:
1. The minimum entry fee shall be forty-five dollars ($45.00) and shall be paid with the entry form before the
deadline.
2. Walk-ins fees shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).
3. The prizes will be returned 100%.
4. The re-rating winning must be $300 or more per event within twelve (12) months tournament to
tournament date. A classic/tournament bowler should report to the Tournament Director for prize
winnings. All the bowlers must notify the Tournament Director the winning prizes on the entry forms.
5. The tournament director shall reserve the right to refuse any entry with a mentioned reason.
6. MSDWBA Queen winners shall receive prize monies by mail within fifteen (15) days.
7. The handicap basis of 80% of 210. Limit 72 pins per game. Minimum Average is 120.
8. If there are any tied scores in the tournament, a full roll-off game shall be made to determine the winner.
9. The qualifying round will be three (3) games across six (6) lanes.
10. The cut-off will be based on half of the entrants. The top qualifiers will enter the qualifying round to bowl
two (2) games to be added to the first three (3) games.
A. A total of eight (8) highest five-game qualifiers will advance to the next step and bowl one (1)
game with the total of the previous five games.
B. With a clean slate, the four (4) highest qualifiers will advance into the final round using the step
ladder system, fourth (4th) against third (3rd).
C. Third (3rd) against second (2nd).
D. Second (2nd) against first (1st).
11. The prizes will be paid out based on the number of entrants.
Elaine Bice Senior Queen Handicap Tournament
The Mid-Southeastern Deaf Women Elaine Bice Queen Tournament will be held in conjunction with the annual
MSDWBA tournament. It is conducted on handicap basis and is open to all MSDWBA bowlers with a +55 of age
who enter all events (teams, doubles, and singles.)
The Maggie Hipp Queens rules apply same Elaine Bice Queen except for a few alternates.
A) The handicap basis of 80% of 210. Limit 72 pins per game. Minimum Average is 120.
B) If less than 8 bowlers, there will be advance to rule 9B mentioned in the Maggie Hipp Queen Tournament
rules. If less than 5 bowlers, the tournament will be cancelled, and monies refunded back to the
registrants.
The prizes will be paid out based on the number of entrants.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Patricia Henderson, Tournament Director
601.206.0079 VP or 601.421.5923 Text
ariesdreams@gmail.com
www.msdba-msdwba.org for more details