Explain to athletes that contesting teams or individuals in league or tournament play successively alternate two lanes every frame until each has bowled five (5) times on each lane and the game is completed. Bowling requires that bowlers alternate lanes.
Explain to athletes that every sport has its boundary lines, and the foul line and gutters are the boundary lines of bowling.
Explain that when a part of the athlete's body steps on or goes beyond the foul line, a foul is committed and if any pins were knocked down they do not count. Demonstrate how the foul light and bell will work when crossing the foul line.
Explain to athletes that the only exception to bowling two balls per frame is the 10th frame, when three balls may be bowled if a strike or spare is recorded.
Make copies of the bowling area's rules and hand them out to athletes before going to bowl.
Read the rules to non-readers and/or show pictures of "do's" and "do not's."
Carefully explain the consequences of not adhering to the rules. Emphasize the fact that the whole group may have to leave because of one person's actions.
Key Words
No food or drink in the bowling area
Remember to alternate lanes
Do not cross the foul line
Coaching Tips
Rules of the bowling area are the rules you make for your program. These would include such things as the following.
Bowlers will remain in the pit area ready to bowl.
There are few differences in the rules for Unified Sports competition and the rules as stipulated in the official Special Olympics Sports Rules and modifications outlined in the rules book. The additions are highlighted below.
A roster consists of a proportionate numbers of athletes and partners. Although the exact distribution of roster spots is not specified, a basketball roster containing eight athletes and two partners does not meet the goals of a Special Olympics Unified Sports program.
A line up during the competition consists of half athletes and half partners. Teams that have an odd number of players (e.g. 11-A-Side Football) have one more athlete than partner in the game at all times.
Bowling teams are divisioned for competition based primarily on ability. In team sports, division assignment is based on the best players on the roster, not the average ability of all players.
Team sports must have an adult, non-playing coach. Player-coaches are not allowed in team sports.
Protest procedures are governed by the rules of competition. The role of the competition management team is to enforce the rules. As coach, your duty to your athletes and team is to protest any action or events while your athlete is competing that you think violated Official Bowling Rules. It is extremely important that you do not make protests because you and your athlete did not get your desired outcome of an event. Making protest are serious matters that impact a competition's schedule. Check with the competition team prior to competition to learn the protest procedures for that competition.
