2026–27 Open & Women's Championship rules

All team captains must review these rules before bowling. By signing the entry form, bowlers agree to abide by these rules.

Open division
1Governing rules
The tournament is governed by USBC rules and regulations, except as set forth below.
2Eligibility
Any bowler who is sanctioned with the New Haven County USBC Association at least five (5) days before the start of the tournament. Bowlers holding a PBA/PWBA membership card are eligible and are subject to the provisions listed below. Youth bowlers are not eligible.
3Format
  1. The tournament has a scratch division and a handicap division. Handicap is 100% of the difference between the bowler's USBC certified average and 250. There is no maximum handicap.
  2. Tardy bowlers start in the frame being bowled, with a zero (0) for each frame missed.
  3. All three (3) games of each event are bowled on the same pair of lanes. Doubles is bowled first, with singles following on the same pair of lanes.
  4. Averages used for handicap are determined in this order:
    1. Highest sanctioned average (including converted sport/challenge averages and summer averages) from the 2025–26 season, minimum 21 games.
    2. If none from (a), highest sanctioned average from the 2024–25 season, minimum 21 games.
    3. If none from (a) or (b), highest sanctioned average from the current 2026–27 season, with a minimum of 21 games as of Oct. 7, 2026.
    4. If none of the above, the bowler bowls scratch with an average of 250.
    5. Sport/challenge averages: a bowler with both a sport/challenge average and a standard average uses the higher one, with sport/challenge averages converted using the current USBC average conversion chart.
    6. Youth league averages may be used for a bowler who has transitioned to adult leagues.
    7. USBC Rule 319(a)(2), the 10-pin rule, is in effect.
    8. The tournament director may rerate a bowler under USBC Rule 319c (Average Adjustments/Rerating).
  5. Team event: teams are four (4) bowlers (men, women, or mixed), bowling 3 games on one pair of lanes.
    1. No more than two (2) PBA members may compete on a team.
    2. Bowlers may enter the team event as many times as they like.
    3. Teams made up of three (3) or more of the same bowlers may only cash once.
  6. Doubles and singles: doubles teams are two (2) bowlers (men, women, or mixed).
    1. No more than one (1) PBA/PWBA member may compete on a doubles team.
    2. Bowlers may enter singles and doubles as many times as they like, but may only cash once with the same partner.
    3. A bowler may only cash once in singles.
  7. All-Events is optional, with all entry money returned 100% in its division. Bowlers may enter All-Events only once in each division (scratch and/or handicap). All-Events scores use only the first three (3) games bowled in each event (team, doubles, and singles), for a nine-game total.
4Entry fee
  1. Team, doubles, and singles: $50.00 per person, per event (lineage $16.50, expenses $9.75, prize fund $23.75).
  2. All-Events: $5.00 per person, per division (Open scratch, Open handicap, Women's scratch, Women's handicap).
5Awards
  1. The prize fund is returned 100%, with 50% allocated to scratch and 50% to handicap (except All-Events).
  2. If there is a tie for first place in any event, co-champions will be declared and duplicate awards given.
  3. Prize money and final standings are distributed within thirty (30) days after competition ends. Appeals and protests are governed by USBC Rule 329.
6Check-in
All participants must check in with tournament officials. Team captains report to the tournament manager at least thirty (30) minutes before squad time to check in, verify lineups and averages, and get lane assignments.
7Pacers
USBC Rule 323 is waived. Pacers will not be permitted.
8Dress code

All participants must wear appropriate tournament attire.

  1. Permitted: Tops: collared shirts and sleeved bowling jerseys (name shirts). Bottoms: slacks, dress shorts, and skorts (of appropriate length).
  2. Not permitted: hats, T-shirts, tank tops, excessively graphic shirts, baggy pants, leggings, yoga or exercise pants, stretch pants (elastic waistbands), sweatpants, clothing with profanity or vulgarity, and clothing with holes or tears.
9Authority
The tournament manager has the authority to decide matters not covered by these rules.
10Liability
The New Haven County USBC Association, its officers, and agents are liable only to the extent of returning entry fees if a bowler or their authorized replacement cannot participate because of a national emergency, war, natural disaster, or environmental emergency.
Women's division
11Exceptions

All of the rules above apply, with these exceptions:

  1. Only women bowlers are eligible to compete.
  2. Women's Tournament All-Events scores consist only of scores bowled during the Women's Tournament.
  3. Scores bowled in the Women's Tournament are used only in the Women's Tournament. There is no crossover to the Open Tournament.