The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a unique situation for leagues and bowling centres to decide if it is even safe to bowl. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, leagues need to practice social distancing for the health and well-being of its members and centre employees. For that reason, leagues had to put special rules in place for the current season. Rules seem to be slightly different depending on where you are located and what the centre further dictates.

In Windsor we have one bowling centre (Super Bowl) that has opened but the second bowling centre (Revs Rose Bowl) has not yet re-opened at this time. Chatham’s Bowlerama is running, and Tilbury’s J&D Lanes is operating. LaSalle Lanes is trying to start up a special youth bowling program.

Revs Rose Bowl has put the following stipulations in place for all their leagues to follow if they wish to commence bowling for the current season once the bowling centre opens. Each league was to notify the bowling centre if their league intended to bowl based on the specified centre stipulations. The two youth programs at this centre have decided to not run a program this bowling season.

• Large leagues – 80 bowlers per league – 40 per shift – 2 shifts (starting times to be determined by league) 1st shift – odd lanes, 2nd shift – even lanes. Only one team per pair of lanes.
• Strictly league bowling.
• NO food or beverage (pop, alcohol) – ONLY water & coffee.
• NO cash available. DEBIT only – NO cheques.
• NO Mystery Game at counter.
• Masks to be used. Temporary removal permitted when on the approach to bowl only.
• NO socializing (stay on your lane only).
• NO temperatures will be taken by staff.
• It is up to the league if they want to continue with pins over, card game, strike pot, and share the wealth.

Note—According to City of Windsor Bylaw—masks can temporarily be removed while actively engaged in an athletic, fitness or physical recreation activity.Food and alcoholic beverage will not be allowed in bowling area according to a directive from Health Inspector Wendy Wang.

Super Bowl opened for the current bowling season. Before the season commenced the centre had a meeting with the executive of every league to explain what COVID restrictions the centre was putting in place. There is a restriction in place for indoor gatherings so large leagues need to bowl in shifts. The centre indicated that temperature checks need to be done for every bowler in the league. The bowling centre requested a master list, by league, of all bowlers including phone numbers. Masks need to be worn when in bowling centre and in the common areas but not on the lanes or in the bowling settee area. If sitting at a table at back, then masks are not required.

At Super Bowl two large mixed leagues that bowl in shifts, have put the following rules in place:

• Any person who experiences any health complications should contact the League at their earliest opportunity so that the necessary precautions can be taken to prevent any further issues.
• The league must adhere to the current restrictions for indoor gatherings (50 people). Since the league exceeds the current restrictions, bowlers will bowl in 2 shifts. Each shift bowls 2.5 hours per shift with practice for first shift starting 15 minutes before the start of first shift.
• Upon arrival bowlers must wear a mask to enter the building. Temperature checks will be taken. Any person having a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher cannot stay to bowl.
• All persons MUST be wearing a proper face mask covering their mouth and nose. Masks must be worn while in the common areas and at the back of the lanes. Masks are not required during the act of bowling or in the bowling seating area, but if you cannot properly social distance please use your mask.
• If sitting at a table, or having a drink, then your mask can be off.
• The League is operating each shift on alternating pairs of lanes with a dark pair in-between. For example, the first shift will use 13/14, 17/18, 21/22, 25/26, 29/30, etc. and the second shift will use 15/16, 19/20, 23/24, 27/28, 31/32, etc. Two teams are bowling on the same pair of lanes.
• Bowlers should make every effort to arrive on time for their scheduled shift and should leave promptly upon completing their games so that the alternating shift is allowed immediate access to the lanes.
• Bowlers may enter onto the vacant or dark pair of lanes to further social distance.
• Spectators will not be allowed. Based on our numbers, we do not have the ability to accommodate any extra people. One league relaxed this restriction somewhat by having fewer teams per shift because some people travel together.
• Bowlers were reminded to just touch their own bowling equipment. If a house ball or house bowling shoes are used, then just leave them on the lanes for staff.
• Maintain distancing as best as possible. Please try to keep as much distance from each other, if 6 feet is not possible use your masks. Additional Lane courtesy should be observed to help. This will be an important issue during practice time.
• No group celebrations, high 5’s, hugs, handshakes, fist bumps, etc. Rub elbows if you must.
• League is running jackpots and different pots but trying to minimize who touches tickets. Thereis constant hand-washing when touching money or tickets.
• The Sunday Mixed league charges two extra dollars a week and uses that money to have a draw for free bowling for a specific number of bowlers the next week. The additional money goes into their league funds as 50-50 draw money. This is done so league does not need to sell 50-50 tickets.
• In the interest of safety, the League Executive has the right to cancel the remainder of the season at any time.
• If the bowling season should be cancelled prior to having 2/3 of the regular season, the prize money portion of the bowling fees, less approved expenses, will be returned to each bowler. In this instance, individual awards will not be paid out.
• If the bowling season should be cancelled after having completed 2/3 of the regular season but prior to completion of the schedule, prize monies and individual awards will be paid out according to the standings as of the final week bowled.
• The playoff team payouts will only be paid out if the entire season is completed, including playoffs.
• The League will be respectful of its members’ privacy and will not share any information collected unless it becomes necessary under specific circumstances (COVID tracing).

A smaller league (10 lanes) at Chatham Bowlerama has the following protocols in place

• Bowlers must wear masks when entering the bowling centre.
• Bowlers cannot sit in the bowling area around the automatic scoring machine.
• Teams sit at the tables at the back to social distance in their 4-person team bubbles.
• While teams sit at the table in their 4-person bubbles masks can be off.
• Each team table has hand sanitizer that is provided by bowling centre.
• Whenever you get up from the table the mask must be on.
• When you are in the act of bowling, on the approach, you can take the mask down.
• When you step off the lane the mask must be put back on to go back to the team table.
• If someone outside your team bubble comes to talk to you at your team table masks must go back on.
• One person per team is designated weekly to put scores on paper so only one person touches paper.
• League bowls with two teams to a pair of lanes and there is no dark pair in-between.
• Bowlers try and alternate to further social distance so both bowlers are not on the left and rightpair of lanes at the same time.
• When walking back from the lanes, bowler makes sure to maintain social distancing.
• League is not full. There are just 23 bowlers so is easier to social distance.
• Some teams just have 2 to 3 bowlers on a team.
• League is not comfortable selling tickets until January.
• There is one Jackpot that the bowling centre runs.
• Alley (house) balls stay on lanes after use for staff to remove and clean.
• Water is placed in a separate room where you get your own water to drink.

Tilbury’s J&D (6 lanes) is also following the social distancing protocols that have been established by theMunicipality of Chatham-Kent and directives of the Province of Ontario The Monday and WednesdayMen’s Leagues are currently on single lane/two shifts arrangement. The Tuesday Ladies will be on a twolane/single team arrangement as they start the season a little late. New addition to J&D is a Sunday mixed league, now called the 10th Frame Bowling Supply which is also using the single lane/two shift model. Sign-ins are required, and the required masks may be lowered while bowling and must be inplace upon return to one’s seat. J&D’s Youth program has not yet started, but a shorter season isplanned sometime after Thanksgiving. Last year 20 youngsters participated, and these bowlers attended at least seven different schools in the area. Once the school situation is more defined, it is a go.

The local bowling association has a large youth bowling program. With the uncertainty with the COVID situation and Revs Rose Bowl not yet open two large youth bowling programs: Club 240 and Unifor 444 have decided not to run their programs this season. This has left youth bowlers scrambling to look for a spot to bowl.

Super Bowl is running its youth program this season. The exact same COVID protocol is in place like the adult mixed league protocol explained above. The only difference is that Bantam and Preps bowl in one shift then Juniors and Seniors bowl in a different shift. The youth program only allows one parent where required because they need room for coaches.

LaSalle Lanes is working with someone to start up a youth program to run over three shifts to incorporate the youth bowlers that are unable to bowl anywhere else this season.

Some bowlers in our community are not taking this situation seriously because there is just a small number of COVID-19 cases in our area but if we are not extremely vigilant our bowling season will be done. We have some immune compromised individuals bowling that are nervous when they see some individuals in the league walking around socializing without masks or not following the COVID-19 protocols. Bowlers need to think about everyone and wear a mask as much as possible when in common areas and interacting with other bowlers. You need to think that this person I am in contact with may be looking after someone who is vulnerable or may be at risk themselves, so people need to take this very seriously. Remember to virtually celebrate good shots – no physical interactions!

Lastly, your league executive needs to constantly enforce COVID-19 directives to keep each of you safe so please follow the protocols. You have some Secretaries and Treasurer’s working two shifts running leagues so give them some slack. I am immune compromised myself, so it is in my best interest to keep bowlers safe.

Catherine Wilbur