Many people enjoy a trip to the bowling alley for a few games, but not many will realise that ten-pin bowling is played as a competitive sport and that it is never too late to get started. There are very few, if any, boundaries to getting involved.
There are many different forms of bowling. As well as bowling outdoors on a green, as opposed to indoors in an alley, there are also variations of bowling in a bowling alley. By far the most popular, however, is ten-pin bowling. In a government survey conducted in 2008/09 on participation in sport, ten-pin bowling appeared in the top ten sports that people did most regularly, and its popularity has not waned, as now approximately 100 million people in 90 countries enjoy the sport.
Competitive Ten-Pin Bowling
Competitive ten-pin bowling is played mainly in Canada and North America, although Great Britain is getting in on the act. So popular is competitive ten-pin bowling in Britain that the British Tenpin Bowling Association (BTBA) was recently invited to send competitors and an official to the Bowling World Open in Tokyo to showcase the sport, which is aiming for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics.
The BTBA offers coaching as well as the opportunity for teams to participate in a national league which is divided into teams based in either the north or south of the UK. Additionally, men and women can be ranked as individuals and given the opportunity to compete in a UK championship. The BTBA also offers youth development aimed at getting more young people into the sport. This can ultimately lead to the possibility of playing for England in competitions around the world.
Accessibility of the Sport
Ten-pin bowling is an incredibly accessible sport, and there are opportunities for the visually impaired as well as wheelchair users to participate fully. There are a few differences with visually impaired ten-pin bowling to make it accessible. These include a sighted assistant, a handicap system and lane barriers. They have very clever racking that holds the balls nicely and storage that holds the shoes like the garage shelving you find qat sites including https://www.garage-shelving.co.uk. There are leagues for visually impaired players, and players can play in their local bowling alley and register the results by post for their league, meaning there is no need to travel. For those who are confined to a wheelchair, an invention called IKAN bowler has revolutionised accessibility to ten-pin bowling. It is a ramp that attaches to the leg rests on the wheelchair and has technology which enables the bowling balls to be completely under the control of the user. Using a parabolic bowling arm as well as moving the wheelchair will enable the ball to go down the lane, and the wheelchair brakes can be used to control the direction. Whether you are disabled or able-bodied, if you are participating in ten-pin bowling competitively, then having the right kit is vital.
It is very easy to get involved in ten-pin bowling at a competitive level. You never know – you could be playing at a future Olympic Games.