ARLINGTON, Texas – The Scholarship Management and Account Reporting for Tenpins (SMART) policy recently was updated to expand the use of SMART scholarships for student-related expenses.
Under the new guidelines, a student can use their SMART scholarships to be reimbursed for expenses related to tuition and certain related student expenses, or to have a payment made for such expenses as off-campus housing and/or student-loan debt.
While there are now more ways for students to use their SMART scholarships, student-athletes must remain aware of the restrictions.
Regulations of colleges and college sports governing bodies, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), have specific restrictions for student-athletes. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to check with their school administrator and their sport governing body (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) regarding all regulations before using their SMART scholarships.
The reimbursement related to tuition and certain related student expenses is a new policy, as previously funds only could be sent directly to an educational institution. The reimbursement check will be made out to the owner of the SMART account and mailed to the address on the account, so it is important for recipients to always keep their SMART account information up to date.
To check, and provide any needed edits, to an address, recipients can visit the SMART profile page.
Payments for off-campus housing cannot be used if renting from parents, relatives or friends, and payment will go directly to the company or managing owner of the property, once the proper paperwork is submitted.
To use SMART scholarships to make payments on student-loan debt, current student-athletes again should make certain they are following regulations for their sport. Once the correct documentation is received, the payment will go to the student loan provider.
Visit BOWL.com/SMART to learn more about the SMART program and visit the Recipients page for the SMART Waiver Form, to request funds, and the SMART Student-Athlete information page that discusses how SMART scholarship funds can impact their eligibility.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Selecting a college to attend can be a daunting process for anyone, and that process can be more difficult for student-athletes seeking a college that can provide the academic path and a strong athletic program to help continue their development.
Next month, International Bowling Campus Youth Development will try to help bowling student-athletes navigate the process with the Digital Collegiate Experience on BowlTV.
The Collegiate Experience, held each summer in conjunction with the Junior Gold Championships, is designed to give student-athletes the opportunity to learn more about college bowling by allowing the athletes to engage with coaches or officials of bowling programs from across the country.
The Digital Collegiate Experience will allow IBC Youth to continue its annual event though the 2020 Junior Gold Championships, along with opening ceremony and trade show, were canceled because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day provides unique ways for people to connect and stay engaged, and the IBC Youth team believes it is important to continue this event.
With competitive bowling shut down since early March, it has made the recruiting process more arduous for both student-athletes hoping to show their skills and for the coaches hoping to watch and evaluate players at different competitions.
“The Digital Collegiate Experience will allow coaches to showcase their programs and explain to student-athletes and their parents the expectations they have for college athletes,” said IBC Youth Managing Director Gary Brown. “The Junior Gold Championships always has been a very important part of the recruiting and learning process for both student-athletes and college coaches. We want to continue to provide what we consider a valuable part of the Junior Gold Championships.”
The Digital Collegiate Experience kicks off Tuesday, June 9 on BowlTV. This will be a free event on BowlTV, but users will need to take the few minutes to create a USBC Community login to access the show.
BowlTV plans to showcase 30 colleges per day, with each college allotted up to five minutes to tell potential recruits and their parents about their program. While shows will be held on June 9 and 10, IBC Youth will add another third show if more than 60 colleges express interest.
More than 60 college organizations took part in the Collegiate Experience at the 2019 Junior Gold Championships in the metro Detroit area.
IBC Youth works with the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA), along with the coaching associations for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to provide information on bowling programs across the country.
All collegiate bowling programs will be invited to take part in the Digital Collegiate Experience.
Visit BOWL.com/Collegiate for more information about college bowling and check out BOWL.com/BowlTV to learn more about USBC’s video platform.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Scholarship Management and Account Reporting for Tenpins (SMART) is making an investment earnings allocation of $3.5 million to provide additional scholarships for youth bowlers.
The $3.5 million allocation is the largest investment earnings allocation made by the SMART Board over the past seven years.
The SMART Board reviews income earned from investments to determine the allocation. Any available investment earnings are allocated each May, and this year’s allocation will be shown this week as available unassigned funds for Providers to use for scholarships.
Since 2017, the SMART Board has returned $7 million in investment earnings allocations. This year’s allocation is from investment earnings in 2019.
“The SMART Board is thrilled to be able to make such a substantial allocation for additional youth scholarships,” said Steve Moehrle, chair of the SMART Corporation Board. “The allocation provides additional education opportunities within our sport. The SMART Board continues to follow conservative investment strategies to protect SMART funds and it is great to deliver these significant earnings for the youth bowling community.”
The SMART Board provided investment earnings allocations of $1.75 million in both 2018 and 2019 and made a $1 million distribution in 2017.
Providers may only use earnings allocation funds for scholarships.
The SMART Board also saw long-serving member Wally Hall retire from the board. Hall was the first chair when the SMART Bowling Scholarship Funding Corporation was created in 2010 as an independent entity and served in that position until 2018. He has been involved in bowling for more than 60 years and is a past president of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA).
The six-member SMART Board places the largest portion of earned scholarships in conservative securities with remaining assets invested in a diversified portfolio expected to yield larger returns. The majority of investment earnings are allocated for additional scholarship awards through participating organizations and providers, with a small portion used to cover administrative costs and investment fees.
The SMART Bowling Scholarship Funding Corporation is dedicated to the management, protection and promotion of the SMART scholarship funds. The United States Bowling Congress staff oversees the day-to-day operation of the program.
Visit BOWL.com/SMART to learn more about the SMART program.
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APRIL 2020
This is a special combined edition of the Rules Extra and Tournament Flyer to discuss leagues and tournaments amid concerns about COVID-19.
League Play
USBC considers the coronavirus as an emergency situation and, therefore, the unanimous consent of all team captains (Rule 122) requirement for leagues to change the schedule does not apply. The decision to change the schedule may be made by a majority of the votes cast by the league board of directors (officers and team captains).
The league, before a decision is made regarding the league schedule, must come to an agreement with bowling center management concerning the league contract. Verbal or written, the league has a contract. Whether the center is closed by choice or because of governmental restrictions, league officers should contact the center before any league decision regarding a change in schedule is made.
The league needs to know if the center is going to charge lineage fees for the balance of the contract. Once the league has an agreement with the center, the league board of directors (officers and team captains) has a couple of options to consider. The decisions may be made via email, text, or phone or conference call during this difficult time.
1. Postpone the schedule and complete the league at a later date.
Some bowlers may choose to withdraw; USBC will not hold bowlers accountable for the fees required in Rule 114a. Any prepaid fees must be returned fully to a withdrawing bowler and should be done immediately. The bowler(s) also is entitled to a pro-rated share of the prize fund based on the number of weeks paid.
2. Cancel the league schedule.
All prepaid fees must be returned to the rightful bowlers. The standings are final as of the date the league decides to cancel. If the center charges lineage for the balance of the contract, it is deducted from the league prize fund. The league board of directors must also decide how the prize list will be adjusted. Click How to adjust a prize list for information on how to do so.
For split season leagues, because of the inability to hold a playoff, the league board may declare co-champions and divide any additional playoff money equally among teams in the playoff.
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Tournament Flyer
Tournaments also face the decision to postpone or cancel operations. USBC rules allow tournament management to make decisions regarding tournament operations. A tournament could continue operations if possible, postpone the tournament or squads or end the tournament as of the last date of competition.
1. Postpone the schedule and complete the tournament at a later date.
Although Rule 314 does not allow refunds, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic USBC is allowing tournament management to issue refunds or credit for a future tournament to any entrant(s) who choose to withdraw from the tournament. The same also would apply to bowlers who did not bowl in the tournament.
When a tournament postpones squads, and entries close prior to last squad and the tournament allows walk-ins, USBC will permit tournament management to allow walk-ins during the rescheduled squads. However, no additional squad times can be added when squads are rescheduled.
2. Cancel the schedule.
Tournaments may choose to cancel the remaining squads without penalty. The tournament is paid based on the standings as of the last date of competition and the number of bowlers that bowled. All other entries are refunded or credited to another tournament.
Tournaments that guarantee prizes may base the guarantees on the entries. Comprehensive tournaments that reschedule events after Aug. 1, 2020 must certify these events as a 2021 tournament.
For additional information, click FAQ to assist leagues, tournaments and state and local associations.
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