This Sunday, the Anthracite Valley Youth Leader Program began its 2009-’10 campaign at Idle Hour Lanes in Scranton.
This program offers young bowlers who seek competition a chance to experience different bowling centers and the various lane surfaces, approach surfaces and atmospheres which each center entails.
The Youth Leader Program has hit a rough stretch in recent years. While it is easy to blame the economy and the devaluing of the dollar, a closer look will reveal that it is much more.
Lack of promotion from the centers, the proprietors and the coordinators have all attributed to the recent slide the program has experienced. Unlike Wallenpaupack which routinely fields a minimum of two five-person teams, other centers are less ambitious.
Valley Lanes has not fielded a team in the past several seasons and, as a result, their youth program has hit an oil-skid of its own. Shadowbrook Resort is responsible for the maintenance of the bowling center which is located on the resort’s property.
Unfortunately, the management of the resort has neglected the center and instead, chooses to invest funds towards the adjacent golf course and the other amenities on the property.
A similar situation can be seen at Country Lanes. Here, instead of vesting money into the bowling center in an effort to improve and promote the sport for the adults and youth, the proprietors have instead chosen to furnish the bar, meanwhile leaving the bowling area in a less than desirable condition.
Needless to say, Country Lanes has not fielded a Youth Leader team or even a decent junior program in several years.
This is an outrage to all who vest time into competing in, managing or directing the sport.
While some proprietors, such as those of Idle Hours and Wallenpaupack, attempt to promote the sport and make weekly junior leagues an enjoyable experience, far too many neglect the junior program and, as a result, neglect the future of the sport.
Resolution
The only resolution to this problem is to become active.
Talk to your proprietors if you feel they are not adequately providing for the advancement of yourself or your children in the sport. Write the local Anthracite Valley Board of Directors and express yourselves if you feel you are being wronged or neglected by your proprietors or managerial staff.
You, the bowlers, are the ones who make the United States Bowling Congress function at each level. This country was founded by government of the people, by the people, and for the people and the local, state and national USBC associations are no different.
