CERTIFICATION
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The CHIT 2024 tournament is a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) certified tournament, and is a mixed handicap competition open to men, women and all other gender identities. CHIT 2024 is an invitation only event, and the CHIT Executive Committee reserves the right to refuse any application.
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All participants must be members of USBC, and be able to provide proof of their membership (current sanction card or signed statement from the league secretary verifying membership). If any participant is not a member, the participant must complete a membership form, purchase a USBC membership ($28.00), and become concurrently subject to the USBC rules and jurisdiction for the tournament.
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All bowlers MUST be members of the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) during the 2024 calendar year.
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Professional bowlers – defined as card carrying members of any professional bowling team or organization – who currently are or were a member within the past 48 months, will only be allowed to bowl in CHIT if they are already an IGBO member in any of its classes at the start of the CHIT tournament. Only 1 professional bowler will be allowed per team
EVENT PARTICIPATION
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The tournament events shall be handicap events and are as follows: Singles, Doubles and Team.
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Each participant shall bowl 3 games per event and must enter all 3 events. Teams will consist of 4 members. Everyone will compete on an equal basis, regardless of gender identity.
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Each participant may bowl only once per event.
OPTIONAL SCRATCH COMPETITION
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Optional Scratch Competition will be offered to all participants using 5 divisions as determined by entering average (see Rule 18). An additional fee is required.
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The Optional Scratch divisions shall be as follows:
- Division A: Averages 139 and below
- Division B: Averages 140 to 159
- Division C: Averages 160 to 179
- Division D: Averages 180 to 199
- Division E: Averages 200 and above
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Scores used for the Optional Scratch Competition shall be those games (without handicap) as bowled in the handicap events of the tournament.
AWARDS AND PRIZES
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All cash awards shall be based on the total pins plus assigned handicap for each event (with exception of the Optional Scratch Competition).
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Awards will be given, in the handicap division, for the best singles, doubles, team, and individual all events. Individual all events is defined as the nine-game total plus handicap of an individual bowler.
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The award ratio for the singles, doubles, team and all events handicap events shall be a minimum of 1:10.
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Awards in each Optional Scratch Competition division shall be given for the best single game (from any of the events), best 3-game series (from any of the events), and best all events (nine-game total).
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The award ratio for the Optional Scratch Competition shall be at a minimum of at least 1:10 per division
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100% of the prize fund from each division in the Optional Scratch Competition shall be returned to that division.
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Prizes will be distributed via either check or electronic payment service payable in U.S. currency within 30 days of the completion of the tournament, barring any protest. A tie in any position will result in the sum of the prizes being aggregated for the tied positions and divided equally by the number of ties for that place
ENTERING AVERAGES
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Any bowler entering CHIT 2024 must establish a ten-pin average acceptable to USBC. The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average:
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The 2023-24 COMPOSITE book average (minimum 21 games). If bowler competed in more than one league, the bowler MUST submit the COMPOSITE average of all leagues bowled, even if a league has less than 21 games bowled.
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COMPOSITE average is totality of pinfall from all leagues bowled (including subbing), divided by number of games bowled. USBC, www.bowl.com, has composite average for yearbook.
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Example – Bowler bowled in 2 leagues, and subbed in 1. League 1 pinfall is 10,250 across 60 games. League 2 pinfall is 12,581 across 75 games. League 3 pinfall is 750 across 6 games. Composite average is (10,250 + 12,581 + 750) divided by (60 + 75 + 6) for a 167-composite average. (10,250 + 12,581 + 750)/(60 + 75 + 6) = 167.
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If the above is not available, use the highest 2024 summer league final average, minimum 21 games, providing the summer league meets USBC criteria.
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If none of the above is available, use the COMPOSITE 2022-23 season final average, minimum 21 games.
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If none of the above is available, use the highest current average as of October 25, 2024, minimum of 21 game.
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If none of the above is available, entering average shall be 230.
The above averages must be verified by the use of:
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Online league verification sheet, or
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League standing sheet, signed and dated by a league officer, or
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Letter from league president or secretary
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The handicap for the tournament shall be 90% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average (as determined above) and 230. Negative handicaps shall not apply.
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As of the beginning date of CHIT 2024, any bowler who has a 21-game tournament average during the period of October 16, 2023 through October 15, 2024 must report all tournament scores during that period to the Tournament Director no later than the time of registration for possible re-rating. Such re-rating must be done before the entrant bowls (USBC rules). Failure to report this information may result in automatic disqualification and loss of winnings.
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Bowlers whose IGBO tournament average (21 games or more) is higher than their entering average will be re-rated to their IGBO tournament average.
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USBC Rule 319a.2, regarding the 10-pin increase in average from 2023-24 season, and Rule 319d. regarding reporting of prize winnings shall not apply.
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The Tournament Director has the authority to adjust the entering average of any bowler. Average adjustments will be applied as set forth under USBC rules. All average adjustments will be completed prior to the start of each event, if necesary. A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment is entitled to a full refund of any unbowled event, within 30 days.
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USBC rules regarding the bowler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of their entering average, whether submitted by the bowler, the team captain, or other, applies to all bowlers. If the submitted average is lower than required and results in a lower classification or more handicap, the bowler’s score is disqualified. If the submitted average is higher than required, prize winnings will be based on the submitted average.
ATTENDANCE AND SUBSTITUTES
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It is the bowler’s responsibility to be present at the assigned lanes at the time of bowling. Mechanical failures, transportation irregularities, improper directions and related reasons do not alter the application of rules 26 and 27 below. (USBC rules will apply)
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Doubles and team entrants must be present for bowling each event. If a team member is not present, the team may use an authorized substitute (Rule 28). If no substitute is available, a zero score will be used for the missing bowler(s).
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Late bowlers will begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready, with prior frames being scored as zero. No practice balls will be allowed for late bowlers.
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Substitutes may bowl at the discretion of the Tournament Director(s). Their entering averages must comply with Rules 18 and 21. Substitutes must complete a substitute entry form. USBC fees must be paid if applicable.
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Participants will be allowed to practice ten (10) minutes prior to each event.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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All entries and corresponding payments must be received by October 18, 2024. The entry fee is payable in U.S. funds electronically thru PAYPAL payable to Capital Halloween Invitational Tournament or CHIT 2024. Entry fee is $135. The entry fee breakdown is $45 lineage, $45 banquet, $40 prize fund and $5 for IGBO and administrative fees.
All entries must be submitted online via www.chitdc.org.
An entry is not complete until payment is received.
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The tournament can accommodate 46 teams, up to 184 bowlers. Acceptance of entries will be based on the order in which received.
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Partial team entries will be permitted and the Director(s) will make every effort to fill vacancies.
PROTESTS
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Any claims of errors or disputes must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director or his appointed representative(s) within 48 hours of the conclusion of the bowling events at CHIT 2024. The protesting bowler(s) or team and the Director shall settle the dispute according to CHIT 2024 and USBC tournament rules. Protests may only be submitted by a registered bowling participant of CHIT 2024.
OTHER
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All other USBC rules will apply.
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Any person attending and needing special accommodations must notify the Tournament Director(s) in writing by October 18, 2024.
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Bowlers must provide their own transportation to all CHIT 2024 events.