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NCAA WOMEN’S BOWLING MAKES THREE UNIFORM CHANGES

Rules • July 30, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (July 26, 2018) – Three rule changes involving uniforms and apparel were approved by the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship Committee and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

Rule 3.1.h makes it permissible to put a player’s last name on the team jerseys provided all players have their last name on their team jersey. Player last names may appear either on the sleeve or over the left shoulder. Letters may be a maximum of 1 inch and may not exceed the dimensions of the institutional name. This will give the option of player jerseys to have an individualized and personalized feel to them.

Rule 3.1.e amends the current rule to require exposed undergarments to be black, white, beige or the primary color in the jersey and that if at least one team member wears an exposed undergarment, then all exposed undergarments worn by team members must be the same color. This provides flexibility to the current rule, which requires team members to wear identical uniforms, while still maintaining a consistent uniform look for the team. Exposed undergarments are articles of clothing such as T-shirts, tights, leotards, body suits, bicycle shorts, sports bras, etc.

Rule 3.1.c adds a requirement that skirts, skorts or kilts with less than a 15-inch outseam are required to have at least a 4-inch inseam. This provides more guidance when ordering competition apparel. Because of the financial impact if new skirts, skorts or kilts are needed, this rule goes into effect in the 2019-20 season.

Rule 2.1.b.4 added a requirement that any thumb hole not used for gripping purposes during the delivery shall be classified as a balance hole. If the ball has both a balance hole and thumb hole, and a delivery is made without a thumb in the thumb hole, the delivery is illegal and will result in a zero for the delivery under Rule 1.10.a. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) has ruled that a ball may not have more than one balance hole. This change brings NCAA rules in line with the USBC.

Rule 2.1.c.3 limits static weight in bowling balls weighing more than 10 pounds to a maximum of 3 ounces of static side, thumb and finger weight. This aligns with USBC changes that will be implemented Aug. 1, 2018.