Tournament Rules

GREAT 2026 Rules

The Greater Rochester Eastern Area Tournament (GREAT) is a member tournament of International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO), and is NOT USBC sanctioned*. GREAT will adapt the USBC rule book as a guideline for all operational/bowling rules, however it will not follow their current stance on transgender athletes. GREAT is an invitational mixed handicapped competition open to all adult bowlers, regardless of self-identification. This aligns with IGBO’s mission:

“IGBO seeks to promote the sport of bowling and enrich the lives of individuals through league building and tournaments around the world. IGBO is guided by the principles of community, inclusion, and solidarity as we:

Provide educational opportunities to local communities about bowling, LGBTQ+ history, and other topics of importance
Build communication avenues between member leagues, joining LGBTQ+ communities together in solidarity
Plan social opportunities to promote the sport of bowling and to enrich the lives of individual athletes through leagues and tournaments

IGBO recognizes access to sport as a human right. Community is a primary pillar of IGBO and cannot be fulfilled if any member of our community is intentionally or unintentionally excluded. We strive to continually listen, learn, and adapt to ensure every member of IGBO has a sense of belonging in our community. IGBO promotes gender inclusion by recognizing an individual player’s self-identified gender; and avoiding gender-based distinctions or divisions in sporting activities, while considering member countries’ cultures. IGBO is committed to celebrating each athlete’s accomplishments and skill, regardless of gender identity.”

*USBC Certification is subject to change at the discretion of the organizing committee

NOTE: This is an adult event. It is strongly advised that children are not present. Only registered bowlers or tournament/alley officials are permitted beyond the settee area.

IGBO Membership

All participants must be members of IGBO. IGBO membership is attained either through participation in a member league, or associate membership. Any participants not currently a member of IGBO must fill out the application for associate membership and submit to tournament secretary along with $25 fee.

GREAT 2026 EVENTS
GREAT will consist of Doubles, Singles and Team competitions. Each set will consist of three (3) games. Team competition will consist of four (4) bowlers. Each bowler may only participate once in each event.
This is a handicapped tournament. Handicap will be calculated at 90% of the difference between the bowler’s average and 250. If a bowler enters with an average over 250, they will be assigned a handicap of ZERO. No negative handicap will apply.
All applications will be completed online through the tournament’s website. The entry fee is $135.00, and fee covers tournament lineage, banquet, prize fund, administrative expenses, and IGBO tournament fee.
Entry closing date is April 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless the tournament sells out sooner. GREAT has a capacity of 44 teams or 176 bowlers.
The trophies for the tournament will be awarded at an awards banquet. All participants and guests must select the awards banquet with tournament entry. Guests not participating in the tournament but attending the awards banquet must pay a fee ($70).
All cash awards shall be based on the total pins with handicap for the All Events, Team, Doubles, and Singles events as well as the handicap based optional events.
The prize ratio is at least 1 in 10 for all tournament events unless otherwise noted. Cash awards will be mailed to participants in the form of a check, in US currency ($), within 30 days of the completion of the tournament, pending any protests.
Results will be posted to the tournament website within 30 days of the completion of the tournament. All financials and scores will be reported as necessary to IGBO.

OPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL SCRATCH EVENTS
GREAT will offer both Optional Scratch and Scratch Masters Events to all participants using 6 divisions. Divisions for both events are the same and as follows:
- Division A – Averages 210 and above
- Division B – Averages between 195 and 209
- Division C – Averages between 180 and 194
- Division D – Averages between 160 and 179
- Division E – Averages between 140 and 159
- Division F – Averages up to 139
Detailed rules for Optional Scratch can be found here.
Detailed rules for Scratch Masters can be found here.

OPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP EVENTS
The following additional optional events, descriptions here, will be offered at GREAT with 100% of the costs paid back as prize fund at a ratio dependent upon the side event.
- Best 3 of 6 – Best 3 games from the 6 games on Saturday.
- Best 3 of 9 – Best 3 games from Singles/Doubles/Team events
- Chase the “Golden Snitch”
- Dark Horse Doubles: All events
- Mystery Score
The optional events listed above may be entered with your tournament application or at tournament registration. It is recommended that you enter any of these events with your application. GREAT will also offer Brackets, Mega Brackets, and other side events during the tournament.

ENTERING AVERAGES/AVERAGE VERIFICATION
Entering average will be determined by the following:

(A) Current IGBO Tournament Average: 18+ games (including scratch masters) between 5/1/25 and 4/30/26. We will be updating TAD averages the week leading up to the tournament.

(B) If A does not apply, entering average will be the 2025/2026 season’s highest league average as of 12/31/25. This includes ALL leagues, not just sanctioned leagues.

(C) If neither A nor B applies, entering average will be the 2024/2025 season’s highest league average. This includes ALL leagues, not just sanctioned leagues.

(D) If neither A, B nor C applies, entering average of 250 will be assigned.

(E) Averages from Sport Condition leagues are not acceptable.

(F) Changes to a bowler’s entering average can be made at the discretion of the tournament director ADDITIONAL RULES
Substitutes may bowl at the discretion of the tournament’s executive committee.
Bowlers will be given ten (10) minutes of practice before each event.
Late bowlers will begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready with prior frames scored a zero (0). It is the bowler’s responsibility to be at the lanes when bowling begins.
No substitutions in the Doubles or Team event lineup can be made after a series has started without sufficient cause at the discretion of the tournament management. Changes to Doubles pairings within a team must be made before the completion of the tournament registration period.
After a score has been recorded, it cannot be changed unless there has been an obvious error in scoring or calculation. Obvious errors must be corrected by a tournament official immediately upon discovery. Questionable errors must be reported to a tournament official within two (2) hours of the error, and the appropriate action will be decided by tournament management
All average verification documents, both league and tournament, should be emailed to registration@bowlgreat.org for secretarial purposes. They should be received by the tournament secretary no later than the April 19, 2026 entry close date.

PROTESTS/APPEALS
Protests related to eligibility or playing rules must be submitted within 48 hours of the completion of all bowled events. All protests must be submitted in writing, either by email or letter, and must clearly state the nature of the protest and the specific rule being challenged.
- Only registered bowlers may submit a protest, and the protest can only be submitted on their own behalf
- The GREAT committee will oversee all protests and ensure they are addressed promptly and appropriately
Appeals will be reviewed individually and are not guaranteed to be approved. To be considered, appeals must be submitted in writing, either by email or letter, within 72 hours of communication regarding the initial protest decision. If an appeal is granted, a panel of at least three regional tournament directors will be convened to review the case and provide guidance.

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