Bowling Combine Scheduled for July 22-26

For young bowlers looking to compete at the collegiate level, the Bowling Combine for College Prospects has become a premier summer event to attend. College bowling coaches also have found it to be a great place to evaluate bowlers.

Applications now are being accepted for the 2014 Bowling Combine, which will take place July 22-26 at the International Training and Research Center, the home of Team USA. The annual event was developed to bring together youth bowlers who want to compete at the collegiate level and college coaches looking for bowlers who might fit into their programs.

Student-athletes who have collegiate eligibility remaining and have completed at least their freshman year in high school can submit an application. Space is limited, and the application deadline is April 26.

“We expect to have another great pool of applicants this year,” said Rod Ross, head coach of the ITRC and Team USA. “The student-athletes selected to participate will receive a great evaluation of their skills, plus, they will have the opportunity to meet with some of the top collegiate coaches in the country.”

The Team USA coaching staff uses the state-of-the-art tools at the ITRC to evaluate the skills of the student-athletes through tests such as shot repeatability, release ratio, spare proficiency, breakpoint management, vertical leap and balance.

The student-athletes receive an objective analysis of their skills that includes a Performance Evaluation Test (P.E.T.) score that can be used to compare all student-athletes who have attended a Bowling Combine. The bowlers also receive a recruiting kit that includes video shots, bowler variables measured and a detailed report of personal data collected at the Bowling Combine.

Last year, coaches from 30 collegiate programs took part in the Bowling Combine. Gary Sparks, who led Vincennes University to a runner-up finish at the 2013 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships, said three of his six incoming players for the 2013-2014 season were at the 2012 Bowling Combine.

“I go to a few other camps and clinics and obviously watch bowlers at tournaments, but this gives me a perspective of a tryout atmosphere,” Sparks said after last year’s Bowling Combine. “We don’t get a chance to see that in any other type of setting. You get a chance to really see the players, know who they are and get a one-on-one situation with them.”

Coaches in attendance receive an evaluation of each bowler, plus have the opportunity for one-on-one contact with prospective student-athletes. Coaches must register and attend to receive the evaluations.

College coaches and athletes interested in the Bowling Combine can visit BOWL.com/Combine or bowlingitrc.com for more information and to register.

United States Bowling Congress: The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body for the sport. USBC is a membership organization that provides standardized rules, regulations and benefits to make bowling fair and fun for everyone.

The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.