You may be wondering how does high school bowling work? There are plenty of similarities between the sport you know and love and it’s high school counterpart, but there are also some important differences. Keep reading to find out more about how does high school bowling works!
Which States Have Schools with Varsity Bowling Teams
Before you can get started, it’s a good idea to figure out which states have bowling programs and how they work. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Some States with Varsity Bowling Teams? The United States has both statewide high school sports associations and an organizing body that oversees all state-level activities for US schools, by law.
So if a state has a varsity bowling team, it will most likely be through either a statewide association or that national organization.

Rules of High School Bowling
Each league has a unique set of rules for bowling, so if you aren’t a regular at your high school’s bowling alley, you may want to take some time to check out its regulations.
However, most leagues use a variation of these simple rules: 2 people on each team are designated as bowlers. Each bowler gets 10 balls per frame and is allowed two practice rolls before beginning their turn.
Teams are required to roll their balls down a long lane and toward 10 pins. The first bowler on each team has two attempts per frame (or turn) to knock down as many pins as possible.
When you finish your first turn, your teammate takes his or her turn, and so on until both teams have bowled two turns apiece.
Each team keeps track of how many pins they knocked down in each frame using a scorecard.
Equipment Used in Varsity Bowling
What exactly are these pieces of bowling equipment? There are three categories in all – shoes, clothing, and accessories.
Shoes have special grips so you don’t slip when delivering your throw. Your jeans or pants must be tucked into your socks in order to maintain proper form during delivery.
Accessories include wrist guards, ball bags, and even a towel for wiping off sweat after each frame.
To get started on becoming a high school bowler, make sure you have your own set of bowling equipment! This will help keep everyone safe while they bowl their best game ever!
Positions in Varsity Bowling
There are two positions on a bowling team. The first is that of a spare—this bowler only bowls when another bowler cannot participate in his or her lane and is not one of your top five (the top five are considered starters).
The second position on a bowling team is called a striker—this bowler bowls for any position except for spares.
Frequently Asked Questions about Varsity Bowling
Are there any physical requirements for high school bowling?
There are a few things that you’ll need to have or develop in order to be successful at high school bowling. For example, you need good hand-eye coordination so that you can see where your ball is going and position yourself accordingly.
You also need physical endurance in order to be able to complete all ten frames of your game if it comes down to tiebreakers. Aside from these two qualities, there aren’t any major requirements for high school bowling.
What is the most common bowling format?
The most common bowling format is called a scratch game. Scratch games don’t keep track of how many pins you knockdown, but instead, only track if you meet (or exceed) what’s called a strike. This simply means that you get all 10 pins down in a single throw.
Think of it like golf: you could hit your ball into one green and get an eagle, or two greens and make par.
What is a good score for high school bowling?
If you’re new to bowling, one of your biggest questions is probably: What is a good score for high school bowling?
The question might seem silly—what do high school bowlers have that professional bowlers don’t?—but there are actually some real differences.
In fact, high school bowlers have plenty in common with their professional counterparts. Here are some insights into what makes a good score for high school bowling.
Each bowling alley has its own scoring system, and if you want to be competitive at any level you’ll need to know how it works and how best to beat it.
Bowl as many frames as possible without chipping or topping out; strike when possible; aim just outside the third arrow if possible leave room at either end of your approach so you don’t hit any bumpers or gutters, and consistently put yourself in position for spares and strikes whenever possible. That alone will improve your score!
Do you have to be strong for bowling?
While a pro-bowler may have an impeccable technique and a high degree of strength in their wrist, arm, and shoulder muscles, you don’t necessarily need those things to be successful on a bowling team.
In fact, there are so many factors that contribute to how well you bowl — from your grip to your stance — that there’s always room for improvement. With that in mind, here are some of our top tips for improving your bowling game.
Also Read: What was bowling originally called?
Read more: High School Bowling