Social Distancing Configurations with BLS-2022

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Using BLS-2023 under Social Distancing Conditions


With the COVID-19 pandemic closures, it has created social distancing concerns for bowling leagues as centers around the country are able to reopen. There are currently unknown or changing requirements from each state, which does not accommodate a single solution.

State and Local Government Social Distancing Requirements

When looking at what was being discussed by states on how bowling centers can reopen, the potential for state and local governments requiring there be a dark lane between an active lane was considered. Also being considered by government is requiring there be a dark pair between an active pair, which would allow traditional league and tournament bowling, alternating lanes, however, create a situation that may have limitations depending on the center size. Another consideration by government is requiring a level of persons in a distance that may allow traditional pair bowling, however only one team may be on a pair, which again creates a situation that may have center size limitation.
Because of the different requirements that may be established for a period, it is important to work with the center as well as be informed of the social distancing requirements that your local and state government where the center have. In many cases, these laws or guidelines may not have been established yet.

USBC’s Accommodation of State and Local Government Requirements

In early May 2020, USBC instilled an emergency rule that allows sanctioned leagues to bowl on a single lane without alternating lanes on the pair, which is not traditional for bowling. It is important to understand that this rule was meant to allow, not require, the option for sanctioned leagues and tournaments. From various public forums, discussions from bowlers seemed to appear that the impression was that USBC was requiring single lane bowling, yet it was simply a temporary rule change to accommodate the ability, should it be necessary by the local and state government.
USBC currently has a rule that accommodates this when there is a breakdown of a lane on a pair, allowing the teams to use the single functioning lane, should the center be unable to move the teams affected to a different pair.

Managing Social Distancing in League Play with BLS-2023

There are two concerns from users of BLS-2023 regarding handling social distancing rules:
  1. How does the league secretary manage BLS from a manual entry point of view?
  2. How does the bowling center league processor manage BLS from an Automatic Scoring System point of view?
This article will address these options and how to use BLS-2023 to accommodate, when possible. There may be situations or results that may not be optimal or may be confusing for the league processor or bowlers.
For the purposes of this article, a ten-team league with 4 bowlers on a team will be used as the example in a 24-lane center and that the league rules state the league starts on lane 1.

Dark Pair Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues bowling in tradition pair mode, but require a dark pair be between pairs with bowlers.   Under this example, teams 1-10 would bowl on 1-2, 5-6, 9-10, 13-14, 17-18.
The advantage of this option is that centers can support this option and BLS-2022 can support this currently. The disadvantage is that smaller centers, such as a 12-lane center, would need to split this league into 2 shifts (Early/Late or Day 1/Day2).


Configuration Instructions

The following instructions are for configuring BLS-2022 for this rule using the example league mentioned above. Your league may differ, and it is assumed that the league has already been created with the basic rules.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Dark Pair. If the league needs to be split into shifts due to the lack of lanes available, switch the split shift option to yes.
  5. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings as 1-2, 5-6, 9-10, 13-14, 17-18.
  6. Close the lane assignments.
Configuration has now been completed.  The lane assignments on the standings, lane assignments printout and recaps should be correct with the spacing.
Note for Automatic Scoring Centers:
Each scoring system has their own nuances with how they will handle the export of this league where there are gaps between pairs. We suggest testing this with your system and if needed, contact your scoring system support team for additional guidance.

Single Lane, Split Shift Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require a dark lane be between each team.  Under this example, teams 1-10 would bowl on 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, but would be split into 2 shifts (Early/Late) where odd teams would bowl, then even teams would bowl.
The advantage of this option is that USBC now has an emergency rule that will allow sanctioned leagues to use this method and BLS-2022 can support this currently and that size of center does not factor in this rule. It also allows all teams, regardless of left or right lane, to bowl on fresh lane conditions.

Configuration Instructions

The following instructions are for configuring BLS-2022 for this rule using the example league mentioned above. Your league may differ, and it is assumed that the league has already been created with the basic rules.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Single Lane, Split Shift.
  5. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.
  6. If you have Automatic Scoring, follow the remaining options.
  7. Go to Weekly > Prepare > Export to Scoring System
  8. Select the Options tab.
  9. Uncheck Bowl on a Pair of Lanes option, which should then enable only the Bowl all frames on same Lane option.  This gives instructions to the scoring system that lanes are not to alternate between frames or games. Configuration has now been completed.
Each scoring system has their own nuances with how they will handle the export of this league regarding the instructions that indicates to bowl on the same lane and to not alternate between frames and games. Depending of the scoring system, options in the scoring system front desk software may need to be adjusted to which you would need to contact your scoring system manufacturer support team for guidance.

Extended Pair Mode Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require fewer people within a distance, requiring a maximum of one team on a pair of lanes. Under this example, teams 1 would bowl on 1-2, team 2 on 3-4, team 3 on 5-6, team 4 on 7-8, team 5 on 9-10, team 6 on 11-12, team 7 on 13-14, team 8 on 15-16, team 9 on 17-18 and team 10 on 19-20.

The advantage of this option is that teams can bowl in tradition alternating lanes.
The disadvantage is that center size can be an issue, requiring the league to be split into multiple shifts.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Extended Pair.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts.
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.

Split Team / Split Shift Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues but require fewer people within a distance. Under this example, teams 1 through 10 would bowl on their traditional lanes and bowl in traditional alternating lane fashion. The difference is that the league would have each team’s first two players bowl the first shift and the remaining players play the second shift.   
The advantage of this option is that teams can bowl in tradition alternating lanes and allow a semblance of competition as both partial teams are on the pair under the same conditions and the mental state of the game from a sports perspective is kept.

Configuration Instructions

  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Extended Pair.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.

Pair Bowling, Split Shift Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require fewer bowlers in the center and/or lanes. Under this example, teams 1-10 would bowl on 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, but would be split into 2 shifts (Early/Late) where odd teams would bowl first, in traditional pair mode, then even teams would bowl during the second shift in tradition pair mode.
The advantage of this option is that USBC now has an emergency rule that will allow sanctioned leagues to use this method and BLS-2023 can support this currently and that size of center does not factor in this rule. It also allows all teams to bowl in traditional pair mode.
The disadvantage is that the second shift would have more challenging lane conditions unless the center redressed the lanes.

Configuration Instructions

  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Pair Bowling, Split Shift.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts.
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.

Extended Pair, Single Lane

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require a dark lane be between each team.  Under this example teams 1 would bowl on 1, team 2 on 3, team 3 on 5, team 4 on 7, team 5 on 9, team 6 on 11, team 7 on 13, team 8 on 15, team 9 on 17 and team 10 on 19 (Note – This could also be everyone on the even lanes instead of the odd lanes).  
The advantage of this option is that USBC now has an emergency rule that will allow sanctioned leagues to use this method and BLS-2022 can support this currently and that size of center does not factor in this rule.
The disadvantage is that it requires centers to be large enough to accommodate. BLS also does not support extending the teams across just the odd (or even) lanes, for recaps, lane assignments, standings, and Automatic Scoring purposes. For secretaries using the Standard or Professional edition, you will need to cross out and update the lane numbers bowled. When manually entering scores, however, the matchups would be the same, just the lane numbers would appear off. For Automatic Scoring Systems, while BLS can accommodate instructing the scoring system to not alternate lanes between frames and games, the scoring system would need to be able to manage moving the even lanes to different lanes, such as when a lane breaks down.  Depending on the scoring system, scores may not be able to be returned for all teams, requiring manual score entry.

Configuration Instructions

  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Extended Pair, Single Lane.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts.
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.
Note: After BLS-2023 has been released, we will be looking at adding the option to send teams to the odd lanes or even lanes depending on if the week is an odd or even week number.

1 Team Split Across Pair Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require fewer people within a distance, requiring a maximum of 2 people on a lane. Under this example, teams 1 would bowl on with 2 people from team 1 on 1 and remaining people on team 1 on lane 2, team 2's first 2 people on 3 and remaining on lane 4, etc.
The advantage of this option is that teams can bowl in tradition alternating lanes.
The disadvantage is that center size can be an issue, requiring the league to be split into multiple shifts.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select 1 team split across pair.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts.
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.

Dark Pair Extended Single Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues bowling in tradition pair mode, but require a dark pair be between pairs with bowlers AND only bowl on a single lane.   Under this example, teams 1-10 would bowl on 1, 5, 9, 13.
The advantage of this option is that centers can support this option and BLS-2022 can support this currently. The disadvantage is that smaller centers, such as a 12-lane center, would need to split this league into 2 shifts (Early/Late or Day 1/Day2).

Configuration Instructions

The following instructions are for configuring BLS-2023 for this rule using the example league mentioned above. Your league may differ, and it is assumed that the league has already been created with the basic rules.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Dark Pair Extended Single. If the league needs to be split into shifts due to the lack of lanes available, switch the split shift option to yes.
  5. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings as 1, 5, 9, 13
  6. Close the lane assignments.
Configuration has now been completed.  The lane assignments on the standings, lane assignments printout and recaps should be correct with the spacing.
Note for Automatic Scoring Centers:
Each scoring system has their own nuances with how they will handle the export of this league where there are gaps between pairs. We suggest testing this with your system and if needed, contact your scoring system support team for additional guidance.

Split Team / Split Pair Social Distancing Option

This option is for centers where the local or state requirements accommodate leagues, but require fewer people within a distance, requiring a maximum of 2 people on a lane. This method is similar to 1 Team Split Across Pair, except the first two bowlers from each team would be on 1 pair and the remaining 2 bowlers on each team would be on the next pair.
The advantage of this option is that teams can bowl in tradition alternating lanes.
The disadvantage is that center size can be an issue, requiring the league to be split into multiple shifts.
  1. Open BLS-2023
  2. Open the league
  3. From the main menu, click Setup > League > Lane Assignments.
  4. On the right side of the Lane Assignments grid is a tab labeled Social Distancing. Select Split Team / Split Pair.
  5. With the option to Add Lanes, the league will be spread across all lanes available as needed.   When set to Add Shifts, the league will be split into shifts.
  6. While the lane assignment screen will keep the normal lane numbers used, the automatic scoring export as well as recaps will display the pairings appropriately.

Contacting Support

If you have further questions with BLS-2023 and social distancing options, please contact CDE Software by visiting https://support.cdesoftware.com

Article ID: 2897, , Modified: 8/12/2022 at 12:46 PM

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