Page 3 - MoreThanJustAGame169

MORE THAN ‘JUST A GAME’

did make its way to other territories, however, and it wasn’t long before
these specifications were abided by other states across the country.
Bowling had become exceedingly popular, especially in the
Eastern district of New York, which had the reputation of containing
some of the largest and most efficient clubs in the country, and thus the
establishment of a governing body was a timely one.
Outside of the athletic clubs and the newly formed National
Bowling Association, a general set of rules for the game of Ten Pins
were of a sparse nature, going back to the decade of the 1850s and were
as follows:

1. Any number of players, not exceeding ten, can play together; the
lowest half-division paying the game of the highest.
2. In playing, all pins knocked down considered fair, whether
obtained by a front or back (i.e., reverberated).
3. No gentlemen allowed to stand on the platform in front of the
alleys except the players.
4. All ties to be decided by a single ball.
5. The marked line on the alleys is the utmost limit allowed to
players in advancing to deliver the ball.
6. Should any dispute arise between players, the Marker to be
called as umpire, and his decision to be final.
7. Pitching or lofting the balls is not permitted, and any player
doing so (after notice) forfeits his game from that point.

The National Bowling Association amended and enhanced the
existing guidelines into the first official set of regulations to govern club
competitions, and are listed below:

Rule 1 - The game adopted to be played by clubs belonging to this
Association shall be what is known as the American Ten Frame Game.
Rule 2 - In the playing of match games there shall be a line drawn upon
the alleys sixty feet from the head or front pin.

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