When there is a tie for the league championship, can a league adopt a rule stating that total pins for the season will break the tie?
Total pins for the season cannot be used to break a tie for any place in the position standings. A league may adopt rules to govern a playoff, but not one that would eliminate a playoff. Position standings are determined on the basis of games or points won during the season in actual competition. Rule 113 states a tie for first place must be decided with a playoff. The last sentence of the rule states it also applies when a league decides to break a tie for any other position. The fallacy of wanting to base team standings on total pins can be illustrated by checking almost any league standing sheet. Frequently a team in fifth or sixth place will have a larger total pin count than the team in third, second, maybe even first place. Usually prize money for any other tied place is combined and divided equally between the tied teams. If there are trophies involved, or if a league finds it necessary to break a tie for some other reason, a playoff must be held.
Related Questions
- When there is a tie for the league championship, can a league adopt a rule stating that total pins for the season will break the tie?
- May a league adopt a rule that no new members be allowed for the last few weeks of the season, the position round or for the playoff?
- Can a league adopt a rule that limits each team to naming two substitutes who bowl only for a particular team during the season?
