March 15, 2020

Junior Bowling Leagues schedule update

            Gov. Tim Walz closed all public schools grades K-12 on Wed. Mar.18^th  to try slow the spread of COVID-19.

           This will impact our Junior bowling leagues as well.  There will most likely be a lot of changes to schedules and events in the up-coming days.  

Check  our Junior Bowling page on Facebook for updates!

Facebook page: “Fergus Falls Junior Bowling Leagues”  and “Northern Aire Lanes”

PEPSI & STORM UPDATE FROM BPAM STATE OFFICE:

NEW Status Update

Monday, March 16, 2020 at 6:25 p.m.

A message from Josh Hodney, Executive Director of the The Bowling Proprietors Association of Minnesota (BPAM)

2020 district level competition for the Pepsi Youth Championships and the Take Minnesota By Storm Youth Bowling Championships will be postponed until May 14 – 17, 2020. If the CDC expands its recommendation to limit large group gatherings beyond the current 8-week time frame and/or the Minnesota government does not allow bowling centers to reopen in time, the 2020 tournaments could be canceled in their entirety.

(If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to join the BPAM’s youth bowling email list, which will enable you to receive updates on most Minnesota youth and youth/adult bowling events. You can do this by going to GoBowlingMinnsota.com and hovering over “Youth Bowling” and then clicking on ”Join Our Email List”).

At this time, the 2020 Minnesota Singles youth bowling tournament (also administered by the BPAM) is scheduled to go on as planned (though I am aware that there is a good chance of there being a need to postpone that tournament also – though the BPAM is not yet ready to commit to postponement).

To avoid overwhelming each bowling center’s youth bowling coordinator, BPAM staff will assign a new shift date and time for every Storm or Pepsi bowler to compete May 14 - 17. The new schedules should be available online mid to late April. PLEASE do not contact BPAM staff regarding shift preferences or needs until after the schedules have been updated at GoBowlingMinnesota.com.

The BPAM would prefer to not issue any refunds at this time. So unless you are no longer interested in competing in the Pepsi and/or Storm tournaments OR you know that the dates of May 14 – 17 will not work for your family, you are asked to please refrain from requesting a refund at this time. If you feel it is absolutely necessary to request a refund, you can send an email to josh@mhsb.org. In your email, please be sure to mention what tournament(s) you are requesting a refund for and what bowling center the athlete bowls his/her junior bowling leagues at. Please note that if there is a significant amount of refunds requested, it may take up to three weeks for all refunds to be issued. Moreover, if a significant number of bowlers from the same bowling center request refunds, the BPAM may elect to refund all of those bowlers’ entry fees by sending a single check to those bowlers’ home bowling center (or their home bowling center’s youth bowling director) so that they may issue the individual refunds.

On a related note, your bowling center(s) need your support more than ever. If you have the financial means to do so, please consider purchasing a gift card from your bowling center (for future use) and/or purchasing takeout food from them if they are offering it.

               Junior League Information

We offer an exciting Junior Program with leagues on Mondays, or  Wednesdays after school as well as Saturday mornings.  The program offers league bowling, tournaments, awards, and opportunities to win scholarships for youth in grades 1 thru 12.  We have "USBC" certified coaches on staff to coach and help youth develop their bowling skills while having fun with their friends!   Junior leagues are now forming for the season. See Program flyer below.  Call us at 736-3333 for more information and to register for a Junior league!