Sunset Family Fun Centre in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) was rolling as Youth 5-pin Bowl Canada (YBC) Region #2 arrived for its annual wind-up tournament with bowlers from across southwestern Ontario on Saturday, April 6th.
Region #2 is comprised of seven bowling centres in the cities of Brantford, Kitchener, New Hamburg, Stratford, St. Mary’s, Molesworth, and Port Elgin, with an enrolment this year of 375 youth divided into three categories:
Bantam – ages 10 and under
Junior – ages 11 to 14
Senior ages 15 to 19
The tournament at Sunset included 45 teams and 90 bowlers from as far away as Kitchener, Brantford, St. Mary’s, Stratford, Listowell, and, locally, Port Elgin.
For some tournaments, each division is divided into gender, and there are also tournaments where they will bowl as a mixed team or mixed doubles. The bowling season starts in early September and finishes up by the end of April.
Throughout the year, three different tournaments are held within the Region and the top two qualifiers in each Division advance to a Provincial final.
Sunset bowlers in the Senior Division, had three bowlers from Port Elgin who will go on to compete in the Provincial Final on April 28th in Brantford – April Virtue, Raven Hamacher and Eric Berg.
For over 50 years, Youth Bowl Canada (YBC) has brought the fun and excitement of 5 Pin bowling to generations of young people. Since its inception, the program has had over 2.2 million registered bowlers.
From British Columbia to Newfoundland, Youth Bowl Canada is the largest organized youth bowling program in Canada and is a nationally organized youth bowling program for bowlers
ages 3 to 19.
There are many reasons for youth to take up the sport, the first of which is that bowling is fun, exciting and rewarding among other reasons:
- It’s a great opportunity to make friends
- Bowling is great exercise for kids
- Bowling is played in a safe, non-aggressive environment
- Bowling is extremely affordable
- Kids learn the values of sportsmanship and fair play
- Total inclusivity – nobody sits on the bench in bowling!
With today’s concerns over affordability, youth bowling is extremely affordable. The base registration fee is $15 for the season, with the weekly cost ranging from approximately $5 – $12 per week, exact costs are determined by each program, age level and location.
When it comes to youth bowling and its rewards, being part of a team means meeting new friends (or signing up with friends!), and getting exercise all the while having fun.
For more information, visit Youth Bowling Canada
