A. Sanctioning

• ELVIS is a USBC certified Tournament.

Certification Number (04079).

• ELVIS is a member of the International Gay Bowling

Organization (IGBO).

• All participants must be members of USBC

• All entrants must be an IGBO member for the 2023/2024 season, which includes anyone who has bowled in an IGBO-sanction league. Otherwise, bowlers must be a

current IGBO Associate member or pay the IGBO Associate Membership Fee of $25.00 to join.

B. Taxes

• Any bowler who wins $600 or more in any event (including all optional events) will be required to provide the Tournament sponsors with a W9 form and an IRS Form 1099‐MISC will be issued to the bowler for prize winnings. By registering for the tournament, all bowlers acknowledge this policy and further acknowledge that failure to provide the required W9 form within 30 days of the date of request will be just caused to forego ALL prize winnings in excess of $599.99.

C. Event Participation

• ELVIS entrants are required to hold a current USBC membership card. Participants who must be an IGBO member or bowl in a current IGBO sanctioned league. Non-IGBO members will be required to purchase an IGBO membership at the tournament or will be disqualified.

• ELVIS is a mixed handicap competition.

• The tournament is by invitation only and entries can be denied.

• The tournament shall consist of handicap events as follows:

o Team, Doubles, and Singles.

• Each participant shall bowl three (3) games per event and must enter all three (3) events.

• Teams will consist of four members comprising any combination of men and women.

• All participants will compete on an equal basis without regard to gender identity.

• Doubles partners must come from the same team.

• Each participant may only bowl once in each event.

• Professional bowlers may bowl in ELVIS. However, only one (1) professional bowler per team will be allowed.

o A professional bowler is defined as any person who has been a “card‐carrying” member of a professional bowling organization within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding ELVIS.

o Professional bowlers must identify themselves as such at the time of check-in.

D. Awards and Prizes

• All cash awards shall be based on the total pins plus assigned handicap for each event except for optional events as defined below under Entry Fees.

• Awards will be given for the highest Singles, Doubles, and Team scores. The awards ratio for each event shall be at least 1:5.

• A tie in any position will result in the sum of the prizes being aggregated for the tied positions and divided equally by the number of ties for that placement. • Prizes will be distributed via check payable in US currency within thirty (30) days of the completion of the tournament, barring any protests.

E. Entering Averages

• Any bowler entering ELVIS must have an established ten‐pin average acceptable to USBC.

• The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average:

o The bowler’s 2023‐2024 composite average of 21 games or more shall be used. If the bowler’s IGBO TAD covering the period August 17, 2023, thru August 17, 2024 with a minimum of 18 games is one (1) or more pins higher than (a), in which case IGBO TAD shall be used.

o If none of the above is available, the bowler’s 2022‐2023 composite average (including winter and summer leagues) with a minimum of 21 games.

o 2024 Summer league averages shall not be used unless none of the above are available. If none of the above are available, the highest August 31, 2024 average with a minimum of 21 games will be used.

o Averages resulting from sport bowling leagues will be accepted using the USBC sport bowling average conversion chart to determine entering average if none of the above averages are available.

o If none of the above averages are available, the entering average to be used will be 230.

o Tournament Director has the final decision on average to be used and reserves the right to rerate any bowler.

• The above averages must be verified with one of the following documents:

o Bowl.com average verification

o League standing sheet provided by league secetary

o IGBO TAD • The handicap for the tournament shall be based on 90% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average and a scratch score of 230. Negative handicap will not be used.

F. Attendance and Substitutes

• It is solely and entirely the bowler’s responsibility to be present at the assigned lanes at the time of bowling.

• Complete Doubles and Team entrants must be present for bowling each event. If a team member or doubles partner is not present, an authorized substitute may be used if competition in any event has not started. If no substitute is available, a zero score will be used.

• Late bowlers will begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready, with prior frames being scored as zero. No practice balls will be allowed for late bowlers.

• Substitutes may bowl at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Their entering average must comply with ELVIS rules.

• There shall be ten (10) minutes of practice allowed before each event.

G. Entry Requirements

• The entry fee shall be $125.00

• Entries received after midnight on August 1, 2024, shall be assessed a $20.00 late charge. (No Late fees in 2024 due to registration issues) edited 7-9-2024

• Entry must be completed online. The entry fee must be paid online via PayPal by registration closing date.

• Registration will close at 5pm (PST) on August 16, 2024. No late entries will be accepted.

• Entries shall be limited to a maximum of 54 teams/216 bowlers. Once this maximum has been reached, no further entries shall be accepted.

• Entries are not considered accepted without all required information and payment in full for the tournament entry and, if applicable, late charge.

• Partial team entries will be accepted, and tournament management will make every effort to fill vacancies.

• Once an entry has been accepted, no refunds will be issued unless due to tournament being sold out.

• Bowlers who have “free entry” certificates must indicate such on their online entry and present said certificate prior to completing online payment.

o “Free entry” certificates must be redeemed by August 19, 2024. Failure to register and redeem the certificate by this date renders the certificate void.

o No refunds shall be issued for bowlers who have failed to present the “free entry” certificate prior to payment.

H. Entry Fees and Prize Distribution

• Lineage - $27.00 ($3.00/game)

• Expenses - $22.25 (IGBO fee, trophies, tournament supplies, PayPal Fees)

• IGBO 2025 Fundraising - $20.00

• Prize Fund - $55.75 (breakdown below)

• Prize fund distribution (Payout ratio 1 in 5)

o Team 33% ($18.58/bowler)

o Doubles 33% ($18.58/bowler)

o Singles 34% ($18.59/bowler)

• Optional Events and Cost listed below (Payout Ratio 1 in 8)

o Grand Mystery Doubles Handicap ($30) - $10 Team, $10 Doubles, $10 Singles will be paid by Series.

o Optional Open Handicap and Open Scratch All Events ($25 Each) Bowler may enter both

o Optional Women Handicap All Events ($25)

o Optional Senior Handicap All Events ($25)

o Scratch Masters

• Viva Las Vegas Division – Averages 210 and up - $50

• Blue Suede Shoes Division – Average 185 to 209 - $45

• All Shook Up Division – Average 160 to 184 - $40

• Don’t Be Cruel Division – Average 159 and below - $35

I. Protests

• Any claims of errors or disputes must be submitted to tournament management in writing within seventy‐two (72) hours of the error/dispute. The protesting bowler(s) and the Tournament Director shall settle the dispute per ELVIS and USBC Tournament Rules. The decision of the tournament management will be final unless a written appeal is filed with USBC Headquarters within the time limits in USBC Rule 329.

J. General

• Any person attending ELVIS that requires special assistance must notify the Tournament Director in writing prior to the tournament weekend.

• All bowlers should adhere to a one lane courtesy.

K. Scratch Masters

• Top 8 scratch entrants after 9 games in each division bowl an single elimination shoot-out.

• The competition will consist of bracket style bowling. #1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, #4 vs. #5. Bowlers will bowl 3 games on the same lanes with the highest 3 game scratch total moving onto the next round. After, round 1 the remaining bowlers will bowl 1 game with the higher seed bowling the lowest seed still alive in competition. The high game round 2 match will move onto the final round. The remaining 2 bowlers will bowl 1 game for the championship.

• If a TIE exists during the roll-off of any matches the tie will be broken with a 1 ball roll-off with the higher pinfall being declared the winner. If after each roll-off a tie still exists, the bowlers will change lanes and have another 1 ball roll-off. Higher seed bowler has the option of who goes first and lane choice to start.

• All 8 bowlers will get 10 minutes of practice on their lanes. Rounds 2 and 3 will have no practice and go directly into their 1 game match.