The Master Bowlers' Association of Ontario Inc. is a non-profit organization which was formed in 1964 for the following reasons:

1. To provide top flight competition for the province's best 5 pin Bowlers.

2. To work towards the improvement of the image of 5 pin bowling by our conduct on and off the lanes.

3. To work for the future of the 5 pin game in various other ways, including the instruction and coaching of all Bowlers with special emphasis on the Youth Bowling Council (YBC).

The MBAO has strict rules which must be adhered to and new applicants should be sure they are aware of these rules as well as other obligations they accept by becoming members.

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY:

All applicants, new and old, must be approved for membership by the MBAO Executive Committee, and must read the pre-amble to the application form. The MBAO rules, are not stricter than those of other sports wishing to attain "Major League" acceptance.

All applications for membership (except unaffiliated tournament division & Seniors) must be signed by a Proprietor or Manager of a member bowling center of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of Ontario (BPAO).

The MBAO is division of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers' Association (O5PBA).

The Master Bowlers' Association of Ontario became incorporated on February 21, 1980. Our objectives are as follows:

1. To create and conduct uniform instruction and coaching programs for all 5 pin Bowlers across Ontario.

2. To provide a competitive tournament program for its membership.

3. To set high standards of sportsmanship, ethics and conduct for its membership.

4. To participate in a National Championship as conducted by the Master Bowlers'
Association of Canada.

5. To support the aims and objectives of all bowling associations working in the best
interest of 5 pin bowling.

6. The Corporation has the power to accept donations, gifts, legacies and bequests.

A copy of our complete by-laws and Letters Patent are available upon request. However, every member should be aware of the following guidelines and rules.

Type of Membership:

1. Teaching Division Membership

2. Tournament Division Membership

• Affiliated
• Unaffiliated

3. Senior Division Membership

4. Associate Membership

Entry Requirements:

1. To regulate and guide the activities and conduct of Master Bowlers. Master Bowlers will represent only members of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of Ontario (BPAO).

2. Applicants must be approved by the elected board of the Master Bowlers' Association.

3. Membership in the Master Bowlers' Association is limited to individuals who are no longer eligible to bowl YBC due to age restrictions.

4. New members will be accepted for the current year (August 1 - July 31). In the tournament division, new members may enter until December 31 of the current year. Teaching division members will be accepted until February 1st of the current year and Senior members may enter any time. For renewals of membership, the above timelines will be maintained, but both prize money and assessments, for all compulsory tournaments missed, must be paid for teaching and tournament members.

Fees:

1. On acceptance of the application form of the Master Bowler, yearly fees become due and payable to the Master Bowlers' Association. This fee is for administration expenses of the Master Bowlers' Association and is non-returnable and non-transferable.

2. The Teaching & Affiliated Tournament Master Bowler and/or his/her Bowling
Proprietor must pay for an official uniform as designed and approved by the Master Bowlers' Association.

3. The entrance fee to the Association is paid once only by any individual. As such, there is no "leave of absence" fee.

Rules:

1. Any dispute between Master Bowlers and Proprietors with the Master Bowlers'
Association will be settled by the right of appeal in writing by any or all parties.

2. Suspension of, or fining of a Master Bowler for conduct detrimental to the Master
Bowlers Association or the sport of 5 pin bowling will be the end result of a written
complaint and a hearing conducted by the Master Bowlers' Association Board of
Directors. The right of appeal in writing by any or all parties is an inherent part of the by- law.

3. The Master Bowlers' Association and its members will support the aims of the Ontario 5 pin Bowlers Association, the Bowling Proprietors Association of Ontario, the Youth Bowling Council and any other local, provincial or national association that acts in the best interest of bowling in Canada.

1. Drinking of alcoholic beverages...IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION from
current tournament by Tournament Director.
1st OFFENCE: Minimum suspension of three (3) tournaments. This will include the tournament in which the act was committed. Maximum suspension not to exceed 1 year from date of infraction.
2nd OFFENCE: Permanent Suspension.

2. Uncomplimentary conduct, i.e. cursing, swearing, kicking ball rack, etc. IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION from current tournament.

3. Any members suspended during the season would be liable for any and all financial
obligations as laid out for the Tournament, Teaching and Senior Division members
during the current year in which the suspension occurred. Failure to fulfil these
obligations would eliminate any chances of reinstatement in the Master Bowlers
Association until such time as obligations are paid in full.

4. Members must observe all rules & regulations of the Master Bowlers' Association in all Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Association sanctioned tournaments.

5. All MBAO members must carry a C5PBA card.

6. Failure to comply with any of the above would be subject to discipline as laid out by the association.

UNIFORMS & UNIFORM STANDARDS

Shirts:

Both Teaching, Tournament & Senior Divisions must wear an MBA official shirt, as follows:

1. MBA/YBC tournaments (Master Bantam and Master Junior) members must wear the MBA official shirt with name & bowling center embroidery as supplied by the MBAO.

2. All other MBA tournaments, the official MBA sport shirt (various colours) as supplied by the MBA, or the embroidered shirt may be worn.

Slacks/Pants:

All MBAO members must wear black dress slacks/pants. Denim, track pants, corduroy, ruggers, cotton knit or harem type pants are not allowed. Ladies may wear black skirts of approved material but not shorter than 4" above the knee.

The official MBA uniform must be worn at all MBA tournaments. Effective January 1, 1990, "any Master who is out of uniform (top or bottom) and does not have an order in for a shirt prior to that date will be fined $25.00. A second infraction during the same bowling season will result in automatic disqualification from that tournament".

TOURNAMENT DIVISION

Affiliated Tournament Division members agree to participate in all compulsory tournaments on the Ontario tour each season including the Master Junior and Master Bantam youth events.

The Unaffiliated Tournament Division member is excluded from the youth events and their application form does not require a proprietor's signature.

All members are obligated to pay entry fee and assessment for each compulsory event, whether they compete or not.

New members are urged to apply early for membership and to place their order for uniforms as soon as possible.

Tournament Division events take place in many different cities. Each of these tournaments is a separate event and the winner of each tournament wins a Master's Ring (plus prize money) and is deemed a Master's Champion. The complete tournament season provides us with two (2) aggregate champions, one (1) man and one (1) woman, who are crowned Master's Aggregate Champions and later represent Ontario in the Canadian Master's Singles Championships. There is also a Team Championship Tournament which will involve an additional five (5) Bowlers from each division (ladies and men) to represent Ontario in the Canadian Team Championships.

Tournament Division Standings:

1. Male applicants for membership should have a proven minimum average in one or more leagues of "230" and must be of good character.

2. Female applicants for membership should have a proven minimum average in one or more leagues of "215" and must be of good character.

3. Masters who begin in the tournament division retain that status throughout the year, even though they withdraw from participation in tournament division events. As such, they don't transfer to the teaching division, but, if affiliated, must compete in both Master Youth events.

TEACHING DIVISION

This division is involved with the instruction and coaching aspects of 5 pin bowling. Specifications for this division are laid out in the Association Standards "Teaching Division".

Teaching Division Masters are automatic entrants in both the Master Junior and Master Bantam tournaments. Non participating Masters will be assessed the "No Show" fee as stated in the Tournament Registration Book and must notify, in writing, the Board of Directors, regarding their absence. The aggregate winners will be declared combing the Master Junior, Master Bantam, Mid Winter Blues, Year End tournament and the highest qualifying score of one of the 3 Ontario Teaching Division Championship tournaments. A teaching division (male or female) aggregate winner will be named Teaching Division Champions. Including the aggregate champions, the top five Bowlers in each division will represent Ontario in the Canadian Master Teaching Championship. At this event, both singles and teaching events are held at the same time.

Teaching Division Standards:

1. The Teaching Division is open to all caliber of Bowlers. There is NO average restriction.

2. Teaching Masters are required to bowl in the Master Bantam and Master Junior
tournaments and may compete in all non-compulsory tournaments offered by the Association.
3. Teaching Division Masters are allowed to "Fill the Field" in one compulsory tournament division event each season.

4. Teaching Masters win an MBA ring for their first tournament win.

5. Teaching Masters may apply for transfer to the tournament division, as long as he/she has the necessary average qualifications.

6. Teaching Division Masters must observe ALL rules and regulations of the Master
Bowlers Association of Ontario and failure to comply would be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the rules.

SENIOR DIVISION

Senior Masters are 50 years of age and over all eligible to compete in a separate tour. Both Scratch and P.O.A. competition is offered and national team will be determined by the Board of Directors. Current and former masters, who meet the age requirements, can participate without a membership fee. However, new senior members will require a membership fee.

A fully paying Senior member is allowed to bowl in the four Senior tournaments, all optional tournaments division events and one compulsory event. A Senior "only" member can only bowl on the Senior tour.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

A non - participant member, an associate member is included in the association elimination draw and receives all mailings. An associate membership may continue indefinitely.