Playing Rules
Updated September 1, 2023
General Rules
Florida State University does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries received by Intramural Sports participants. Each participant should ensure that they have coverage either through family policies or the student insurance plan.
Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted during Intramural Sports contests, including those at alcohol-permitted venues such as the Student Union. Smoking, vaping, and the use of smokeless tobacco is also prohibited at all University facilities. This includes the Student Union. Violators will be asked to leave the facility. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the contest, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards and/or the FSU Police.
Sport Rules
Current American Bowling Congress rules will govern FSU IM team bowling play with the following modifications:
I. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible.
2. In order to participate in an intramural contest, each player must present his/her current, valid FSUCard. Check-in takes place at designated sign-in locations at the facility, not at the fields or courtside.
3. Additional information regarding player eligibility, team rosters, and participant check-in is available in the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Intramural Sports web site and in the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym. Requests for exceptions to any policy must be directed to the IM administrative staff during regular weekday business hours in the Intramural Sports Office. No exceptions are granted at the fields or courts.
4. Participants must follow the rules and regulations of the host facility (Student Union) in addition to any Campus Recreation or Intramural Sports policies.
II. TEAM COMPOSITION
1. (5-on-5) Each team consists of five players, with a maximum roster size of eight players per match. Four players must be present for a match to begin.
(3-on-3) Each team consists of three players, with a maximum roster size of five players per match. Two players must be present for a match to begin.
2. In open league play, the team may be comprised of any combination of male and female players. 5-on-5 co-rec league play requires a minimum of two players of each gender to participate in the line-up throughout the match (and be present to start the match); the fifth player in the line-up may be of either gender. In Greek leagues, all team members must be associated with the participating fraternity or sorority team.
3. Substitute players may replace active bowlers between games only.
III. THE LINEUP
1. (3-on-3) When necessary, a coin toss will determine which team will set its line-up first in the first game. The opposing team will set its line-up first in the second game. An additional coin toss will be held to determine which team will set its line-up first in the third and final game.
2. To set a line-up, a team will determine which of its players will bowl for the game and also determine the order of the bowlers. Traditionally, the best bowler bowls first with the worst bowler filling the last position in the order.
3. When beginning a head-to-head game with one less than the standard number of players, the open position will be the last position in the order. The position may not be filled until the next game begins. When beginning a Baker-scored game with one less than the standard number of players, the open position will be the first position in the order.
IV. SCORING – 5-on-5 PLAY
1. Three rounds are bowled with rounds 1 and 3 consisting of a Baker-scored game. Round 2 consists of each team member bowling a complete game in a head-to-head match-up with the opposing team.
2. In the first and third game, the Baker scoring system will be utilized.
A. Each player in the lineup will complete one frame in successive order until 10 frames have been completed. For example, player A will bowl frames 1 and 6, player B bowls frames 2 and 7, etc. The player who begins the 10th frame of the game will execute all deliveries for that frame.
B. The scores of the opposing teams are then compared with the higher score being awarded 4 points.
C. Teams with less than a full lineup will receive a score of zero (0) for the open position in the rotation for the purposes of determining the team total score.
3. In the second game/round, head-to-head scoring will be utilized.
A. The team which wins the first Baker game must set its lineup first for the head-to-head game. In co-rec, there is no requirement to match-up genders during the head-to-head round.
B. Each player will bowl all 10 frames in this round. Head-to-head scores are compared with each player who wins the head-to-head matchup earning 1 point for his/her team. In the case of a tie, each tied player earns 1/2 point.
C. Additionally, the team with the most total pins in the game (sum of all 5 players) will earn an additional 3 points. If tied, each team will receive 1.5 points.
D. Teams with less than a full lineup will receive a score of 60 for the open position. The open position will automatically lose the point to the opposing team, regardless of the opposing team member’s score for the game.
4. A total of 16 points are possible, therefore 8.5 points are required for a victory in the match. If a team tallies 8.5 points in just two games, it is not required to bowl the third game.
5. In the event of a tie in total team points after three games, the total number of pins for the entire match will serve as the tiebreaker. In championship round play, a fourth Baker-scored game will be bowled to break the tie.
V. SCORING – 3-on-3 PLAY
1. Three players from each team will match-up head-to-head in each game.
2. Each player who wins a head-to-head matchup will receive one point. In the event of a tie, each tied player will receive 1/2 point.
3. When one less than the standard number of players bowl for one team, the open position will receive a score of 80 or the average of the other two bowlers, whichever is lower. The open position will automatically lose the head-to-head matchup, and the 1 team point, to the team with three players regardless of the pin total in that position.
4. The team with the most total pins for the game will receive 2 additional points. If tied, each team will receive 1 point.
5. Three games will be bowled with the point scores added from each game to obtain the final team point score. Less than three games may be bowled upon mutual agreement of team captains. If a team tallies 8 points in just two games, it is not required to bowl the third game.
6. In the event of a tie in total team points after three games, the total number of pins for the entire match will serve as the tiebreaker. In championship round play, a fourth, Baker-scored game will be bowled to break the tie.
VI. SPORTING BEHAVIOR
1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting positive sporting behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sporting behavior throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.
2. The Sporting Behavior Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams’ attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the intramural sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with his/her team about the system.
3. A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. Additionally, FSU Intramural Sports does not recognize the use of coaches. Only the team captain shall speak to the officials regarding administrative matters (protests, ejections, disqualifications, etc). Furthermore, the team captain’s efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct.
4. Good sporting behavior is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sporting behavior. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsporting conduct.
5. Each participant should choose his or her team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Sports staff against that team for violation of the intramural rules and sporting behavior guidelines. Protests or appeals of sporting behavior ratings will not be recognized. The Intramural Sports administrative staff reserves the right to review any rating given to a team.
6. Additional information regarding team and participant sporting behavior including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sporting Behavior Principle of the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.
