Four Reasons Why Bowling is the World’s #1 Participatory Sport

A Beautifully Simple Game

From the beginning of our recorded history, people have always enjoyed some form of bowling. The first proto-bowling games are traced all the way to the ancient Egyptians, then on through the Roman Empire and later eras. Why have so many different cultures felt the need to roll an object at a group of different objects? Part of the appeal is the elegant simplicity of the game. Rolling a ball is a natural, fundamental motion. Bowling is easily grasped, and the game translates effortlessly between cultures.

Low Barriers to Entry

Sports such as golf, hockey, and softball are certainly fun to play, but each comes with significant barriers to entry. Greens fees and equipment costs make golf too expensive for many. Hockey requires expensive equipment, plus an ice rink and available ice time. Softball requires a large enough group of people to field a team. Bowling is inexpensive, widely available, and fun to play no matter the group size.

Everyone Can Play

Bowling is also all-inclusive, so no one feels left out. Whereas most sports require participants to be in good physical shape and play with people around the same age, bowling allows a mixed group of all sizes, ages, and skill levels. And a mixed group of players might provide some surprises — bowling is all about technique and skill, so the best bowler could be anyone.

Social Appeal

We live in the era of social networking. But years before the advent of Facebook or Twitter (or for that matter the personal computer), the neighborhood bowling center was the social hub of choice. In many ways, it still is. Whether it’s league play, a child’s party, or a night out among friends, bowling centers have a social element other sports can’t match. This makes bowling more than a sport. For some players, bowling is part of the social glue that bonds people together.

Why not become one of the hundred million people worldwide who make bowling a part of their lives?

Did You Know?

• Nearly 200 high schools in Wisconsin have students participating on a high school team.

• Over the last decade an average of 2,600 boys’ and 2,600 girls’ teams have participated in varsity high school bowling in the United States.

• Bowling offers many great benefits for student-athletes, including being a great form of exercise.

• In 2022-23, an estimated 65,000 students bowled nationally in high school varsity competition.

• Bowling is one of the fastest growing high school sports over the last decade, showing growth in eight of the last 10 seasons.

• More than 200 colleges offer bowling and nearly half offer scholarships.

• The bowling industry provides more than $6 million in scholarships each year.

Bowling also gives students an opportunity to become involved with their high schools, teaches fundamentals for a lifetime sport and helps athletes earn scholarships and bowl in college.

Our local association gives back to our youth bowlers each and every year!

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