Bowlers with Disabilities to Compete in Adaptive Tournament in Castle Point
Over 50 individuals with disabilities from New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine will be competing in United Spinal Association’s 6th Annual Bowling Tournament on Thursday, March 2nd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tournament will be hosted by Hoe Bowl Lanes, Route 9, Wappingers Falls, NY, and is open to all members of the Association. Approximately 35 bowlers with disabilities will compete in Castle Point, with other groups competing at satellite locations in Philadelphia, PA; Lebanon, PA; Buffalo, NY; Wilkes Barre, PA; and Togus, Maine. Satellite locations will fax in their scores to Hoe Bowl Lanes.
“Throughout the year, United Spinal sponsors several bowling programs for its members,” stated Albert Guarneri, United Spinal recreation aide, Sports and Recreation. “This tournament allows these individuals to test their skills against their peers while enjoying a strong sense of camaraderie.”
The tournament will have five divisions: ramp, handle ball, push stick, manual quadriplegic, manual novice, and manual open.
Wheelchair bowling, like traditional bowling, can be played competitively or recreationally. The sport has several adaptive devices that allow persons with various levels of disabilities to participate. A “snap handle ball” is geared toward individuals with limited hand control. A spring-loaded handle is installed in the ball with the handle retracting into the ball once the bowler releases it. Another adaptive feature is the bowling stick, which is similar to a shuffleboard stick. It requires a volunteer to place the ball on the floor near the foul line. The bowler then uses the stick to propel the ball down the lane. For bowlers with a severe disability that prevents them from being able to hold and propel a ball, a ramp-like device can be used. After positioning the ramp, the bowler or their assistant places a ball at the top, and the player pushes it. The ramp is a very efficient device and often enables individuals to bowl games of 200 or better.
United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease by assuring quality health care, promoting research, advocating for civil rights and independence, educating the public about these issues and enlisting its help to achieve these fundamental goals. The Association sponsors a wide variety of wheelchair recreational and adaptive sports programs, guided by the belief that the benefits from participating in sports are not any different for athletes with disabilities than for able-bodied athletes. For more information call our toll free number, 800-404-2898.