Young American Bowling Alliance

The Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) was a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting tenpin bowling among American youth. It was formed in 1982 through the merger of the American Junior Bowling Congress (AJBC) and the Youth Bowling Association (YBA)[1][3].

History

YABA's roots extend back to the mid-20th century. The AJBC, co-sponsored by the American Bowling Congress (ABC) and Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC), was established after organized youth bowling programs began to flourish in the 1930s[1]. The YBA, created by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) in the early 1960s, aimed to further develop youth bowling opportunities[1].

Objectives

YABA focused on fostering healthy competition, physical fitness, sportsmanship, and good citizenship among its participants. It provided structured programs for young bowlers, emphasizing skill development and amateur status maintenance. The organization managed national junior championships and offered recognition for significant bowling achievements, such as achieving high game series scores[3].

Membership and Structure

At its peak, YABA served nearly 400,000 members under the age of 22[2]. It was structured with a national board of directors, which managed its policies, rules, and operations[2]. YABA played a significant role in the governance of bowling until it became part of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) in 2005[1][2].

Legacy

YABA's contributions to bowling included providing a unified organization for youth and fostering skills that could translate to competitive bowling careers. Though it ceased to exist as an independent entity following the merger with the USBC, its legacy lives on through the continued support of youth bowling programs by the USBC[1][2].