Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA)

Overview

The Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) was a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting bowling among young people in the United States. Formed in 1982 through the merger of the American Junior Bowling Congress and the Youth Bowling Association, YABA served as the premier youth organization for ten-pin bowling for nearly two decades before its functions were absorbed into the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

History

YABA's roots trace back to the 1930s when organized youth bowling began to take shape in Chicago under Milt Raymer's initiative. This local effort grew into a national program supported by the National Bowling Council and later evolved into the American Junior Bowling Congress (AJBC). The Youth Bowling Association (YBA) was formed in the early 1960s, also focusing on youth development in bowling. The merger of AJBC and YBA in 1982 created YABA, further expanding efforts to promote youth bowling across the U.S.

Mission and Activities

YABA's mission was to provide opportunities for young people to learn and participate in bowling, emphasizing sportsmanship, competition, and physical fitness. It established playing rules, supervised tournaments, and offered leadership and education programs to its members. During its active years, YABA had nearly 400,000 members and played a crucial role in developing young bowlers.

Legacy

In 2005, YABA merged with the American Bowling Congress (ABC), Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC), and USA Bowling to form the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). The USBC now oversees all aspects of bowling in the U.S., including youth programs that originated from YABA.

Impact

YABA's contributions to the development of youth bowling in the U.S. have been significant. Its programs and tournaments encouraged thousands of young bowlers to develop their skills and fostered a competitive yet supportive environment within the sport. Today, the legacy of YABA continues through the USBC's youth programs, which continue to promote bowling as a recreational and competitive sport for young people.

Dissolution and Current Status

Following the merger with USBC in 2005, YABA ceased to operate as an independent organization. Its functions are now fully integrated into the USBC's youth programs. However, YABA's legacy remains an essential part of the history of youth bowling in the United States.