Bowling Combine set for Aug. 7-11
March 13, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas - After selling out in its inaugural year, the Bowling Combine for College Prospects will return in August with expanded capacity to help bring youth bowlers together with college coaches.
The Bowling Combine, which will be held Aug. 7-11 at the International Training and Research Center, will allow young bowlers to be evaluated using today's most objective standards and give college coaches a chance to analyze the potential fit of the student-athletes for their programs.
"We had such an overwhelming response to this event last year that we are opening it up to even more bowlers who want to participate," said Bryan O'Keefe, assistant coach for Team USA and the program director for The Bowling Combine. "Last year, we had 72 bowlers take advantage of the opportunity to have their skills evaluated, and this year, we have increased the number of spots to meet demand."
The Bowling Combine is open to bowlers who have collegiate eligibility remaining and have completed at least their sophomore year in high school. Space is limited and those interested are encouraged to sign up early.
At last year's combine, nearly 20 college coaches attended and several bowlers signed with college programs as a result of their participation in the event.
Mike LoPresti, who has led Fairleigh Dickinson University to two national titles, attended last year's Bowling Combine and said the ability to evaluate so many bowlers in a short period of time made it worth the trip.
"Any opportunity we have to rank and watch prospects is a place we need to go," LoPresti said. "This brings a lot of interested candidates to one place. This is a great opportunity for any coach, to have somebody evaluate players for them. Then all we have to do is put the pieces together."
Athletes will be tested on specific skills and provided an overall score using the Performance Evaluation Test (P.E.T. score). These scores are an objective measurement of the bowler's abilities and can be used to compare the bowlers against each other.
The Team USA coaching staff will direct and evaluate the bowlers during the Combine at the ITRC, the official training center of Team USA. The ITRC has state-of-the-art technology including Bowler Vision Eye Tracking, DigiTrax(tm) ball motion technology, video analysis and more.
Some of the bowler's skills that will be evaluated include Shot Repeatability Analysis, Release Ratio, Spare Proficiency, Breakpoint Management, Vertical Leap, and Balance Test. The tests at the Combine are used to evaluate a bowler's skills and abilities; this is not a coaching clinic.
Bowlers will receive a Recruiting Kit at the conclusion of the Combine. The kit will have video shots and bowler variables measured, and a detailed report of personal data collected during the Combine including their overall P.E.T. score. Coaches will receive an evaluation of each bowler and will have the opportunity for one-on-one contact with prospective student-athletes.
Athletes and college coaches interested in the Bowling Combine can visit BOWL.com/combine or bowlingitrc.com for more information and to register.
The Bowling Combine, which will be held Aug. 7-11 at the International Training and Research Center, will allow young bowlers to be evaluated using today's most objective standards and give college coaches a chance to analyze the potential fit of the student-athletes for their programs.
"We had such an overwhelming response to this event last year that we are opening it up to even more bowlers who want to participate," said Bryan O'Keefe, assistant coach for Team USA and the program director for The Bowling Combine. "Last year, we had 72 bowlers take advantage of the opportunity to have their skills evaluated, and this year, we have increased the number of spots to meet demand."The Bowling Combine is open to bowlers who have collegiate eligibility remaining and have completed at least their sophomore year in high school. Space is limited and those interested are encouraged to sign up early.
At last year's combine, nearly 20 college coaches attended and several bowlers signed with college programs as a result of their participation in the event.
Mike LoPresti, who has led Fairleigh Dickinson University to two national titles, attended last year's Bowling Combine and said the ability to evaluate so many bowlers in a short period of time made it worth the trip.
"Any opportunity we have to rank and watch prospects is a place we need to go," LoPresti said. "This brings a lot of interested candidates to one place. This is a great opportunity for any coach, to have somebody evaluate players for them. Then all we have to do is put the pieces together."Athletes will be tested on specific skills and provided an overall score using the Performance Evaluation Test (P.E.T. score). These scores are an objective measurement of the bowler's abilities and can be used to compare the bowlers against each other.
The Team USA coaching staff will direct and evaluate the bowlers during the Combine at the ITRC, the official training center of Team USA. The ITRC has state-of-the-art technology including Bowler Vision Eye Tracking, DigiTrax(tm) ball motion technology, video analysis and more.
Some of the bowler's skills that will be evaluated include Shot Repeatability Analysis, Release Ratio, Spare Proficiency, Breakpoint Management, Vertical Leap, and Balance Test. The tests at the Combine are used to evaluate a bowler's skills and abilities; this is not a coaching clinic.
Bowlers will receive a Recruiting Kit at the conclusion of the Combine. The kit will have video shots and bowler variables measured, and a detailed report of personal data collected during the Combine including their overall P.E.T. score. Coaches will receive an evaluation of each bowler and will have the opportunity for one-on-one contact with prospective student-athletes.
Athletes and college coaches interested in the Bowling Combine can visit BOWL.com/combine or bowlingitrc.com for more information and to register.