On Monday, hundreds of certified coaches, pro shop operators and
bowling industry leaders congregated at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to take part in the opening day of the 2009 USBC Coaches Summit, which helps kick off International Bowl Expo 2009. Monday's schedule of presentations spanned more than 10 hours, covering
topics such as the mental game, training coaches to match bowling balls
to the needs of individual bowlers, status updates on the construction
of the International Training and Research Center, and much more.
Rod Ross (l.) has been named Team USA head coach effective January 2010 by United States Bowling Congress High-Performance Director David Garber. Ross will take over for Jeri Edwards (r.), who will continue to coach the team through the end of the year. Ross will officially take over as head coach a few weeks before the
grand opening of the International Training and Research Center on Jan.
25, 2010.
Coaches wishing to earn their USBC Silver certification should register for one of the few remaining spots at the upcoming USBC Silver clinic hosted by Steve Ininns (l.), which will take place at AMF Leeds Bowl Sept. 4-6, 2009. Ininns, a Silver International Coach and USBC Bronze-level Instructor, will serve as clinic host and be joined by Rod Ross (r.) – lead presenter and Head Coach of the International Training and Research Center, Del Ballard Jr. and Bill Hoffman.
One of the premier bowling coaches in the world is moving his home base to Texas. In August, former PBA ball driller, tour rep and more recently international coach Bill Hall will move his coaching and consulting operation into Jamie Brooks' Bandera Super Bowl in San Antonio. Hall's Bowling Schools will include lessons for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. A regularly scheduled 3-4 day clinic that will be operated on a monthly or bi-monthly basis will be announced in the near future.
USBC Gold level coach Frank Buffa and his son and silver level coach, Canadian national team member Mark Buffa have been pretty busy this summer. From Bowl Expo in Las Vegas (pictured) to Europe, where Mark played in the Storm San Marino Open and then a team tournament in Milan, and then back to Montreal, Canada, where the duo hosted a group from Spain in the Buffa training center.
Six-time World Champion Paeng Nepomuceno added to his reputation as USBC's busiest coach, as he conducted coaching seminars in three countries - Singapore, Philippines and Hong Kong - during the first half of the year 2009. Paeng started with a Level One and Bronze Level seminar at Chevrons Bowling Center in Singapore from March 27-29. He then held a Silver Conference in the Philippines from June 15-17 and the third seminar was a Level One and Bronze Level seminar held at Mei Foo Bowling World in Hong Kong (pictured left) last July 13-15.
The list of USBC Bronze coaches grew by 17 names thanks to a conference produced by USBC Gold coach and Coaching Instructor Costas Mitsingas in Lotz, Poland, May 27-29. At the end of those three days, all 17 conference participants were able to display adequate content mastery through written and practical examinations to warrant being awarded USBC Bronze certification.
The 2009 USBC Coaches Summit concluded Tuesday afternoon at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino Convention Center, ending a two-day session of presentations and dialogue between some of bowling's top minds in coaching, research and elite-athlete training. "I brag about my staff all the time because I think it truly is made up
of some of the best minds the sport of bowling has to offer," USBC High
Performance Director David Garber said.
The U.S. Olympic Committee has given the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America permission to display the Olympic rings on the outside of the International Training and Research Center, which is currently under construction at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. Upon completion, which is forecast for fall 2009, the International
Training and Research Center will include 14 lanes for training and six
for research and testing of bowling equipment.
Gary Sparks, the longtime bowling coach and assistant professor of bowling industry management at Vincennes (Ind.) University, is joining the United States Bowling Congress staff. Sparks will be a program developer in the coaching and youth development areas beginning in mid-June. He will work jointly under USBC Team USA High Performance Director David Garber and Youth Development Director Brian Graham. The 53-year-old Sparks has been an assistant professor of bowling
industry management and director of bowling at Vincennes for 20 years.
He previously owned a custom trophy business and spent five years in
center management for Brunswick.
Internationally acclaimed author and world-class bowling instructor Tom Kouros has been selected as the 2009 inductee into the Bowling Coaches Hall of Fame, recognizing superior coaching contributions to the sport. The formal induction will take place Wednesday morning, June 22, 2009 during International Bowl Expo's General Session at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Kouros has reached more in print than anyone through his very successful Par Bowling books, but has also traveled worldwide teaching the sport.
As a part of its education and certification programs, the presidium of
the European Tenpin Bowling Federation has developed a program to give
accreditation to Bowling Training Centers who are helping to develop
the sport of Tenpin Bowling and provide high standards of bowling
education. Kuortane Bowling Training and Education Center in Finland became the
first "ETBF Approved Bowling Training Center" and the certificate was
presented during the European Youth Championships 2009 in Malmo to Piritta Kantola (right), who is the director of the Training Center. 
Over the last handful of years, players like Jason Belmonte, Osku Palermaa, and Cassidy Schaub have opened the eyes of many with the incredible combination of speed and revolutions they impart on a bowling ball. Their use of a two handed armswing allows for maximum power at release
and consequently has both children and adults alike experimenting with
the two handed game. All of this added attention has given both supporters and naysayers a
reason to voice their opinion on this unique style of bowling. However,
both sides would agree that with the increasing number of two handed
bowlers, coaches and ball drillers must be equipped with enough
knowledge to assist this type of player if their services are ever
called upon.
The United States Bowling Congress Coaching department recently elevated internationally-respected coach Frank Buffa to USBC Gold status, making him the 34th coach to earn the distinction. Buffa lives and works in Montreal, where he operates Buffa's Bowling Supply Inc. pro shops, the buffabowling.com online store and the Studio Buffa Training Center. Fluent in several languages and familiar with many cultures, Buffa has been a fixture on the international coaching scene for years. He is the current head coach of Qatar's national team, a position he has held since 2005. Previously, Gold status as being the highlight of his career
Debbie Haggerty, who has been involved in the sport of bowling as a coach for the last 18 years and as a youth director for the last 15 years, has been selected to receive the 2009 United States Bowling Congress David Dahms Coach of the Year Award by the USBC Youth Committee. This prestigious award recognizes a USBC Youth coach who has been actively involved in a USBC Youth program and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to coaching, sportsmanship and knowledge of USBC Youth rules for the last seven or more years.
Michael Nyitray of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a USBC Gold coach who has developed a program to provide long-term coaching to youth bowlers, has been selected by the USBC Youth Committee to receive the 2009 USBC Kerm Helmer Horizon Award. Named in honor of the team founder and longtime bowling coach at Erie Community College, the award recognizes leaders in the bowling community who have displayed the courage, determination and ability to develop far-reaching programs of national scope that provide fun and exciting opportunities for bowlers. Nyitray, 46, will be presented the award at the USBC Convention in Reno this spring. 