The purpose of this database is to consolidate the averages of all bowlers in all areas into one central location. With the introduction of tablets and smart phones a database of this kind can be made accessible to anyone at any time. We think it will be helpful in areas where tournaments are held and bowlers from other areas participate in the event. This database would then be used for verification of their averages if necessary.
Over the years tournament directors/leagues secretaries have had the need to research averages of bowlers while forming leagues or verifying the results of tournaments. Up until local associations began to consolidate the information and produce annual average books there was no central location where averages could be found other then the National Duckpin Bowling Congress hard copy files. It sometimes took days to research the answer to questions about averages.
Approximately 5 years ago the Baltimore Duckpin Bowlers Association introduced an online database for the bowlers in their area. They still produce an annual average book and distribute them to the leagues and houses in the area but not everyone had access to those books. The introduction of the online database became a popular way to find a bowlers average for everyone.
On average the Baltimore website took a dozen or more hits each week by bowlers seeking the averages of other bowlers. Now that Stan Kellum is Executive Director of the NDBC he has brought this idea to the NDBC. Then NDBC is making the averages for all bowlers available to everyone in all areas.
It is the intention of the NDBC to update the database as quickly as it can with the help of each local association. The associations will still consolidate the information to produce an average book but will be required to forward the data in digital form to the NDBC where it will be added to the database. We anticipate keeping averages for the previous 5 years online. Initially there may not be five years of data from each area but after five years the database will. Each year the oldest year will be rolled out and the new year added.