Bowling Blitz

With the continued spread of COVID-19, and the current Phase 2 restrictions with the State of Montana and Special Olympics North America, SOMT has decided to alter the winter bowling season. The 2021 Regional Bowling Championships originally scheduled for January and February of 2021 in Bigfork, Billings, Butte, and Havre will not be held. Instead, SOMT will be rolling out the following event.

The 2020-2021 Special Olympics Montana Bowling Blitz will have teams “Rockin’ and Bowlin’ into 2021.” Teams can return to practice and competition, while keeping athletes in their home communities, and in groups of 50 or less. This competitive event is open to all registered teams across Montana.

The Bowling Blitz will have athletes and unified partners practicing and competing from their home bowling alleys in singles, traditional doubles, and unified doubles. Athletes can register for up to 2 events. For athletes who remain “high risk” and are unable to return to practice, there will be a “Compete From Home” option that will include 3 different activities.

New with the 2020-2021 SOMT Bowling Blitz will be live stream events of team practice and competition sessions hosted on the SOMT Facebook page and YouTube channel. These live streams will showcase athletes from across Montana as they train and compete during the winter bowling season. Please watch the SOMT Facebook page and website for additional information on these live stream events. They will also be posted on this page. Take a peek and catch the action!

Live Stream Events and Bowling Blitz Videos

Announcement of Bowling Blitz

Outreach Bobcats Livestream 11-15-20

Missoula Bears 2/2 Livestream 11-17-20

Billings Adults Livestream 11-22-20

Adult Season Final Numbers and Results

Bozeman Yetis Livestream 1-22-21

Billings Schools Livestream 1-27-21

Registration-Final Scores Instructional

Missoula Bears 1/2 Livestream 11-17-20

Silver Bow DDC Livestream 11-18-20

Teton Tigers Bowling Interviews 12-5-20

Helena-area Schools Livestream 1-19-21

Great Falls Lions Bowling 1-24-21

Helena-area Schools Livestream 2-2-21

Games Information Packet and Registration Form

The Games Information Packet is intended to provide all the necessary information about the 2020-2021 Bowling Blitz.

The Registration and Final Scores Form is for registered LPCs to use to submit games-relevant information for their teams.

CLICK HERE for Registration and Final Scores Form Instructional Video

With the ever changing COVID-19 landscape in each county, SOMT recommends teams check with their city or county health departments on local restrictions or regulations regarding COVID-19. SOMT is advising teams to follow their local city or county COVID-19 guidelines if they are stricter than those outlined by SOMT. Example: The recommended practice sizes of 50 or less may need to be altered if a city/county requires small numbers for group gatherings. 

Visit the State of Montana Departments of Health and Human Services website to find contact information for your local health department offices. CLICK HERE to be taken to that website. 

Teams Participating in the Bowling Blitz

Adult Season

School Season

Competition

This competition is a great way for athletes to stay active, healthy, and engaged while practicing and competing either with their team or at home.

Competitors who attend in-person practice and competition have the option to choose to compete in singles, singles ramp, singles ramp assisted, traditional doubles, and unified doubles. Athletes can select up to two events (1 from singles, 1 from doubles), while unified partners are limited to unified doubles.

Athletes who choose to compete from home will have the opportunity to participate in 3 different activities. These activities include events called target toss, zone toss, and pushups or seated arm lifts.

Divisioning

Athletes will compete either at home or in a team practice and competition setting. Athletes who compete at home will be placed in a single participation division. Athletes who compete in a team practice and competition setting will be placed in a division to compete against other athletes from all over the state. How an athlete finishes in their division, based on their results from practice and competition, will determine what award that athlete receives. Athletes will be placed in a division based on the following criteria:

1. The athlete’s skill level (their two game combined score)
2. The athlete’s gender
3. The athlete’s age

Results

Adult Season

School Season

Important Dates

Adult Season

• October 26-                     Registration Distributed
• October 26-                     PPE Request Form Due
• November 30-                Paperwork and Preliminary Scores Due
• December 18-                 Final Scores Due
• Week of December 21- Results and Awards

School Season

• October 26-                  Registration Distributed
• December 21-              PPE Request Form Due
• December 28-              Registration Redistributed
• January 25-                   Paperwork and Preliminary Scores Due
• February 12-                 Final Scores Due
• Week of February 15- Results and Awards

Paperwork

All athletes who plan to compete will be required to have current paperwork, including an athlete medical, consent, and code-of-conduct. In addition, athletes and/or their guardians or caregivers will be required to review and sign the COVID-19 Code of Conduct and Participant Risk Assessment Form. This document only needs to be completed once.

All unified partners and volunteers (area directors, local program coordinators, coaches, volunteers, etc.) will be required to have current paperwork, including a volunteer application and protective behaviors. They will also be required to review and sign the COVID-19 Code of Conduct and Participant Risk Assessment Form if they are coaching or assisting at team practices. This document only needs to be completed once.

Submit all paperwork to Lisa Romig at- Email at lromig@somt.org or -Fax at 406-770-4456.

Practices and Personal Protective Equipment

As teams return to activity, SOMT has developed protocols, guidelines, and recommendations for operating practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) that will be needed, based on the Special Olympics International Return to Activity Plan. A few of the protocols for operating practices include:

1. All athletes and volunteers must be screened before entering practice. Screening includes a temperature check and answering specific survey questions. The Screening Form is available at this link– CLICK HERE!
2. Practices sizes of 50 people or less, unless city or county COVID-19 guidelines call for group sizes of a small number to gather.
3. All sports equipment and shared surfaces must be disinfected between uses.
4. No outside spectators will be permitted. This includes families, caregivers, etc.
5. All team participants and volunteers MUST wear a facemask at all times while inside the bowling alley.

To assist teams in returning to practice, SOMT will provide a portion of the personal protective equipment to each team, including:

1. Thermometers for screening all participants who attend practice.

Adult teams must submit their PPE request to the state office by October 26th, 2020. School teams by December 21st, 2020. The PPE Request Form can be found by clicking the button following this paragraph.

A complete list of details regarding the operation of practices and required PPE can be found in the 2020-2021 Bowling Blitz Games Information Packet. 

Screening Before Practice

Disinfecting Equipment

Remember to Stay Safe

Regular physical activity is vital for good physical, social and emotional health. While there is a risk of injury with any type of physical activity, the benefits of staying active far outweigh the risks.

You can reduce your risk of exercise injury by:

– Wearing the right shoes
– Using the correct equipment
– Drinking water and staying hydrated
– Warming up and stretching properly
– Being aware of your surroundings—always exercise and compete in a safe and level area clear of any obstacles or items
– Maintaining social distancing rules (stay at least six feet away from others)

Stop exercising and seek medical help if you experience symptoms such as:
– Discomfort or pain
– Chest pain or other pain that could indicate a heart attack, including pain in the neck and jaw, pain traveling down the arm or pain between the shoulder blades
– Shortness of breath
– A rapid or irregular heartbeat

Submit Your Photos & Videos

Teams are encouraged to submit photos and videos of athletes while at practice completing their activities.  Photos and videos may be submitted via Facebook Messenger, with the final scores, or emailed to info@somt.org.

FAQs