Manor Youth Bowling league embarks on its 16th consecutive season of providing unique bowling experiences for local youth in the San Leandro community.

“Nowadays, there aren’t a lot of activities for kids to get into, so the [Manor] Youth Bowling league is a great opportunity for kids,” said Darrin Sledge, a second-year coach in the league. “It keeps kids occupied, helps them build character, and brings the community together.”

The Manor Bowl Youth Program is an organized bowling league founded by Stacy Aldred in 1996, established on the basis of providing a safe and fun place for children of all ages to come and enjoy bowling.

Through their partnership with the Nor Cal Youth Bowling Association, the program has enhanced bowling opportunities for its participants over the years, offering competitive youth tournaments, complete scholarship programs and YBA award ceremonies.

Significantly, Nor Cal holds three to six tournaments each year inviting all-stars throughout Northern California to compete against one another. Winners of these tournaments are awarded scholarships towards their education.

The Nor Cal Bowling centers offer 12 scholarships to youth bowlers annually, which estimate a little under $50,000.
Despite the many opportunities this league provides for children, some organizers acknowledge that the program is still in the works of gaining awareness and competing with other sports in the community.

“The biggest thing I want to improve about my program is just getting the word out there,” said youth director Amanda Kerr, who inherited the program from Aldred in 2005. “Right now, we have a little over 40 kids in our league, but my goal is to have 30 lanes packed with kids.”

The Manor Youth Bowling program consists of four leagues: Snoopy N’ Friends (Age 4-7), Manor AllyGators (Ages 6-9), All-Stars league (Grades 1-5), and Elites league (Grades 6-12).

There are six teams per league; each team is modified at one or two players per team and each team faces off two to three times throughout the duration of a 10-week season.

Kids ranging from ages 4 to 9 bowl a total of two games per week, while the children between the ages of 9 to 18 bowl a total of three to four games per week. Games are held at Manor Bowl every Saturday morning.

“I think this is a good league because it keeps the kids infused in sports, and teaches them how to multi-task in life,” said Rick Abrams, whose sons, Charlie and Dylan, are in their first year with the program.

In addition to the variation of teams per league, there are standard rules that are enforced by game organizers and coaches, such as how a player should never cross the foul lane and no more than one player is allowed on a lane at a time.

“All the adults here are very helpful in guiding the kids,” added Abrams. “It’s not so much about the parents as it is about the kids.”

Aside from parents acknowledging their children’s progression, some players’ have attributed improvement in their game to the help of their peers.

“As a player, the league has improved my game. I definitely have a passion [for bowling] and everyone here has been helpful,” said Anthony Tice, one of the top performers in the Elites league. “The league has kept us out of trouble and is a place that makes you feel relaxed like you are at home.”