How to Run a Bowling League With an Odd Number

Bowling leagues are a fun way to plays sports with friends, family and co-workers while improving bowling skills. In an ideal bowling league, an even number of teams exist. However, a bowling league with an odd number of teams can still be run effectively with the use of a ghost, or blind, team. With some basic math, the odd team out can play a game of bowling with the ghost team.

Things You'll Need

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Instructions

    • 1

      Rotate the teams to play the ghost team. Each team within the league should play the ghost team once before starting over again.

    • 2

      Find the average score of each player up against the ghost team. Take the score from each game played and divide that number by the total number of games played. For example, if a team member has played three games so far, with scores of 150, 140 and 130, the total would be 420. This number would be divided by the total number of games -- three -- to find the average score, 140.

    • 3

      Total the averages of the players. For example, if four people are on a team, each teammate's average score is added together. The total will be the number to beat when playing a game.

    • 4

      Use the ghost's team score and the score of the team playing the ghost team to determine who has the higher score. Count the team's win or loss against the ghost team as if they were playing against a regular team.