Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour

Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour

ACST Rules 2025-2026

Updated September 3, 2025

Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour Rules

Clean reference copy for league structure, match play, scheduling, scoring, playoffs, streaming, and end-of-season policies.

Welcome Message

Thank you for your interest in the Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour. This is a travel league that has grown substantially over the last few years from being a 32 person pro league to well over 100 bowlers in multiple conferences. For any questions, please message anyone on the 2025-26 Committee: Daniel Finn, Rich Limone, Cory Aleci, Anthony Caron, Nate Lees, Maurice Perry, and Sean Sears.

League Structure

  • The league is structured at three levels: Class, Conference, and Division.
  • Class: there are 6 Classes: A, B, C, D, E.
  • Conference: each Class will be divided into 3 Conferences: North, South, and West.
  • Division: each Conference will have 4 Divisions by random draw. This random draw helps competitiveness and mixes divisions each year.
  • Each bowler has 6 intra-division matches: 3 home and 3 away versus other bowlers in their division.
  • Each bowler has 12 matches against the remaining bowlers in their conference: 6 home and 6 away.
  • The only non-conference match is when a bowler makes it to the finals.

Match Play

  • Matches are composed of 5 strings.
  • The home bowler will decide who will bowl first and on which lane they start.
  • Since some houses may not offer more than one lane for a match, there is no rule governing which side the first bowler will start on in the case of a match that utilizes two lanes. This will be decided amongst the bowlers just prior to their match.
  • During a match, the first bowler will bowl 5 boxes, then sit while their opponent bowls 5 boxes.
  • All ICBA Rules are in effect except for a bowler crossing the foul line on a practice slide. If a bowler crosses the foul line during a practice slide, no foul will be enforced.
  • If a bowler is habitually fouling, the league committee reserves the right to issue warnings, fines, or potential removal from the league with no refunds.
  • Dress Code: Bowlers must exhibit proper attire. Slacks, jeans or khaki/jean shorts are allowed. No gym shorts, no T-shirts, and no sleeveless shirts. A collared shirt or bowling shirt is required, preferably an ACST polo. Hats and sunglasses are not allowed.
  • Violation of dress code will result in a 3-strike rule. The 1st and 2nd strike will be a warning. The 3rd strike will result in a $10 fine deducted from the bowler's winnings at the end of the season.
  • Head-to-Head: If more than one match takes place on the same set of lanes at the same time, bowlers may bowl against each other head-to-head. All bowlers must agree to this format; it is not a majority rule. If any bowler does not agree, default to the original rule.

Match Scoring

  • All scores are based on scratch pinfall. No handicap scoring is used.
  • Scoring is based on a 14-point system.
  • Two points are awarded for winning a string.
  • Four points are awarded for winning total pinfall.
  • Tying a string results in one point for each bowler.
  • Tying total pinfall results in two points for each bowler.
  • Example: If you win the first, second, and third strings, lose the fourth and fifth, and win total, you receive 10 points of 14.

Submitting The Scores

  • It is the responsibility of the home bowler to submit the scores of the match to the league president no later than 24 hours after the match.
  • Scores are submitted using the Google Forms linked below in the Match Reporting Links section.
  • While it is not required, it is customary for the home bowler to post a copy of the scoresheet on the Bowlers Only Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour Facebook group.
  • Posting and sharing scoresheets helps the league preserve match detail for statistics, historical archive, and deeper reporting.

Late Arrival

  • Every bowler will get a 25-minute grace period past the expected start time of the match. For example, if the match is scheduled at 7:00pm, the bowlers have until 7:25 to arrive.
  • Once the bowler is past the 25-minute grace period, the tardy bowler will incur a $50 fine to cover the cost of bowling of the already present bowler.
  • In addition to this fine, the bowler who arrives late will only be eligible for half points in that match. For example, if the late bowler shows up past the grace period and wins 10 points, they will only receive 5 points in the Standings. In this situation, the late bowler would be 5-9, whereas the opposing bowler would still be 4-10.
  • If the already present bowler cannot wait for the late bowler to show up, the already present bowler is within their right to leave the match and reschedule at a convenient time for them. If this happens, the same penalties are in effect: $50 fine and half points awarded.
  • Exception: If you know you are going to be late, please be in contact with your opponent and the committee when safe to do so. If it is deemed unavoidable by committee, a one-time warning may be issued. A warning is issued regardless of whether the match is bowled or if the opponent files a grievance.

Match Scheduling

  • The first 15 matches of the schedule can be bowled in any order.
  • The expectation is that bowlers will bowl each match at a rate of once every 2 weeks or faster.
  • While the ideal model would be to go in order, bowlers may bowl their first 15 matches in any order to help keep matches moving.
  • The league will keep tabs to ensure matches are moving forward in a timely fashion and will notify bowlers if they are falling behind the 1 match per 2-week pace.
  • The final 3 matches may only be bowled if either both bowlers have finished their first 15 matches, or the league has reached the date for Week 16 to start. The final 3 matches may be bowled in any order.
  • While ideally the home bowler should reach out to the away bowler to schedule matches, both bowlers are responsible for scheduling and either can reach out to the other.
  • The home bowler must make the necessary arrangements with the bowling alley to ensure availability of lanes on the agreed date and time.
  • When a date and time is agreed, the home bowler must post this information on the Bowlers Only Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour Facebook group. This ensures the information is recorded by the League President to the official ACST league schedule.
  • If a bowler falls more than 3 matches behind, they are subject to forfeiting matches. For example, if a bowler has not yet bowled week 4, 5, 6, or 7 or any future matches, once the league reaches week 8, the bowler will be subject to forfeit their week 4 match. The committee will review each situation case by case to determine whether it was avoidable. Bowlers will be given credit for matches bowled ahead against their matches behind.

Match Cost / Payment

Cost And Payment

  • Total cost per match is $100: $50 for each bowler.
  • $45 will go to the bowling center upon completion of the match.
  • The remaining $55 will be paid in dues to the bowler's respective Class Treasurer.
  • The Home Bowler is responsible for paying the bowling center and the Class Treasurer.
  • Payment to the Class Treasurer must be paid within 7 days of the match.
  • Payment can be cash, check, or electronic payment such as Venmo, Paypal, or CashApp. Timely payment is required, therefore electronic payment is preferred.
  • If the Away Bowler shows up to a match without the ability to pay, the Away Bowler is subject to forfeiting the match.
  • Bowlers are not allowed to bowl a match if they are in arrears.
  • If multiple home matches are to be bowled on the same day, please prepay your treasurer ahead of time to avoid this violation.
  • Prepayment is encouraged to avoid suspension or halt in games. Please work with your treasurer for better tracking purposes.
  • Treasurers have the right to suspend bowlers due to lack of payment.
  • All payouts should be issued within two weeks of the bowler's final appearance in the season/playoffs.

Class Treasurers

  • Class A: Rich Limone
  • Class B: Cory Aleci
  • Class C: Anthony Caron
  • Class D: Nate Lees
  • Class E: Maurice Perry
  • Class F: Ryan Preus

Home Bowling Alley

  • Each bowler is responsible for finding a home house.
  • You cannot change houses mid-season without the approval of the ACST Committee.
  • Any Candlepin center that is within an hour and a half radius of TD Garden with no traffic is eligible to be selected as a bowler's home house.
  • It is up to the home bowler to negotiate with the proprietor a price per string of $4.50.
  • If the price per string is non-negotiable, but the bowler still wants their home house at that center, the home bowler must make up the difference in lineage. No exceptions are made.
  • Example: If Malden Bowladrome is strict with a price per string of $5.00, but a bowler still wants to bowl there, the cost of bowling is $50 instead of $45. The home bowler must pay the extra $5 every home match to make up for lineage.

Playoffs & Seeding

North / South Format

  • 8 bowlers per conference qualify.
  • Seeds 1-4 are division winners, seeded by record.
  • Seeds 5-8 are the top 4 non-division winners, seeded by record.
  • Quarterfinals are 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, and 5 at 4.
  • Later rounds reseed with the lower seed bowling at the higher seed.

Tiebreakers

  • Division-title ties require a 5-string playoff match.
  • Division-winner seeding ties use non-divisional record, then away record, then total pinfall.
  • Wild Card seeding ties use non-divisional record, then away record, then total pinfall.
  • Ties to make the playoffs require a 5-string match, with home bowler determined by best home record.

Match Reporting Links

Finals

  • The final match will be held at a date, time, and venue to be determined by the league officers.
  • The expectation is that the finals will be done at a neutral house, preferably with all championship matches done the same day where none of the finalists use the venue as a home alley.
  • If that cannot be done, the league will adjust accordingly.
  • The date, house, time, and streamer will be discussed and decided by a combination of bowler preference and committee.

Other Rules

Sportsmanship

  • The Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour is treated as a professional Candlepin tour; bowlers must exhibit proper sportsmanship.
  • This includes respect toward opponents, spectators, proprietary equipment, and surrounding patrons of the bowling center.
  • The league strictly prohibits outbursts while on the lanes, slamming or damaging ball racks, scoring tables, and any other equipment.
  • If a bowler exhibits inappropriate behavior, the opponent is responsible for issuing a warning immediately and reporting it to committee members.
  • A log will be maintained and will determine fines issued to bowlers.
  • First warning: no fine, but it is logged by the ACST.
  • Second warning: $25 fine.
  • Third warning: $30 fine.
  • Fourth and subsequent warnings: $35 fine, with graduating fines in $5 increments continuing after that.
  • The ACST Committee reserves the right to remove any bowler from the league for conduct unbecoming, with no earnings or refunds issued.

Quitting

  • Bowlers must understand the financial and competitive commitment of bowling in the ACST.
  • Any bowler who voluntarily quits the league will still bear responsibility for dues owed for matches bowled.
  • Bowlers who quit are not eligible for prize fund because they did not finish the league.
  • Bowlers who quit will not be allowed back for a minimum of 1-3 years.
  • If a bowler quits, the league will work to replace them with a near equal average if one can be found.
  • If recouping money is not possible from the quitting bowler, the replacing bowler may be asked to pay back dues to avoid loss of money.
  • The replacement bowler is eligible for the full prize fund earned.
  • Exceptions may be granted for injuries with a doctor's note or other extenuating circumstances, but special consideration does not guarantee a spot the following year.

Refusal To Bowl

  • If a bowler refuses to bowl a match nearing the end of the season, that bowler is subject to forfeiting any money earned and suspension from future seasons for a minimum of 1-3 years.
  • Bowlers are expected to bowl all 18 matches regardless of standings.
  • If a bowler refuses to bowl, the opponent must bowl against the refusing bowler's full average.
  • The present bowler earns 2 points per string win and 4 points for total, while the forfeiting bowler earns 0 points regardless of outcome.
  • The total pinfall is based on the forfeiting bowler's full average times 5, minus 25 pins.

Streaming

  • Streaming has become a big part of this league, but bowlers still have final say on matches streamed and who they agree to have stream the match.
  • If a streamer is willing to stream and call a match, all bowlers must agree to being streamed and who is streaming the match.
  • This is the responsibility of both the streamer and the bowlers.
  • It is highly recommended that a group chat is created so there are no surprises.
  • Matches are expected to be streamed directly to the ACST Facebook page and later uploaded to the ACST YouTube page.
  • Matches may also be restreamed or reuploaded to other pages, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and TikTok.
  • If a match is streamed on Twitch or TikTok, it is expected to also be complementary to the ACST Facebook page, the primary source for league matches.

End Of Season

  • Following the season, there will be discussion on which league/class bowlers will bowl in.
  • Bowlers will be based on their averages and houses.
  • ACST average from the prior year will take priority over any other league.
  • New bowlers to the league must use their highest league average to help determine which league they will be placed in.
  • The goal is to keep fair, balanced, and competitive leagues throughout ACST. Bowler preference may help weight the decision, but average is heavily used to decide allocation.