How does handicap work in a youth league?

Question

Accepted Answer

Handicap adds pins to a bowler's score so bowlers of different skill can compete fairly. It's used only in handicap leagues; in a scratch league, actual scores decide the result.

USBC defaults, unless the league adopts its own rule:

Percentage: 100%, applied to the difference between the bowler's average and a base figure the league sets. USBC recommends a base higher than any bowler's average in the league.
Not limited and not capped.
First session: handicap is figured once your child has established a current average that day. After that, it's based on the current average each week.
Fractions are dropped when figuring averages and handicap.

Example: base figure 200, 100% handicap, average 112. Handicap = 200 − 112 = 88 pins per game.

When it adopts its rules, the league decides whether to handicap individuals or teams. USBC recommends the individual method.