Wyatt Biddle - Essay - Taylor County
Item
Title
Wyatt Biddle - Essay - Taylor County
Description
Bowling is Right Up My Alley
Abstract
Bowling is a sport known around the world. People of all ages can play and enjoy this amazing sport. Recently, I joined a youth bowling league near my hometown. It was so much fun to learn how to bowl and make new friends. Combine that with the calm atmosphere and I would say bowling is my favorite sport. Bowling is an activity that everyone can enjoy but do you know where it began?
The first evidence of a game like bowling was found to be from 3,200 B.C. In an Egyptian child’s grave were things used to play a cruder form of bowling that is closer to Skittles. Skittles is a smaller form of bowling than what most people are used to, and it has some extra rules. Also, more evidence for bowling being an ancient sport comes from Rome and ancient Polynesian culture. There was a small indoor bowling alley south of Egypt's capital dating from the Romen era but seems to have not become popular until much later.
In Germany around the 3rd century a church made their own form of bowling. Most Germans of that time carried wooden clubs called a Kegel used to protect themselves. They put the Kegels at the end of a runway, and they would take turns rolling stones with their hands at the Kegels. “The Kegel was said to represent sin.” The person who could knock down the most would be free of their sins. Those who missed were forced to do a penance. In Germany nine-pin bowling is still called Kegeln.
Bowling used to not be very popular among those who made the laws, especially in England. The earliest law known to prohibit bowling in England is from the 14th century. Edward III enacted a ban on bowling in 1361 because he thought the game distracted his soldiers from their training. In 1455 Henry VI lifted the ban only to be reinstated by Edward IV in 1477. This ban was also lifted eventually for the second time. In 1541 it was banned again by Henry VIII clearly the English royalty was very threatened by this fun sport. However, this ban allowed for bowling during Christmas time and if you had a special and expensive license. The latter factor meant bowling became a popular game among the higher class that could afford the license. The ban was ended in 1845.
After the bowling ban in Britian was lifted in 1455 bowling were built all around London. The game was legal again and people were excited to play it. These alleys of course started outside, but some clever and industrious Englishmen had the fantastic idea of creating lanes protected from the weather. They did this by laying a long skinny platform of smooth wooden planks. The playing surface was smoother and more level than any other used before. Then they just built a wooden box around it and there it was the first enclosed bowling alley. Even the king thought it was a clever idea and demanded that he had one built on the palace grounds. Bowling balls have also seen a lot of changes over the years. They started out as wood, stone, and even a coconut. Bowling balls stayed like this until in 1905 the first rubber one was made called the “Evertrue”. In 1914 Brunswick made its own balls called Mineralite. They were such a huge bowling ball breakthrough that they were used until 1970. In 1970 people started to experiment with polyester and plastic balls. The ones made from plastic were more durable and harder than any before and were able to “grab” the lane giving an advantage. Then in 1980 a bowling ball made of urethane was made by Ebonite. Finally, in 1990 Nu-Line created the first reactive resin bowling ball. Both of these balls allow for a smoother curving motion and are the ones we use today.
Bowling is a sport that anyone can enjoy. The young can join youth bowling leagues. They can simply go to a bowling alley with friends or family. Even adults can bowl for entertainment purposes. However, the best of the best can join the Professional Bowling Association and show their skills against other bowlers. The Professional Bowling Association {PBA} was founded in 1958 with 33 founding members. In 2000, three former Microsoft executives bought PBA in hopes of expanding it. So, as you can see there are endless opportunities for everyone to enjoy this sport. Local bowling alleys to professional tournaments give all hopeful bowlers an opportunity to have fun. Bowling has come a long way from a simple game of ancient times to the sport we know today.
The first evidence of a game like bowling was found to be from 3,200 B.C. In an Egyptian child’s grave were things used to play a cruder form of bowling that is closer to Skittles. Skittles is a smaller form of bowling than what most people are used to, and it has some extra rules. Also, more evidence for bowling being an ancient sport comes from Rome and ancient Polynesian culture. There was a small indoor bowling alley south of Egypt's capital dating from the Romen era but seems to have not become popular until much later.
In Germany around the 3rd century a church made their own form of bowling. Most Germans of that time carried wooden clubs called a Kegel used to protect themselves. They put the Kegels at the end of a runway, and they would take turns rolling stones with their hands at the Kegels. “The Kegel was said to represent sin.” The person who could knock down the most would be free of their sins. Those who missed were forced to do a penance. In Germany nine-pin bowling is still called Kegeln.
Bowling used to not be very popular among those who made the laws, especially in England. The earliest law known to prohibit bowling in England is from the 14th century. Edward III enacted a ban on bowling in 1361 because he thought the game distracted his soldiers from their training. In 1455 Henry VI lifted the ban only to be reinstated by Edward IV in 1477. This ban was also lifted eventually for the second time. In 1541 it was banned again by Henry VIII clearly the English royalty was very threatened by this fun sport. However, this ban allowed for bowling during Christmas time and if you had a special and expensive license. The latter factor meant bowling became a popular game among the higher class that could afford the license. The ban was ended in 1845.
After the bowling ban in Britian was lifted in 1455 bowling were built all around London. The game was legal again and people were excited to play it. These alleys of course started outside, but some clever and industrious Englishmen had the fantastic idea of creating lanes protected from the weather. They did this by laying a long skinny platform of smooth wooden planks. The playing surface was smoother and more level than any other used before. Then they just built a wooden box around it and there it was the first enclosed bowling alley. Even the king thought it was a clever idea and demanded that he had one built on the palace grounds. Bowling balls have also seen a lot of changes over the years. They started out as wood, stone, and even a coconut. Bowling balls stayed like this until in 1905 the first rubber one was made called the “Evertrue”. In 1914 Brunswick made its own balls called Mineralite. They were such a huge bowling ball breakthrough that they were used until 1970. In 1970 people started to experiment with polyester and plastic balls. The ones made from plastic were more durable and harder than any before and were able to “grab” the lane giving an advantage. Then in 1980 a bowling ball made of urethane was made by Ebonite. Finally, in 1990 Nu-Line created the first reactive resin bowling ball. Both of these balls allow for a smoother curving motion and are the ones we use today.
Bowling is a sport that anyone can enjoy. The young can join youth bowling leagues. They can simply go to a bowling alley with friends or family. Even adults can bowl for entertainment purposes. However, the best of the best can join the Professional Bowling Association and show their skills against other bowlers. The Professional Bowling Association {PBA} was founded in 1958 with 33 founding members. In 2000, three former Microsoft executives bought PBA in hopes of expanding it. So, as you can see there are endless opportunities for everyone to enjoy this sport. Local bowling alleys to professional tournaments give all hopeful bowlers an opportunity to have fun. Bowling has come a long way from a simple game of ancient times to the sport we know today.
Youth(s) First Name and Initial of Last Name
Wyatt Biddle
Age Division
11
Category
Essay
County
Taylor
