Key Selection & Tournament Updates for 2025
February 9, 2025We have some key changes in 2025 – see details below. These changes were made based on feedback and as part of our wider STB Sports Development strategy.
- Reminder: 2026 Selection Criteria Strategy – Reminder of changes already shared in 2024 regarding National Team and how teams will be selected in 2026 from the National Team.
- Selection Criteria – Number of Ranking Tournaments Changed – Change to the number of ranking tournaments required, offering more flexibility and choice for athletes.
- Removal of ECC Qualifier, Reinstate Masters – Change to the way our Scotland Representatives for this event are selected.
- Additional Tournaments – More ranking tournaments added to the calendar, offering more choice and flexibility for athletes.
- Oil Patterns for STB Ranking Tournaments – Changes to the way these are selected and communicated allowing earlier knowledge and alignment with pace and venue.
- Dispensation Criteria – Changes to the Dispensation requirements, clarifying when and how it can be requested and what is required.
Reminder: 2026 Selection Criteria Strategy
As a reminder of the 2026 selection criteria strategy – details that were shared in our live bulletin that was published on 28th June 2024.
This explains our strategy for Scottish National Team system that has been introduced and will provide ongoing structured development and training opportunities for athletes who wish to compete for Scotland at the highest level.
Teams selected for 2026 international competitions will be subject to this new selection criteria outlined in the bulletin (stay tuned for addition details on this). We encourage athletes to familiarise themselves with the changes and to understand how it affects them and their selection.
Stay tuned for more detailed information that will be released in the coming months.
Selection Criteria – Number of Ranking Tournaments
To allow for greater flexibility and to create more opportunities for athletes, the selection criteria for both youths and adults will be adjusted for teams being selected in 2026:
- Adults: Previously, adult (18+) athletes were required to participate in 6 out of the last 8 ranking tournaments to be eligible for selection. From 2025 onwards, this will change to 5 out of the last 8 ranking tournaments, the aim is to provide additional chances to meet the criteria and reduce pressure with availability clashes. We will share separately how we will transition to this model.
- Youths: The previous requirement for youth athletes was participation 5 out of the last 6 ranking tournaments. From 2025 this will align with adults to be 5 out of the last 8, ranking tournaments. We will share details with club reps how we will transition to this model.
We hope you agree that this adjustment ensures greater flexibility for athletes who are juggling work, school and personal commitments while maintaining competitiveness.
Removal of ECC Qualifier, Reinstate Masters
Following feedback from our STB bowling community and a review of participation rates over the last few years, the ECC (European Championship of Champions) qualifier tournament has been removed as a standalone ranking event.
In 2025, we have reintroduced the Nationals Masters invitational event which will decide the athletes who will be offered the opportunity to represent Scotland at the ECC. Historically, this selection method was a key event and created a highly competitive platform [top 10 men and top 6 ladies from Nationals All Events]. We hope we can re-kindle that energy and reinvigorate this event!
Adults that compete in the Nationals during the youth weekend will be eligible for Masters inclusion.
This change reflects our commitment to keeping our tournaments competitive, well-attended, and beneficial to athlete development. The ECC selection will not be part of the Event Team Selection Changes being implemented from 2026 (details below).
Additional Tournament for Youths & Adults
We have introduced an additional tournament for youths, to have consistency in the number of events (7) that adults have throughout the year. This expansion means that:
- Both adults and youths will have more choice and opportunity to gain valuable competitive experience across different formats and conditions.
- Alongside the selection criteria change to 5 out of the last 8 ranking tournaments, this change provides athletes the ability to choose from a wider range of events and meet the minimum selection criteria.
- With the alignment of events, adults will continue to have the option to play on the youth weekend to gain ranking points.
Pattern Bank & Tournament Preparation
The introduction of the Pattern Bank has served us well and provided a good variety of oil patterns, improving competitive balance and player challenge and adaptability.
This year, we will add more structure to selecting lane patterns by matching them for each event:
- Environmental conditions – Factoring in elements such as venue / lane wear, humidity, and oil breakdown.
- Tournament formats – Aligning with tournament structures (pace) for a balanced yet competitive experience.
To support athlete preparation, all tournament patterns will be announced well in advance. This allows players to:
- Gain familiarity with conditions before ranking events as STB athletes can request the pattern(s) to be laid for practice in either tournament venue (or some other centres).
- Improve player adaptability and performance across different lane conditions.
Oil pattern difficulty will be reviewed on a continual basis against the field of players.
We hope these enhancements will ensure fair and competitive tournaments while allowing athletes to train effectively in advance.
Dispensation Criteria
The introduction of the 5 out of the last 8 ranking tournament participation rule provides increased flexibility, we acknowledge that some athletes may still encounter exceptional circumstances that prevent them from meeting the required criteria.
To address this, we have updated the Dispensation Criteria which has been published on the STB website (https://bowling.scot/play-compete/compete/rules/). This document outlines:
- The circumstances under which dispensation may be granted.
- The application process for requesting dispensation.
This ensures a fair and transparent process for athletes who face unavoidable challenges such as injury, illness, or significant personal commitments.
We appreciate the continued support and engagement from our athletes, coaches, and members. These updates have been designed to enhance the competitive landscape, support athlete development, and maintain a strong national program.
