The longest-running monthly scratch tournament in the world!

About NEBA

NEBA is America's longest running USBC sanctioned monthly scratch tournament. NEBA was formed in 1963 and celebrated it's 50th anniversary in 2013. NEBA tournaments are professionally managed and provide the best scratch competition in New England. NEBA is sponsored by Brunswick, DV8, Radical, Cambridge Credit Counseling, BuddiesProShop.com, Continuity Discount Plans, Bud Light Challenge, Strike F/X Pro Shops, Bowl Winkles Pro Shop, Better Bowling Concepts Pro Shop, Ace Mitchell Bowlers Mart, Logo Infusion, Turbo, BowlingSeriously.com, 123Bowl.com, Yankee Lanes, Hall of Fame Silver Lanes

View our 50th Anniversary Book (PDF / 50.7mb)

For NEBA reservations, call (203) 377-0161 or fill out the form on the reservation page by Friday at 10:00 PM (prior to the tournament).

Click here to download NEBA's Bylaws and Tournament Rules.

Click here for an archive of minutes from NEBA's Board Meetings.

Format: Qualifying - 5 games across 10 lanes. Finals - Head-to-head one game single elimination match play.

1 in 3 to 1 in 4.5 entries qualify for match play (1 in 5 entries from each squad guaranteed into match play).

1 in 6 Seniors (age 50+) are guaranteed to qualify for the match play finals. Additionally, 1 in 6 of the combined Women and Super Seniors (age 60+) are also guaranteed to qualify for the match play finals, based on at least 6 entries.

Entries Qualifiers Byes
26-36 8 None
37-54 12 1st round qualifiers 1-4
55-72 16 None
73-108 24 1st round qualifiers 1-8
109-144 32 None
145-180 40 1st round qualifiers 1-16
181-216 48 1st round qualifiers 1-16
217-252 56 1st round qualifiers 1-8
253 or more 64 None


Squad Times: Saturday @ 6:00 PM and Sunday @ 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Special tournaments may have different squad times (non-champs, tournament of champs).

Lane Patterns: NEBA announces patterns at least 7 days in advance.

Eligibility: All USBC sanctioned amateur adult and youth bowlers are eligible. The top 25 PBA tour money winners of the prior PBA season are not eligible. Anyone who has won a PBA Tour, PBA50 or PWBA national title in the past 5 years is not eligible. Any PBA or PWBA member that has not won a PBA, PWBA or PBA50 national tournament in the past five (5) years (US Open and USBC Masters are exempt) or is not in the top 40 on the national PBA points list for the prior season. Any NEBA member in good standing who wins a national title and maintains their NEBA membership can continue to compete in NEBA.

Entry fee: Monthly tournaments - $95, Special events (Masters and Points Leaders) - $150

Membership: New Member=$25, Renewal=$25, Non-Member=$15, Guest = $0 (one time only)

Attire: Pants or shorts of a "business casual" quality are encouraged. The following attire is not allowed: sweat pants, athletic type shorts, yoga pants, tattered or frayed clothing, clothing with holes, hats, headbands, headphones or earbuds.. A shirt with a polo type collar or shirt with a mock neck collar is required. Mock neck collar shirts must meet the following requirements: All advertising on the shirt must be permanently embroidered (no patches, screen printing or t-shirts). The participants' full name on the back in letters between 2 to 4 inches high in a color that contrasts with the shirt's color. Removal nametags and abbreviated names are subject to approval of the Tournament Director. New members can compete three times without a name on the back of their shirt without being fined. Only previous NEBA champions shall be allowed to wear a white shirt.

Money: Cash is required at all NEBA tournaments.

Bowler of the Year Points System:

5 points for bowling
10 points = cash but do not qualify for match play (294 entries+)
15 points = match play out first round
22 points = match play out second round
30 points = match play out third round
39 points = match play out fourth round
49 points = match play out fifth round
60 points = match play out sixth round or champion if less than 40 finalists
72 points = match play champion if 40 or more finalists
5 points awarded to high qualifier in addition to position points

*Note: The point system is different for the Tournament of Champions and Doubles tournaments, see rule book for details.

You do not get extra points for reentering. If you bowl three times and do not make the cut, you get 5 points. If you bowl three times and make the cut, you get the position points.

The point system for match play can be described as follows:
15 points base with then +7 first round, +8 second round, +9 third round,
+10 fourth round ... up to +12

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