League Rules

About These Rules

These rules have been developed for the safety and enjoyment of all league members. All league members, substitutes, visitors, and guests of Out! Bowling agree to all rules while present for league play and other league activities. Violation of any of these rules may require the league officers to take action up to and including expulsion from the league. These decisions are never easy and the league officers weigh every conceivable factor prior to making decisions that could affect a league member’s status in the league. If you have questions about this decision-making process, reach out to a league officer for additional clarity.

These rules were last updated on 10/24/2025 by C. Wooley

General League Structure, Philosophy, & Awards/Fun

League Philosophy: We are a social league first. We welcome friendly competition but are not a serious league and are not sanctioned by any professional bowling organization. Our overall league motto is “all welcome!” This includes all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Beyond Communities and of course, our allies! ALL WELCOME means ALL WELCOME.

League Seasons:

  • Fall Season: September to December, 12 Weeks
  • Winter Season: February to April, 12 Weeks
  • Summer Season: June to August, 10 Weeks

Location: Stardust Lanes, 37 E. Lorraine Ave, Addison IL 60101

Scoring: 9-Tap. Scoring 9 on your first throw is the same as scoring a strike.

Awards & Banquet

  • The end of each season culminates in an awards banquet where prizes are passed out and food is served. Note: there are no cash prizes.
  • The end of the fall season is our annual charity fundraiser too. All teams are asked to contribute a basket valued starting at $100+ where league members can buy raffle tickets to bid on the basket with all money raised going to local and national LGBTQ+ charities. Over the last 11 years, we have raised over $35,000 for charity!
  • Weekly, there will be fun contests for a chance to win small prizes.
  • 50/50 Raffle: Weekly, you can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win your share of the pot with the remaining money going to support the fun weekly games. Funds are generally used by the end of the season but up to $200 of seed money may carry over to the next season. Tickets start at just $1 a piece.
  • Theme Nights happen on a regular basis and encourage all members to dress a certain way or participate in fun, exciting events (i.e. Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Sports Night, Pride Night, etc.).
Registration & Fees

Registration: A link is made available up to 4 weeks prior to the start of the season and all bowlers looking to bowl for the season must register via that link. The link includes:

  • First and last name
  • Cell phone number
  • Email
  • Emergency contact information
  • Team preferences

Note that new bowlers will be accepted without pre-registration on night #1, capacity-dependent. We are limited to the number of lanes available and in the event we reach capacity, a waitlist will be created.

League Cost: Determined at the start of every season but is in line with other leagues in the Chicago-area. Cost is for 3 games of bowling. The alley has shoes available for rent and house balls available free of charge. Other events during the evening (like 50/50 raffle) are optional.

  • Payment in full is required by Night #4.
  • Contact a League Officer if you are in need of financial assistance. We don’t ever want finances to be a hinderance to why you can’t join.

How to Pay:

  • Credit/Debit Card: Must pay in full in total at the time of using credit/debit card. Must be done by week #4. If paying in week #1, expect a long delay at the counter. Place a copy of your receipt in the envelope on your lane.
  • Check: Payable to Stardust Bowl, placed in team envelope on your lane.
  • Cash: Placed in team envelope on your lane.
Team Structure & Roster

Team Size & Composition: Teams will consist of 4 to 5 people of varying gender identity.

Team Placement: You can specify who you’d like to bowl with during registration or we will place you with a team. Teams are subject to change based on the needs of the league but usually are settled by week #4.

Handicap Scores: If your team has a vacancy, a vacant score will be entered to ensure that scoring is kept fair among all teams.

Split Season: With permission from the league president, 2 people can fill the spot of one person on the team (i.e. 1 person bowls for half the season, another bowls for the other half).

Score Cards: It’s important that all teams fill out the triplicate score card at the end of the night and turn it in for accurate recordkeeping.

Absences & Substitutes

Expected Attendance: It’s best not to join if you’re going to miss 3 or more sessions. Excessive absences will disrupt gameplay.

Reporting Absences: If you know you’ll be absent, please fill out the absent form available on the Out! Bowling front table as soon as possible.

Missing Bowler Options:

  • Use your average less ten pins and be marked as blind.
  • Pre-bowl ahead of the week and your score will be added at game time. Pre-bowling is only available during specific times. Contact the alley for details. Remember, it is not guaranteed!
  • Allow a substitute to bowl in your place. You must give permission and their score will be used in lieu of your own.

Note: other members of the team MAY NOT bowl in place of their missing teammate.

Substitute Bowlers: If you’re interested in being a sub, let a league officer know. When we know there will be an absence we will attempt to contact you to bowl that evening. Note, as a sub, you are expected to pay for your game that night based on the current lineage.

Schedule & Pace of Play

Start Time: Announcements are at 7:30pm, practice starts at 7:40pm, and the the night officially starts about 7:50pm. Please be on time out of respect for your team and other bowlers. Excessive tardiness will be ground for removal from the league.

Games: Games typically run about 45 minutes each. This means you can expect to be at the bowling alley for up to 30 hours, meaning our night will end about 10:30pm.

Pace of Play: Nobody likes to police how people socialize, but remember that we are there to bowl. So please keep the following in mind:

  • Start your games immediately upon practice ending.
  • It’s fine to socialize, but don’t wander too far. If somebody has to track you down when it’s your time to bowl, you’re away too long.
  • Take no more than five minutes between games for a break.
  • Help keep the game moving so all bowlers can leave at a reasonable time.
Conduct, Safety, & Other Important Information

Age Requirement: All league members must be 18+. Those drinking alcohol must be 21+.

Alcohol Policy:

  • League members under 21 may not drink alcohol while participating in the league.
  • League members cannot purchase for minors under 21. Violation is subject to immediate removal.
  • Members who appear overly intoxicated will be cut off by league leadership. They will work to arrange safe transportation home.
  • Members can request assistance getting home if they realize they drank too much.

General League Conduct:

  • All bowling alley rules must be followed. For example – you must wear proper bowling shoes; proper league etiquette such as waiting for a bowler next to you to bowl must be followed; no outside food or beverage is allowed in the alley.
  • League members are responsible for the etiquette of any guests they bring.
  • Unruly, aggressive, indecent, or undignified conduct (including in the parking lot, restrooms, or other areas of the alley) will result in one private warning followed by additional sanctions that could include removal from the league.
  • Physical/Mental Harassment: If somebody is physically or mentally harassing you, calling you names, attempting to pick a fight, or for any other reason, making you feel uncomfortable, contact a league officer immediately. Do not attempt to engage with them. This includes other league members AND others outside of the league (for example, other bowlers in the alley). Authorities will be contacted if needed.
  • Sexual Harassment: We have fantastic members in our league! And relationships of all types have formed. That said, nobody should ever feel pressured to say yes or agree to anything they don’t feel comfortable with. No means no. Do not continue to pursue others who are not interested. If you are being pursued after saying no, or you witness sexual harassment of any kind, alert a league officer. It will be investigated. Authorities will be contacted if needed.
  • Profanity: Refrain from excessive profanity. Occasional expletives can happen, but excessive use tarnishes the league’s brand. Action, up to remove from the league, may be taken at the league officers’ discretion.

Brand Reputation

It’s no secret that the LGBTQ+ community must fight to maintain our rights and our status everyday. We must do everything in our power to ensure that we uphold the highest moral standing in our community, which means every single league member must protect our league’s over decade-long reputation. We are looked at as a beacon in the LGBTQ+ community – a place for others to come to, gather, socialize, and commune with one another. We cannot tarnish that in any way. This extends to our time inside the alley, at community events, and yes, even online. As such:

  • All league members must protect the “brand” and image of Out! Bowling both physically and online. This includes online in our private Facebook group, on our website, and even on private social media accounts. While league members are free to use the Out! Bowling and Stardust Lanes names in their private posts, they must do so with the utmost discretion, ensuring they do nothing to damage the Out! Bowling reputation.
  • All Facebook posts in our private group are subject to approval, review, and possible deletion. League members should report any posts that are offensive, harmful, or against the spirit of our community immediately. While we do not seek to censor posts, league leadership is charged with the safety of all league members. Posts that could be harmful, that are not properly vetted, are simply posted for likes/shares or for spam reasons will be removed. Posts in our private league are at the league officer’s discretion at any time.

If any league member does anything physically, verbally, or online (in the Facebook group or even on their own private social media) that could discredit, damage, harm, or defame the reputation of the league, they may be subject to action by the League Officers that includes and is up to removal from the league, at the League Officers’ discretion.

Disclaimer of Rules: These rules may be added to or changed at any time to support the needs of the league. Changes may not always be communicated. As a league member, you agree to these rules in whatever current form they exist as posted on this website. Violation of any of these rules may result in a final decision by the League Officers that may include removal from the league. A removed league member may not return after removal.