There is a relatively new hybrid sport that has been gaining steam and can be fun at barbecues, a day in the park or to set up a tournament to play.
The game is called fowling (rhymes with bowling) and is a combination of football and bowling that was created by Chris Hutt in 2001, according to the website for the Fowling Warehouse. The first location was opened in 2014 in Michigan, and there are now six locations, including one in Cincinnati. Hutt is the founder of the company, which offers food and drinks in a setting where the game is set up for individual play or groups up to 10.
Hutt and his friends from Detroit were at the 2001 Indy 500 tailgating, and the group combined their love of football with their love of bowling. They recommend that people find a special place where they can get together and enjoy the game, as noted on the Fowling Warehouse site.
According to the official rules of the American Fowling Association, fowling involves a set of 10 bowling pins set up like a usual bowling lane on two different sides. Players will toss a football at the pins and the first to knock all of their opponent’s pins down takes the victory. It can be a one-on-one game, teams of two or doubles play, in which teams are on opposite ends. Each team alternates throwing, and players have 20 seconds to toss. You can use any throwing style but need to go from the same location each frame, as well as throwing with the same arm.
Fowling matches are usually played with two wooden platforms made with plywood. AFA-sanctioned tournaments have specific play area sizes of 42 inches by 96 inches. Lanes are placed 32 feet apart. The defense can never defend their pins, or touch or manipulate the ball or pins. However, anything that knocks over a pin counts. The rules say this includes wind, accidentally grazing pins, dogs, earthquakes or balls from another game. If a pin is knocked down maliciously, it will be set back up. Defense can defend from outside influences knocking over the pins.
The matches are broken up into frames as with bowling, and a frame is completed when all pins are knocked down on either side. The winner is the team or player that takes two out of three frames.
A game can also be won in one throw in what is called a “bonk.” This is when any player’s first throw of the game sends the center pin off the board with all other pins remaining when there are all 10 pins on the board. The game can also be ended if a player gets a strike on any throw of the game.
Foot fouls by stepping over the throwing line or violations of the pins or balls will result in a penalty shot, and also receive the ball back.
“The philosophy behind fowling football bowling pin game is sportsmanship,” the AFA rules say.
While there are not any official areas to play fowling in Knox County, there is a Fowling Warehouse 150 miles, or about 2 1/2 hours, away. It is at 2940 Highland Ave #230, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45212. Information including how to make reservations is found at https://fowlingwarehouse.com/cincinnati/.
The Fowling Warehouse is actively looking to expand, and on the company website it has information about anyone who would like to be a franchisee.
Escalade Sports teamed up with the Fowling Warehouse to create what they call the first portable fowling set and is found at escaladesports.com. Sets can also be found at sites like Amazon, Wayfair, Triumph Sports, Scheels and playfowling.com. They can also be rented at Hoppershouses.com.
Several parks in the Knox County area include Wolf Run Regional Park at 17686 Yauger Road in Mount Vernon; Ariel-Foundation Park at 10 Pittsburgh Ave in Mount Vernon; Arch Park on Arch Avenue in Mount Vernon; and Memorial Park at 108 Mount Vernon Ave., Mount Vernon. These are just a few in the area, and a Google search will bring up plenty more to find a spot to set up some pins and enjoy the day.
