The steady roll of bowling balls, the crack of pins, and bursts of laughter filled Lloyd Lanes recently as Bishop Lloyd Middle School students took over the lanes for a hands-on introduction to the sport.
For many students, it was their first time bowling outside of birthday parties or glow nights, and for some, it may be the first step in a much longer journey.
“They learn it in the schools and bring their families,” she said. “They like the glow bowl. They think it’s fun.”
Lloyd Lanes co-owner Jody MacDonald
Lloyd Lanes owner Jody MacDonald said welcoming students back marked the first school visit since 2018, giving kids a chance to learn bowling from the ground up.
“It’s so important because we get to explain a bit about bowling,” MacDonald said.
“They learn the pin value, which most of the world doesn’t know anymore because of computer scoring. They get to understand how it works, the rules, the expectations, and they always do great.”
MacDonald said those early experiences often shape who comes back through the doors years later, sometimes at a very high level.
One of Lloyd Lanes’ longest-running youth bowlers, Benjamin King, recently rolled a 360-plus game and has been bowling since he was little. MacDonald said his story is a familiar one.
“They learn it in the schools and bring their families,” she said. “They like the glow bowl. They think it’s fun.”
She said programs like school visits help create that first spark, which can grow into youth leagues and competitive bowling.
Lloyd Lanes’ youth program is already seeing strong participation this year, with about 75 kids registered as tournament season approaches.
Grade 8 student Noelle Jepson said the appeal of bowling goes beyond the scorecard.
“Just hanging out with friends and getting to actually bowl,” Jepson said. “Bowling is just genuinely fun.”
She said the sport feels welcoming and social, especially compared to more competitive team sports.
“It’s a really great hands-on sport,” Jepson said. “And a good way to build friends.”
MacDonald joked that the students may have even outperformed her on the lanes.
“When I showed them how to bowl, I didn’t hit a pin,” she said, laughing. “And I own a bowling alley. But they’re doing way better than me.”
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