Mission Statement: To provide education, communication, and recognition for Bowling Pro Shop Professionals and Instructors, creating a foundation for the advancement of the worldwide bowling industry.
 
Username:   Password: Remember Me     
H.O.T.S. Education
 
Questions? To sign up, contact Ginny Linton at 1-800-659-9444 or ginny@ibpsia.com
 
H.O.T.S. Schedule and Locations - Click Here
HOTS Certification - Phase 1
Date: Sept. 8-11, 2008
At Airport Bowl - Hosted by
BowlTech UK Ltd.
Near Heathrow Airport, London, UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Roger Whichelow to register
roger@bowltech.co.uk 01622 683628		 HOTS Certification - Phase 1
Date: Sept. 15-18, 2008
Hosted by BowlTech Ltd.
Made, HOLLAND
To register contact: Roger Whichelow roger@bowltech.co.uk
or Johan Jonker johan@bowltech.co.uk
Phone: 01622 683628

HOTS Certification - Phase I
Date: September 16-19, 2008
Hosted by Turbo 2-N-1 Training Facility Chesterfield, MI
HOTS Certification - Phase 1
Date: Sept. 22-25, 2008
Hosted by BowlTech Ltd.
Barcelona, SPAIN
To register contact: Roger Whichelow roger@bowltech.co.uk
Phone: 01622 683628		 HOTS Certification - Phase 1
Date: Sept. 27-30, 2008
Hosted by BowlTech Ltd.
Brno, CZECH REPUBLIC
To register contact: Roger Whichelow roger@bowltech.co.uk
Phone: 01622 683628
for Brno details:
http://www.bowlinghokna.cz/		 HOTS Certification - Phase I
Date: October 9-12, 2008
At National Bowling Stadium - Hosted by Complete Bowling Service
Reno, NV
HOTS Certification - Phase I
Date: Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2008
At the Taj Mahal
Atlantic City, NJ
 HOTS Certification - Phase I
Date: December 9-12, 2008
Hosted by Kegel Training Facility, Lake Wales, FL
Certified Technician Requirements - Click Here

Certification = 40 credits every 3 years
Must be a current IBPSIA member

To Become a Certified Technician:

  • Must take an IBPSIA Accredited Hands-On-Training (HOTS) course  (32 credits)
  • Must complete and pass the HOTS test
  • Must complete 8 more Educational or Other Credits  (see list below)

To Become Advanced Certified Technician:

    • Must have already completed the IBPSIA HOTS Phase 1 (listed above)
    • Must complete the Advanced HOTS course and test (32 credits)
    • Must complete 8 more Educational or Other Credits for a total of 40 (see list below)

For Certification Renewal:

  • Must complete 40 credits, from the date of the last certification and prior to the renewal certification. 
    Of these 40 credits, a minimum of 30 credits must be Educational Credits while up to 10 credits may
    be from other categories

Educational Credits:

  • 32 credits for a HOTS accredited program or an Advanced HOTS program (4 days)
  • Other accredited programs (1 credit per hour / hour and a half):
    • Up to 18 credits for seminar attendance at IBPSIA Conference & International Bowl Expo
    • 32 credits for “Emerging Concepts” (5 days)
    • 16 credits for Strike Ten Entertainment Skills Center “Teaching Professional Course” (2 days)
    • 16 credits for IBPSIA’s “HOTS on Lane” workshop (2 day)
    • 16 credits for IBPSIA’s “Business of Pro Shops” course (2 days)
    • 8  credits for BPAA Bowling Center Management School
    • Other credits for regional shows & manufacturer/distributor programs as accredited:
      • Western States Trade Show
      • East Coast Bowling Centers Convention
      • Mid-America Trade Show
      • BPAA Bowling Summit
      • Pre-approved Distributor educational forums during their trade shows

Other Credits (please submit proof):

  • USBC Coaching levels:  (USBC provides IBPSIA with a list – please let us know if you qualify)
    • Bronze – 2 credits
    • Silver – 4 credits
    • Gold – 6 credits
  • 1 credit for each article, chapter or book published (up to a maximum of 4 credits)
  • 1 credit for making a bowling related presentation, i.e. seminar or workshop (up to a max of 3 credits)
  • 1 credit for conducting an unpaid coaching clinic (up to a maximum of 3 credits)
  • 1 credit per year for serving as an officer or director of a nonprofit bowling related association or organization (up to a maximum of 3 credits)
1 credit for conducting/assisting in a youth or community fundraising activity related to bowling – unpaid (up to a maximum of 3 credits)

Pro Shop Certification Details
  • Technical
  • Advanced
  • Business
IBPSIA Hands On Training Seminar (H.O.T.S.)
Pro Shop Certification - Technology

Requirements for IBPSIA’s Technical Certification program are:
  1. Successful completion of one, four-day Hands-On Training Session. Among the topics covered in the sessions are the following:
    • Fitting & Drilling Techniques — Physical analysis of the hand, definitions of fitting terms, measuring devices, and tool operation.
    • Product Knowledge — Balls (coverstock, core design, weight systems layout, scaling), bags, shoes, accessories.
    • Work Bench Activities — Plugging techniques, resurfacing, repairs, insert placement.
    • Lane Work — Customer needs analysis, product delivery, lessons, use of video equipment.
    • Customer Service — Standards of performance, retail merchandising, sales and service, shop layout/setup.

  2. Accumulation of eight additional credits from participation in IBPSIA-sponsored and/or approved educational seminars or workshops.

  3. Covered in the Technical Manual are the following:
    • Overview of Bowling and the Pro Shop Business
    • Pro Shop Location, Design and Layout
    • Marketing Yourself and Your Pro Shop
    • Engineering the Correct Fit
    • Creating Ball Reaction
    • Drilling Bowling Balls
    • Balancing Bowling Balls
    • Ball Layout
    • Plugging and Resurfacing Bowling Balls

  4. Successful completion of the written Final Test, which is based on the "IBPSIA Technical Manual," the Hands-On Training Session, and the Study Guides.
  • Registration covers a three-year period. Cost of each four-day Hands-On Training Session is approximately $995 per person for members.

     

    • IBPSIA Hands On Training Seminar (H.O.T.S.)
    Pro Shop Certification - Technology

    Requirements for IBPSIA’s Advnced Technical Certification program are:

    1. Successful completion of the initial certification requirements of IBPSIA's Hands On Training Seminar.

    2. There are two tracks of the Advanced class and attendance at both tracks is mandatory. Each track will consist of intense high level presentations covering advanced theoretical and practical aspects of technology amd marketing.

    3. Successful completion of a comprehensive take home essay test. This test will be based on the presentations of the speakers and all information presented in the class as well as the manuals provided by the presenters.

    4. Cost is $995 for members.
    IBPSIA Hands On Training Seminar (H.O.T.S.)
    Pro Shop Certification - Business
     
    Registration fee for this phase is $600 per person for members.
    Business Certification Course

       I. INTRODUCTION

    1. Why a “Business” course?
    2. How to Turn Your Good Pro Shop (or Coaching services) into a Great Business

      II. GETTING STARTED

    1. Are You Ready to Start/Run Your Own Pro Shop/Coaching Business?
    2. The entrepreneurial mindset.

     III. THE BUSINESS STRUCTURE

    1. Legal entities
    2. Financing Your Business
    3. Budgeting/Forecasting
    4. Understanding Cash Flow
    5. Start-up Checklist

    IV. WRITING THE BUSINESS PLAN

    V. ADMINISTRATION

    1. Accounting
    2. Profit/Loss Statements
    3. Balance Sheets
    4. Bookkeeping
    5. Inventory Control
    6. Loss prevention
    7. Banking
    8. Credit
    9. Taxes
    10. Insurance
    11. Payroll

    VI. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

    1. Negotiating a Lease
    2. Types of Leases
    3. Lease checklist
    4. Joint-ventures, reciprocal in-kind agreements
    5. Legal documents

    VII. HUMAN RELATIONS

    1. Proprietor Relationships
    2. Dealing with Distributors
    3. Manufacturers
    4. Employee Relations
    5. Hiring and keeping good people
    6. Labor law
    7. Forms
    VIII. CUSTOMER SERVICE
    1. Hours of Operation
    2. Image
    3. Customer retention

     IX. MARKETING

    1. Grand Opening
    2. Maximizing revenue potential
    3. Marketing/Promotions
    4. The Marketing Plan
    5. Marketing Planning Calendar
    6. Guerrilla Marketing
    7. Advertising
    8. Direct mail
    9. Email
    10. Database Management
    11. Gift Cards
    12. Branding/Positioning
    13. Marketing yourself
    14. Publicity
    15. Media relations
    16. Merchandising
    17. The Internet
    18. Email marketing
    19. Getting Most from Trade Shows

    X. TECHNOLOGY

    1. POS Systems
    2. Computers and Software
    3. Voice mail/Messages on Hold
    4. Security

    XI. APPENDICES

    1. Recommended Reading
      1. Books
      2. Magazines
      3. Websites
    1. Outside Resources
      1. SBA
      2. SCORE
      3. IBPSIA
      4. BPAA
      5. USBC Coaching
      6. Pro Shop software
      7. Coaching software
      8. Accounting software

     

    XII. PRO SHOP SURVEY RESULTS

     
      Copyright © IBPSIA All rights reserved.