To develop a clear pathway for athletes to progress from grassroots through to elite level competition, Tenpin Bowling Australia introduced the National Training Squad (NTS) back in 2011.

This squad has developed and evolved over the years. The NTS aims to provide the best opportunities available to develop our elite athletes to world standard, whilst remaining considerate to the budgetary constraints of both TBA and the individual athletes.

NTS Evolution

TBA constantly evaluates the current effectiveness and performance of its programs, taking care to listen to feedback and recommendations from current athletes, coaches, State Associations, and the wider community. Based on this information, and emerging trends or areas of need, we need to evolve and make ongoing changes to strengthen the pathway to elite level competition, with the goal of developing world-class athletes.

Given many other countries have well-developed high-performance programs in the sport of Tenpin, maintaining a progressive and evolving NTS initiative is imperative for Australia to achieve TBA’s strategic objective of having world-class athletes, and the goal of being ranked in the top 10 countries in the world.

The vision of TBA’s High-Performance Program is simply:

To develop and deliver programs and pathways which produce world class bowlers and coaches that enrich the Australian Bowling Community.

The squad will remain current from 1st January to 31st December each year.

TBA no longer requires athletes to “nominate” or apply to join the NTS:

Talented and eligible athletes are identified through their performance, actively bowling in a range of TBA events, and are considered on their ranking, data, and results, as well as a national “talent identification” process using multiple talent scouts across the country.

Successful athletes are then invited by TBA to join the squad. This process usually occurs around November each year.

Current NTS athletes must maintain performance and fulfil their requirements to retain their position the next year.

TBA reserves the right to add or remove athletes as they deem necessary.

Team Australia Culture

The NTS may have separate “squads”, each with their own Head Coaches and Management Team, however collectively they all form just one “TEAM AUSTRALIA”.

All NTS athletes and coaches accept and work laterally with each other, helping to develop a collective of athletes and staff who are supportive and encouraging to each other, working towards the same goals and vision. This Team Australia Culture is a crucial component of the NTS.

TEAM AUSTRALIA 2022 – NTS Members

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Current Events for sending our National Teams

Asian School Tenpin Bowling Championships (NTS 18)

Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships (NTS Open)

Asian Seniors Bowling Championship (NTS 50)

IBF World Cup (NTS Open) – Four-person Team Event

IBF Junior World Cup (NTS 21) – Four-person Team Event

IBF World Championship (NTS Open) – Singles, Doubles, Trios.

IBF Junior World Championships (NTS 21) – Singles, Doubles, Trios.

IBF Masters World Championships (NTS 50 & NTS 65)

IBF Para World Championships (NTS Inclusion)

Plus any additional teams for events as approved by TBA.

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Variation to the Tenpin Bowling Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy

Minor variation to the Tenpin Bowling Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy to recognise the replacement of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority by Sport Integrity Australia from 1 July 2020.

From 1 July 2020 the Tenpin Bowling Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy is varied as follows:

Any and all references to the:

• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) are to be read as references to Sport Integrity Australia;
• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Act 2006 (Cth) (ASADA Act) are to be read as references to the Sport Integrity Australia Act 2020 (Cth); and
• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Regulations 2006 (Cth) (ASADA Regulations) are to be read as references to the Sport Integrity Australia Regulations 2020 (Cth).

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SIA for Athletes in State Based Training & National Training Squad

Athletes are responsible for any substance found in their body regardless of how it got there. 
As an athlete it is your responsibility to ensure any medications (including supplements) you are taking are approved by Sport Integrity Australia https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/ (SIA).
 
SIA is working to protect the right of athletes to participate in doping-free sport and it is important that athletes, coaches and administrators are aware of their responsibilities to comply.
As an athlete, you have a duty to your sponsors, your coaches and your fans to achieve pure performance in sport. We all have a responsibility to keep our sport free from doping.

Important Information for Athletes Regarding the Prohibited List: As the Prohibited List is reviewed and updated constantly, it’s extremely important that you always check any substances before taking them. Please refer to the ‘Check Your Substances’ link below to ensure that the substance is not on the prohibited list.
 
All athletes that are current members of their state based training program or members of the National Training Squad are required to complete the SIA e-learning online training program; a series of six 20 minute interactive modules. To find out more and register for the program click here https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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SIA eLearning Portal

To find out more and to register for the program click here https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/

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Anti Doping Policy

The Anti Doping Policy outlines Tenpin Bowling Australia’s stance on issues relating to anti-doping. It’s designed to protect athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality within the sport.

All members, participants, and non-participants in the sport of Tenpin Bowling are bound by these rules. This includes athletes, support personnel and employees whose employment contracts enables this.

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Check Your Substances

As the Prohibited List is reviewed and updated each year, it’s extremely important that you always check your substances online at Global DRO before taking them. The ‘Check Your substances’ tool is constantly updated to reflect any changes to the Prohibited List. 

SIA Check Your Substances

WADA Prohibited List

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Therapeutic Use Exemptions

Athletes, like all others, may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications.
 
If the medication an athlete is required to take to treat an illness or condition happens to fall under the Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption may give that athlete the authorisation to take the needed medicine.
 
For information regarding Therapeutic Use Exemptions including how to apply for a TUE please refer to the website
https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/resources/therapeutic-use-exemption .