Rules & Guidelines

1. 18+ SFW Event & Appropriate Attire

The West Michigan Furbowl is an 18+ SFW event. All attendees and participants must be at least 18 years old.

All conversations, posts, interactions, and activities in the event chat and at the Furbowl must remain safe for work. Sexual or otherwise explicit content is not permitted.

Because the Furbowl takes place in a public venue, kink or fetish-related gear is not permitted at the bowling establishment. This applies regardless of whether the wearer considers the item to be part of a fursuit or personal attire.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Pup hoods or other fetish-oriented hoods
• Collars, leashes, harnesses, or accessories intended for kink/fetish use
• BDSM gear or accessories
• Fetish wear or other explicitly kink-associated attire

If you are unsure whether an item is appropriate for the venue, please check with an organizer before wearing it to the Furbowl.

Please keep all attire and behavior appropriate for a public, SFW environment.

2. Respect, Inclusion & Anti-Harassment

Hate speech, bigotry, discrimination, slur usage, kink shaming, harassment, or other derogatory behavior is not tolerated in any form.

The West Michigan Furbowl strives to foster an environment of equality, diversity, and mutual respect. Treat your fellow attendees with dignity regardless of their identity, background, appearance, or level of participation in the furry community.

3. No Public Call-Outs or Drama

Please do not use the event chat to publicly call out, shame, harass, or create drama involving another member.

If you have a problem or concern involving another attendee, contact an organizer privately. We will review the situation and address it appropriately.

4. Practice Good Sportsmanship

The Furbowl is about having fun and spending time with the community. You do not need to be a skilled bowler to participate!

Be respectful toward other players, regardless of their bowling ability or experience. Excessive hostility, toxic behavior, taunting, or intentionally making others uncomfortable is not acceptable.

Cheer for your fellow bowlers, have fun, and remember that everyone is here to enjoy themselves.

5. Respect the Bowling Alley & Equipment

Please treat the bowling establishment, its employees, and its equipment with respect.

• Follow all rules and instructions provided by bowling alley staff.
• Be courteous and respectful toward staff and other patrons.
• Do not intentionally damage, throw, kick, or otherwise misuse bowling equipment.
• Return alley-owned bowling balls to their proper locations when finished.
• Do not leave bowling balls or other equipment sitting on the lanes.
• Clean up after yourself and dispose of trash appropriately.
• Keep personal belongings and fursuit parts out of areas where they could create a safety hazard.

The bowling alley is a shared public space, so please help us leave it as clean and orderly as we found it.

6. Payment & Participation

If you wish to participate in a bowling game, payment must be made beforehand. Please note that all payments must be made directly to event organizers, not the venue.

Please give your payment to event organizers before participating in the game. Organizers may be unable to accommodate players who have not paid in advance.

7. Photography & Privacy

The West Michigan Furbowl is a public event held at a public venue, and attendees should be aware that photography may occur. You may appear incidentally in photographs taken by other attendees, the bowling establishment, or event organizers.

However, we ask everyone to be respectful of one another's privacy.

• Do not intentionally photograph someone who has asked you not to photograph them.
• If someone asks you to remove or avoid using a photograph in which they are the primary subject, please respect their request.
• Do not use photographs of other attendees to harass, shame, threaten, or otherwise target them.
• Please ask before taking a close-up or posed photograph of someone, particularly if they are in fursuit.
• Photos taken at the Furbowl should only be shared in the official Telegram chat or through private DMs. Please do not post Furbowl photos publicly on social media or other public platforms unless all parties in photograph consent.

Because this is a public event, we cannot guarantee that an attendee will never appear in the background of a photograph. Please use reasonable judgment and respect requests for privacy whenever possible.

8. No Video Recording

Video recording is not permitted at the West Michigan Furbowl.

Please do not record video of the event, attendees, bowling games, or other activities, including through phones, cameras, livestreams, or similar devices.

This rule applies even if the recording is intended only for personal use. Short-form video, livestreaming, and continuous recording are not permitted.

9. Follow Organizer & Venue Instructions

Organizers are responsible for helping maintain a safe and enjoyable event. Please follow reasonable instructions given by event organizers.

The bowling establishment's staff and management have final authority regarding the use of their property and facilities. Their instructions must be followed at all times.

Serious or repeated violations of these rules may result in removal from the event and/or future Furbowl events.

10. Have Fun!

Above all, have fun, be kind, and look out for one another.

The West Michigan Furbowl is a community event. Let's work together to make it an enjoyable experience for bowlers, fursuiters, spectators, bowling alley staff, and everyone else sharing the space.