teams joining in mid season

Question
I currently have an eight team league but currently only have 6 teams, due to year-end dropouts. We are already in week 7 of 32. Now I have a team that wants to join the league (I have room for 8 teams). I realize that if this team joins, I would then need to have a "ghost" team to make an even 8 teams. My question is..if we allow this team to enter, how do we handle the wins/losses and prize money? Do we need to have the new team bowl and pay for the first 6 weeks they missed? If so, do we reschedule for an 8 team format? Then the current wins/losses would be changed. I am not sure how to handle this fairly for all involved.

Answer
Gordon,
Talk to your bowling center. They would surely want the additional team, and should offer to give you a little leeway.

Use a vacant team. Have the team bowling the vacant team shoot their average less 10 pins per player as a minimum to win the points.

Unfortunately, asking the team to pony up money for the weeks they missed is tough. Why would they want to do that. Have them pace for a week or two, get used to the league and have them pay the regular fee. Return some of the prize fees paid at seasons end according to how they do for the season. They'd get a percentage of payout because of missing the 7 weeks. Have them transition into the regular schedule at the quarter.

The original 6 get 100% of prize for the full season, and team 7 gets 100% of the full quarters they compete in. While getting a percentage of the prize because of missing 7 weeks.

Thanks for the question.