The Pepsi USBC Youth Championships is a unique event which features league, center, district and state level competition leading up to the international finals. All USBC Youth members are eligible to bowl at the league qualifying level with a chance to advance. There is no additional cost to enter at the league level, only a one-time entry fee for all succeeding levels.
Based on age, handicap competition at the Pepsi USBC Youth Championships is 90 percent of 200, giving bowlers of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to experience competition at the highest level. The Youth Championships also has become a stepping stone to encourage new young athletes to become involved in tournament competition.
Qualifying competitions are held in six divisions based on age as of Aug. 1: Boys and Girls Handicap, ages 11 and under; Boys and Girls Handicap, ages 12 and above; Boys and Girls Scratch, ages 12 and above. Qualifying begins at the league level with two one-week windows between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30 when bowlers have an opportunity to qualify for district competition. At the district level, bowlers compete for the right to advance to the state competition. From there, bowlers 12 or older can earn a bid to the international finals.
All bowlers who do advance to the International Pepsi Youth Bowling Championships through the qualifying competitions receive scholarships from their state qualifying event. Scratch qualifiers are seeded and compete for a pool of additional scholarship money at the Junior Gold Championships. Participants in the 11 and under age division only advance as far as the state level with some youth earning scholarships.
At the international finals, which includes participants from Canada and U.S. military zones abroad, athletes in each division roll two four-game qualifying blocks before the field is cut to the top 16 in each division. The semifinalists then compete in a single-game, double-elimination format. The top four finishers in each division will receive scholarships.
Margo Townsend, State Director
Address: PO Box 23 Quimby IA 51049-0023
Phone (evenings): 712-445-2250
Fax: 712-447-6146
email: Iowa_Pepsi@hotmail.com
