Based on survey data, direct participant feedback and input from experienced tournament coordinators, USBC Youth Advisory Group members and individuals who volunteer at the national championship event, the decision has been made to implement several modifications to the USBC Junior Gold Championships for the 2025-26 season.
The Junior Gold qualifying period will run from July 1 to May 1, which previously was May 1 of the current year to May 15 of the following year. The intent is to eliminate the confusion of two seasons overlapping.
Also, Junior Gold divisions will be adjusted to U12, U14, U16 and U18, a change designed to create better peer-to-peer competition with competition in more balanced age groups.
To optimize scheduling and enhance competition readiness, practice sessions will be reduced from 45 minutes to 30 minutes and practice will be available on Saturday and Sunday, with Friday squads eliminated. Athletes will still bowl in all four practice sessions, ensuring ample preparation.
Equipment rules will change as athletes will now be permitted to alter the surface of their equipment during the warm-up session in the advancer rounds and match play. This adjustment provides players with greater flexibility to prepare equipment based on the lane conditions they did not see during practice sessions.
The final modification will impact the program’s membership and national tournament entry fees. Starting in the 2025-26 season, pricing will be: U12 — $25 membership, $125 entry fee; U14 — $40 membership, $200 entry fee; U16 — $50 membership, $250 entry fee; and U18 — $50 membership, $250 entry fee.
Over the past several years, USBC has expanded the event with an opening ceremony, a “Party in the Park” and upgraded venues for the trade show and registration. A portion of the entry fee increase will help offset rising costs.
Combined with the updated age division structure, this also opens the door to bringing the Junior Gold Championships to more cities and venues across the country.
In addition, since the 2022-23 season, all Junior Gold members have received a subscription to Bowlers Journal as part of their membership. The cost of providing this benefit has been largely supported by membership revenue. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, USBC plans to introduce an additional Junior Gold membership gift alongside the ongoing Bowlers Journal subscription.
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