Tournament GuideRules • Eligibility • Dress Code • Divisions
The official source of truth for competing on the Elite Youth Tour. All events follow USBC Youth rules unless otherwise noted.
- Bowlers must be under 18 as of August 1 of the current season
- EYT follows USBC seasons: August 1 – July 31
- U23 division for bowlers ages 18–23 (not a USBC Youth division, no Junior Gold spots)
- Must be USBC Youth members in good standing
- Scholarships are unlimited — not considered prizes under Rule 400
- All U12–U18 awards deposited into SMART accounts
- Youth may not accept cash (Rule 400)
- Merchandise prizes limited to $500 or less
U23: If still a registered youth bowler, awards go to SMART. If an official adult bowler, awards may be paid in cash.
- Competition begins once the first ball is thrown for score
- Practice time provided before qualifying — length announced at check-in
- Lane assignments finalized and posted on BowlMetrix
- In bye situations: practice on another pair, two shots per lane on match pair
- Surface changes permitted during practice only
- In bye situations, surface changes allowed until first frame of match
- No headphones, earbuds, AirPods, or music devices during competition
- Fouls scored as zero per USBC rules
- If foul light goes off: stop, keep foot in place, wait for official
- Pinsetter/rack touches pins before ball leaves lane = dead ball, re-throw
- Wrong lane noticed immediately = re-bowl, no penalty
- All ties broken with 9th and 10th frame roll-off, bowled immediately
- Coaching between frames only, must not delay competition
- Parents and coaches must stay outside settee area during competition
Boys
- Collared shirt or bowling jersey
- Dress pants or khakis, worn at waistline
- No jeans, shorts, sweatpants, joggers
Girls
- Bowling jersey, polo, or collared shirt
- Dress pants, skirts, or skorts
- Shorts must be mid-thigh or longer
- No jeans, leggings, yoga pants
Not Allowed
- Tank tops, t-shirts, or cutoffs
- Clothing with holes, rips, or tears
- Offensive graphics
- Hats on the approach
Enforcement: First violation = warning, may still compete that day. Bowler must be in full compliance at next event. Repeated violations may result in inability to compete. Our approach: education first, fairness always.
| Division | Birth Date Start | Birth Date End |
|---|---|---|
| U18 | 8/1/2007 | 7/31/2009 |
| U16 | 8/1/2009 | 7/31/2011 |
| U14 | 8/1/2011 | 7/31/2013 |
| U12 | 8/1/2013 | 1/1/2023 |
Minimum 4 bowlers required. If not met, genders may be combined. Bowlers may bowl up but may only compete in one division per event.
- Opt-in at check-in — what is declared is final
- Junior Gold membership must be purchased before the event
- Payment before end of 3rd frame of first game
- Divisions: U12, U14, U16, U18 (boys & girls)
- U20 and U23 not recognized by Junior Gold
| Division | Cash Price | Card Price |
|---|---|---|
| U18 | $62.50 | $65.00 |
| U16 | $62.50 | $65.00 |
| U14 | $50.00 | $52.00 |
| U12 | $37.50 | $39.00 |
Cash = USBC price. Card payments include a small processing fee. Prices shown reflect the current USBC Junior Gold rates.
Counting already-qualified bowlers: Allowed only with consent. Already-qualified bowlers cannot earn another spot but may count toward a valid division. If EYT counts an already-qualified bowler to create a division, EYT may cover that bowler's entry fee.
| Division | Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| U12 | $65 | $80 |
| U14 | $70 | $85 |
| U16 | $70 | $85 |
| U18 | $70 | $85 |
| U23 | $70 | $85 |
Effective for the 2025-26 season (August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026) and 2026-27 season (August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027) • Optional add-ons (Junior Gold) are separate
- Respect is mandatory — unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification
- Parents and spectators are held to the same standard as bowlers
- Rule questions: Tournament Director, then Executive Director
- All rulings by tournament management are final
- All EYT staff are SafeSport-certified and background-checked
Photo & Video Consent: By participating, bowlers and guardians acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used for EYT marketing and educational purposes. Opt out by notifying EYT leadership before the event.
Full rules are detailed in the official Elite Youth Tour Tournament Manual — the final word on all rules, eligibility, and procedures.
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