TOURNAMENT GUIDERules • Eligibility • Dress Code • Divisions
The official source of truth for competing on the Elite Youth Tour. Season: August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027. All events follow USBC Youth playing rules unless otherwise noted.
USBC YOUTH ELIGIBILITY
Age & Membership
- Open to USBC-certified youth bowlers in good standing — birth date 8/1/2008 or later
- EYT follows USBC seasons: August 1 – July 31 (age is determined as of August 1)
- U23 division for bowlers born 8/1/2003 – 7/31/2008 (not a USBC division, no Junior Gold spots)
- Bowlers no longer youth-certified must certify as adults before their first event (via their league or bowl.com)
Prizes & Scholarships
- 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
Practice & Lane Assignments
- 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
Qualifying & Finals
- Minimum 5 qualifying games at every event, moving lanes after each game — select events feature 6
- Finals formats vary by event, set by division size, and are announced at check-in
- Lane patterns are published in advance on the EYT website
Equipment
- 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 & Dead Balls
- 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
Ties & Coaching
- 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
DRESS CODE
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
- Sweatpants, joggers, or athletic shorts
- 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.
AGE DIVISIONS
Separate boys' and girls' divisions for U12–U18. U23 is mixed.
| Division | Birth Date Start | Birth Date End |
|---|---|---|
| U23 (Mixed) | 8/1/2003 | 7/31/2008 |
| U18 | 8/1/2008 | 7/31/2010 |
| U16 | 8/1/2010 | 7/31/2012 |
| U14 | 8/1/2012 | 7/31/2014 |
| U12 | 8/1/2014 | & later |
Minimum 4 bowlers required. If not met, genders may be combined. Bowlers may bowl up but may only compete in one division per event.
JUNIOR GOLD
- Opt-in at check-in — what is declared is final
- Junior Gold membership must be purchased before the event
- Payment due before the end of the 3rd frame of game one
- Divisions: U12, U14, U16, U18 (boys & girls)
- U20 and U23 not recognized by Junior Gold
| Division | Cash (USBC Price) | Card |
|---|---|---|
| U18 | $62.50 | $65.00 |
| U16 | $62.50 | $65.00 |
| U14 | $50.00 | $52.00 |
| U12 | $37.50 | $39.00 |
Cash = USBC price; card adds a small processing fee.
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.
ENTRY FEES
Member vs. non-member rates. Membership pays for itself within a few events.
| Division | Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| U12 | $65 | $80 |
| U14 | $70 | $85 |
| U16 | $70 | $85 |
| U18 | $70 | $85 |
| U23 | $70 | $85 |
Special events — the Battle Royale MAJOR, Bowlapalooza (Holiday Doubles + Trios Team Cup), and Youth/Adult events — are priced separately and carry no member discount. Fees and formats are published on each event page.
Season: August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 • Membership is optional but strongly encouraged • Optional add-ons (Junior Gold) are separate
REGISTRATION
Registering
- Register online at eliteyouthtour.com — create your EYT profile first so member pricing applies automatically at checkout
- Each event is a separate registration
- Events fill quickly — register early. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability only
Cancellations
- Refunds are issued when the Tournament Director is notified with sufficient advance notice, less a $5 cancellation fee
- Entry fees are not credited to bowler accounts
- Cancellations inside 48 hours for illness or emergency are handled case-by-case at the TD's discretion
CONDUCT & APPEALS
- Respect is mandatory — unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification
- Parents and spectators are held to the same standard as bowlers
- Rule questions → Tournament Director → 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, education, and livestream. Opt out by notifying EYT leadership before the event.
Elite Impact — social change on the lanes: Every EYT event is paired with a nonprofit partner. Free entries are available through our Bowlers of Color and Financial Hardship initiatives, plus one free monthly entry for a military-dependent youth bowler via BVL — ask any staff member how to apply.
Full rules are detailed in the official Elite Youth Tour Tournament Manual — the final word on all rules, eligibility, and procedures.
READY TO COMPETE?
Register for an upcoming event or become a member to get $15 off every entry.