Youth eligibility
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Youth eligibility can refer to two different things:
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USBC Youth Membership Eligibility
To be eligible to become a USBC Youth member, a bowler must be no older than 21 as of August 1 of the current
bowling season or have been authorized as mentally challenged. USBC Youth members can bowl in USBC Youth leagues and
tournaments and be recognized for their accomplishments in these competitions. Membership privileges and eligibility
typically run from August 1 to the following July 31, but memberships purchased for spring leagues starting March 15 or
later offer extended benefits until July 31 of the following year. Click here for details on USBC membership fees.
 USBC Youth members must
follow USBC's Youth Eligibility Rule 400, which
prohibits bowling for cash prizes or bonds of any amount or merchandise prizes exceeding $500 in value. Buying or selling
of earned prizes is not allowed. A USBC Youth member may bowl in adult singles competitions that offer more valuable
merchandise prizes or cash as long as, prior to the competition, the bowler signs a prize waiver refusing such
awards or the competition organizers agree to substitute comparable scholarship awards for USBC Youth winners.
USBC Youth bowlers may earn scholarship awards of any amount. All scholarship awards earned in USBC certified
competition are managed through USBC's SMART program.
USBC recognizes the bowling accomplishments of its members through its national awards program. The emblems, pins,
plaques, medals and scholarships awarded from USBC Headquarters are symbolic recognition of USBC Youth members'
accomplishments.
Interscholastic Eligibility for High School Sports
Rules about eligibility to compete in high school sports are set at the state level by high school athletic
associations, such as the California Interscholastic Federation, Ohio High School Athletic Association and Florida High
School Activities Association. Search for contact
information for the organization that makes these determinations for high school athletes in your state.
Since interscholastic eligibility rules vary by state, and state high school athletic associations may change their
rules at any time, it is best to contact these organizations directly for current rules and information.
Each state high school athletic association has its particular rules regarding participation on interscholastic
teams as well as competitive teams outside of school and the acceptance of awards for sports performance. Youth bowlers
who may wish to participate on high school teams for any sport should learn and abide by current state rules.
USBC Awards and the High School Athlete
 Recognition awards issued from USBC Headquarters were designed to comply with acceptable award rules for most,
if not all, high school athletes. However, since state rules vary and state high school athletic associations may change
their rules at any time, there may be cases where a youth bowler endangers his or her high school eligibility by accepting
a USBC award. If necessary, youth bowlers may refuse a USBC award.
Local or regional USBC associations, leagues or tournaments may offer additional awards as allowed under Rule 400. These awards may conflict with state high school athletic
association award acceptance rules. It is the responsibility of the youth bowler and his or her parents to decide if the
bowler wants to maintain high school interscholastic eligibility and follow any state high school athletic association
rules regarding acceptable awards.
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