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Youth bowling
Certified junior leagues, scholarship dollars, and a place for kids to compete all season long.
Why certified youth bowling
Youth USBC membership costs less than a single night out and follows a bowler from their first junior league all the way to college. Every certified youth event a child bowls in can earn SMART scholarship dollars — real money, held in a national trust fund until they enroll in school.
Youth leagues in our area run [SEASON, e.g. September through March], mostly on [DAY, e.g. Saturday mornings], and are grouped by age and average so new bowlers are never in over their heads.
Scholarships, not trophies
Awards in youth bowling are paid into a USBC SMART account in the bowler's name. Funds are released directly to the school when they enroll.
Safe Sport & screened adults
Every adult who works with our youth bowlers is a USBC Registered Volunteer with a completed background screening.
Divisions
Where does my child fit?
Youth divisions are set by age as of August 1 of the current season.
Bantam
Age 7 and under. Bumpers and light balls; the focus is fun and fundamentals.
Prep
Ages 8–10. First taste of scorekeeping, teams, and weekly standings.
Junior
Ages 11–14. Full competition, coaching, and tournament eligibility.
Major
Ages 15–20. Scholarship events, state and national youth competition.
Where to bowl
Area youth leagues
Contact the center directly to register. Most leagues take new bowlers all season.
| League | Center | Day & time | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| [LEAGUE NAME] | [CENTER] | [Saturday 10:00 AM] | [7–20] |
| [LEAGUE NAME] | [CENTER] | [Saturday 10:00 AM] | [7–20] |
| [LEAGUE NAME] | [CENTER] | [Sunday 1:00 PM] | [11–20] |
SMART
Scholarship money that follows your bowler
The association awards $[#,###] in scholarships each year through [SCHOLARSHIP EVENT / PROGRAM NAMES], on top of anything earned in state and national youth events. Funds are administered by USBC SMART and released to the bowler's school.
For parents
What do we need to bring?
Nothing but socks. Centers provide shoes and house balls for new bowlers, and most youth leagues have loaner equipment. Bring a ball once your bowler is committed — a pro shop can fit a first ball inexpensively.
What does it cost?
Youth USBC membership is $14 per season — $4 national dues plus $10 local. Weekly league fees are set by each center and typically run $[##–$##], which covers games, prize fund, and scholarship contributions.
Can I help?
Yes — youth leagues run on volunteers. Adults working with youth must complete the free USBC Registered Volunteer Program. Contact our youth liaison to get started.