ARLINGTON, Texas - In order to give players an additional way to earn spots on Team USA in 2014, the United States Bowling Congress will conduct the inaugural Summer Team USA Trials this July.

The limited-entry event will award two men's and two women's spots on Team USA in 2014 and will be conducted at the International Training and Research Center, which is the home of Team USA, from July 5-7.

"Holding Team USA Trials exclusively in January creates schedule conflicts for some top bowlers, so we thought it was important and worthwhile to offer another opportunity to compete for a place on the team," USBC Managing Director of National Governing Body Neil Stremmel said. "The spots awarded at the Summer Team USA Trials will be in addition to the ones given at the Team USA Trials in January 2014."

The field for the Summer Team USA Trials will be limited to 40 men and 40 women. Invitations will first go out to current Team USA and Junior Team USA members, Team USA members from the past three years, and the top 25 men and women at the 2013 Team USA Trials.

An open application process will begin on April 3 for those not on the invited list. Any current USBC member with a 200 or higher average for men or 190 average or higher for women based on the USBC Sport Bowling average adjustment chart will be eligible to apply.

The event will feature three days of competition with three games on Friday, six games on Saturday and six games on Sunday. A long, medium and short pattern from the World Tenpin Bowling Association bank of patterns will be used.

As a result of the addition of the additional Team USA spots, the Team USA roster will have 12 men and 12 women for 2014. The automatic spots and selections at the Team USA Trials in January remain unchanged. However, the selection committee will take into account performance at the Summer Team USA Trials when selecting players to join the team.

For more information on the Team USA program, visit BOWL.com/TeamUSA.