Pepsi Youth Championships to be rebranded as USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART starting 2025-2026 season
May 08, 2025
ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress is introducing a new era for one of its most successful grassroots youth events. Beginning with the 2025-2026 season, the tournament previously known as the Pepsi Youth Championships will be rebranded as the USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART.
This rebranding represents more than just a name change; it reflects a new increase in scholarship funding at the grassroots level driven by SMART. The foundational structure of the event remains unchanged, continuing to connect youth bowlers through league-level qualifying into regional or state-level competition with age and gender-based state champions being awarded an entry to the Junior Gold Championships.
Nevertheless, the tournament will undergo some key enhancements and better support the program’s key commitments.
As part of this transition, USBC, through the SMART program, is doubling the added funds for event operators, increasing the program’s scholarship funding from $150,000 to $300,000 annually. This expanded funding means more youth bowlers than ever before will receive scholarships through the event.
The USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART honors the program’s rich legacy while bringing its identity in line with USBC youth’s strategic priorities, membership value through tournament competition with scholastic opportunities.
Investment earnings from USBC’s Scholarship Management and Account Reporting for Tenpins (SMART) program will now fund the added scholarship awards associated with the event. This elevates the program’s credibility and stability by tying its financial foundation to USBC’s scholarship platform.
Youth bowlers will continue to qualify through league competition, with progression to regional or state-level events based on each state’s format. The event’s scratch format remains intact to reward raw skill and performance. Following the changes with Junior Gold, the Youth Scratch Championships event will shift to U12, U14, U16 and U18 divisions. The U8 and U10 divisions will still be offered, but only as part of the Youth Scratch Championships.
States can still pair the USBC Youth Scratch Championships with handicap-based events just as they have in the past. The flexibility for local execution remains even as the national brand and scholarship engine is strengthened.
To learn more about the rebranding and get answers to frequently asked questions, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART, CLICK HERE.
This rebranding represents more than just a name change; it reflects a new increase in scholarship funding at the grassroots level driven by SMART. The foundational structure of the event remains unchanged, continuing to connect youth bowlers through league-level qualifying into regional or state-level competition with age and gender-based state champions being awarded an entry to the Junior Gold Championships.
Nevertheless, the tournament will undergo some key enhancements and better support the program’s key commitments.
As part of this transition, USBC, through the SMART program, is doubling the added funds for event operators, increasing the program’s scholarship funding from $150,000 to $300,000 annually. This expanded funding means more youth bowlers than ever before will receive scholarships through the event.
The USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART honors the program’s rich legacy while bringing its identity in line with USBC youth’s strategic priorities, membership value through tournament competition with scholastic opportunities.
Investment earnings from USBC’s Scholarship Management and Account Reporting for Tenpins (SMART) program will now fund the added scholarship awards associated with the event. This elevates the program’s credibility and stability by tying its financial foundation to USBC’s scholarship platform.
Youth bowlers will continue to qualify through league competition, with progression to regional or state-level events based on each state’s format. The event’s scratch format remains intact to reward raw skill and performance. Following the changes with Junior Gold, the Youth Scratch Championships event will shift to U12, U14, U16 and U18 divisions. The U8 and U10 divisions will still be offered, but only as part of the Youth Scratch Championships.
States can still pair the USBC Youth Scratch Championships with handicap-based events just as they have in the past. The flexibility for local execution remains even as the national brand and scholarship engine is strengthened.
To learn more about the rebranding and get answers to frequently asked questions, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART, CLICK HERE.