The California Youth Scratch Championships (formerly the Pepsi Youth Championships) is a multi-level nationwide qualifying championship event for USBC certified youth bowlers. This tournament is a benefit of USBC membership — every youth bowler should be given their chance to enter. California has awarded over $1,000,000 since 1998 (Coca-Cola Youth Championships / Pepsi Youth Championships).
Over $1 million dollars awarded in Scholarships since 1998 for this tournament!
2026 YOUTH SCRATCH CHAMP TOURNAMENT HANDBOOK (pdf) COMING SOON
Last year we awarded over $51,000 in Scholarships!!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for 2026:
TEN AGE DIVISIONS: All qualifying will be scratch and will be based on the bowler’s birthdate:
Boys/Girls U8 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2017 or later
Boys/Girls U10 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2015 thru 7/31/17
Boys/Girls U12 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2013 thru 7/31/15
Boys/Girls U14 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2011 thru 7/31/13
Boys/Girls U16 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2009 thru 7/31/11
Boys/Girls U18 Division: Birthdate is 8/1/2007 thru 7/31/09
TOURNAMENT ENTRY:
Competition is open to all 2025-26 USBC Youth members that are enrolled in a California USBC certified youth league and not under suspension. Bowlers must qualify from their youth league based on a ratio of 1:4 per division. League substitutes are allowed to participate if it is their only California USBC certified youth league. ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH CALIFORNIA USBC CERTIFIED LEAGUES with ONE PAYMENT submitted from the YOUTH DIRECTOR. This tournament is a benefit of USBC membership – every youth bowler should be given their chance to participate. (Youth leagues must be USBC certified in order to participate). Bowlers are qualifying from League Level to State Finals. There is not enough participation to have a District Finals at this time. When numbers improve, we can reinstate a District Finals.
CALIFORNIA YOUTH SCRATCH CHAMPIONSHIPS (YSC) FORMAT
DIVISIONS ARE BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT’S AGE:
– BOYS U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 & U18 DIVISIONS
– GIRLS U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 & U18 DIVISIONS
LEAGUE LEVEL QUALIFYING:
November 3-16, 2025
The USBC Youth Scratch Championships (YSC) begins with league-level qualifying (NOVEMBER). All USBC-certified youth leagues are automatic qualifying sites — no additional registration is required at the league level. Paperwork (worksheets and summary form) and fees due: JANUARY 18, 2026
- Official YSC Worksheets for league level qualifying are provided in the tournament handout. One worksheet per division.
- See tournament packet for info, fees and contact information.
- Bowlers will advance from the League Level (scratch) to the State Finals based on a set ratio (see rules).
- Entry fee required.
STATE FINALS – March 14-15, 2026
U8 & U10 DIVISION FORMAT:
- FORMAT: Three games bowled on the same pair of lanes.
- Handicap and Scratch Scholarships will be awarded in each division
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U8 & U10 Champions will earn a FREE entry reimbursement ($50 value) into the California Youth State Championships held on June 20-21, 2026 at Arlington Lanes, Riverside. This offer is applicable only to the four Champions and will be voided if they cannot attend or do not enter with a full team entry. See rules for more info.
STATE FINALS – March 14-15, 2026
U12, U14, U16 & U18 DIVISIONS FORMAT:
- FORMAT: Five games scratch moving pairs after each game.
- U12-U18 divisions are competing for scratch scholarships and eight FREE berths (one per division) into the USBC Junior Gold Championships in July.
- Handicap and Scratch Scholarships will be awarded in each division
- STRIKE12CREATIONS.com JERSEYS will be awarded to the eight Champions (set design) going to Junior Gold
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The eight Champions going to Junior Gold will also receive a $500 travel stipend reimbursement
USBC JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – U12, U14, U16 & U18 DIVISIONS ONLY (July): California is allotted eight FREE berths into the Junior Gold Championships (one per division). The first-place winners (or highest finishing athlete who has not already advanced) of the U12, U14, U16 and U18 divisions for both Girls and Boys will advance to the Junior Gold Championships. They must be USBC Junior Gold members to advance to the Junior Gold Championships. Bowlers without a current Junior Gold membership must purchase a Junior Gold membership prior to May 15.
IMPORTANT PEPSI DATES
| LEAGUE LEVEL QUALIFYING All Divisions will qualify to the State Finals based on a ratio of 1:4. |
November 3-16, 2025 |
| PAPERWORK AND FEES DUE 2026 YOUTH SCRATCH CHAMP. TOURNAMENT HANDBOOK |
January 18, 2026 |
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RSVP WINDOW for STATE FINALISTS (Online Registration only) Only paid entries submitted by Jan 18 are eligible. Ratios will be verified by District Directors |
February 1-21, 2026 |
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STATE FINALS |
March 14-15, 2026 |
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CAL STATE YOUTH QUEENS & MASTERS |
March 14-15, 2026 |
| YOUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Team & Singles) ARLINGTON LANES 7100 Arlington Ave Riverside, CA 92503-1539 (951) 688-2695 State Finals U8 & U10 Champions (scratch) can win a FREE entry into this event at the YSC State Finals. See rules for more info. CLICK HERE FOR WINNERS! |
June 21-22, 2025 |
| USBC JUNIOR GOLD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (U12, U14, U16 & U18 divisions – 8 berths awarded from Youth Scratch Championships) |
July 2026 Minnesota |
2026 DISTRICT INFORMATION |
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| DIST | DISTRICT DIRECTOR | INFO |
| 1 | Brett Kociemba (530) 345-5574 | |
| 2 | Shelby Sanz (916) 725-2101 |
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| 3 | Tim Pato (925) 550-8975 |
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| 4 | Kit Hannah |
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| 5 | Gary Philip (951) 529-3920 |
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| 6 | Linda Stewart (714) 315-1738 |
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Tournament Director: Lynn Matsubara
Email: info@calusbc.com / Phone: 562-449-4527
Download List of Center with Youth Programs
