Frequently Asked Questions

The Junior Gold results are typically available online at the USBC Junior Gold page (see below for direct links) in the early morning of the following day. In some cases, when all squads for a division finish early, the scores will be available online sooner.

In the case of the Advancers rounds, they are posted online at various times after all squads in a division are complete. Expect them to be posted after 2:00 am, or just plan as if you made them and wake up early to verify. U12 and U15 are announced earlier since U12 only has Final Advancers, and U15 squad have finished after the 11 o’clock squad in the past. Also, they will print and post the results at the bowling center long before they are updated online, but can take an hour or two. If you need to verify whether you are moving on to the next round it’s worth checking with the tournament staff to see if they are going to do that.

• The Junior Gold, Survivor tournament, Team USA Qualifier, and Adult / Youth tournament results can be found here:
  • 2024 (available after JG start)
  • Previous years
• For the Survivor, Youth Open Championships, Adult / Youth, and DV8 Bowl4Life Shootout results see the “When will results be announced for Advancers Rounds, Survivor, Youth Open, etc.” FAQ

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

For the 2023-2024 season Junior Gold is to be held Detroit, MI.

July 12-20, 2024 – (U12 / U15 / U18 divisions)

For lodging info and tips see the Logistical Tips page.

For a map of the area with the event locations, bowling centers, attractions, etc. see the Junior Gold 2024 – Detroit map.

The U2025 Junior Gold location is Green Bay, WI.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

The Survivor scores are released in the middle of August, as the specified age divisions need to be manually verified. Unofficial results are generally released a few days after the squads end, however. They are found on the same page as the Junior Gold results.

The Youth Open unofficial results are typically updated after the various squads bowl. The official results are released within 30 days of the completion of the last squad.

The DV8 Bowl4Life JuniorBowling.com Shootout results are posted on a daily basis during the tournament at their Facebook page, and once complete at their website

• The Junior Gold, Survivor tournament, Team USA Qualifier, and Adult / Youth tournament results can be found here:
  • 2024 (available after JG start)
  • Previous years
• Youth Open Championships results are available here, and past results are available here.
• USA Bowling results are available on the main USA Bowling National Tournament page, and past result are available here.
• The DV8 Bowl4Life JuniorBowling.com Shootout results are posted on a daily basis during the tournament at their Facebook page, and once complete at their website

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

Junior Gold normally runs everyday for 9 days, from Firsday to Saturday. The 2024 Junior Gold is running from Friday 7/12 – Saturday 7/20/24. However, depending on how well you do during the qualifying and advancer’s rounds will dictate how long you’ll need to stay during the week. Here’s the breakdown:

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: These days are the busiest, expect to being out all day, and eating on the road. On Saturday you have 2 or 3 practice sessions (depending on your squad), and the Expo / registration, and the optional clinics. The options equipment demo sessions are on Saturday as well. Sunday you have your remaining practice sessions, and the Opening Ceremonies.

Monday – Thursday: Qualifying Squads. All bowlers bowl one squad each day. Squad times vary: 7:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM and 8:30 PM. Expect to be at the center for approx 3 hours. U12 divisions have their Final Advancer’s round in the evening for those bowlers who have made the cut .

Friday – U15, U18 Advancers rounds for those bowlers who have made the cut in the morning. Final Advancer’s rounds in the afternoon. First 2 U18 match play rounds in the evening. All U12 Matchplay rounds.

Saturday: All U15 match play rounds, remaining U18 Matchplay rounds. TV show taping for all divisions.

Optional Survivor Tournament Squads usually happen at the end of the week.

You can find the full schedule here, and a practice and registration cheat sheet here.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

• Junior Gold is an awesome experience for anyone who enjoys bowling competitively.
• The Junior Gold Expo is held on Saturday, and features displays and giveaways by the manufactures, many of the collegiate bowling programs
• Free clinics are offered during the Expo by some of the best coaches and industry leaders in the country and are worth checking out.
• The sponsoring company usually hosts a free ball demo where you can try out their latest offerings, with many of their professional bowlers on the lanes with you, giving you tips and explaining the different ball characteristics.
• A “Day in the Park” party. The sponsoring company will usually host a free “Day in the park with the pros” event where you can hang out with many of the pros, playing games and activities, wiffleball, etc.
• An Opening Ceremony happens Sunday evening where competitors walk-in with other bowlers representing their state. Bowler’s Choice Awards, Dexter All-American Team, and a live entertainment are offered.
• Monday – Thursday are your qualifying squads. For those making the cut, Advancers, Final Advancers (U15, U18 only), and Match Play round come after.
• Matthew Farber and Wesley Low have put together a video series that give you a good idea of the day-to-day of Junior Gold. Be sure to check them out!
• Be sure to check out the “What’s the schedule like” FAQ to get an idea of what to expect each day.
• The first couple of days seem overwhelming for the first-timer, but don’t worry, you’ll be settled in by Tuesday.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

*** CUT NUMBERS LISTED BELOW ***

For each age and gender division, the top 1:7 bowlers will advance to the “Advancer’s Round”. The number of actual bowlers that attend determine the cut, not the total number registered.

The scholarship payout is also the top bowlers in the 1:7 ratio, however it is based on entries. So, competitors that finish high in the rankings but fall short of the Advancers round may receive scholarship awards.

The Pinfall for the games bowled during the Advancer’s round is added to the total pinfall from the qualifying rounds. After the Advancer’s round is complete, the top bowlers move on to the “Final Advancers Round” with a maximum of 64 moving on. Again, the pinfall is added to the previous total pinfall, and the top 16 competitors proceed to match play. The exception is the U12 division which only has one Advancers round. In addition, only the top 8 move on to match play.

Match play is a double elimination format. The total pinfall from two games to determine the winner of each match. The top two bowlers in the “Winners” bracket earn spots to compete on the TV show, along with the winner of the “Elimination” Bracket.

2021 Cut Numbers

Average for cut and # of pins over / under (+-) will be added after round 2 and updated after each qualifying round. (cut numbers for 2024 will be added after tournament start).

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

Preparation:

• Get as much practice on sport patterns as possible.
• Practice your spares!
• Work on your mental game. It’s a grind at times!

While you’re there:

• Talk to to the people on your pair! Making friends is one of the best parts of Junior Gold. The kids are great, and many are happy to help if you’re struggling.
• Remember that you aren’t going to bowl as well as you do at home, especially the first time you are participating. Even the superstars have at least one squad they aren’t happy with, every single Junior Gold.
• Don’t pay too much attention to the standings, they change a LOT from day to day.

Last Updated on February 8, 2021 by John Voorhis

Youth_Bowling Facebook page – The official Junior Gold media account. Posting tips info, video, and pictures.

The Sport of Bowling (USBC) Facebook page – The USBC’s official Facebook page.

Youth Bowling Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – The USBC’s Youth Bowling accounts.

Junior Gold Community Group – Facebook group – heavily frequented unofficial community for questions, info, etc.

Youth Bowling in the USA Facebook group – unofficial community for questions, info, etc.

Great Lakes Junior Gold Tour Facebook group and website – Hotel and general information.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

The tournament director will submit the necessary paperwork to the USBC before they can award you an entry.

After the USBC receives the paperwork, you’ll receive an email from “tournaments@ibcyouth.com” congratulating you on earning your spot and verifying that the bowler has advanced to Junior Gold. It will ask you to verify some information. How long it takes depends on how quickly your tournament director submits the necessary paperwork. Most directors submit it within a couple of days. The USBC usually send the email within a couple of weeks, but the time can be longer during holidays, busy seasons, and during the summer. Be check your spam folder, and add tournaments@ibcyouth.com to your whitelist!

If you haven’t received an email within a month, and your bowler’s name isn’t showing up on the Advancer’s Report (see below), verify with the tournament director that the paperwork has been submitted. If it has, contact the USBC at 800-514-BOWL or tournaments@ibcyouth.com to verify.

Check the Advancer’s Report for your division periodically to ensure your bowler is listed (it’s organized by age division, sex, and ordered by state). This report is generally updated weekly or so.

Occasionally, the USBC needs more information or needs you to correct an issue (usually just adding the JG membership or submitting the waiver), in which case it will be specified there so even if you’ve received the email, you should check the report.

Registration for squads usually opens on December 1st. See the How do I register / select a squad FAQ for links and step-by-step instructions.

The official packet including the competitor’s badge is typically mailed the during last week of June.

Last Updated on May 22, 2024 by John Voorhis

Junior Gold is the premier tournament in youth bowling today. Held over several days in July, it consists of 4 days of qualifying rounds, one or more “Advancers” rounds, and match play round culminating in the top three finishers competing on TV for the Championship.

Competitors must earn a berth to compete at Junior Gold by finishing highly in a qualifying local tournament or league.

In addition, there are other events surrounding Junior Gold that make the week a special one:

• An Opening Ceremony with awards, competitors entering by state, entertainment, etc.
• An expo featuring manufacturers, many professionals, colleges, Team USA, and more.
• A “day in the park” type social event with the pros.
• Several optional tournaments including the Youth Open Championships, USA Bowling Team Championships, Survivor Tournament, DV8 Shootout.
• Prior to the week, Turbo Grips hosts the Turbo Tech Expo, a must attend for those interested in pursuing college bowling.

Last Updated on September 19, 2019 by John Voorhis

All spectators need to purchase a spectator pass in order to enter the Junior Gold venues. Spectator passes are available for purchase at the USBC Junior Gold site. Passes are only required for those aged 18 years or older.

Spectator passes purchased on or before July 1 will cost $20. Spectator passes purchased after July 1 will cost $30. No matter when the passes are purchased, they must be picked up in person at one of the following locations at Junior Gold (NOTE: You must show your driver’s license and receipt at time of pickup):

• July 12– Suburban Collection Showplace, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• July 13 – Suburban Collection Showplace, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• July 15 – July 20 – Competition centers, During Competition

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

The USBC maintains a list of Junior Gold Qualifying leagues and tournaments.

The “Youth Bowling in the USA” and “National Youth Bowling Tournament Index” also frequently have qualifying opportunities listed.

Also see the Qualifying for Junior Gold page for more ideas of finding qualifiers.

Last Updated on February 8, 2021 by John Voorhis

Now would be the perfect time. Junior Gold is a test of your stamina, mental game, lane play knowledge, spare making abilities, and sport pattern versatility. You can’t expect to go to Junior Gold and do well if you haven’t practiced those things.

Also, getting qualified gets harder as the season goes on as less people come to the qualifying tournaments, especially in the lower age and female divisions. The last day to be able to qualify is typically May 15th. For how to get qualified and the requirements, see the “How do I qualify for Junior Gold” FAQ.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

*** This will be updated over the coming weeks to add more resources and tips, bookmark and check back. ***

• You need to get practice on sport oil patterns.
  • One or two sport tournaments aren’t enough, you’ll want to find a sport oil league, or do as many practice sessions with other bowlers on different patterns as possible. Check out the videos on sport oil patterns at the National Bowling Academy, and more information coming soon.
• Practicing spare shooting on sport oil patterns can not be understated.
  • You aren’t going to be striking as much, and spare shooting is the difference between making the cut and going home.
• Learn surface management
  • Get some Abralon or TruCut pads and learn how adjusting the surface of the bowling ball can give you the ball motion you need for a particular pattern.
• Hone your mental game
  • Junior Gold is an awesome experience, but it’s also a grind. Everybody has bad squads, even the superstars. You’re going to get frustrated with your shot making, and keeping your head in the game can mean adding those extra few pins to move on.
• Check out the Junior Gold preparation videos from PBA Pros Andrew Anderson and Kyle Sherman
• Learn single lane courtesy – Most people already have a handle on this, but every year we see some people who aren’t aware, and you don’t want to be “that guy/girl”.
• Check our the “Logistical Tips” page for practical, planning, and travel tips.
• Make sure you compile the accessories for your tournament bag ahead of time, supplies can be scarce at Junior Gold.

Last Updated on October 2, 2019 by John Voorhis

• Shoe brush
• A small pair of scissors
• Thumb Insert tape (if needed), Finger tape, tape knife / tool.
• Super Glue
• Extra socks
• Towel / Chamois / Shammy
• Surface management products (fresh Abralon, TruCut, or Siaair pads)
• Ball Cleaner
• Rosin bag
• Battery powered personal fan
• A shoe cover for your sliding foot.
• A ball ring / cup can be helpful, as there can be more balls than can fit on the racks during the squads at times.

A small emergency supply of first aid supplies:

• Some sort of pain-killer: Advil (Ibuprofen) / Tylenol / Aleve. One type for muscle pain, one for headaches.
• Some band-aids
• Nu-Skin
• Antacid
• Tissues

Also consider bringing a spare jersey and pants / skirt with you to each squad. You don’t want to have to bowl in wet clothes if you spill something on yourself.

Last Updated on June 12, 2022 by John Voorhis

The Junior Gold rules only allow 5 balls to be registered for the tournament. However, you can bring as many as you like to the practice sessions.

This article at the BowlersMart web site discusses selecting the correct balls for Junior Gold.

Also, a former Junior Gold runner up discusses the different ball motions you want to have in your selections.

There are also videos available at the National Bowling Academy, both in the free and premium sections on ball selection for sport oil conditions and tournament play.

Gold Coach Del Warren of the Kegel Training Center talks about arsenal selection for Junior Gold:

Finally this video series by Tommy Jones discusses different ball types and how to use them:

Last Updated on June 12, 2022 by John Voorhis

Junior Gold

The official dress code is listed in the Competitors Guide. Female athletes should be aware that skirt/skort length checks DO happen and there is some differences of opinion between officials at times.

USA Bowling – listed in the rules. One thing to note is that female competitors must have matching bottoms, they must either all wear shirts, or all wear slacks.

Survivor

Same rules as Junior Gold

Youth Open Championships

Can be found in the Youth Open Championships Competitor’s Guide, however generally the same as Junior Gold.

Adult / Youth Baker Tournament

This depends on the local association, but typically there isn’t a requirement. Better safe than sorry – wear at least a collared shirt and slacks / skirt.

JuniorBowling.com DV8 shootout

No requirements other than must have a neat appearance, no rips. “Mom approved”.

Last Updated on September 27, 2019 by John Voorhis

You compete in your actual age division regardless of which division you qualified in. You have the option of competing in a higher age division if you like.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

Competitors are divided into divisions based on age, and gender (male / female). The age divisions are U12, U15, and U18. 

Junior Gold has only scratch divisions and scoring, there are no handicapped divisions.

See the “How do the age divisions work” FAQ for more info.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

For Junior Gold there are currently 3 age divisions – U12, U15, AND U18. The competitor’s age as of August 1st is the determining factor for which age category he falls into. For 2024 the cutoff dates are:
U12: 8/1/11 or later
U15: 8/1/08 – 7/31/11
U18: 8/1/05 – 7/31/08

Example (DoB – Division)
10/15/2013 – U12
9/15/2011 – U12
4/13/2011 – U15
11/14/2006 – U18

The official cutoff dates for the age divisions are found in the tournament directors guides here: Bowl.com – Event Directors Guides.

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by John Voorhis

To qualify for Junior Gold you must finish highly in a Junior Gold qualifying tournament or league.  See the “Qualifying for Junior Gold” page for more information.

Last Updated on September 30, 2019 by John Voorhis

Beginning in the 2019-2020 season, weight hole are no longer allowed. You can use a ball that has had the weight holes filled.

Last Updated on September 30, 2019 by John Voorhis

No changes are allowed during the competition, or during the warm-up sessions just prior to the start of each squad. This begins when any competitor in the squad throws a ball during the warm-up session, NOT when the player throws a ball. The same rules apply for cleaners and polishes. During competition / warm-up, only a dry cloth is allowed for cleaning, no liquid cleaners may be used. All abrasives must be removed from the bowlers area.

You may change / alter the surface as needed in between squads.

For more information, see the “Use of Abrasives on Ball Surface” section under “Rule 7 – Bowling Ball Specifications” of the Junior Gold Competitor’s Guide.

Last Updated on July 31, 2019 by John Voorhis