The 2007-2008 Illinois State Pepsi Cola Tournament Director is Steve Lawson

2007-08 TOURNAMENT BASICS

At this time forms, rules and other basics are being finalized for distribution to centers in mid/late September.  League Qualifying Window will be October 13-26.  Zone tournaments will be held in January for 11 and Unders and in February or March for 12 and overs (working to not conflict with IHSA events and to allow IHSA bowlers to participate).  Your zone director will be contacting your program with those specifics.  The State Finals will be held the weekends of May 2-4, 2008 for the 12 and over in Peoria, IL and and May 17-18, 2008  for the 11 and Unders in Effingham, IL.  

About The Tournament     

All USBC Youth Associations should have received their league kit(s) with their summer supplies in June.  You may use the link above to download a handbook if you did not receive one.  As it was in the 2006-07 PEPSI tournaments, there are still four divisions for 12 & above (Boys’ and Girls’ - Handicap and Scratch).  Athletes will again advance after the state/provincial/ zone finals.  The Handicap Division winners will still advance to the 2008 Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships International Finals in July 2008 and the Scratch Division winners will now advance to the 2008 Junior Gold National Championships July 2008.  Both will be held in Detroit, MI.

The Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships, sponsored by PepsiCo. Inc. USA® and conducted by the USBC Youth Division, is an opportunity for your area's athletes to become involved in the premier international tournament for youth bowlers.  To date, the Youth Bowling Championships (previously Coca Cola YBC) has awarded over $2,500,000 in scholarships, through the Scholarship Funds Program and the International Finals.  It is estimated that at least $250,000 in scholarships will be awarded nationally this season through all State/Provincial/Zone competitions.  We estimate that we will again be able to award over $70,000 just in Illinois Zone and State level competition.  By conducting the league level competition you are giving your bowlers an opportunity to help finance their education.
 
The Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships begins at the league level.  The tournament is a benefit of membership to all USBC  Youth Division sanctioned bowlers (no longer an upper age limit of 21).  For just being a member of USBC Youth, athletes receive the opportunity to:

• compete with other youth in an international tournament.
• compete with no extra cost at the league level of competition.
• compete with other youth of the same age and ability for scholarships.
• win an expense-paid trip* to the Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships international finals July 2008 (Detroit, MI) to compete for $20,000 in scholarships if they are the 12 and above Handicap Division winner at the state/provincial/zone finals.
• win a berth to the USA Junior Gold National Championships July 2008 (Detroit, MI) to compete for a pool of $15,000 earmarked for Pepsi Cola advancers only plus approximately $50,000 in scholarships available to all athletes at the Junior Gold National Championships if they are the 12 and above Scratch Division winner at the state/provincial/zone finals.

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Tournament Overview     

The Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships begins with league level qualifying.  Bowling centers with USBC Youth Division certified leagues are automatic qualifying sites.  Since the tournament is a benefit of a membership, there is no entry fee at this level.

League level qualifying will be October 13-26.  Zone tournaments for the 11 and Under group will be held mostly in January 2008..    Most zone tournaments for the 12 & over group will be held in late February.  

Qualifying competition is held in divisions based on the bowler's age as of August 1, 2007.  The divisions are:

• 11 and under Boys’ Handicap
• 11 and under Girls’ Handicap
• 12 and above Boys’ Handicap
• 12 and above Girls’ Handicap
• 12 and above Boys’ Scratch
• 12 and above Girls’ Scratch

  Participants in the 11-and-under age divisions advance as far as the state/provincial/zone championships with some earning scholarships.  They do not compete in the international finals.

  Winners in the 12 and above age divisions will advance to state/provincial/zone competitions along with other high finishers (six boys and four girls in the handicap divisions).
  

  Advancers from the state/provincial/zone competitions receive scholarships and an opportunity to advance to one of USBC Youth international finals.  In addition to the scholarship money won at the State Tournament, the Handicap Division winners from the state/provincial/zone finals will receive a paid entry in the international finals of the Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships July 2007 (Detroit, MI).  The Illinois State USBC Youth and PEPSI COLA tournament will also allow a travel stipend.  Youth representing U.S. military bases abroad are responsible for their traveling expenses to reach a U.S. border.  Each state/province/zone will send at least one winner for each of the two 12 and above age divisions.  Some states/provinces/zones will receive additional berths based on YABA membership figures.  These athletes will still be competing for $20,000 in scholarships at the international finals.

  The Scratch Division winners from the state/provincial/zone finals will receive a berth into the 2007 USBC Junior Gold National Championships in Detroit, MI.  These athletes will have their $150 entry fee paid for by USBC.  In addition, the advancers out of the Pepsi Cola Youth Bowling Championships will also still be in competition for $15,000 in scholarships earmarked especially for Pepsi Cola advancers, plus the opportunity for $50,000 in scholarships available to all athletes at the championships.  The advancers must be Gold program members, or be eligible and purchase a membership prior to the championships.  There is no requirement to be a Gold program member to enter the Scratch Division at the local or state level.

  Finalists advancing to the Pepsi Cola international finals out of the handicap divisions from their state/ provincial/zone level are eligible for either Division I or II.  These finalists will be ranked by their adjusted average in their respective gender category. Divisions I and II are created by the split at the middle adjusted average point.  Finalists will then only compete against those in their respective division.

  Athletes in each division at the Pepsi Cola international finals begin competing by rolling two four-game blocks.  Total pinfall for the eight qualifying games (plus handicap where applicable) will decide the top 16 semifinalists in Division I and in Division II.  The semifinalists will then bowl double-elimination single match play games.  Predetermined pairings for the first round of match play are based on order of finish after qualifying. Total pinfall from the qualifying competition will be dropped for the semifinal competition. Division I and II scholarship awards in 2007 were:  1st place, $2,000; 2nd place, $1,500; 3rd place, $1,000; and 4th place, $500.  We anticipate similar awards at the national level for the 2008 tournament.

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