Coaches/League Officials:

I’m sure by now that everybody has seen the USBC notification regarding the Storm bowling ball exclusion from USBC national bowling events. What does this mean for the Virginia State Pepsi Youth Championship tournament?

USBC said that the Virginia State Pepsi Youth Championships is NOT considered a national event, therefore the decision is ours. The only ones that we do have to follow are the noncompliance rules for the Storm Spectre and Purple Hammers that start with 16 or 17. (I understand these Purple Hammers were manufactured in 2016 and 2017.)

In checking with the Virginia State Bowling Association for their state events, they are only disallowing the Storm Spectre and Purple Hammers that start with 16 or 17.

For the Virginia State Pepsi Youth Championships, please inform your Pepsi qualifiers that the Storm Spectre and the Purple Hammers that start with 16 or 17 will not be permitted to be used during the Pepsi tournament. The remaining bowling balls on the national exclusion list will be allowed just as they are still allowed in league play.

Also, please inform any of your bowlers that are already National Junior Gold qualifiers that if they are using any of the bowling balls on the national exclusion list, that they will not be able to use them at the National Junior Gold tournament. It would be a good suggestion that they start working on using alternate equipment to be better prepared for their tournament bowling at the National Junior Gold.

Any questions, please let me know.

Ken Sprigings
Virginia State Pepsi Youth Championships
Tournament Director
540-529-4207