COMPETITION UPDATES
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, November 19, 2025] — USA Curling is providing updates to some competitions that will occur this season. The events and the information are below.
2026 U18 National Championships. In recent years, teams at this event were permitted an additional timeout in each game at U18 Nationals. As a development event, this offered more learning opportunities for young players during a championship event. Recent changes to the World Curling Rules of Curling and Rules of Competitions, however, permit far more coach interaction during games in the past. In 2025-26, players can now consult with their coach during a game whenever the opposition time clock is running. That means there is far more interaction between coaches and players throughout a game. As a result, an additional timeout at U18 Nationals has been deemed unnecessary.
2026 Junior National Championships. There are two updates related to this year’s Junior Nationals.
First, World Curling is moving to eight end games at the 2027 World Junior Championships. Since our 2026 champions will compete at that 2027 events, we are making games at the 2026 Junior Nationals eight ends to align with the World Curling format change.
Second, this year’s Junior Nationals will be held in Bismarck, ND, in the Wachter Arena at the Capital Ice Complex. To eliminate any confusion, this will be a championship surface prepared by a highly experienced ice crew, and not prepped skating ice. It is an exciting opportunity for our best junior curlers to curl in the same setting that players experience at Men’s & Women’s Nationals and our Olympic Trials.
Last Chance Men’s & Women’s Nationals Qualifier. The final two berths at the 2026 Men’s & Women’s National Championships will be determined at the Last Chance Qualifier at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, scheduled for December 18-21, 2025. While games at the Men’s & Women’s National Championships will remain ten ends, games at the Last Chance Qualifier will be eight ends. Games will be timed and both teams will have 30 minutes of Thinking Time per game.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
