CAN THE FIVE-AND-UNDER NATIONALS QUALIFYING PROCESS BE IMPROVED?
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, December 6, 2025] — Like just about anything we do, the answer is Yes.
Our Five-and-Under Nationals are pursued more hotly than just about any other national championship we run, and we are thrilled to see the annual buzz about it. The 5U Nationals close out our event run each year, and it’s a great way to cap off the traditional season.
That said, we receive more than a few messages about how this championship should evolve. We’re never going to make everybody happy, but there are things we’re considering as we look ahead, based on feedback from competitors and Member Clubs. Here’s our take on some of the changes that we’re reviewing.
No qualifier bonspiels that have regional restrictions.
PROS: Teams across the country want to take advantage of as many qualifier opportunities as they can. Some teams are in locations that don’t have many National qualifiers, and regional restrictions could be considered an unfair advantage to some teams. Eliminating qualifier bonspiels with regional restrictions would be well-received by many.
CONS: These are some of the largest qualifier events, including three that were among the original 5U spiels hosted by the GNCC. Many of these events also have significant history and have been responsible for launching the category. Removing them as qualifiers could mean they will see fewer entries and overall decline.
OPTIONS: Some regions, like the Dakota Territory, run qualifier bonspiels with two sides—one for teams in the region and one for teams from outside of it. They crown a regional champion, and then have that team play the winner of the other side of the draw for the Nationals berth. More regional qualifiers could adopt this. On the other hand, if region-based bonspiels did not serve as qualifiers, they could still be exciting, robust events that produce a regional champion. It might also help return some of the original, more social elements of Five-and-Under curling to these events.
Once a team earns a berth, it can’t compete in other Five-and-Under Qualifier bonspiels.
PROS: Currently, when a team that has already qualified for Nationals wins a second or third event, the berth goes back into the overall pool and is awarded to the runner-up in the bonspiel with the greatest number of entries. This fill process continues in descending order. It adds a level of complexity, but it is fairer than simply granting the berth to the runner-up. But when teams have already earned a berth and are competing in another qualifier bonspiel, it can create an appearance of conflict-of-interest. Forcing teams to withdraw from other qualifier bonspiels once they have earned a berth would eliminate that. It could also force some 5U teams to look beyond Five-and-Under events in their schedule. After earning a berth, they would test themselves in other bonspiels against more experienced competitors and meet more people in the larger curling community.
CONS: Preventing teams from playing in qualifier bonspiels would likely mean smaller fields and fewer entry fees for Member Clubs that host the bonspiels. It could also create schedule challenges when teams have to drop out on short notice—drawmasters would have fresh challenges. Finally, when Five-and-Under teams see each other at different locations throughout the season, it helps forge the connections that make our sport great.
OPTIONS: Force teams to remove themselves from future qualifiers once they have earned a berth in Nationals, and hope that teams previously shut out of events would enter and keep entry totals at the same levels. We could also limit the number of qualifier bonspiels any team is allowed to enter.
Require documentation of Five-and-Under eligibility.
PROS: Requiring teams to provide signed documents from their club president would eliminate debates around eligibility. We don’t have many, but they crop up more each year.
CONS: Club presidents already have a lot to do, and it puts them in the awkward position of policing their own members. What’s more, no system will ever be perfect and not every club keeps the kind of documentation that can provide irrefutable evidence of eligibility.
OPTIONS: Continue to self-regulate or require more certification of eligibility.
Increase the number of Qualifier Bonspiels so more events are selected and the Nationals field is larger.
PROS: It would eliminate the idea that a bonspiel isn’t worth entering if it isn’t a route to Nationals, and make the selection process less controversial. With the current process, there will always be bonspiel/location choices that are subjective and open to criticism.
CONS: The Nationals field would grow and another format would have to be utilized that would result in fewer games for teams that reach the championship. It would be more difficult to find host clubs with the capacity to host a much larger event, and diminish the sense of accomplishment that comes from earning a berth in a national championship.
OPTIONS: Not a lot of great ones, and the 24-team Nationals is something we like to replicate across multiple championships. We can be more transparent with the selection process, and plan to announce the qualifier events earlier. We can also communicate that 5U curlers of all levels can find an event that suits them, especially if they don’t like the competitive nature of the Qualifier bonspiels.
Bottom line? Just about any change that might appeal to one person could be a negative to someone else. We may end up deciding to keep the everything the same, but we will continue to weigh possible changes.
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.
