Excerpt from the 2010-11 US Fencing Athletes Handbook
Download the full document here.

2.3 Competitive Opportunities within the USFA

2.3.1 Types of Competitions

Open: An Open competition is one in which all competitors are eligible to compete without regard to their divisional membership, classification, rank, or age (except for minimum ages as specified in this handbook). Eligibility requirements are explained in section 2.5. The same rules apply to all USFA events that do not carry a specific age restriction (Youth, Cadets, Juniors, and Veteran events) whether they are NAC or national championship events, or run by a club, division, or section.

To compete in a USFA-sponsored “Open” event, all fencers must be at least 13 years old on January 1 of the competitive season in question unless the fencer is on the National Junior point standings at the entry deadline for that competition. This rule was developed to be consistent with age requirements set by the international fencing community. It is part of a developmental framework designed to give young fencers appropriate competitive bouts as they grow.

Closed: A Closed competition is a sectional, interdivisional, or divisional competition in which eligibility is limited on the basis of sectional or divisional membership.

Age-Restricted: Any USFA age-restricted competition can be rated for classification change consideration except those competitions that are restricted to Cadet (Under 17 or Under 16) or Youth age categories, which must meet the criteria for a Group C1 or higher (See classification chart in Appendix 2.7) for the competition to be ranked for classification changes. [BOD, July 2003] Restricted: Competitions may be restricted to fencers under or over a certain age, to Unclassified fencers or novice, or to other categories of fencers provided that an appropriate description of the basis of eligibility of contestants must be announced in the schedule. Restricted competitions may not be rated unless the restriction is based solely upon fencers’ classifications or age or Division or Section membership.

Youth: Competitions for those who are 10 and under, 12 and under, and 14 and under, refer to the 2010-2011 Age/Classification Restriction Rules (Table 2.5.1 or Appendix 2.1)

Championships: The USFA sponsors National Championships for different levels of development and for different age groups: Junior Olympic Fencing Championships for Under 20 and Under 17 age-group fencers, held during Presidents’ weekend in February; USA Fencing National Championships for Division IA, II, III, Veteran 40-49, Veteran 50-59, Veteran 60-69, Veteran 70 & Older, and Youth 14 fencers, normally held during the first two weeks of July. The Division I National Championships are periodically held in conjunction with the April North American Cup. The Wheelchair National Championships in all weapons (women’s saber competition is not held at its World Championships or the Paralympic Games) will be held in conjunction with the April North American Cup. Each category of National Championships includes competitions for each of the six weapons: Men’s Epee, Foil, and Saber and Women’s Epee, Foil, and Saber. Championship tournaments are only open to US Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Fencers with a Supporting membership category are NOT ELIGIBLE to compete in any USFA sanctioned tournaments. Fencers with a One-Day membership have the right to compete in any non-USFA Fencing Tournaments that are not nationally organized or a qualifying competition, (for example NACs, RYCs, SYCs, ROCs, or Divisional/Sectional Qualifiers) and will receive secondary medical/accident insurance for the single day of membership. Also fencers who are under the age of 7 on January 1 of the membership year are not eligible to compete in any USFA tournaments.

2.3.2 National Tournaments and Championships

Division I: The Division I National Championships, to be held this season and in the Olympic year in conjunction with the April NAC, are championships for fencers on the Senior point standings and the top Juniors and Cadets on their respective point standings. Fencers qualify for these Championships via the national point standings and top placements from the last Division IA and Division II National Championships (See Section 2.11 for criteria). These Championships are an integral part of the selection path for the Senior World Teams and for members of teams that qualify for the Olympic Games.

USA Fencing National Championships (Nationals): The USA Fencing National Championships are typically held the first week of July. Fencers must qualify to compete in this tournament. See section 2.11 for qualifying criteria for each individual event. Events in these championships include (in all six weapons): Youth 14, Veteran 40-49, Veteran 50-59, Veteran 60-69, Veteran 70+, Division IA, Division II, Division III, and Senior Team. This is the last tournament for selection of the members of the team to the World Veterans Championships. Fencers must qualify to compete in this tournament as explained in Section 2.11. Please see Table 2.5.1.B for age criteria.

Starting with the 2010-2011 fencing season, the only Junior and Cadet National Championships are the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships in February. In July 2011 the Under 19 and Under 16 events will be incorporated in NAC framework; in addition Youth 12, Youth 10, Under 19 Team and Veteran Team events will be held during the USA Fencing National Championship tournament, these events are not designated as National Championships. The Under 19 and Under 16 events held in July mark the beginning of the domestic season for the Under 19 (Junior) and Under 16 (Cadet) and the end of the domestic season for all other categories. Please see Table 2.5.1.B for age criteria.

Junior Olympic Fencing Championships (JO’s): The Junior Olympic Fencing Championships are held each year in February during the four-day President’s holiday weekend. The Junior Olympic Fencing Championships are the championships for the Under 17 (Cadet), Under 20 (Junior), and Under 20 (Junior) Team, in each of the six weapons, and are the final domestic competitions in the selection cycle for the Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships. Fencers must qualify to compete in this tournament as explained in Section 2.11. Please see Table 2.5A for age criteria.

North American Cup (NAC): The North American Cup Tournaments are a series of National point tournaments organized by USA Fencing. USFA competitive members are eligible to enter NAC tournaments if they meet the conditions of the category of that NAC (see eligibility requirements listed with specific events in Section 2.11). The NAC tournaments are also open to foreign fencers who have an FIE license valid for the current season or can show proof of membership in another fencing federation,and who meet age requirements for specific NAC tournaments. Please see Table 2.5.1.A for age criteria.

2.3.3 Regional Tournaments

Regional Open Circuit (ROC): The Regional Open Circuit (ROC) is designed to promote and develop strong regional tournaments for the Open/Division I-A fencer who seeks competitive opportunities beyond the local and sectional level but below the NAC Division I level. Other competitive opportunities in the ROC tournaments are provided for Veteran (40 & Older) and Division II (C, D, E or U) fencers [BOD, September 2008]. Please check the USFA website under EVENTS, http://usfaroc.askfred.net/ or email roc@usfencing.org for more information.

Youth: The USFA promotes a series of youth tournaments for the Y14, Y12 and Y10 age categories to provide more competitive opportunities for the younger fencers. Schedules for both Super and Regional Youth tournaments are posted on www.usfencing.org under EVENTS.

Super Youth Circuit (SYC): There are 8 Super Youth tournaments during the 2010-2011 season. Youth fencers may participate in one or more Super Youth tournaments, however, only the competition where the fencer earns the most points will be included in the revised point standings published after the last SYC. These competitions are one of the possible qualification paths for Youth 10 and Youth 12 events at both the April and/or July NACs.

Regional Youth Circuit (RYC): The RYC tournaments are held throughout the season, similar to the Super Youth Circuit tournaments. There are no national points awarded at Regional Youth competitions. These competitions are one of the possible qualification paths for Youth 10 and Youth 12 events at both the April and/or July NACs.

2.3.4 Division/Section Competitions

Divisions and Sections hold many different competitions including qualifying competitions for the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships and the USA Fencing National Championships. Schedules for these competitions can be found by contacting individual divisions or sections, or visiting the appropriate website. Contact information is available on the USFA website.

2.3.5 Local/Club Competitions

A wide variety of competitions can be found at the local level in clubs or sponsored by local organizations. Schedules for these competitions can be found by contacting sections or divisions. Contact information is available on the USFA website.

2.4 Entering Competitions/Tournaments

2.4.1 USFA National Tournaments

Fencers may not enter onsite at a National Tournament. For registration accuracy, speed, and environmental reasons, USA Fencing has moved to an online registration system; we strongly encourage the use of this system. Entry forms are also available to be mailed or faxed to the USFA National Office; all paper entries incur a $10 processing fee. All entries, regardless of method, must be received at the USFA National Office by the published deadline for that tournament. Each National Championship tournament has a separate entry form and online registration site. For the Junior Olympic Fencing
Championships and the USA Fencing National Championships, the entry forms are posted on the USFA web site. Only those individuals who are eligible to fence in those competitions will be allowed to enter online. Any eligible fencer who is not able to use the online registration system may request an entry from the National Office of visit the USFA’s website for the appropriate entry form.

Deadlines for entry are strictly enforced. Deadlines are published on the USFA website, in this book with the schedule in Appendix 1.1, and on the entry forms. The entry deadline date is approximately 6-8 weeks prior to the first day of the tournament. Postmarks are not considered, entries must arrive at the USFA National Office by the deadline. Online entry deadlines are as of 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time.

Late entries, with payment of triple the amount, for NAC and Championships tournaments will be accepted up to the posted deadline prior to the start of the tournament, No entries are accepted after that date or at the door. See Appendix 1.1 for deadline dates for the 2010-2011 Season.

Payment of all fees must accompany the entry form or be successfully completed online for it to be considered received. Entry forms without complete payment or for which credit card was not accepted are returned to the competitor.

Please refer to the Confirmed Entry List for the status of an entry. The Confirmed Entry List is posted on the specific tournament web page located on the USA Fencing website under EVENTS. It is the fencer’s responsibility to verify the events registered for, classification for each weapon, and division information. Any discrepancies must be reported to U.S. Fencing immediately (email: information@usfencing.org).

For refund of event fee(s), withdrawals must be received in writing at the National Office no later than the Monday before the first day of the tournament. Registration fees are nonrefundable. Refunds are processed 4-6 weeks following the tournament.

Unless otherwise specified, the latest edition and/or any relevant updates of the USFA Rules for Competition, available on the USA Fencing website, govern USFA competitions. It is the responsibility of each fencer to be familiar with them. Please refer to the Fencing Officials Website (www.fencingofficials.com) for any questions regarding Rules of Competition.

2.4.2 Regional Open Circuit (ROC)

Entry forms for these competitions are available through links on the USFA website, under EVENTS, and http://usfaroc.askfred.net/ for the tournament host. Competitors must follow entry procedures published with the entry form that includes the name and place to which entry is to be sent. Registrations for these competitions are NOT processed through the USFA office.

2.4.3 Super and Regional Youth Circuits

Entry forms for these competitions are available through links on the USFA website Events Tab, www.usfencing.org, for the tournament host. Competitors must follow entry procedures published with the entry form that includes the name and place to which the entry is to be sent. Registrations for these tournaments are NOT processed through the USFA office.

2.4.4 Division/Section/Club/Local Competitions

Entry procedures for these competitions vary from competition to competition. Contact the organizers of the competitions to determine their procedures. You must register following the organizer’s procedures. Registrations for these tournaments are NOT processed through the USFA office.

2.5 Eligibility to Compete

Fencers must be current competitive USFA members in good standing to compete in competitions conducted under the auspices of the USFA. Foreign fencers must have a current FIE license or provide proof of membership in another fencing federation.

For a fencer to compete in a specific age category competition or any “Open” level of competition conducted under the auspices of the USFA at divisional, sectional, regional or national levels, the following criteria must be met.

• The fencer’s birth year falls within that age bracket OR
• If a fencer is currently (current as of the entry deadline for that tournament) listed in a National age group point standing, the fencer may enter the next older age category of competition, even if that fencer is younger than allowed by the age bracket.
• For categories of competitions in which criteria in addition to age must be met, the fencer must also meet those criteria by the entry deadline. There are specific age eligibility criteria for the Veteran tournaments as well.

Specific age and classification rules for each category are given in Table 2.5.1 and Appendix 2.1.

For any USFA competition that is not specific to an age group, the fencer must be at least 13 years old as of January 1 of the current fencing season. The fencing season is the same as the membership year, August 1 through the following July 31. The exception to this rule is that a fencer who is on the Junior national rolling point standings (NRPS) at the entry deadline for the competition and is younger than 13 as of January 1 of the current fencing season will be allowed to compete in the USFA competitions not
specific to an age group.

Examples of such competitions are: “Open”, “Unclassified”, “A” competitions, “C or under” competitions, Team competitions of any category unless specified for juniors or similar age restricted category.