As most of you should know, the fencing season runs between August 1st- July 31st, and the registration for all competitions is going through the USFA website.
In order to be able to register, you’ll have to be logged into your USFA account.
These are some of the Regional and National tournaments where our competitive fencers are going, during the 2022/2023 fencing season.
2023-24 Age/Classification Eligibility
2023-2024 Regional Schedule: SYCs, RJCCs, ROCs, RYCs
FIE International Events Calendar 2023-24
There are many other nationwide competitions, not listed here (the list would be way too long), where all fencers are encouraged to attend.
For a complete list, please, visit askfred.net (Fencing Results And Events Database) or the United States Fencing Association website.
We encourage our students to try competing as young as 8 years old.
Competing in fencing or in any youth sports has many valuable aspects. Read more about this in the Academy of Fencing Masters blog.
Here is our own guide to starting competitions, including regional, close-to-home events, age eligibility, qualification paths, and links to valuable learning tools.
To make it easier to start our club has set up a series of events for novice fencers, where students and families new to competitive fencing can learn the rules, with no pressure and no obligation to buy any piece of equipment. Everything is provided by the club and it will be handed out to students 30 minutes before the event.
Here is the schedule for our own in-the-club “D’Artagnan Challenge Series, 2023-24″ on askfred.net
*Note that these are tentative dates, and subject to change based on regional/National scheduled events.
The D’Artagnan Series is a low-pressure, developmental tournament for novice fencers, to introduce them to fencing competitions. No fencing experience is required for these events, everyone can participate; however, we encourage you to check with the office or your children’s class teacher, especially if this is your first competition.
Medals/ribbons for the top 8 and rolling points are awarded, for both boys and girls.
At the end of the series the D’Artagnan trophy is presented to one boy and one girl in each age group. The trophy with a personal engraving is to take home and keep as a memory of your competitive fencing beginning.
Click here to access a list of important links relevant to national and international fencing (USFA, NEUSFA 2022-2023 Schedule, Eurofencing, International Olympic Committee, etc.)
Here is an interactive map, with the fencing regions throughout the country, please note that we’re part of the New England Division, which is region three.
For parents new to fencing, and interested in starting some competitions, please send us a message to learn how to get started.
Another great tool is our parents’ forum, in Google Groups, where parents of Olympia students share tips, deadline reminders, and more.
We’re very grateful for such a great fencing community, become one of them today, learn from their experience and help your kids to the best they can be!
Qualification Paths for the 2023 Summer Nationals and July Challenge
The 2023 Summer Nationals and July Challenge will take place this season in Phoenix, AZ.
Summer Nationals – The culmination of the fencing season. This tournament lasts over 10 days in late June – early July, and requires qualification.
July Challenge – A July tournament for fencers in the junior and cadet age group that requires qualification. The July Challenge takes place same location/time as Summer Nationals.
2023 Summer Nationals Championship and July Challenge events
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
Youth – Y10, Y12, and Y14
Division 1A, Division 2, Division 3
All Veterans Events
JULY CHALLENGE EVENTS
Cadet and Junior
Division 1
USA Fencing Athlete Handbook 2022/2023.
- AGE ELIGIBILITY
Age eligibility requirements apply year-round to all tournaments including Summer Nationals and July Challenge, NACs, Junior Olympics, Division 1 Championships, RYCs, SYCs, ROCs as well as sanctioned and unsanctioned local fencing tournaments.
For ease of reference, you can see US Fencing’s Age Eligibility table for the 2022/2023 season HERE.
- CLASSIFICATION ELIGIBILITY
Rating classification restrictions apply to all Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 events.
- CITIZENSHIP
Championship events at Summer Nationals require fencers to be US citizens or permanent residents. Foreign fencers are not allowed to compete in championship events.
Fencers holding US citizenship who have represented a foreign country at an FIE event any time in the past 3 years will not be allowed to compete in a US Fencing championship.
- QUALIFYING PATHS
US Fencing stipulates up to 4 ways, depending on the event, in which a fencer can qualify for events at Summer Nationals provided they are age and classification eligible.
- earning national points from NACs, Championships, July Challenge, SJCCs or SYCs and ranking on the relevant national points list
- earning the requisite number of regional qualifying points from RYCs, RJCCs or ROC
- finishing in the top 25% in a Division Qualifier (DQ) for Y14, Division 2 and Division 3 events
- finishing in the top 40% at a Division 2 NAC to qualify the fencer for the Division 2 Championship
You can download the 2021/2022 US Fencing Athlete Handbook HERE
NOTE TO PARENTS OF YOUTH FENCERS
With effect from Summer Nationals 2020, US Fencing will institute a “cut” in Y12 and Y14 events at the championship. The bottom 20% of the field after pools will be eliminated from the competition, and will not be allowed to fence the Direct Elimination (DE) rounds.
ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION TABLES FOR 2022 SUMMER NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP AND JULY CHALLENGE EVENTS
EVENTS:
DIVISION 1
JULY CHALLENGE EVENT
ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION PATHS
Born 2008 or earlier
(unless a fencer born after 2008 is on the relevant National Junior Points List at the registration deadline)
Rating classification of A,B or C at registration deadline
No citizenship or permanent residency requirements. Open to qualified foreign fencers.
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must:
- Be on the current Senior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Be on the aged-out Junior NRPS at the regular fee entry deadline and age-eligible OR
- Be Top 24 of the aged Cadet NRPS at the regular fee deadline and age-eligible OR
- Be Top 16 from Div IA Regional Points Standings OR
- Be in the top 4 of the Division II regional points at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Be a 2022 NCAA National Championships Individual Competitors (24) OR
- Foreign athletes who meet the USA Fencing classification standard of an “A”, “B” as defined in Section 2.2.4.
DIVISION 1A
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2008 or earlier (unless a fencer born after 2008 is on the relevant National Junior Points List at registration deadline)
Rating classification of A.B,C,D,E or U at registration deadline
Fencer must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
The fencer must:
- Be on the current season’s Div IA ROC Regional Point Standings OR
- in the top 8 of the Division II Regional Open Circuit point standings at the regular fee entry deadline
DIVISION 2
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2008 or earlier (unless a fencer born after 2008 is on the relevant National Junior Points List at registration deadline)
Rating classification of C, D, E or U at registration deadline
Fencer must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
The fencer must:
- Place in the top 25% of the current season’s division qualifying competition, even if you earned a higher rating classification than eligibility requirements at that DQ, OR
- Be on the current season’s Div IA ROC Regional Point Standings OR
- Be on the Div II ROC Regional Point Standings OR
- Place in the top 40% of any current season Division 2 NAC
DIVISION 3
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2008 or earlier (unless a fencer born after 2008 is on the relevant National Junior Points List at the registration deadline)
Rating classification of D, E or U at registration deadline
Fencer must be US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
- Place in the top 25% (round up) of the total number of “D”, “E”, or “U” fencers competing in the current season division’s Division 2 Qualifying competition (when Division 2 and Division 3 qualifying competitions are held together) OR
- If separate Division 3 qualifying competition held by division, then the top 25% of the field will qualify for Division 3 National Championships OR
- Be on the Division IA or Division 2 Regional Open Circuit point standings, if classification eligible, at the regular fee entry deadline for these Championships OR
- Qualified for Division II National Championships, if classification eligible
Note: If the fencer qualifies through a Division 2 DQ, and earns a higher rating classification at that DQ, the fencer is still eligible to compete in the Division 3 championship events.
JUNIOR
JULY CHALLENGE
Born 2003 to 2009 (unless a fencer born after 2009 is on the relevant National Cadet Points List at registration deadline)
No rating classification restrictions
No citizenship or permanent resident restrictions. Open to foreign fencers.
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must be:
- On Junior NRPS (Age out rankings after JOs) by entry deadline OR
- On Cadet NRPS (Age out rankings after JOs) OR
- Earn at least 65 regional points (top 2 events) on your region’s Junior Regional Point Standing OR
- Be in the top 25% of the Youth 14 national rolling point standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Foreign athletes who meet the USA Fencing classification standard of “A”, “B” as defined in Section 2.2.4
CADET
JULY CHALLENGE
Born 2006 to 2009 (unless a fencer born after 2009 is on the relevant National Y14 Points List at the registration deadline)
No rating classification restrictions
No citizenship or permanent residency requirements. Open to foreign fencers.
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must:
- Be on Cadet NRPS (Age out after JOs) OR
- Be in the top 50% of the Y14 national rolling point standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Earn at least 65 regional points (top 2 events) on their regions Cadet Regional Point Standing OR
- Earn at least 65 regional points (top 2 events) on their regions Junior Regional Circuit Points
Y14
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2007 to 2010 (unless a fencer born after 2010 is on the relevant National Y12 Points List at the registration deadline)
No rating classification restrictions
Fencer must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must:
- Be on the Youth 14 National Point Standings at the regular entry fee deadline OR
- Earn at least 150 Y14 Regional Points during the current season (Total points = an athlete’s top 3 point results) OR
- Place in the top 25% (round up) of the fencer’s division’s Y14 National Championship qualifying competition
Y12
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2009 to 2012 (unless a fencer born after 2012 is on the relevant National Y10 National Points List at registration deadline)
No rating classification restrictions
Fencer must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must:
- Be on the Y12 National Point Standings at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Earn at least 70 Y12 Regional Points during the current season (Total points = an athlete’s top 3 point results) OR
- Earn at least 150 Y14 Regional Points during the current season (Total points = an athlete’s top 3 point results) OR
- Place in the top 25% of the fencer’s division’s Y14 National Championship qualifying competition (DQ)
Y10
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Born 2011 – 2014
No rating classification restrictions
Fencer must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Qualifying Paths
Fencer must:
- Be on the Y10 National Point Standings at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Be on the Y10 Regional Youth Point Standings in your region at the regular fee entry deadline OR
- Earn at least 60 Y12 Regional Points during the current season (Total points = an athlete’s top 3 point results)