New to Competition? Going to your first Tournament?

Here is the quick and dirty so you don't get caught short.

There are many different tournaments available to you. Club tournaments, "in-house" tournaments, Division, Sectional, RYC, SYC, Sectionals, ROC, NAC, and National Championships, in addition to international events. Since this is about newer fencers, I will limit it to Division and below tournaments.

Club and "in-house" tournaments are conducted according to the rules set down by the Organizer (whomever is running the event). Sometimes prizes and/or medals are awarded, but "ratings" cannot be (more on ratings later). Club tournaments, in addition to being fun, are a great way to get a feel for how tournaments are run.

Each Division also holds a number of "sanctioned" tournaments. Sanctioned tournaments are run according to the rules of the USFA and the policies of the Division. In Colorado, the number of sanctioned tournaments runs about thirty a year. Participation in these tournaments is restricted by age, gender, weapon, rating, and/or qualification path. We have this many so that everyone is eligible to participate in several a year.

When are you ready to enter a competition? This is something that you should discuss with your Coach (and parents, if applicable). When you decide to enter a Division competition, here are a few nuts and bolts items to remember.

First of all, you MUST be a USFA member and have proof of membership in order to compete at Division level or above. In addition to regular annual memberships, there are family memberships or a one-day membership if you only want to join for a single tournament. You may join the USFA through your club or coach or by going to the US Fencing website. (One-day memberships are ONLY available from the USFA website, and must be obtained BEFORE the day of the event). For more information on this, go to http://fencing.teamusa.org/ and choose "membership".

Now, you need to "register" for the event. In the Colorado Division, http://www.AskFred.net is the official registration method. Go to AskFred and select "browse events". Select "any section" and "Colorado" Division, and all of our tournaments will be listed. Choose the event you wish to enter, and follow the AskFred instructions. Most tournaments will collect the fees on the day of the event. Some, however (notably Qualifiers), will require payment before the event (prepayment). This can be accomplished via AskFred.

Once you are registered (and, if necessary, prepaid), you need to prepare. As far as your fencing is concerned, your Coach should be your primary source. You also need to prepare your equipment.

At all Division and above tournaments, the following items are REQUIRED:

Mask
Full Fencing Uniform - plastron, chest protector for females, fencing jacket, fencing knickers (baseball type pants are NOT allowed), socks reaching up to the knees, and a gauntlet (fencing glove). These are safety related items and are required for your protection.
Foilists must also have a foil lame and their mask will soon require the lame bib.
Sabre fencers must have a Sabre specific mask, a Sabre lame, and a Sabre glove or manchette.
Foil and Epee fencers must have at least two functional weapons and two body cords when reporting to the strip.
Sabre fencers must have at least two functional weapons, two body cords, and two head cords when reporting to the strip.

If you don't comply with the above, it's a card before you even start the bout.

At ALL tournaments, you must submit your mask to the Armorer or Bout Committee (BC) for inspection. This is for your protection. It will be checked to make sure that it will protect you in the event of a broken blade. Conductive items and body cords will be checked at some tournaments, at others not. It depends on the level of competition. The "more info" area of the event on AskFred will tell you what items are to be inspected.

It's always a good idea (especially if you are borrowing equipment) to check it or have it checked before you show up. That will preclude a desperate search for qualifying gear just before your event starts.

When you register, you will see a "close of registration" time listed. That is the final time to check in for the event. The pools will begin fifteen to forty five minutes later.

When arriving at the venue, first go to the registration desk and check in. Make sure that you do this before the close of registration. Once that is done, there is normally an Armorer who will check your mask. At some tournaments, other equipment, such as conductive items and body cords, will also be tested. If time permits, the Armorer will test any other items you wish to be checked. Remember, it is your responsibility to insure that your equipment is in working order.

When the pools are posted, report to your strip. At that time the Director (referee) will check to see if you have the proper uniform and that any items requiring testing have been tested. You will be assigned a number, and when your name or number is called, report to your strip. Fencers are called in a certain order. If your name is called, then your opponent, then you report to the Director's right. If your name is called after your opponent's, then report to the Director's left. This is not in effect if one of the fencers is left handed, as lefties always report to the Director's left. The Director will also check to see if you have the required spares and will test your weapon at this time. Foils are tested for weight (and rarely shims), Epees are tested for weight and shim, and Sabres are checked just to make sure they are intact.

Before each bout, the fencer will salute the opponent, the Director, and the audience.

In your pool, you will fence every other fencer in that pool in a five touch bout. When the pools are completed, each fencer in that pool will be ranked according to performance and ranked against fencers in other pools. At the end of the pool, every fencer will sign the pool score sheet. From this a Direct Elimination (DE) tableau will be generated. While this is being done, there will be some down time until the DEs are called. In the DEs each fencer will fence until eliminated. These are either three five touch bouts of three minutes each, best of three for Y10 and Y12, or three bouts of three minutes each (with a one minute break in between) until the time is up or until one fencer scores fifteen touches.

At the completion of each pool bout and each DE, fencers will again salute the opponent, the Director, and the audience, and will remove the mask, advance, and shake hands with his opponent. Each fencer will sign the score sheet, and the winner will then present the score sheet to the BC.

Remember, once you sign that score sheet, it is as good as carved in stone. Make sure the scores are correct.

If you lose your DE, you are done fencing, but you may want to hang around and cheer on your clubmates and friends. If you win, you fence another DE against another winner until you are eliminated or you win the gold medal.

About "ratings":

In the USFA, competitive fencers are "rated" according to their skill and ability. They range from "U", or Unrated, through E, D, C, B, and A, with A being the highest rating in the US. Depending on the tournament, ratings can be earned by the fencers. There are very few youth events in which you can earn a rating, but you can in the larger youth events, such as SYCs, NACs, and some of the RYCs. Most of the Senior (13 years old and above) events are rated events, and if you fence well enough you may earn a rating.

A quick note about tournament etiquette - The Director, or Referee, is in absolute and total charge of his assigned strip. His word is law. Please, as you are walking around or watching a bout, be aware of where you are and make sure that you are not "invading his space". Never, never, NEVER walk between a Director and his strip. Everyone present at a tournament, even spectators, are subject to the directions of the referees. This is to ensure that the event is conducted in an orderly and timely manner.

This essay in just an overview and certainly is not all inclusive, but you get the idea. If you have any questions or need more information, check with your Coach. You may also ask on the Forum of this website or contact any member of the Executive Committee and get the answers that you need.