Question: When are practice times?
Practice times are posted in the Practice Tab. Be sure to check often in the event of delays, cancellations or closingsOnly if you wish to if your fencer is in a Beginner class. I suggest that if this is the fencer’s first experience to postpone the purchasing of equipment. We have equipment for all participants. Fencers in the "Specials" training group are required to have competition equipment. If you wish to purchase equipment see Coach for details.
Question: Must my fencer compete in order to remain in the club?
No. We have fencers that participate for recreational purposes only. Competitions are available for all fencers if interested.
Question: Where will competitions take place?
Depending on the level of competition and the age of the fencer in “fencing years”, locations may be in Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Hershey, and Pittsburgh. Regional meets can be as far as Boston, MA, Virginia , West Virginia, and Ohio. Nationals rotate each year from coast to coast. Nationals for the 2019-2020 year will be held in Louisville, KY, June 28th -July 7th 2020.
Question: What are the age categories for the 2019-2020 season?
A. For 2019-2020 Local/Regional Junior Cadet Circuit/National/International Tournaments & Junior Olympic Fencing Championships
(Excluding July Challenge, USA Fencing National Championships & National Qualifying Tournaments through Regions [ROC, RJC, RCC, SYC, RYC] and Divisions)
CATEGORY CODE BIRTH YEARS CLASS (Rating)
Division I DV1 Born 2006 or earlier A, B, or C
Division 1A D1A Born 2006 or earlier A, B, C, D, E or U
Division II DV2 Born 2006 or earlier C, D, E, or U
Division III DV3 Born 2006 or earlier D, E, or U
Senior Team STM Born 2006 or earlier N/A
Wheelchair CHR Born 2006 or earlier N/A
Veteran/Veteran Team VET/VTM Born 1980 or earlier N/A
Veteran 40-49 V40 1971-1980 N/A
Veteran 50-59 V50 1961-1970 N/A
Veteran 60-69 V60 1951-1960 N/A
Veteran 70 & older V70 Born 1949 or earlier N/A
Junior/Junior Team JR/JTM 2000-2006 N/A
Cadet CDT 2003-2006 N/A
Youth 14/Youth 14 Team Y14/Y14TM 2005-2008 N/A
Youth 12 Y12 2007-2010 N/A
Youth 10 Y10 2009-2012 N/A
B. 2020 July Challenge, USA Fencing National Championships & Associated REGIONAL [RYC, SYC, ROC] & DIVISION Qualifying Competitions ONLY
CATEGORY CODE BIRTH YEARS CLASS
Division I DV1 Born 2006 or earlier A, B, or C
Division IA D1A Born 2006 or earlier N/A
Division II DV2 Born 2006 or earlier C, D, E, or U
Division III DV3 Born 2006 or earlier D, E or U
Wheelchair CHR Born 2006 or earlier N/A
Veteran/Veteran Team Vet/VTM Born 1980 or earlier N/A
Veteran 40-49 V40 1971-1980 N/A
Veteran 50-59 V50 1970-1961 N/A
Veteran 60-69 V60 1951-1960 N/A
Veteran 70 & older V70 Born 1950 or earlier N/A
Junior JR 2001-2007 N/A
Cadet CDT 2004-2007 N/A
Youth 14 Y14 2005-2008 N/A
Youth 12 Y12 2007-2010 N/A
Youth 10 Y10 2009-2012 N/A
Senior Team STM Born 2006 or earlier N/A
EXCEPTION TO AGE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (All other qualification criteria remains):
Youth 12 – A fencer born after 2010 can fence in Youth 12 IF the fencer is on the National Youth 10 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Youth 14 – A fencer born after 2008 can fence in Youth 14 IF the fencer is on the National Youth 12 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Cadet (through JO’s) – A fencer born after 2006 can fence in Cadet local and regional competitions, NAC Cadet tournaments and Junior Olympic Cadet Fencing Championships and qualifying tournaments IF the fencer is on the National Youth 14 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Junior (through JO’s) – A fencer born after 2006 can fence in Junior local and regional competitions, NAC Junior and Junior Olympic Junior Fencing Championships and qualifying tournaments IF the fencer is on the National Cadet point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Cadet (After JO’s) – A fencer born after 2007 can fence in Cadet competition for the 2016 July Challenge IF the fencer is on the National Youth 14 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Junior (After JO’s) – A fencer born after 2007 can fence in Junior competition for the 2016 July Challenge IF the fencer is on the National Cadet point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
Division I, IA, II, III – For all local, regional (including ROC) and national (e.g., NAC) competitions, those born after 2006 must be on the National Junior point standings; for the 2017 National Championships and qualifying competitions for Division I, IA, II, III; those born after 2006 must be on the National Junior point standings.
RJCCs held between JOs regular entry fee deadline and the Junior Olympic Championship will allow fencers that meet either the Junior Olympic birth year criteria or the July Challenge birth year criteria. Those who meet only the Junior
Olympic birth year criteria may only earn new classifications, but will not receive regional points.
A fencer who is on the National Junior Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) and is younger than 13 may compete in Senior (Open) competition
Many questions can be answered about our sport and competitions on the following websites:
