AGE CATEGORIES
In the USA, fencers compete in the following age categories:
Y10 - fencers age 8-10
Y12 - fencers 10-12
Y14 - fencers age 12-14
Cadet - ages 13-16
Junior - ages 13-18
DV III - 13 and up, with a rating of D, E, or U
DV II - 13 and up, with a rating of C, D, E, or U
DV I - 13 and up, with a rating of A, B, or C
The fencing season runs from August to July. Age bracket is determined by the age of the fencer on January 1 of the season.
During the 2015-2016 season, Noah will be 13 and eligible to fence in five fencing categories: Y14, Cadet, Junior, Div III, and Div II. There will also be "open" events where he will compete against some of the best fencers active today. UPDATE: Noah is no longer eligible to fence in Div III competitions--he is now too highly rated.
RATINGS
Fencers earn ratings of A, B, C, D, and E by placing high in an event that is sufficiently strong (containing a certain number of rated fencers). A-rated fencers are the most accomplished. Until you earn a rating, you are classified as Unrated (U).
Tournament scoring and competition takes place as follows:
POOL BOUTS
Competitors are divided into groups of 4, 5, 6, or 7 (depending on the number of competitors) to fence "pool" bouts. Each fencer in the pool (group) will fence everyone else in the same pool. The winner of each pool bout is the first person to score five touches, or the person who is ahead after three minutes of fencing.
After all of the pool bouts are done, the number of wins, the number of touches scored, and the number of touches received are all used to seed all of the fencers from all of the pools into one direct elimination bracket. Normally, all youth fencers advance to the Direct Elimination rounds. In larger events for older fencers (Cadet, Junior, Div III, Div II, Div I) tournament hosts can allow only 80% of the participants to advance to the direct elimination round.
Competitors are arranged in a single-elimination bracket based on the seeding determined by the pool bouts.
The DE bout is decided when one fencer reaches 15 touches, or by the fencer with the highest score after three three-minute encounters. The first fencer to score fifteen touches, or the fencer who is ahead when time expires, wins the encounter.
DE bout winners move on to the next round. Losing fencers are eliminated from the competition.
TIES
If there is a tie at the end of a regulation period in pool bouts or at the end of a DE, a coin is tossed and the fencer who wins the toss has "priority" during a one-minute overtime. The loser of the coin toss must score the next touch in order to win the encounter. The winner of the coin toss wins the encounter if s/he scores a touch, or if time runs out with no touch being scored.
AWARDS
Medals are awarded to all four semifinalists. Gold medal goes to the winner of the final DE bout (first place). A silver medal is awarded to the second place fencer. Third place (bronze) medals are awarded to the other two semifinalists. There is no fence-off for third place (except at the Olympics). National-level competitions usually award medals to the top eight finishers.
Most of the events Noah will fence are local competitions in the state of Florida. There are three other special types of competitions in which he may see action.
RYC - The Regional Youth Circuit competitions usually draw a larger group of more serious fencers. The are qualifying events for the summer National Championship Tournament.
SYC - Super Youth Circuit competitions are really big super-regional competitions. Fencers can earn points for national ranking at these events. There are nine of these. Noah is attending two of these this year--one in Georgia (October) and one in Maryland (January). Fencers placing in the top 40% of these competitions will qualify to enter the National Championship Tournament. They can also earn points toward a national ranking at this event.
NAC - The North American Cup events are national competitions held throughout the season. Fencers can earn points for national ranking at these events.
Link to the complete USA Fencing Rule Book.
