Guide to Fencing Tournaments

When choosing an event there are two main things to consider. First make sure it is the correct weapon and second make sure it is the correct age category.

Weapon

This is pretty straight forward but it is easy to hit the wrong button when registering so just double check if you are picking foil, epee, or saber.

Gender

Most local tournaments are mixed with males and females fencing together. Regional and National tournaments will separate males and females.

Age

Youth categories are designated with the letter ‘Y’ followed by the age based on the birth year (month does not matter). A fencer born between 2014-2017 would be eligible for a Y10 event this year. The youth events are Y8, Y10, Y12, and Y14.

After youth comes Cadet (age 13-16) and then Junior (age 13-19) categories.

One of the most common events is an Open (sometimes called Senior). This is for anyone over the age of 13.

At the national level you will find Division 1, 1A, 2, and 3 which are all age 13 and up.  These also have rating requirements (more on ratings later).

USA Fencing publishes an age chart in the athlete handbook every year giving eligible birth years for each age group. (USA Fencing Athlete Handbook 2024-25.pdf see page 18 or can be found here USA Fencing | Age and Classification Eligibility on the usafencing.org website)

Equipment Needed

Clothing

• Knickers (these are specifically designed to protect the fencer should a blade break – while you can get some pants that look the same, they do not have the same protection)
• Jacket
• Plastron
• Padded chest protector (required for all female fencers)
• Glove
• Mask w/ electric bib
• Tall socks (must be tall enough that pant leg covers top)
• Lame
• Shoes

Equipment

• 2 working foils
• 2 working body cords
• 2 working mask cords

Miscellaneous

• Hydration (water is the best but at a particularly large event something with electrolytes would be good)
• Food (something calorie dense but easy on the stomach – this will differ between fencers)
• Dry clothes especially t-shirts and socks
• Chairs
• Band aides

The tournament host will post a Check-in closing time. Make sure you arrive BEFORE that time. One hour before close of check-in is a good rule of thumb.

When you get to the tournament the first thing you will do is check-in. There you will confirm the event(s) you are fencing in, and pay your event fee (if it was not required in advance). They will also tell you what equipment is being checked and can point you in the direction of the armorer’s table.

After you check-in go find a spot to claim as yours for the day. Then get all of the equipment that is going to need to be checked and take it to the armorer.

Gloves and masks will always be checked and they will receive a mark if they pass. (Beware if the mask fails the armorer may squish it then and there to prevent further use). Other equipment that may be checked are the body cords(unroll them before you get to the table), mask cords, lames and weapons.

If you go to the strip without the required equipment checks you will receive a yellow card.

Take a quick tour of the facility. You want to be able to quickly locate your strip when called and its always a good idea to know where the bathroom is.

Then warm up – running, stretching, a little bit of footwork. Spend 5-10 minutes doing this then get dressed an grab someone to do a warm up bout. If you have time do two or three.

Once check-in closes a pool schedule will be posted. These may be printed, electronic, or streamed on television screens or some combination. You can ask at check-in how to find this information.

Your pool will be assigned a strip.  If you don’t get a strip assignment listen for your name to be called by a referee. (Be aware that they may mispronounce it – if you are unsure they meant you just go ask). Before pools start the referee will check plastrons and check protectors so have your lame and jacket unzipped so they are visible.

Stay close to your strip throughout pools – if you are late you can get an yellow card.

When called to the strip the first fencer called goes to the referee’s right, the second fencer goes to the referee’s left. The exception is that left handed fencers always go to the referee’s left.

Once you are hooked up on the strip the referee will check your equipment to make sure it has the checked marks and will test your weapon for weight.

The end of your pool is a good time to change t-shirts and socks if needed and run to the bathroom.  There will be some down time while DE (direct elimination) brackets are calculated.

DEs are exactly what they sound like. You fence until you lose and then you are finished with that event for the day.

Ratings are an alphabetical soup indicating a fencers ability level in competition. An unrated fencer is an U. Ratings are earned by fencing in specific events at a tournament. The ratings go U, E, D, C, B, and A. There is no requirement to hit all of the ratings. While it would be unusual a U fencer could go straight to A. The criterion for earning a rating depends on a convoluted set of rules that you can look up. In general Youth events do not earn ratings.

A ranking is based on points earned at Regional and National Tournaments.  The more points earned, the higher the ranking.  These can be found on usafencing.org.