A Sneak Peek Into the Future of USA Fencing Competitions and Rankings Systems

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Imagine a single points list for all tournament levels — a system designed to reward a fencer’s results across local, regional, national and international competition. Imagine a “staircase” development structure that helps guide athletes, coaches and parents/caregivers through each stage of their journey in fencing at a smarter pace. Imagine a better competitive landscape for fencing.

Those proposed ideas, dreamed up by the Events Review Group to improve fencing, could become a reality next season.

USA Fencing and the Tournament Committee have been hard at work on executing the Board-reviewed recommendations that came from the Events Review Group last year (see appendix D). After several rounds of meetings and discussions, the Tournament Committee is sharing a sneak peek at their proposed new system.

Keep in mind that the changes outlined here would begin taking effect in the 2025-26 season — pending Board approval — and we’ll give you additional details as that new season nears. Consider this article a sneak peek, with more information coming soon.

The stakeholders here wanted to find a way to simplify the current points and qualification procedures, creating an easier structure for athletes and fencers to understand as they begin in the sport. In conjunction with this, the goal was also to create an easily articulated development pathway for fencers and coaches, allowing them to identify where they are at in their fencing journey, and to easily be able to determine when they are ready for the next step.

While the current system is fair and transparent, it does come with a learning curve. A new single points list would streamline the process, making it easier for new fencing families to understand.

Additionally, a new “staircase” development structure could help guide athletes and fencing families through each stage of their journey at a pace that’s designed to improve the competitive experience for everyone.

As fencers demonstrate results at one level, they will unlock the next level of competition from local to regional to national to elite — using the single point list as their resource.

The new system will use a single points list for all levels of tournaments, still grouping fencers by age category. This means fencers will be able to earn points at not only regional, national and international competitions, but at local tournaments, too.

That means, for example, one points list for Cadet Women’s Saber fencers that includes a combination of points earned at all levels — local, regional, national and international.

So how will a fencer earn points under the proposed system? Each fencer’s point total will be the sum of four “buckets”:

• Local: Three points-earning slots (your top three local tournament performances)

• Regional: Three points-earning slots (your top three regional tournament performances)

• National: Three points-earning slots (your top three national tournament performances)

• Elite (international and elite-level national events): Six points-earning slots across international and elite events

Under the plan, Division I, Junior and Cadet events would be split in two parts next season: elite and national.

Elite events would consist of approximately the top 160 fencers in each category with a cut from pools to DEs to form a complete table of 128.

National events would include the remainder of the eligible field to a maximum of approximately 200 fencers, for a combined maximum field of national and elite of around 360 fencers. There will be separate award ceremonies for elite and national events at each national tournament.

For the Elite category, further discussions are being had in regard to foreign fencers and their eligibility to compete in the Elite category. The Tournament Committee will weigh a number of factors to ensure that the best possible competitive field is put together for each Elite NAC.

• Points would be earned on a one-year rolling window, meaning (as is the case now) points will drop off and be replaced by competitions in the following season.

• Allowances are being worked on for fencers to “freeze” their position on the points list for up to one year, once every four years, for a major life event (surgery, pregnancy, etc)

• Points would trickle down at 1.5x per event type step. For example, points from a Junior event will count for 1.5x in the Cadet points lists for those also age-eligible for Cadet.

• NOTE: Existing regional or national-level fencers would see their current national and regional points for the 2024-2025 season translated into the new points list for 2025-2026 season. Those points will decay one year from when earned using formulas to be published in the fall of 2024. This will keep fencers who are currently competing at the regional and national levels from having to start at square one in the new system.

The Events Review Group, USA Fencing Staff and Board believe that newer fencers should have a more defined pathway in order to help guide them on their fencing journey, particularly as it relates to when they are ready to fence in certain levels of competitions. Traveling hours to lose five of six pool bouts at a regional or national tournament may not be a positive experience for new fencers, and the new system will be designed to help fencers make informed decisions on when they are ready to move to the next level.

Under the proposed system, fencers would need to earn a certain number of points in the lowest category (local) before continuing to the next category, and so on up the chain of local to regional to national to elite.

For example, to begin competing at the national level, a fencer will combine their three regional and three local points slots to earn a total combined number of points. Depending on the strength of the tournament, a single top finish in a regional event may be enough to be promoted to the national level. Keep in mind, winning an event is not the only way to take the next step up. Fencers can also combine their point slots to earn the necessary number of qualifying points. The goal here is for fencers to demonstrate a competitive skill at a developmentally appropriate level prior to stepping up to the next level.

The Tournament Committee is currently evaluating formulas for the awarding of points.

This formula will determine how many fencers may earn points, how many points are earned for each finishing placement and how those values may differ based on the level and strength of the event. More details will be shared on this in the future, once a final formula has been determined.

By popular demand, USA Fencing will be adding Division III ROC tournaments, beginning in the 2025-26 season, allowing fencers to also earn points at the regional level in that category. Event mix of our events at both the National and Regional level will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis.