In the Cadet, Junior and Division I categories, NAC events use a two-tier format. When registration reaches 169 or more fencers, the event splits into two separate competitions: Elite and Challenger.
- If an event has 168 fencers or fewer, it runs as a single competition, classified as Elite and using the Elite points table.
- If registration reaches 169 or more, the event splits. Elite is capped at 112 fencers. Challenger holds the rest, up to 224.
- Events are capped at 336 fencers total.
- Fencers placed in Elite compete only in Elite. They can't opt down to Challenger.
- Both fields earn Unified points, Elite on the Elite scale and Challenger on the Challenger scale. Team points are awarded to the top 32 finishers in the Elite field.
- Once an event has split, it stays split, even if withdrawals drop the final field below 169.
The Unified Points List determines the split. Rankings are taken 15 days before the first day of competition.
For Division I, spots are filled in this order:
72 spots reserved for Senior-list fencers
- The top 24 athletes on the Junior Unified list
The top 16 athletes on the Cadet Unified list
- Remaining spots go to the Senior Unified list, in rank order
If a fencer holds a spot on more than one list, that spot doesn't pass to the next fencer in that category. It's added to the Senior allocation instead.
This order holds whether the event runs as a single Elite competition or splits. It's designed so top young fencers face the highest level of domestic competition available to them.
You register the same way you always have, for the age category you're eligible for. All entries go into a single event in the registration portal. Fifteen days before the first day of competition, event sizes are confirmed, and events with 169 or more fencers split into two tiers based on the rankings as of that date.
Fencers assigned to Challenger can opt in to be moved up to Elite if a spot opens. The latest a fencer can be moved from Challenger to Elite is 5 p.m. local time the day before their event. If your event is Saturday, that means 5 p.m. Friday.
- Junior and Cadet, both Elite and Challenger: one round of pools of 6 or 7, with 80% promoted to direct elimination.
- Division I: one round of pools of 6 or 7, with 75% promoted to direct elimination.
Regional events work differently from NACs. Junior and Cadet fencers can now earn points at regional events anywhere in the country, and RJCC and ROC tournaments open with a three-week in-region protection window. The full explanation is on the Points List Explanation & Tables page.
Two dates matter for every split event:
- The split date, 15 days before the first day of competition, when rankings are locked and initial fields are set.
The final move-up deadline, 5 p.m. local time the day before your event, when fencers can be brought in from the Challenger tier or the waitlist to the Elite tier up to this point, after which fields don't change.
The specific calendar dates for each NAC are posted on that event's own page, so you don't have to work them out yourself. If you're ever unsure when your field will be set, check the event page first.