Event Restructure Update, Part 2: What You Need to Know Before Registration Opens for 2025–26

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Last month, we walked you through the biggest pieces of the events restructure for the 2025-26 season — including a new 315‑fencer cap for Division I, Junior and Cadet events at every NAC. 

The move is designed to ensure shorter lengths of tournament days, smoother event operations, and a more sustainable workload for referees, armorers, bout committee and the many other officials working tirelessly behind the scenes. This while still welcoming the vast majority of eligible athletes who would normally register.

With registration for the first two NACs of 2025‑26 just around the corner, here’s a quick refresher (in the same bite‑sized style as last time) so you can confirm ratings, renew memberships and make any other arrangements before the portal opens. There are also a few added details to make sure registrants have everything they need for a smooth sign-up process!

(What about regional points? No changes for 2025‑26. Regional ranking points will still be earned and tracked exactly as in 2024‑25, and they remain separate from national point totals used for the new priority registration window. We’ll revisit regional‑to‑national point conversions later this season if further adjustments are proposed.)

Now let’s dive into the details.

• Who gets early access?
• All National Point Holders in that weapon/age category.
• This is only for the respective age group being registered for.
• For example, to receive priority for a Junior level event, a fencer must have valid Junior National Points.
• All A‑rated fencers (regardless of points).

• For fencers competing representing another country internationally OR fencers who believe there is an error with their rating or points, submit a support ticket HERE.

• When is eligibility determined?
• Your point standing and rating on the Registration Open date decide whether you qualify for the priority window.
• No points or ratings earned after this date will be considered.
• What happens after two weeks?
• Any remaining spots at the close of the priority window become first‑come, first‑served for all age and rating‑eligible fencers.
• When the cap (315) is reached, the event switches to a waitlist ordered by date and timestamp.
• Special safeguard for the Top 12
• For Division I events: If a fencer who is eligible to compete for Team USA in international competition and is ranked in the Top 12 on the applicable selection list tries to enter an event that’s already on a waitlist, they’ll automatically move to No. 1 on that list. (Everyone else shifts down one spot.)
• This keeps our highest‑ranked athletes in the mix for international team selection.
• NOTE: If another fencer in the Top 12 has already been placed at the top of the waitlist, additional athletes from this group will be placed behind this fencer in order by date and timestamp.

New to all this? The FAQs here explain why caps were introduced and how they benefit athletes, families and tournament organizers.