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Junior and Cadet World Championships Selection Criteria Update

01/07/2021, 5:15pm CST
By Kate Reisinger

 

The USA Fencing Sports Performance staff is continuing to work with the national coaches, Athlete Council and Sports Performance Resource Team in order to finalize selection criteria for the 2021 Junior and Cadet Worlds while keeping in line with the safety and well-being of our athletes, coaches and families. While this year’s selection process will be different than past years due to the cancellation of domestic and international tournaments in 2020 and early 2021, the support staff and cadre for the Junior and Cadet World Championship Team are striving to establish criteria that allow for a final qualification opportunity before the team is named in March.

In January, the FIE is planning a site visit to Cairo, Egypt to meet with the hosts of the Junior and Cadet World Championships which are currently scheduled to take place in April. USA Fencing anticipates further information regarding the viability of the event sometime in January or early February and will communicate accordingly. Should the World Championships be rescheduled or canceled, the selection criteria will become null and void and a new plan for selections will be developed.

Given the unprecedented restrictions on training, travel and competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following principles will be used to guide selection to the 2021 Cadet and Junior World Championship Team:

  • No international events for cadets and juniors will be designated for the 2020-2021 season
  • USA Fencing will not enter athletes into any EFC or FIE cadet and junior events during the 2020-2021 season (other than Junior and Cadet Pan American Zonal and World Championships)
  • The final Cadet and Junior National Team Point Standings of the 2019-2020 season (March 2020) will be used as a starting point for selection to the 2021 Cadet and Junior World Championship Team
    • Aged-out athletes will be removed from the national team point standings
    • USA Fencing is planning to host one junior and one cadet final selection event. The final selection events will be held at a time and location to be announced  in the coming weeks.
    • Points earned at the final selection events will:
      • Be added to the National Team Point Standings to finalize the 2021 Cadet and Junior World Championship Team (current team points + final selection event = 2021 Cadet and Junior World Championship Team)
      • Points earned from the junior final selection event will count on both the Junior and Cadet National Team Point Standings
  • Following the final selection event, the top 3 (cadet) and top 4 (junior) athletes on the National Team Point standings will be selected to represent the United States at the 2021 Cadet and Junior World Championships.
    • The top 4 juniors will be selected for both the individual and team event.

Currently there is no information concerning the Junior Pan American Zonal Championships which are usually scheduled for late February or early March.  Once details are known, USA Fencing will communicate further.

Thank you to all of the potential National Team members, coaches, families and cadre for your flexibility and patience during this process. The opportunity to represent Team USA on the world’s stage is one that is cherished by all candidates for the team and we look forward to the day when our nation’s top young fencers can compete against the world’s best again.

Tag(s): Updates