skip navigation

Health and Safety Protocols Unchanged for 2022 April Championships and North American Cup in Charlotte

04/05/2022, 11:45am CDT
By Bryan Wendell

USA Fencing’s decision to keep the policies unchanged was made after collecting feedback from USA Fencing members, including athletes, parents, coaches and officials.

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) — USA Fencing announced today that health and safety protocols designed to protect athletes, coaches, referees and spectators will remain in place for the Division I/Parafencing National Championships and April North American Cup, set for April 21–24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C.

USA Fencing’s decision to keep the policies unchanged was made after collecting feedback from USA Fencing members, including athletes, parents, coaches and officials. While USA Fencing is open to changing policies for future events — based on the latest health guidance and feedback from our members — we also acknowledge that changing the guidelines just weeks before our Charlotte event could create confusion and force members and officials to alter their plans for attending the tournament on short notice.

Protocols in place for Charlotte include:

  • Masks: Everyone in attendance ages 3 and older, including coaches, athletes, spectators and staff must wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose at all times, including fencers during live competition. According to the USA Fencing mask mandate, masks must be two-layer cloth masks or surgical face coverings. Single-layer gaiters, bandannas, masks with vents, and inserts that clip into the fencing mask and do not fully contact the athlete's face are not permitted.
  • Proof of vaccination: Everyone in attendance ages 12 and older — including coaches, athletes, spectators and staff — must provide proof of vaccination. Everyone in attendance between the ages of 3 and 11 — including spectators — must provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from within 72 hours of arrival to the venue. For more information, see the “Providing Your Proof of Vaccination” section below.
  • Social distancing: We encourage everyone to practice social distancing measures while in the venue.
  • Handshakes: Athletes should salute at the conclusion of a bout instead of shaking hands with each other, the referee and coaches.

Providing Your Proof of Vaccination

Individuals who have completed a COVID vaccine series (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Novavak, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Covaxin, or CoronaVac) 14 days prior to arrival at the venue will NOT need to obtain a negative PCR test result.

  • Participating athletes ages 12 and older must have uploaded their vaccination cards onto their membership profile for approval from the national office. Please reach out to nationalevents@usafencing.org if your vaccination verification is still pending or if you have any questions on why your vaccination entry was denied. 
  • Participating athletes ages 11 and under must provide proof of vaccination through their membership profile OR a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours of arrival at the venue. Only one of these pieces of documentation will be required for each individual — NOT both, and participants ages 11 and under are NOT required to be vaccinated.
  • All other attendees — coaches, spectators and staff — ages 12 and older will be required to present proof of vaccination. Attendees can either submit their vaccination card onto their own membership profile or upload proof of vaccination by clicking here. If uploaded in their profile, attendees may scan their membership ID at registration. If through the alternative link, attendees should present the official USA Fencing-approved email at registration. Attendees who choose neither option above must provide proof of vaccination at the venue — a copy of their vaccine card and a valid photo ID. 
  • All other attendees ages 3 to 11 will be required to present proof of vaccination OR a negative PCR test result. 

COVID-19 Testing for Medical or Religious Exempt Individuals

All attendees of the tournament, ages 12 and older, who are not vaccinated must submit a religious or medical exemption request to the National Office for review. If an individual has been approved for a medical or religious exemption, he or she must provide their approval email received from the National Office, as well as a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. This includes athletes and staff, as well as all coaches and spectators. PCR test results must be from within 72 hours prior to arrival at the venue. Proof of your negative COVID-19 test result and exemption must be presented to a USA Fencing staff member at registration for verification.

Health and Safety at Summer Nationals and Beyond

As the pandemic continues to evolve, USA Fencing will continue to monitor COVID case numbers and the latest local, state and federal guidelines.

Any changes to health and safety protocols for our next national tournament — the 2022 Summer Nationals, set for July 2–11, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minn. — will be announced to members via email, our website and on social media. 

All of us at USA Fencing thank you for your diligent effort to keep our fencers safe, healthy and competition-ready.

Tag(s): Updates