USA Fencing

Following the announcement of the USA Fencing July Challenge which will be held for the first time in 2015 in San Jose, Calif., the National Events department received several inquiries about the tournament. 

The following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions as well as detailed qualification information:

USA Fencing July Challenge FAQ

1. Why did USA Fencing replace the open NAC at the July Championship with points based qualification paths for the July Challenge?

• During the 2014 July North American Cup in Columbus, several events had more than 350 entrants and many of the competition days extended late into the night, exhausting athletes, coaches, families and officials. In order to provide a better tournament experience for the athletes and create a more competitive field, the National Office and Tournament Improvement group worked together to create the Challenge Tournament, which limits entry to those on the point standings.
   

2. If I compete at the Junior Olympics, can I qualify for the July Challenge?

• Yes, the Junior Olympics will serve as a qualification opportunity for the July Challenge for athletes seeking to compete in the junior and cadet events. Athletes who qualify for the National Point Standings at the Junior Olympics in the junior and cadet events, respectively, will be eligible to fence in those events at the July Challenge. Additional methods of qualifying for the July Challenge are listed below.  
   

3. I noticed that points earned at an RJCC competition will not be used as a path to the 2015 DVI/JR/CDT July Challenge. Why weren’t these included as a qualifying path in 2015?

• This is the first season that the RJCC events have been introduced into the regional infrastructure, so there are only a handful of RJCC events being held in 2014/15. These competition opportunities will expand significantly in the 2015/16 season and the RJCC points will be added as an additional path to the 2016 July Challenge.
   

4. I can’t find information on the July Challenge and how to qualify for this new competition.

• Here is a link to the qualifying path information for the July Challenge: http://www.usfencing.org/news_article/show/411017?referrer_id=669372-usa-fencing-news

The qualifying path for the July Challenge is as follows:

DIVISION I

Eligibility (age, classification, qualification path)

• Fencers must be 13 years old by January 1 (see Table 2.5.1 for exceptions) of the current season Fencers must have a classification of “C”, “B”, or “A” at the entry deadline AND
• Be on the current Senior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 24 of the Junior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 16 of the Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 8 of the Division 1A regional points at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 4 of the Division II regional points at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Foreign athletes who meet the USA Fencing classification standard of an “A” or “B” as defined in the Athlete Handbook 2.2.5

Junior

Eligibility (age, classification, qualification path)

• Junior Fencers must meet age eligibility above AND
• Be on the current Junior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 50% of the Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 25% of the Youth 14 National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Foreign athletes who meet the USA Fencing classification standard of “A” or “B” as defined in the Athlete Handbook 2.2.5

Cadet

Eligibility (age, classification, qualification path)

• Cadet Fencers must meet age eligibility above AND
• Be on the current Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Be in the top 50% of the Y14 National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline for this Challenge OR
• Foreign athletes who meet the USA Fencing classification standard of “A”, “B”  or “C” as defined in the Athlete Handbook 2.2.5