USA Fencing

The USA Fencing membership structure will be undergoing some changes during the 2017-18 season.   

Next season, a membership category will be designated for coaches which replaces the previous Professional Membership. The Coach Membership, required for all coaches at USA Fencing Clubs and of the national teams, will remain $105 annually. In addition to the benefits that include a general liability policy and background screening, this membership also will be eligible to receive access to coaching education materials and courses that will be available exclusively to this membership. Coaches who also compete will still be able to do so with this membership type.   

Individuals who are not coaches and previously held the Professional or +Professional Membership may now register as +CheckED members. This category is designed for members who serve in non-coaching positions such as referees, armorers, board members, club officers, tournament staff, etc. The +CheckED designation is an upgrade which may be added to any membership type, including Competitive, Non-Competitive, Supporting and Lifetime. In order to make the background screen process more efficient, those individuals who purchase +CheckED memberships will pay an annual fee of $20 for the upgrade and corresponding background screen. The background screen must be completed biannually in order to maintain the membership. The policy for +CheckED members remains that these individuals must purchase an upgradable membership in order to add the +CheckED membership.

Coach and +CheckED Members also are required to complete the free Safe Sport online training course every two years. This video training was designed by the United States Olympic Committee as an educational tool to help protect America’s youth and provide a safe environment for all athletes. After a member has completed his or her first 90-minute Safe Sport course, renewal courses are only 30 minutes each.

For the first time since 2013, the Competitive Membership fee will increase from $70 to $75, but the registration and event fees for North American Cups and Championships will not change. Non-competitive memberships will remain $10 as well.   

Both USA Fencing’s affiliate and member club fees will remain unchanged for the upcoming season with member clubs receiving benefits that include $1 million general liability insurance policy for a significantly reduced rate over market cost. 

As part of USA Fencing’s ongoing initiative to encourage participation in collegiate fencing programs, from club to varsity, the discounted Collegiate Competitive Membership also will stay unchanged at $45 and is accessible to all fencers who are listed on the roster of an NCAA Division I, II or III team or any USA Fencing member collegiate club.

One of the most exciting initiatives started in 2016 when USA Fencing announced the creation of a new membership category – High School Memberships and we received an extremely positive response from high schools around the nation in the program’s first year. In 2017-18, the fee for high school teams to register will increase from this year’s introductory rate of $250 to $300. This flat fee includes membership registration for all of a team’s members, regardless of the program size and represents a significant discount for high school fencers who compete on a school-sanctioned club or team.

In order to be environmentally conscious, USA Fencing will not be mailing out physical membership cards in 2017-18. However, members may still print their cards online and scan the paper card for expedited check-in at national tournaments. For individuals who would like to purchase plastic cards, they will remain available for $10.

USA Fencing memberships for the 2017-18 season will be available for purchase and renewal beginning on July 1.