The Athlete Handbook provides fencers, coaches, administrators, and parents the information pertinent to all aspects of USA Fencing programs. Periodic updates may occur during the season; these updates to the book will be communicated to the membership via postings to this page. Please email any AH questions, comments, concerns or corrections to information@usafencing.org.
2026-27 Athlete Handbook
2026-27 Athlete Handbook, opens in a new tab2026-27 Athlete Handbook Changelog
This section contains a list of changes to the 2026-27 Athlete Handbook made after its initial publication date.
Sept. 11, 2026 — Initial publication of Athlete Handbook
Sept. 13, 2026 — Updated 11.5 (Vet Team Event Selection) to a new version.
Sept. 16, 2026
Section 2.11.5: Updated Junior qualification criteria
- Typo fixes throughout
- Legacy Point table on Page 76 corrected
Sept. 27, 2026: Section 2.5: Added the October and November 2026 NAC Elite-tier transition exception; Section 2.5.1: clarified age-category eligibility exceptions for Senior, Junior, Cadet, Youth 12 and Youth 14; added Section 2.5.2, Eligibility Exemption Policy (Elite Events Only).
Oct. 1, 2026: Added the Unified Divisional and Adult point tables, regional and national, to the Appendices, completing the reference in Section 3.3.4; added ADT and ADC to the acronym list on Page 8; Section 3.4.4: corrected the SJCC point description to reference the SJCC columns of the Unified Junior and Unified Cadet point tables.
Older Editions of the Athlete Handbook
The USA Fencing Rulebook pertains to all sanctioned events held within the United States. It incorporates the most recent FIE rules changes, using terms commonly used in American fencing.
The ongoing publication of an American version of the FIE Rules has been carried out under the auspices of the USA Fencing Referees' Commission, and we thank them for their dedication to USA Fencing.
Codes of Conduct
When starting or renewing their membership, all USA Fencing members agree to abide by the applicable codes of conduct found in the Athlete Handbook, linked here.
USA Fencing Member Code of Conduct
USA Fencing Spectator Code of Conduct
USA Fencing Code of Conduct for Parties in Disciplinary Proceedings
Transgender and Nonbinary Policy
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