Caddo Magnet Fencing

Tournament Information

   
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS                                 TOURNAMENT RESULTS
(click the links to view tournaments)                        (Click the links to view results)          

Ark-La-Miss Division tournaments                      Ark-La-Miss Division Tournament Results 

Southwest Section tournaments                         Southwest Section Tournament Results

USFA National Events Schedule                         USFA National Events Results



General Procedures at Tournaments

Even if you are an experienced fencer, read this entirely, as the information here may directly affect you as well.

Tournament Registration

Most tournaments these days allow you to register via FRED, the Fencing Registration and Events Database. Some of those tournaments will require you to pay your registration fees in advance, some will not. If you are not familiar with using the database please ask Mr. Candiloro for help. Make sure to read all of the information about the tournament regarding check-in times and venue information. You will also need to pay your US Fencing membership fee of $50 at the tournament if you have not already joined. If you are under 18 years old you will also need a waiver signed by your parent (found on the Links & Documents page; if you are purchasing a USFA membership on site your parent will also need to sign that.)

Second, regarding registration times. If one of the events you enter lists 8 am as the close of registration that means you better be there at least 1/2 hour before that time - 7:30 in this particular case. If you arrive after the scheduled time for your event you will probably be scratched from the event. Also, arriving early will give you plenty of time to stretch and warm up with other fencers in that event. Remember, your first bout should not be used as warm up - the top fencers in the US begin their first bout already at the top of their game.


Equipment Check Out (before the tournament)

The only fencers eligible to check out equipment are team members who have paid their team fee ($20) for the semester.

Equipment check out will begin at the last team practice before the tournament. For tournaments at school no equipment will be available to be checked out from the school during the tournament.

Your responsibilities if you have checked out school equipment:
You are solely responsible for the condition of the equipment whether you loan it to someone else or not. If you do loan it out and someone else breaks it but it’s checked out in your name, I still expect you to turn in a comparable part as replacement or money for us to purchase another similar item. Any broken or lost equipment must be replaced before you can check out any equipment for any other competition.
Equipment MUST be turned in the Monday following the tournament. The only exception to this is clothing - Clothing (jacket, knickers, underarm protectors) can be returned no later than Tuesday following the tournament after they have been washed.
Electrical equipment especially must be turned in in the same condition in which you took it. Blades shouldn’t be abnormally bent, cords shouldn’t be knotted, etc.. If the equipment is not treated with care your check out privileges will be revoked indefinitely.

Here is a list of all equipment you will need for any USFA** sanctioned tournament:

  • Mask (with back strap. Armorers have recently been checking for this and may not pass as mask without it)
  • Jacket (without rips or tears)
  • Lame (if you are fencing foil or saber. If you check out a school lame, plan to have a back up in case it doesn’t pass)
  • Underarm protector
  • Chest protector (required for women, optional for men. (Rule: “In USFA competitions: The use of breast protectors/chest protection in Foil is authorized for Men and Women providing that they are worn under the fencing jacket."
  • At least 2 body cords for each event you fence
  • At least 2 weapons for each event you fence
  • Glove (must cover about half of the forearm of the weapon arm)
  • Fencing Pants (knickers, must not raise above the knee)
  • Long Socks (must come up to the knee so that they meet the knickers and no skin is exposed on the leg.)
  • Athletic shoes (out of courtesy, they should be non-marking since most tournaments will be on a gym floor.)
  • ** At USFA National tournaments (NACs, Summer Nationals, etc.) your name would need to be printed in blue either on your back (on your lame for foil and saber), or your back leg - you have the option. 

Equipment Inspection at the tournament Armory

At every tournament an armory will be set up with someone checking certain pieces of equipment. In order for you to be able to use the equipment for the tournament it will need to pass certain tests. If it passes, a stamp or tag will be applied to it indicating it passed and therefore ready to use, however you still maintain the responsibility of it’s functionality because if you get to strip and it doesn’t function correctly, you will still receive a yellow card for non-conforming equipment and will be required to replace it immediately - be prepared. Here is a list of equipment to get tested at the armory:

  • Masks - must pass a 12kg punch test and visual inspection. Stamped on bib when passes
  • Body Cords - must pass an electrical resistance test; It may conduct but if it doesn’t allow a certain amount of electricity to flow through the wire it will not pass. Cords are tagged when they pass.
  • Lames - Also must pass a resistance test. Again, a lame may conduct, but if doesn’t allow a certain amount of current it will not pass either. Lames are stamped on the back near the bottom if they pass.
  • Mask/Lame cords (saber)- same as body cords above.
  • Gauntlet/overgloves (saber) - same as lames above.

    Be sure to give yourself enough time to get your equipment tested before your event as sometimes there are long lines at the armory to get things tested. 

Tournament Procedures

After your event registration closes be sure to be in the gym to hear any announcements from the bout committee regarding your event. During this time you should be warming up anyway - either on strip fencing or jogging or something to get your heart rate up. Usually about 15-30 minutes after the close of registration the pools for the first round will be posted somewhere in the fencing gym - in this case, on the bulletin boards in the front of the gym. You must report to your assigned strip immediately with all of your required equipment (strips will be numbered). The referee will check all inspection marks from the armory and also check to make sure all fencers in the pool are at the strip.

Weapons test on strip.
New fencers - know that every time you begin a new bout the referee will test your weapon before you fence to make sure it meets competition standards. For foil, a 500 gram weight will be placed on the tip of your foil and the spring inside the tip must support this weight. If the light on the machine remains on then your weapon will be confiscated until the end of the bout. In epee, two tests are conducted - a weight test similar to that of foil except the weight is 750 grams and the shims test where a thin piece of metal is placed in the gap between the tip and the barrel to make sure the tip must be pressed all the way to register a touch. Again, if your epee fails either of these tests it will be confiscated until the end of that bout. BE SURE you have at LEAST one back-up weapon when you begin each bout. If you can, get two to three back-ups.

Pools

The referee may have specific requirements in your pool such as keeping score and time or being ready for “on deck” bouts. Make sure you know how to hook up to the reels on your own - there may not be anyone there to help you. Also know what side of the strip to go to based on how the referee calls out each bout. The first fencer called always goes to the right of the referee unless that person is left-handed. Lefties always go on the left of the ref. Of course if both fencers are left-handed the original order is followed. Here’s how the referee may call out the bouts during a pool:
“On strip, fencers 1 and 4. On deck, fencers 2 and 5.” The referee may use your name instead but if not make sure you know your number on the pool sheet. You always have the right to look at the pool sheet anytime during the pool when you’re not fencing. 

Direct Elimination

All fencers will be promoted to the direct elimination round in most tournaments (Junior Olympics, cadet and junior NACs and other national events will make cuts of at least 20% after the round of pools). Even if you have not won any pool bouts you are not done for the day. This round usually begins about 30-40 minutes after the last pool finishes in the pool round. You will want to check your seed (your placement after the pools) and find what strip you will need to report to - all posted on the bulletin boards. Listen for announcements of this round. The procedure for a bout is about the same as for pool bout with the difference being the length of the bout - 5 points for a pool bout, 15 points for a DE bout. If you lose a DE bout you will be eliminated from the event - but don’t leave immediately... there may be circumstances that require you to be present.

During the Fencing

If you want to win bouts there are more factors you may want to consider. During your pool there will be fencers that you will get to see fence before you fence them. I suggest you sit and relax and watch them fence so you can get an idea how to approach your bout with them. Circumstances don’t always allow this, such as equipment repair or other issues but being properly prepared for the competition can help take away the stress of equipment trouble. Always have something to drink with you such as water or a sports drink.


Most importantly...

Enjoy yourself! Remember - this is not life or death! Fence hard and have fun!