Walkthroughs
How can you qualify?
- Earn National Points by going to NACs, Championships, SYCs, or Designated International Tournaments – these equate to ranking on the National Rolling Points Standings (NRPS)
- Earn Regional Points at RYCs, RJCCs, or ROCs – these equate to ranking on the Regional Points Standings (RPS).
- Finish in the top 25% of a Divisional Qualifier for Division 3, Division 2, or Y14
- Finish in the top 40% of a Division 2 NAC for Division 2
Fencers can check their status for qualification purposes on the USA Fencing website, but here are the qualifying paths for each division.
It’s highly recommended that fencers work closely with their coaches to create a plan and find ways that individually suit them, to qualify.
For reference, the USFA Athlete Handbook is included here.
- Earn National Points by going to NACs, Championships, SYCs, or Designated International Tournaments – these equate to ranking on the National Rolling Points Standings (NRPS)
- Earn Regional Points at RYCs, RJCCs, or ROCs – these equate to ranking on the Regional Points Standings (RPS).
- Finish in the top 25% of a Divisional Qualifier for Division 3, Division 2, or Y14
- Finish in the top 40% of a Division 2 NAC for Division 2
Fencers can check their status for qualification purposes on the USA Fencing website, but here are the qualifying paths for each division.
It’s highly recommended that fencers work closely with their coaches to create a plan and find ways that individually suit them, to qualify.
For reference, the USFA Athlete Handbook is included here.
Born from 2012-2015, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & one of the following:
- On Y10 NRPS (National Rolling Points Standing)
- On Y10 Regional Youth Points Standing
- Earn 60 Y12 Regional points this season
Born from 2010-2013, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & one of the following:
- On Y12 NRPS (National Rolling Points Standing)
- Earn 70 Y12 Regional points this season
- Earn 150 Y14 Regional points this season
- Top 25% Y12 Regional Point Standings this season
Born from 2008-2011, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & one of the following:
- On Y14 NRPS
- Earn 150 Y14 Regional points this season or 2021-22
- Top 25% Y14 Regional Point Standings this season
See the USFA Athlete Handbook, pages page 57 (RYC points) and page 60 (SYC points)
RYC POINTS FORMULA: Using the formula below, RYC tournaments will award points to all participants: (# entries – place + 1) /# entries) x 100 points
When there is a mixed-gender Youth competition, points are not separated out by gender.
SYC POINTS FORMULA: The Super Youth Circuit (SYC) competitions will award national points at .8 of the NAC/Championship points table to precisely the top 40 percent of the competitive field (rounded up to the next higher integer) to a maximum of 64th place.
For example: Field = 100 fencers therefore 40 fencers earn national points
Field = 103 fencers therefore 42 fencers earn national points (40 percent =4.2 Field = 200 fencers therefore 64 fencers earn national points (40 percent = 80 but awarding points is capped at 64th place)
In all SYC Youth events, 3 fencers must compete in order for points to be awarded.
Born from 2006-2009 & one of the following:
- On Cadet NRPS
- Top 50% on Y14 NRPS
- Earn 65 Junior Regional Points this season on Junior Regional Circuit Points
Earn 65 Cadet Regional Points this season on Cadet Regional Point Standings - Top 25% of Cadet Regional Point Standings this season
Born from 2003-2009 & one of the following:
- On Junior NRPS
- On Cadet NRPS
- Top 25% on Y14 NRPS
- Earn 65 Junior Regional Points this season on Junior Regional Circuit Points
- Earn 65 Cadet Regional Points this season on Cadet Regional Point Standings
- Foreign athletes who are A or B
Born in 2008 or earlier, class A, B, or C, & meet one of the following:
- Be on the current Senior NRPS
- Be on the current Junior NRPS
- Top 24 current Cadet NRPS
- Top 16 2021-22 Division 1A Regional Point Standings
- Top 4 2021-22 Division II Regional Point Standings
- 2022 NCAA National Champion Individual Competitor
- Foreign athletes who are A or B
Born in 2008 or earlier, class A, B, C, D, E, or U, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & meet one of the following:
- On 2021-22 Div 1A ROC Regional Point Standings
- Top 8 2021-22 Division 2 ROC Regional Point Standings
Born in 2008 or earlier, class C, D, E, or U at the time of registration, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & meet one of the following:
- Top 25% of 2021-22 division qualifying competition
- On 2021-22 Div 1A ROC Regional Point Standings
- On 2021-22 Div 2 ROC Regional Point Standings
- Top 40% of any Division 2 NAC during the 2021-22 season
Born in 2008 or earlier, class D, E, or U at the time of registration, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, & meet one of the following:
- Top 25% of total D,E, or U fencers currently or 2021-22 of Division II Qualifying competition (if Div 2 and Div 3 are held together), or top 25% of Div III if held separately
- On Div 1A or Div 2 ROC Point Standings for 2021-22
- Qualified for Div 2 National Championship in the current season
Meet the age eligibility requirements for their division – V40, V50, V60, V70+ and V80+ & meet one of the following:
- On Veteran NRPS
- On Veteran RPS
- Compete in any NAC
- Compete in any ROC
Compete in current season Div 1 or Div 2 championship
Schedule of National Fencing Tournaments
In addition to the regional ways to qualify, here are the upcoming national-level fencing competitions that are part of the qualification path to Fencing Summer Nationals and the July Challenge.
October NAC
Oct. 7-10, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN
Division I, Cadet, Y14, Parafencing
December NAC
Dec. 9-12, 2022 in Salt Lake City, UT
Division I, Junior, Cadet
January North American Cup
Jan. 6-9, 2023 in Louisville, KY
Division I, Junior, Veteran Age, Veteran Combined, Parafencing
Junior Olympic Championships
February 17-20, 2023, Denver, CO
Junior, Cadet, and Junior Team
March North American Cup
March 3-6, 2023 in Fort Worth, TX
Y14, Y12, Y10, Cadet, Cadet Team, Parafencing
Division I National Championships and April NAC
April 21-24, 2023 in St. Louis, MO
Division I, Junior, Veteran Age, Veteran Combined
USA Fencing National Championships & July Challenge (Summer Nationals)
June 30-July 9, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ
All Divisions and Age Groups
Being part of such a huge event, and fence along Olympians (heck, just being int he same building with them!) should be of great pride, and the result of hard work and dedication for which each fencer deserves to be praised!