Frequently Asked Questions

You can start fencing in tournaments at any age or skill/experience level.  The competitive experience serves many purposes including:

  * changing the fencer's perspective of the sport, and giving them an edge and a motivation to practice more and improve their skills

  * meeting fencers from different clubs and regions across the country and around the world

  * learning how to function and focus in a competitive environment

Prior to competing, we do recommend taking at least one private lesson weekly, in order to build more confidence.

You can ask your coach, as well as check the following resources, where you can find and register for your tournament:

Askfred.net (to find and register for tournaments)
USA fencing regional events calendar
USA fencing national events calendar

Always check your tournament website or Askfred.net page for details.  Your competition checklist should include:

Equipment

  Mask

  Chest protector (Padded chest protector for competing in women's foil)

  Jacket

  Knickers (fencing pants)

  Long (knee-high)   Changefencing socks

  Glove (FIE glove, if fencing saber)

  Lame (electrical jacket) for saber and foil

  Two functioning electrical weapons

  Two body cords

  Two mask cords for saber and foil

  Appropriate shoes (fencing shoes or other sneakers)

Also

  USA Fencing membership

  Proof of age for fencers under 18 year old and Veteran fencers over 39 years old

  Fencing tool kit (depending on your weapon)

  Water/water bottle

  Snacks (some venues may not have food available)

  Change of clothes to wear after fencing

  Warm-up jacket

  Entrance fee (check with the organizer to confirm how payments will be made)

  Most importantly, your smile and GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

*Here is a site that can help you track your results during and after the tournament: Fencing Time Live 

USA Fencing ratings are a measure of fencing skill level.  The ratings range from U (unrated), to E, D, C, B, and A (highest level).  Fencers will have a separate rating for each weapon they competitively fence with.  Each rating will also have a year attached to it: the year that the rating was earned.  Four years after a rating is earned, it downgrades if not re-earned in subsequent competitions (ex: a C17 would downgrade to a D21 in 2021).  Although ratings are not the ONLY measure of a fencers skill level, they are important because they help to seed (rank) fencers in tournaments.  Ratings are earned by competing in USA Fencing-sanctioned events.  For a more in-depth analysis of how the process works, Academy of Fencing Masters has a great webpage.

Within a fencing tournament, you will see that there are "events" which divide the tournament into separate competitions, for example "Y12 mixed saber" or "veteran's women's foil."  These titles delineate how a fencer qualifies to compete in a given event, based on age and sex.  In order to find out which events you qualify to fence in, you can refer to USA Fencing's website, here.  Make sure to check it at the start of each fencing season, as your eligibility will change, as you get older.