Your National Slate

Athlete development has too long been a synonym for elite development; but every coach and club owner knows that the higher the level of every fencer in the club, the greater chance of developing a champion. As an organization, we need to build a competitive structure beyond local division events to provide more and better competitive opportunities for fencers at all levels . The SYC model used in the national youth program can provide a framework to create a national circuit for fencers currently categorized as Div III, II and IA.

Historically, large regional competitions such as the Remenyik in the midwest, the Pomme de Terre on the east coast, the Duel in the Desert in the west, and the Bay Cup series on the west coast have acted as focuses of the regional competition schedule. These events could be organized into a structure of neo national events, as are the SYCs, creating a satellite circuit outside the over-burdened  NACs.

In time, as this system prospers, bid packets similar to those currently in use for the SYCs could be made available to organizers allowing a potential expansion to five open competitions available to all levels becoming essentially a Div IA circuit. This would double or triple the number of high-quality tournament opportunities available to athletes, allowing them to work with their coaches to develop a schedule of competitions that makes sense for their personal developmental goals.

Once these events are established as a circuit, the next step would be to initiate a second series of events for those athletes currently designated Div II and III. An athlete entering the series at the beginning of a season could remain within the series regardless of any change in personal rating within the season. This would allow for development of skills within this group over the course of a season.

The third step in this program would be the keeping of points for each series allowing for national recognition those athletes who had been most successful that season in these competitions.

A framework of requirements and standards would need to be developed and available to organizers and competitors. These events could be used by the FOC to train and develop referees in a formal competition network. A national head for this system and accompanying policy group, as has been used in the youth program, would coordinate the calendar, publish a calendar and maintain a website, point totals, and necessary manuals. This could all be funded from the competitions themselves and initially utilize structures already in place.

Providing more opportunities, raising the level and standard of competitions available, and in turn creating more strong athletes will raise the level of US Fencing’s “club” of athletes, and provide greater value for its members.