How to earn national points in fencing and rank on US Fencing's National Points List
EARNING NATIONAL POINTS IN FENCING
For competitive fencers, earning national points in their relevant weapon and age group is a major goal. For parents, understanding how it all works enables you to strategize effectively to help your fencer earn national points.
Unlike, rating classifications which can be earned at regional and local tournaments as well as at national tournaments, national points can only be earned at national tournaments (NACs and National Championships), for which there are only a limited number of opportunities. The only exceptions are in the youth age groups (Y10, Y12 and Y14) where fencers can earn national points at SYCs, and in the Cadet and Junior age groups with the introduction of a new event, the Super Junior and Cadet Circuit (SJCC).
For a very elite group of fencers at the cadet, junior and senior levels, who compete in designated international competitions, international points earned are translated and added to their national points in the relevant weapon and age group.
HOW ARE NATIONAL POINTS USED?
To seed USA Fencing national, regional and divisional competitions
As a qualifying path to the various National Championship tournaments
As a measure of the progress of the fencer in his or her peer group
To select athletes for international competition prior to the activation of the current season’s National Team Point Standings (Cadet, Junior, Senior, Veteran, Youth & Wheelchair)
College fencing coaches refer to the Junior (Individual) National Points List as a guide for identifying potential athlete recruits for their college teams.
EARNING NATIONAL POINTS FROM NORTH AMERICA CUPS (NAC), NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JULY CHALLENGE
National points are awarded by US Fencing in the following age group categories:
Senior (Division 1)
Senior Team
Junior
Cadet
Y14
Y12
Y10
Veterans (V40, V50, V60, V70, V-Open)
At NACs, July Challenge and National Championships, national points are awarded to the top 40%, up to a maximum of 32 finishers , and when there are 160 or more finishers, national points are awarded to the top 64 finishers in each event.
Field Size Points Awarded to Table of
2-4 Gold Medalist
5-7 2
8-12 4
13-22 8
23-42 16
43-159 32
160 + 64
At national fencing tournaments, national points are awarded to winners in each age category as follows;
Age Group Winner's National Points Award
Y10 100
Y12 150
Y14 200
Cadet 400
Junior 600
Division 1 1000
Veterans 400
The remaining field, up to the 32nd or 64th position, as the case may be, will be awarded national points on a sliding scale.
NATIONAL POINTS AT SYC
At SYCs, national points are awarded to the top 40% of finishers, up to a maximum of 64 places.
Only national points earned from a fencers best result at an SYC in a specific weapon and age group are added to the fencer's overall national points..
For example, if a Y12 fencer competes in 4 SYCs in Y12 Men's Foil, only national points earned from the best result amongst the 4 will be included in that fencer's national points in Y12 MF. If the same Y12 fencer also competes in Y14 MF at 4 SYCs, and finishes in the top 40% in 2 of them. Then the national points from the better of the 2 results will be included in the calculation of the fencer's Y14 MF and Y12 MF national points.
According to the US Fencing Athlete Handbook, national points earned at SYC events are awarded at a 0.8 scale of the Youth NAC/Championship Points Table. The winner in a Y10 event at an SYC earns 80 national points, the winner in a Y12 event at an SYC earns 120 national points, and the winner in a Y14 event at an SYC earns 160 national points.
NATIONAL POINTS AT SJCC
The SJCC is a newly introduced event in the 2018/2019 fencing season. US Fencing intends the SJCC to be an additional qualifying path to the July Challenge for aspiring Cadet and Junior fencers.
The pilot tournament will be held in Anaheim, California from March 15 to 17, 2019, in time for fencers to earn national points to qualify for the July Challenge 2019..
The top 40% of the finishing field at the SJCC will be awarded national points at a ratio of 0.2 of a national event. The winner of a Junior event at an SJCC will earn 120 national points, and the winner of a Cadet event at an SJCC will earn 80 national points.
NATIONAL ROLLING POINTS STANDING (NATIONAL POINTS LIST)
The National Rolling Points Standing (NRPS), more commonly known as the National Points List, for each age group and weapon tracks a fencer's national points earned by tournament, and ranks fencers within each age group by total number of eligible national points earned.
A fencer's ranking on the National Points List reflects a fencer's overall fencing success in his/her weapon and age group at the national and international level in a fencing season. The National Points List reflects both quality and consistency of performance over the fencing season. In general, a fencer's position on the National Points List is a more complete reflection of a fencer's overall performance and skill than his/her rating classification can indicate.
National points earned by a fencer are valid for one year. These points roll off unless the fencer renews them by earning national points at the equivalent event the following year. For example, a fencer earns 200 points by placing first in Y14 Women's Epee at the March NAC, 2018. If she is still age eligible in 2019, she must earn national points in the Y14 WE event at the March NAC 2019 to replace the 200 points which will roll off immediately following the March NAC 2019.
CALCULATING RANKING ON THE NATIONAL POINTS LIST
A fencer's ranking on the NRPS is the sum of eligible best national points results based on specific rules issued by US Fencing:
Y10 NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Y10 National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 4 RESULTS of the following events are included:
- Y10 age group event at the March NAC
- Y10 age group event at Summer Nationals
- Y12 age group event at the March NAC
- Y12 age group event at Summer Nationals
- Y10 age group event at SYCs (only the best result is included)
- Y12 age group events at SYCs (only the best result is included)
Y12 NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Y10 National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 4 RESULTS of the following events are included:
- Y12 age group event at the March NAC
- Y12 age group event at Summer Nationals
- Y14 age group event at the March NAC
- Y14 age group event at Summer Nationals
- Y12 age group event at SYCs (only the best result is included)
- Y14 age group events at SYCs (only the best result is included)
Y14 NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Y14 National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 4 RESULTS of the following events are included:
- Y14 age group event at the March NAC
- Y14 age group event at November NAC
- Y14 age group event at Summer Nationals
- Y14 age group event at SYCs (only the best result is included)
- Cadet event at the October NAC
- Cadet event at the November NAC
- Cadet event at Junior Olympics
- Cadet event at Summer Nationals
- Junior event at the November NAC
- Junior event at January NAC
- Junior event at Junior Olympics
- Junior event at Summer Nationals
- Division 1 event at October NAC
- Division 1 event at December NAC
- Division 1 event at January NAC
- Division 1 Championship in April
- Division 1 event at Summer Nationals/July Challenge
CADET NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Cadet National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 4 RESULTS from each of the following event groups are included:
Group 1 - Domestic National Points
- Cadet event at the October NAC
- Cadet event at the November NAC
- Cadet event at Junior Olympics
- Cadet event at Summer Nationals
- Junior event at the November NAC
- Junior event at January NAC
- Junior event at Junior Olympics
- Junior event at Summer Nationals
- Division 1 event at October NAC
- Division 1 event at December NAC
- Division 1 event at January NAC
- Division 1 Championship in April
Group 2 - International Points
- Designated International Cadet events
- Designated International Junior events
- Designated Senior International events
JUNIOR NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Junior National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 4 RESULTS from each of the following event groups are included:
Group 1 - Domestic National Points
- Junior event at the November NAC
- Junior event at January NAC
- Junior event at Junior Olympics
- Junior event at Summer Nationals
- Division 1 event at October NAC
- Division 1 event at December NAC
- Division 1 event at January NAC
- Division 1 Championship in April
Group 2 - International Points
- Designated International Junior events
- Designated Senior International events
DIVISION 1 NATIONAL POINTS FROM ELIGIBLE EVENTS
In determining a fencer's overall ranking on the Division 1 National Points List for a specific weapon, points earned from THE BEST 2 RESULTS from Group 1 and THE BEST 4 RESULTS from Group 2 are included:
Group 1 - Domestic National Points
- Division 1 event at October NAC
- Division 1 event at December NAC
- Division 1 event at January NAC
- Division 1 Championship in April
Group 2 - International Points
- Designated Senior International events
STRENGTH FACTOR FOR DOMESTIC DIVISION 1 POINTS
A strength factor ratio is applied to national points in Division 1 national events to reflect the strength of the participating field in the event
See excerpt from the US Fencing Athlete Handbook for Division 1 Strength Factor
STRENGTH FACTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL POINTS
A strength factor ratio is applied to national points in international events to reflect the strength of the participating field in the event
See excerpt from US Fencing Athlete Handbook for International Points
Useful Links
US Fencing National and International Points Table Excerpt