North America Cups (NACs)
Updated on October 12, 2022
Winning at a North America Cup Saber event
US Fencing organizes 5 North America Cup (NAC) tournaments a year in addition to the Junior Olympics and Summer Nationals/July Challenge championship tournaments.
In the 2022/2023 season, NACs will be held in October, December, January, March and April. Starting in the 2023/2024 season, the 5 NACs will be held in October, November, January, March and April. Junior Olympics are held in February and Summer Nationals/July Challenge typically runs from late June to early July.
For convenience, NACs are identified by and referred to by the month they are held in.
No qualifying Requirements
Except in the Y10 and Y12 age categories, there are no qualifying requirements to fence at NACs though fencers are still required to meet age eligibility and classification requirements, where applicable. While NACs are national events, they are not championship events, and are, therefore, open to participation from both US and foreign fencers.
For Y10 and Y12 fencers, they must fence in at least one Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) event or one Super Youth Circuit (SYC) event before they can register and compete at the March NAC for youth.
Earning National Points and Rating Classifications
The NAC and the national championships are the main venues where fencers earn national points and rank on the National Points List.
National points are awarded to fencers at NACs in Junior, Cadet, Y14, Y12, Y10, and Division 1 events. National points are usually awarded to the top 40% of finishers, and to the top 64 when there are 160 or more finishers.
When fencers earn national points, they are automatically qualified to compete at the relevant national championship (Summer Nationals, Junior Olympics, Division 1) or July Challenge event.
Fencers can also earn rating classifications at these NAC events, based on the event rating.
Division 2 events at NACs are designated B3 events, and Division 3 events are designated C3 events for purposes of awarding ratings classifications to fencers. No national points are awarded for Division 2 and Division 3 NACs.
NAC Locations
NACs are large events typically held in convention centers in cities around the country. Fencers from all over the country converge for 4 days of fencing, usually spanning an extended weekend from Friday to Monday. It is common for fencers to compete in 2 or more events at a NAC. or some fencers come for just one very important event. For experienced fencers, competition at NACs are exhilarating, and fencers train hard for them. For many fencers, it's a great time to catch up with their fencing friends from around the country, and deepen the bonds of friendship.
Travel and Hotel
US Fencing organizes hotel rooms at bulk discounts through Group Housing for fencers and officials attending a NAC. For parents booking with Group Housing, it is advisable to make your booking for the full period and revise the number of days of stay once the check-in times are released by US Fencing, typically one week after close of regular fee registration.
It is also wise to wait till check-in times are released to book your flight (unless you have a fully flexible and refundable ticket).
Registration
US Fencing competitive membership is required to fence at a NAC. Registration for NACs is through US Fencing and is best done online through the US Fencing website HERE.
october nac (Oct 7 - 10 2022)
Minneapolis, Minnesota - host to the fencing October NAC 2022
Division 1
Age Eligibility - Born 2009 or earlier. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the National Junior Points List
Classification - A, B, C (at date of registration)
Y14
Age Eligibility - Born 2008 to 2011. Fencers born after 2011 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - C, D, E, U (at date of registration)
cadet
Age Eligibility - Born 2006 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Y14 National Points List
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
PARAfencing
december nac (dec 9 - 12 2022)
Salt Lake City, Utah, host to the fencing December NAC 2022
division 1
Age Eligibility - Born 2009 or earlier. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - A, B, C (at date of registration)
Junior
Age Eligibility - Born 2003 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - C, D, E, U (at date of registration)
cadet
Age Eligibility - Born 2006 to 2009. fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - A, B, C (at date of registration)
Replenish Your Electrolytes During Competition
january nac (jan 6 - 9 2023)
Louisville, Kentucky - host to the fencing January NAC 2023
division 1
Age Eligibility - Born 2009 or earlier. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - A, B, C (at date of registration)
junior
Age Eligibility - Born 2003 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must have Cadet National Points
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
Veterans
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Please refer to US Fencing for details
march NAC (mar 3 - 6, 2023)
Fort Worth, Texas - host to the fencing March NAC 2023
Y14
Age Eligibility - Born 2008 to 2011. Fencers born after 2011 must have Y12 National Points
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
y12
Age Eligibility - Born 2010 to 2013. Fencers born after 2013 must have Y10 National Points
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
Qualifying Path
- Fence in one RYC or one SYC in the current season in the age and weapon category that the fencer wants to fence at the NAC, or
- Be on the Y12 National Points List at the regular fee entry deadline
- Be on the Y10 National Points List at the regular fee entry deadline
y10
Age Eligibility - born 2012 - 2015
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
Qualifying Path
- Fence in one RYC or one SYC in the current season in the age and weapon category that the fencer wants to fence at the NAC, or
- Be on the Y10 National Points List at the regular fee entry deadline
- Be on the Y12 National Points List at the regular fee entry deadline
Cadet
Age Eligibility - Born 2006 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must have Cadet National Points
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
cadet team
Age Eligibility - Born 2006 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must have Cadet National Points
Classification - A, B, C, D, E, U
april nac (April 21 - 24, 2023)
St Louis, Missouri - host to the April NAC and Division 1 Championship
The April NAC is held concurrently with the Division 1 National Championship and Division 1 Team Championship
division 1 championship
Age Eligibility - Born 2009 or earlier. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - A, B or C
Citizenship - US citizen or permanent
Qualifications:
Be on the current Senior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
Be on the current adjusted* Junior National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
Be in the current adjusted* Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR
Have placed in the top 8 in the previous season’s Division IA National Championships OR
Have placed in the top 4 in the previous season’s Division II National Championships OR
For EPEE ONLY: the top 3 USA Fencing Modern Pentathlon fencers will be eligible to compete in the Division I epee events without qualifying by any other means. USA Modern Pentathlon fencers MUST be USA Fencing members.
division 1 team championship
Age Eligibility - Born 2009 or earlier. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - C, D, E, U (as at date of registration)
Junior
Age Eligibility - Born 2003 to 2009. Fencers born after 2009 must be on the Junior National Points List
Classification - D, E, U (as at date of registration)
veterans and veterans combined
Please refer to US Fencing for details
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