Division Qualifiers
Updated on October 12, 2019 to reflect US Fencing’s policy on participation of ineligible fencers in Division Qualifiers
US Fencing authorizes fencing Divisions around the country to organize Division Qualifier (DQs) ahead of Junior Olympics and Summer Nationals so that fencers who haven't qualified through national or regional points have an opportunity to qualify for national championships through DQs.
DQs are only allowed for cadet and junior events ahead of Junior Olympics, and for Division 2, Division 3 and Y14 events ahead of Summer Nationals.
Fencers participating in a DQ must belong to the division in which the DQ is organized, and they must be US citizens or permanent residents.
While DQs are open to all, including those already qualified, in determining the number of fencers qualifying through the DQ, US Fencing will skip over fencers with national points, but will not skip over fencers qualified through regional paths or DQs. As a matter of practice, already qualified fencers don't usually participate in these qualifiers.
DQs are usually small to medium sized events hosted at local fencing clubs within the division.
Please take note of US Fencing’s policy on ineligible fencers who participate in DQs. The impact on all DQ participants is serious, as no one qualifies until the issue is resolved. We reproduce the US Fencing policy below:
“Policy on ineligible fencers in division qualifiers:
1. For division qualifying events in which any ineligible fencers are discovered (i.e., age, classification, membership, citizenship or representing country), the division and athlete(s) in question will be notified and instructed of the information needed to resolve the situation. Any missing membership forms, fees or paperwork needed to resolve the issue must be received by the National Office within 10 business days from the time of notification of the problem by the National Office. Late submission may result in the division qualifiers being recalculated based on the eligible fencers in the competitive field.
2. No qualification or classifications will be awarded to fencers who compete in division qualifiers where ineligible athletes (i.e., age, classification, membership, citizenship or representing country) are allowed to compete until the situation is resolved.
3. All entries for the given Championship will remain “registered” until the issues regarding the division qualifier in question are resolved.
4. Petitions or protests will be reviewed after the situation is resolved
Junior Olympic Qualifiers
Typically held in November and December before the close of regular registration for JOs, these qualifiers are sanctioned events.
25% (rounded up) of the participating field in each Junior and Cadet event at the Qualifier will qualify for JOs, as illustrated below.
Excerpt from US Fencing Athlete Handbook
When a fencer qualifies for a Junior event through the Junior DQ, under the qualifying rules for JOs, that fencer also qualifies to fence in the corresponding cadet event at JOs, provided the fencer is age eligible. Should that fencer subsequently fence in the Qualifier for the corresponding Cadet event, that fencer will not be skipped over for purposes of determining the number of fencers qualifying through that Cadet DQ.
As a matter of practice, the Junior qualifier is always held first, and fencers who qualify in the Junior event do not compete in the later Cadet event.
summer nationals qualifiers
DQs are held for Division 2, Division 3 and Y14 championship events at Summer Nationals.
25% (rounded up) of the participating field in each Division 2, Division 3 and Y14 event at the Qualifier will qualify for Summer Nationals, as illustrated in the table above. According to the eligibilty rules, a fencer who qualifies for a Division 2 championship event also qualifies for the corresponding Division 3 event, provided the fencer meets classification criteria. If that fencer competes in the Division 3 DQ event, that fencer will not be skipped over for purposes of determining the fencers qualifying for Division 3 in that event.
In practice, the Division 2 DQ is held first, and fencers who qualify for Division 2 at that point do not proceed to compete in the Division 3 DQ.
The Y14 DQ qualifies fencers to compete in the Y14 and Y12 (if age eligible) championships at Summer Nationals, and no other event.
Share this post with someone who may find it useful.