Announcements

On June 19-20, 2021, we will hold our first sanctioned youth tournament since reopening! Read on for details about the event formats and COVID protocols.

This event is open to all Western Washington Division fencers.

Registration

Please pre-register on AskFRED.Net to speed up the tournament setup process. We will bill entry fees to your account in our membership system, to avoid a long line at the front desk on the day of the event. Entry fee is $30 per event.

Event sizes will be limited to 30 competitors. If an event is full, you may email us and ask to be placed on a waiting list. If you pre-registered and will not be able to attend, please cancel your pre-registration as soon as possible to let others sign up.

All fencers must be current (2020-2021) Competitive members of USA Fencing. If you need to join or renew your membership, please do so online before the tournament.

Age Eligibility

Youth-10 – born 2010-2013
Youth-12 – born 2008-2011
Youth-14 – born 2006-2009

Check-in

Please check in at the front desk when you arrive. We will do temperature checks of all competitors. As always, anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or has had recent close contact with someone who has tested positive should stay home.

Equipment

All fencers should wear full fencing uniform, including fencing pants and long socks, and make sure their electric gear is in good working order. Foil fencers must have a mask with an electric bib, and a mask cord to connect the bib to the lame. Foil fencers who wear a chest protector (required for girls, optional for boys) must have approved padding on the chest protector. We have a limited number of padded chest protectors available to borrow.

Event Format

As mentioned above, each event will be limited to 30 competitors.

Boys and girls may fence separate or mixed depending on number of entries of each.

Format will be one round of pools with 100% promotion to direct elimination.

Pools of 5 and 6, rather than 6 and 7, will be used where possible. Pool bouts are to 5 touches or 3 minutes.

Direct elimination bouts are to 10 touches and two 3-minute periods (for Youth-10) or 15 touches and three 3-minute periods (for Youth-12 and Youth-14).

Medals will be awarded to the top 4 finishers in each event.

COVID-19 Measures

All of our COVID-19 Safety Rules will be in place.

Only one parent or guardian should accompany youth and junior fencers to the tournament. Spectators should watch from upstairs.

Face masks (surgical or cloth) must be worn at all times by all fencers, spectators, and officials, including under the fencing mask. Face masks must be worn properly, covering the nose and mouth.

Fencers should wash or sanitize their hands frequently.

Drinking fountains are for filling water bottles only. Please bring a water bottle with you and keep it near your strip.

Locker rooms are limited to 2 people at a time, per state guidelines. Please come dressed in your fencing pants and long socks if possible. Showers remain closed.

Referees will wear masks and disposable gloves at all times.

Pools and direct elimination tableau quadrants will be spread out through the facility. All fencers should remain near their pool/quadrant, and maintain social distance from other competitors while waiting for their next bout.

Medals will be handed to the finalists. Each medal ceremony will be socially distanced.

After the completion of your event, please leave the facility so we can sanitize all high-contact areas, the electric wires, machine remotes, etc. before the next event starts.

We will be following USA Fencing’s recommendations as well. In particular, athletes should refrain from shouting and/or screaming after scoring a touch. Referees will begin with a reminder warning to athletes who do so, but are authorized to assess penalty cards if it continues.