2019/20 Season Preview
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This is an archived newsletter from July 30, 2019. Dates, prices and deadlines in it have passed — see current classes or the schedule.
Plan your 2019/20 fencing calendar!
The 2019/20 fencing season begins on Thursday, August 1st!
USFA Membership Renewal
The new fencing season begins on Thursday, August 1st. In order for Hooked on Fencing to be covered through USFA insurance, ALL of our fencers must renew their United States Fencing Association membership by Thursday in order to compete or participate in club practice. You can renew your membership by following this link and logging in to your account. You must at least purchase a non-competitive membership. If you are not sure whether you plan to compete this season, you can select the non-competitive membership and upgrade to competitive at a later date. If you do not have a current membership as of August 1st, you will not be able to practice at the club until you renew your membership. Feel free to email us with any questions.
Age Categories and Practice Times
Beginning August 1st, all fencers will also advance in age categories (Y12, Y14, etc.). A detailed list of 2019/20 age and classification eligibility can be found here , so be sure to note which events are available to you in the coming season. Important note: fencers born in 2006 are no longer part of the Y12 age category, and can now compete in events classified as Open, Senior, Div II, Div III, Unrated, or 'E' and Under. All fencers born in 2006 or earlier are also eligible to earn fencing ratings (A, B, C, etc.).
This also affects practice times at Hooked on Fencing. Fencers born 2004-06 should attend weeknight practice at the club at 6pm, and plan to stay until at least 7:15-7:30pm. On Saturdays, the practice time for this age group begins at 11am. All fencers born in 2006 or earlier are welcome to stay at the club as late as we are open.
2019/20 Competition Schedule
Competition fencers, it's time to plan your tournament schedule for the new season! There are basically three tiers of competition to consider.
Local events are great for new fencers, but also provide extremely important experience for fencers of all levels. This is the most convenient and cost-effective way to compete, as events are typically inexpensive and travel/lodging is not involved. It is also usually the best way for fencers to earn ratings. You can browse local events on AskFRED , including events hosted by HoF (more on that below).
Regional events are typically larger, more competitive, and act as qualifying paths for the Junior Olympics and the National Championships. Regional events include Youth events, Junior/Cadet events, and Open/Div II events. You can find more info and a full calendar of 2019/20 Regional events here .
National events are the top level of USFA fencing competition, and attract serious fencers from all over the country. At National events you can test your skills against the best of the best and potentially earn points to advance in the National rankings. The 2019/20 National schedule can be found here . Of note this year, the Junior Olympics will be held in Columbus, and the Summer Nationals will take place in Louisville. A good fencing schedule will involve a mix of these three categories. Take the time to browse these resources and plan a fencing schedule that suits your budget, schedule, and commitment to competition. I would recommend that every competitive fencer aims to fence (on average) at least one tournament a month. For competitors who are serious about achieving top results, 2-3 tournaments a month is a good goal.
HoF Tournaments, Club Champs, and Summer Camps
Of course, Hooked on Fencing will be hosting our own line-up of 2019/20 tournaments and events. Our competitive fencers should compete in most, if not all, of our home tournaments. We can't expect outside fencers to attend our events when our own fencers don't participate!!! The full list of 2019/20 HoF tournaments can be found here .
Our 2020 fencing camps have already been posted, and for the first time, will take place before the National Championships. Put the Youth Camp and the Advanced Epee Camp on your calendar today!
Other HoF Events
A few HoF events are not yet on the calendar, but we will provide more info as they draw nearer. You can expect FFFFF Nights, Tuesday Night Training, and a few other events such as an Equipment Repair Seminar, in addition to our usual Christmas Party and Summer Cookout. The annual Cedar Point trip will take place during Halloweekends (most likely during September) and we will provide a date for that in the next two weeks. Stay posted for more info!
-Nick
HoF Competitions
9/15
10/5-6