The 2008-2009 Season

Major Changes in Junior and Cadet fencing

The Junior Season - Nominated events:

Event:

 Date:

Selection after:

Senior Nationals

12th July

 

U20/U17 BSC nominated event
 (Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton, Middlesex)

7th Sept

 

 

13/14th Sept

Fitness testing/training for Junior European squad

Bristol Open

21st Sept

 

U20 Champs

5th Oct

 

Junior Europeans

see http://www.ejc08.eu/index.html

2nd - 8th November

Ind - 3rd Nov; team - 5th Nov

Senior Nationals

Welsh Open

9th November

 

Laupheim JWC

16th November

Bristol Open

(carry over points included in
rankings for this)

Miller-Hallett

(St. Paul’s School, SW13)
 Junior Team event on Sunday

22nd November

 

Lignano JWC

6th December

Laupheim

Budapest JWC

5th January
(subject to confirmation)

Miller-Hallett

Goteborg JWC

31st January

Lignano

Basel JWC

7th February

Lignano

 

 

 

Worlds (Belfast)

5th – 13th April

(to be confirmed)
[European U23 Champs (Budapest) 8th - 10th May]  

The 2008/9 season brings significant changes to the Cadet/Junior ranking system.

A new scheme has been introduced, principally aimed at cadets but involving juniors as well, to encourage more competition away from the senior circuit.  This involves significant changes to the points’ scheme, a reduction in the weighting of senior events, a reduction in the number of senior events we can nominate and the introduction of new cadet/junior nominated events (one so far).

So far, we still have the option to nominate the Senior Nationals, but that may change in the future.

Significant changes this season:

·        We can only nominate 3 senior events this season for inclusion in the U20 ranking scheme, PLUS the senior nationals. 

·        Points’ weighting for senior events is reduced from 4 x to 1.5 x.  Junior events remain at 1 x.

·        We are increasing the lead-in time for Junior A Grade (Junior World Cup or JWC) events from 4 weeks to 6.  This is because of the requirement to complete entries to the FIE two weeks prior to each event (late entries and changes are heavily fined) and the need to confirm airline seats early.

·        GB trips abroad.  It is likely that squads on all foreign trips will be required to sign an agreement that they will not drink alcohol during these trips.  Please be aware of this possibility (or indeed, likelihood).

·        No change to current carry-over of points.

·        Selection criteria for GB team changes from 1 x L16 or 2 x L32 to the achievement of a minimum of 7,500 points from the fencer’s best three foreign competitions (2008 Junior World Champs, 2008 Junior Europeans and five Junior World Cup events). THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON THE PREVIOUS STANDARD!

·        This will be the last year for Cadets to compete at the World Championships; after Belfast only Juniors will compete at this level.

(Full details of the Junior Selection scheme are published on the BF website - see link to the left.)

Selection for GB team

The qualifying period starts officially with the Senior European Championships and ends on 16th February.  In practice the season for Juniors is short.  You need to think in terms of starting your physical preparation well beforehand – i.e. starting in June/July.

Participation in the Junior Nationals is compulsory except in exceptional circumstances.  In that event, it cannot be replaced by another result.

Selection for foreign events.

This season, a maximum of 9 or 12 fencers will travel to 'A' grade competitions, assuming we can provide one and two referees (respectively) of a suitable standard.  Otherwise, only 4 can travel. 

In general, we would expect to take a full squad of 12 to all A grades except Basel, which seems to fall during exams and generally attracts fewer applicants.  Selection for trips is subject to approval of the selectors on each occasion and subject to fencers being able to take places and being fit and in training. 

As last year, we will be going to 5 nominated A grades (JWC events).

To fence at any JWC event, you must have full FIE kit and be prepared for random drugs testing. 

NB  You should check the BFA website for information on drugs testing.  Restricted drugs include commonly prescribed inhalers for example, so check out all medicines you are taking before you travel.

It is necessary to send one or two officials with the team (depending on the numbers).  It is also necessary to send a referee, two if more than 9 fencers are entered.  The fencers must meet the costs of the two (or more) officials, including an amount (£100 a day at present) in lieu of wages for the coach, and as of this season, a daily allowance for the referees as well.  There is no funding available for ‘A’ grades.

The squad of 9 or 12 will be selected a minimum of 6 weeks prior to travelling, from the order of the ranking lists at that time.  The date of selection is published in advance (see above).

If you are offered a place at an A grade and you accept, by e-mail, you will be deemed to have committed to a place and you will be expected to pay a full deposit for the cost of the trip at that point!  If your deposit is not received on time, you may lose your place to another fencer.  Air tickets will not be purchased if deposits have not been received.

In order to prepare for the extremely high standard encountered in JWC events, we try to nominate strong UK competitions.  We have included the maximum 3 senior competitions in addition to the Junior Nationals, the new Junior/Cadet event, and Senior Nationals.  

Any experience you can gain abroad prior to JWC events, will be invaluable.  There are B grade events in France and Germany open to foreigners which I would recommend.  (See http://www.nahouw.net/ for listings, or look at the websites of the federations.) You will not gain British ranking points from these but you will get plenty of fencing against strong opposition at a level you will not meet in the UK.

If you are selected to go to Senior A grades, any points you gain will count towards your junior ranking.  See Junior Ranking Scheme for details.

Ranking lists

Your individual total is made up of your best three domestic results plus the Junior Championships result, plus your best three foreign results.  At the start of the season, it also includes a 30% carry-over from the previous season, which is removed after the fourth nominated competition (domestic or international) After 1st September.  You will only receive points if you are finally placed in the top 50% of foreign events or the top 75% of domestic events.

World Championship Selection

Briefly, in order to qualify for the team, you must achieve a minimum of 7,500 points in your best three foreign competitions.  Beyond that, selection is usually taken from those qualified in order of their ranking.

Only three fencers can fence in the individual event.  A fourth fencer is usually selected as a reserve for the team event; this can be another junior (who would have to travel out just especially), or a member of the cadet squad who is asked to stay on for the team event. 

For precise details of the selection please see the information on the British Fencing website. There is a link to the left of this window.

‘A’ Grades – World Cup

‘A’ grades are "World Cup" events, sanctioned by the FIE, the world governing body of fencing (see http://www.fie.ch/).  Points accumulated at these events contribute to an International ranking list and this can be found on their website.

These events are run to a prescribed formula; normally there will be poules of 7 in the first round, with elimination of not less than 20%, followed by direct elimination right through to the final.  All referees must be suitably qualified, drugs testing will be on site; full FIE kit will be required.

The number of fencers allowed to enter by each nation is laid down by the FIE (see above).

Junior Europeans

The team will be selected from the 2007-08 rankings after the Senior Nationals 2007 results have been replaced by the Senior Nationals 2008 results. See the 2007-08 ranking scheme on the BF website.

NB  Fencers selected for the Europeans will be expected to achieve a minimum standard of fitness and to attend an assessment camp on the weekend of 13th/14th September.

Rest & recovery

The period after the Worlds is important.  This is the time for taking a break, especially if you have been fencing every weekend for months, have exams or are just feeling a bit jaded.  Four weeks of active rest (keeping fit through other activities), starting training again for the start of the season in July.  It is too late to take your break during the summer holidays, and then come back sharp for the first nominated competition after the Senior Nationals!  A number of you attend one of the many summer training camps and this is an excellent way to keep up your performance when there isn’t much else going on.  Don’t be lulled into thinking of this as a rest time!

Rest is also important during your training, especially after very intense activity.  You should also pay attention to your intake of fluids and carbohydrates (i.e. get lots!).

Focus your season

When you are looking at the calendar and planning your year, you need to be selective.  The season is very full and very compact now, especially before Christmas.  Decide what your targets are for the season and then decide which competitions are important and relevant for you; don’t allow yourself to be dragged off to every competition; you will get competition weary and fail to perform when it matters.  Decide whether you are going for Cadet, Junior or Senior selection, and chose your competitions appropriately.  You cannot do everything and, if you try to, you will burn out.

Training is just as important.  You should plan your training around your available time, include lessons and fitness, and stick to your plans. If you are serious about your results, you will have a detailed plan worked out with your coach, which encompasses the whole season leading up to the worlds.  But remember, goals change as you achieve them or not, and you must be ready to revise and re-evaluate your plans as necessary.

Please do not expect to get to A grade finals on a couple of hours training a week!  You should aim to be fencing and training more like ten to 15 hours a week – this is what your opponents are doing!  For you, this might mean getting up earlier, giving up your lunch breaks, going out less.  If you are serious, that is what you need to do!!

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT U20 FENCING, CONTACT ME, KATE SMITH, AT KATE.1@VIRGIN.NET OR BY PHONE, 020 8399 2440.

HAVE A CRACKING GOOD SEASON!