The 2009-10 Junior Season - Nominated events:

New information below, please read carefully.

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

New for this season

There is a team event (not FIE) after Lignano in which we will hope to enter at least one team, and also Toucoing later in the year.  We believe other team events will be added in the near future which we will announce as soon as we know about.

Selection for GB team

The qualifying period starts officially with the Senior European Championships and ends on 16th February. 

Participation in the Junior Nationals is compulsory except in special circumstance.  Please speak to me, Kate Smith, (U20 Men’s Epee Captain) if you have a question on this.  In that event, it cannot be replaced by another result.

Selection for foreign events.

A maximum of 12 fencers may travel to 'A' grade competitions, assuming we can provide one and two referees (respectively) of a suitable standard.  Only 4 can travel without a referee. 

Last year, places were not filled on every trip.  We will plan to take 9 to all A grades (who can travel with one referee) unless there is greater demand, and the selectors are satisfied that fencers are of a high enough standard to warrant the additional cost etc.  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 are nominating 5 A grades (JWC events) (shown above in red).  Fencers may also travel to other non-nominated A grades, and indeed we strongly recommend it – Portugal and Nimes would be good options.  Entry for ALL ‘A’ grade competitions must be made through BF via me, U20 weapon captain.

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.

Please note the following carefully:

·        The squad of 9 or 12 will be selected approximately 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.

·        From this season onwards, payments for trips will be made to BF HQ.

Junior events – general information

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 BSC (British Selection Circuit) 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 we 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, points you gain may count towards your junior ranking, but please check latest Junior Ranking Scheme for rules on this.

Ranking lists

Your ranking position is determined by your individual total 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 for the team 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 "Junior 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 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 is required.

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

Junior Europeans

The team is selected from the 2008-09 rankings after the Senior Nationals 2008 results have been replaced by the Senior Nationals 2009 results.

Your training and competition season:

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 at least as important as competition.  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 (or complain to us if you don’t).  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!!

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!).

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 WONDERFUL 2009/10 SEASON!