Tournament of the seven states

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Regretful edit!

[whtouche]

You need 100 people to express interest in a tournament before you start organising it?

How does that even make sense?

[adidas33k]

What part of Tennessee would it be in and what club or group is hosting it?

[Artisan]

Why unsanctioned? There's little interest in attending an unsanctioned event, if no rating can be earned - unless you plan on providing a substantial and "interesting" prize. To be sanctioned requires little effort, notify the division, promote / list / advertise in advance, and play by USFA rules. - oh, yeah...and kick up some of the proceeds to the division.

Then there is the question of "legality" in the eyes of the USFA. As a USFA member, you are not permitted to compete without their permission. This permits USFA to maintain a "monopoly" on the American competition market. According to the USFA Operations Manual:

Section 1: Authorized competitions
A. Except as herein provided, members of the United States Fencing Association (USFA)
may participate only in competitions scheduled by or under the auspices of the National
Board of Directors or of the divisions and sections of the USFA. Violations of this rule
are punishable by disciplinary penalties according to the gravity of the offense.
B. Members of the USFA are authorized to participate in collegiate and scholastic meets
for which they are eligible, and in tournaments organized by the Intercollegiate Fencing
Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and similar intercollegiate and
interscholastic associations, providing that such competitions are conducted under
fencing rules that substantially conform to the rules of the USFA.
C. Members of the USFA are authorized to participate in foreign individual competitions
when such competitions are organized by or under the sponsorship of a national
federation that is a member of the FIE. Members are also authorized to compete in
international collegiate or scholastic competitions which are held without any objections
thereto by the federation of the country in which the competition is held. Members of
the USFA must be certified by the USFA national office as to eligibility before
competing in FIE competitions. Members of the USFA should check with the national
office before participating in other foreign individual competitions. Members of the
USFA may not compete in foreign or international competitions as a team representing
the US except upon specific approval of the Board of Directors or a committee
designated by the Board to select members of international teams.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Thanks Artisan, I hadn't gone over the rules yet, so I didn't know that. The reason for an unsanctioned was to make it easier for grassroots newbies who are not registered or do not have the neccasary finances to compete in the larger USFA Competitions. Because for a USFA Comp, you need to register, have a USFA Membership, Knickers, Plastron and 2 weapons and cords. Besides, it was just a hypotheses, trying to scout out the grounds for newbies in the south. I will not say what club I am affiliated with yet, because I have said some crass things throughout my time on the board, and I would not want to disgrace my club.

[whtouche]

So you want at least 100 people interested before you even start organizing this tournament. You want it to be non-USFA so you can target that rich market of people who fence but aren't USFA members. You want further to target complete newbies AND you want to relax the safety standards.
Yeah. Sounds like you've got a winner there. Are you planning on laying down some of those painted strips for this tournament too?

All sarcasm aside, and there is plenty - don't you think a better way to draw more people would be to market it as a high level tournament? People will compete in a tournament worth competing in. Do you really expect people to show up because you're marketing it as a GIGANTIC novice tournament where you can't even earn a rating?

[CarlKnoch]

I have to agree with whtouche on this one. If you want a novice tourney where you modify the rules regarding safety, I can't see why anyone would want to show up! And I'm not sure you could fine 100 novices in the area's your talking about who would want to fence with nothing to gain from it. Not even experience in a USFA sanctioned event.

As for 100 fencers, the Kick Off Open over here in Virginia gets 100 foil fencers, and it's a big Open tourney. It is a huge undertaking for the division to organize on the day of and there are many things that can cause it to be totally crappy! Long wait times as they try to seed the thing, etc.... To have novices wait through that wouldn't seem the way to encourage them in the sport and show them how great it is!

[telkanuru]

Agreed.

And to further a made point, the Pomme de Terre (== biggest tourney in NE) gets perhaps 500 fencers in 12 (or is it 9) events, with many fencing in multiple events, for an average of 60-100 per event.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

PdT is 18 I believe.

6 weapon Open
6 weapon Team Open
6 Weapon Novice

[adidas33k]

Well, I can say that no one from UT will come unless you can give us a lot more information. I understand it's just an idea right now, but you say you want 100 people (which, to be honest I don't think you'll get in Tennessee) before you'll do it. We have to know who's hosting, what the set up is, like is is still going to be USFA rules except no rating will be given, basic stuff pretty much. Some of the local clubs have non-USFA events, but because we know who's running it, and the fact that USFA safety rules still apply, we'll go.

[tiger fencer]

If your club has never hosted a tournament before, think small. No one is going to drive long distances to a tournament hosted by a first time club. Once you've proven that you can run good tournaments more people will come.

I'd suggest having a open event or two, with the novice event(s) you want to run. Certainly have the the open as usfa, and probably the novice event as well, if you want big numbers. If you have a non-usfa event only local fencers will come.

Set the date well in advance and advertise as much as you can.