New RYC and Super Youth Circuit web site

[fluidfencer]

The Youth Development Committee has developed a new web site that will be the source of all official information regarding the Regional Youth Circuit program and the Super Youth Circuit (Formerly referred to as Super RYC). The web site is:
http://www.usfaryc.org

This web site includes bid information regarding the three Super Youth Circuit tournaments that will be held this season, contact information related to the YDC and RYC Coordinators, the official RYC calendar, and RYC Guidelines (mostly carried over from last year).

The information on this web site specifically relates to the current season. Information related to next season will be added subsequent to approval by the Executive Committee of the USFA. No decisions have yet been made regarding the 2005/2006 season.

[oso97]

Question: Will next year's RYC's go through the regional coordinators or through the national office for designation purposes?

[edew]

I'm guessing the RYCs will go through regional coordinators and the SYCs will go through USFA (a la the bid packet requirements).

Note that the bid deadline is Dec 15, about a week away. Any ideas who has even submitted a bid?

[fluidfencer]

Eric is likely correct in that RYCs will be scheduled in the Regions (what constitutes a "region" will be clarified as well), and then sent to the YDC for posting to the national schedule. I don't want to speak on the Super Youth Circuit for next year until that becomes official. The YDC will be having a first teleconference on the subject next week.

Eric, the Super Youths for this year have been handled clumsily. I addressed that as best I could in another thread. For this season, the YDC will send the bids to a subcommittee of the Tournament Committee to make the decisions, without knowing the names of those who submitted the bids, to keeps things as objective as possible.

I have suggested that, after the bids are selected, we disclose who submitted bids and explain why the three were selected over the others. I can't recall whether that was agreed to at our last teleconference. We are trying to be as open as we can be under the circumstances. Not that anything is purposely not being disclosed, it's just that there is so little time related to finishing out this season.

The approach towards next season will probably be much more to your liking.

[oso97]

I'm guessing the RYCs will go through regional coordinators and the SYCs will go through USFA (a la the bid packet requirements).

Note that the bid deadline is Dec 15, about a week away. Any ideas who has even submitted a bid?

I was thinking about it, but decided against it, given :

1) not enough time to prepare a proper bid
2) how packed the schedule in the spring is with events from which I would need to draw my referee pool
3) the fact that I'd really prefer to do it in the fall
4) the sheer insanity of the tournament format

May I suggest that the bid packets for NEXT season's SYC be submitted in late April? And that we have 2 months, minimum, to prepare one? And that the SYC schedule be posted BEFORE the RYC schedule is prepared?

Far as I know, no one else in the DFW area is submitting a bid either.

[mlr2fence]

What happens if no one submits a bid?

[fluidfencer]

I'm not sure what would happen if NOBODY submitted a bid to host a Super Youth tournament next season, but it would seem to be a pretty good indication that there wasn't enough interest to hold them at all. I would guess that the RYCs would continue. Practically speaking, there are a number of clubs that have the experience and resources to host one, and generally would want to because of the profit potential.

Please remember that decisions regarding next season have not yet been made. I have some opinions on what "might" occur next year, but every option is on the table until our next meeting. I believe that there will be some method of providing feedback from the fencing community before a final decision is made, although that has yet to be determined as well.

What happens if no one submits a bid?

[oso97]

I'm not sure what would happen if NOBODY submitted a bid to host a Super Youth tournament next season, but it would seem to be a pretty good indication that there wasn't enough interest to hold them at all. I would guess that the RYCs would continue. Practically speaking, there are a number of clubs that have the experience and resources to host one, and generally would want to because of the profit potential.

But, they aren't submitting a bid because there simply wasn't enough time to put a proper one together...

I promise you this. If I have enough time to prepare one (say, at least 2 months, given the bid requirements) and I can do it in the fall, I will submit a bid for 2005-2006. Even with the screwy event format.

[fluidfencer]

I can promise that there will be plenty of notice given for the 2005/2006 season bids. The format might be different as well, but it's too soon to say.

But, they aren't submitting a bid because there simply wasn't enough time to put a proper one together...

I promise you this. If I have enough time to prepare one (say, at least 2 months, given the bid requirements) and I can do it in the fall, I will submit a bid for 2005-2006. Even with the screwy event format.

[foildad]

I can promise that there will be plenty of notice given for the 2005/2006 season bids. The format might be different as well, but it's too soon to say.

That is welcome news, because earlier bids imply earlier schedules. As a parent of Y12 and Y14 fencers I've got to say that this season's uncertainty has been frustrating. I'd really like to see schedules, formats, and qualifying paths defined as early in the season as possible.

And organizers, please bid for a few youth national tournaments in the west. As a family new to fencing, it seems, so far, that we have had to go to Atlanta, Charlotte, Atlanta again, and Chattanooga to fence national youth events. Please let the SF RYC be designated a Super!