Super Youth Circuit decisions?

[happy]

Anybody out there know when the decisions will be made as to what RYC's will be designated supers?

[foildad]

I believe bids were due December 15th and the decisions will be announced by the end of the year. For the best info go to www.usfaryc.org.

[happy]

Ok, thanks. The website is helpful but it doesn't indicate when decisions might be made, that I can find.

Has anybody on the message board heard anything more concrete about this? I thought some were on the youth committee or had maybe submitted bids. Maybe everybody is out shopping.

[nycrhythmdoc]

No info. I hope that the USFA realizes that even "regional" tournaments require some travel for the majority of fencers and that it is far too late to designate any of the January or February tournaments as "SYCs". IMHO it would be much better (at this late date) to dispense with the whole SYC concept!

The usfaryc.org website is a good idea, but it is curious (and troubling) that there is no link to it from the usfa website, which maintains a slightly different version of the schedule. Outside of THIS forum, how is anyone supposed to find the ryc site? I doubt that most youth fencers/families are aware that it exists.

[foildad]

Ok, thanks. The website is helpful but it doesn't indicate when decisions might be made, that I can find.

Actually it does. The downloadable bid packet states that decisions will be announced within two weeks of the December 15th bid deadline. That's today!

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Hey, I read on the USFA website somewhere that in order to participate in one of the youth events at the april NAC, you have to attend either an RYC or an SRYC during the season in order to qualify.... is this true? I thought I could just sign up for the NAC.

[mlr2fence]

I've heard via the rumor mill that they will be in New York, Kansas and California in March and April; I could be wrong tho, of course.

[mlr2fence]

Yes, apparently one has to go to a RYC or super if they are not on the points list in order to fence at the Youth NAC.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Yes, apparently one has to go to a RYC or super if they are not on the points list in order to fence at the Youth NAC.

Darnit.... I hate RYC's, and I'm not on the points list. This is a big deal. WTF was the USFA thinking?

[edew]

I've heard via the rumor mill that they will be in New York, Kansas and California in March and April; I could be wrong tho, of course.

No one in California, AFAIK, has submitted a proposal to run a SYC. And I believe the same is true for NY.

[edew]

Darnit.... I hate RYC's, and I'm not on the points list. This is a big deal. WTF was the USFA thinking?

What is your consternation about RYCs? The USFA is growing and national-level competition in all age groups may not be possible in the very near future. The RYCs are supposed to deal with this problem (and I think it is a right way to deal with it).

What exactly do you hate about RYCs? Are they not well run? Are they too puny for you? Do they sound like irrelevant events as opposed to YNACs?

They're billed as stepping stones to the national-level competition. As that, you're required (now and the future) to compete in it to qualify to the next level. I think that process has to occur in order to have manageable competitions at all levels.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

What is your consternation about RYCs? The USFA is growing and national-level competition in all age groups may not be possible in the very near future. The RYCs are supposed to deal with this problem (and I think it is a right way to deal with it).

What exactly do you hate about RYCs? Are they not well run? Are they too puny for you? Do they sound like irrelevant events as opposed to YNACs?

They're billed as stepping stones to the national-level competition. As that, you're required (now and the future) to compete in it to qualify to the next level. I think that process has to occur in order to have manageable competitions at all levels.

The problem that I have with the RYCs are numerous. First of all, its another small, meaningless tournament that I will have to travel to, pay money to travel to, and pay the entry fee for. In my region atleast, the level of competition at an RYC is very little. Its just another qualifier tournament, and one that I am not likely to earn or renew a rating at due to them not being a C or above tournament. As someone who is on a coughbudgetcough for their fencing traveling and expenses, I'm very careful about choosing a tournament, and the qualities I look for are that it provides a strong field of competitors, and that I could earn a rating. In simple terms, I want to get a good run for my money, and spending my family's time and resources to go to a tournament 3 hours away with only 9 competitors is not what I would call a good run for the money. To go to yet another meaningless qualifying event is not on my list of worthwhiles, we have to qualify for enough events already, why cant we just sign up for a NAC and fence?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Also, Eric, I understand that you're the RYC coordinator of the PC, and that you've put in alot of effort with the RYC's. Perhaps RYC's are different in your area of the fencing world. My above post should not be taken as an insult to any people, but as an attack on the current procedures of the USFA. Its nothing personal.

[foildad]

No one in California, AFAIK, has submitted a proposal to run a SYC. And I believe the same is true for NY.

That's understandable but disappointing. Does anyone know of anybody submitting a bid?

[Mo]

That's understandable but disappointing. Does anyone know of anybody submitting a bid?

Our division was going to submit a bid until we found out what was involved. It is a heck of a lot of work, almost the same as an NAC. There were not enough people to handle the scope of that meet so we did not put in the bid.
It seems like there are a few people who will do things, but it is the same people doing it over and over. After a while they get tired of it.

Isn't it still possible to be in Y14 at Summer Nationals simply by fencing a national qualifier?

[fluidfencer]

Just some information specific to this post.

The decision has been made and will be sent out by the USFA. Not quite sure how that will be done. At the very least there will be a notice on the USFA web site.

The decision was not made by the Youth Development Committee, although we were consulted as a group. That may or may not be the case for next year. We are currently developing plans for next season.

I got my shopping done, but the YDC had many emails and one hour-and-a-half conference call the week before Christmas. We will likely have another soon, and we will be meeting face-to-face in January. We are trying to complete a proposal for next season, for review by the Executive Committee at their February meeting. NO SURPRISES THIS YEAR! They will have a proposal, with time for questions and input from others, and then a decision and vote in the spring so there is plenty of time to implement everything (that last part is not official but is what the YDC hopes will happen timing wise.

I figured all this was going to take a bunch of personal time, but there are plenty of others doing the same in different capacities.

David Arias
YDC
205-515-3902

Ok, thanks. The website is helpful but it doesn't indicate when decisions might be made, that I can find.

Has anybody on the message board heard anything more concrete about this? I thought some were on the youth committee or had maybe submitted bids. Maybe everybody is out shopping.

[fluidfencer]

That is correct. You need to compete in a RYC or Super Youth tournament, or be on the points list, to qualify for the April NAC or Summer Nationals. That is a very easy qualification to meet. The reasons are multifold, but primarily the USFA wants to help develop fencing at the regional level rather than just have a couple of NACs.

It has also been officially stated that attending the last youth NAC in Atlanta WILL NOT qualify you for the next one, unless you earned points.

David Arias
YDC
205-515-3902

Hey, I read on the USFA website somewhere that in order to participate in one of the youth events at the april NAC, you have to attend either an RYC or an SRYC during the season in order to qualify.... is this true? I thought I could just sign up for the NAC.

[fluidfencer]

The "rumor mill" SUCKS. That is a big problem that we (the YDC and others) are trying to avoid. We (and you) want an open process where you don't have to learn through rumors. You information is not correct, but even if it was I would say to avoid the rumor thing alltogether. Let's stick to the facts. Ask me a question and I will give you a straight answer, or tell you why I can't.

I've heard via the rumor mill that they will be in New York, Kansas and California in March and April; I could be wrong tho, of course.

[fluidfencer]

I can tell you that there will be enough time for both you and the organizers to make arrangements for the remaining Super Youth tournaments. We will be sure to allow TONS of time for next season.

Hardly anybody knows more about long travel within a region that I do. Chicago is closer to Birmingham than other parts of the Southeast. If done right, there should be something reasonably close. We (the YDC) is working on that issue as well.

This is a big issue... I wondered whether the whole Super RYC thing was necessary as well. After learning more about the big picture over the last three months, I see that it is, and I was skeptical the whole time. The Super Youth tournaments (formerly Super RYCs) are essentially going to be NAC lites. There simply aren't enough NACs on the schedule to provide high level competition for youth fencers who want it. That is a small minority of the youth fencing community, but there is very clearly a need. I have one child of my own that isn't interested in that at all. There are some in our club that love competition. The Super Youth tournaments will likely become more important in the future as well, but it is too early to address that.

David Arias
YDC
205-515-3902

No info. I hope that the USFA realizes that even "regional" tournaments require some travel for the majority of fencers and that it is far too late to designate any of the January or February tournaments as "SYCs". IMHO it would be much better (at this late date) to dispense with the whole SYC concept!

The usfaryc.org website is a good idea, but it is curious (and troubling) that there is no link to it from the usfa website, which maintains a slightly different version of the schedule. Outside of THIS forum, how is anyone supposed to find the ryc site? I doubt that most youth fencers/families are aware that it exists.

[fluidfencer]

Eric,

There were bids from CA and NY. I don't know what information the USFA wants to share yet, so I can't give more details. I believe they will provide that information once the winning bids are announced.

David Arias
YDC
205-515-3902

No one in California, AFAIK, has submitted a proposal to run a SYC. And I believe the same is true for NY.