Will you change your USFA club affiliation this season?

[Cerian]

I've gone from living in San Francisco to going to college in Santa Cruz, so most of my training will be out of SC. Also, the club in SC is a bit more tight nit and more likely to field a team with me on it. Therefore, I'm switching club affiliations. And the college team bumps my SF club completely out of the picture as it steals my secondary club affiliation spot.

[glowstix]

i can't dis my school club like that although i really don't fence there anymore. i'd like to put UNAT but it would be messed up so i'm not switching anything.

[lindajdunn]

Partially because I am curious and partially because I'm watching a slow train wreck: What happens when a USFA fencing club explodes and/or falls apart and new clubs rise from the ashes without the benefit of being able to use the same name?

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by lindajdunn

Partially because I am curious and partially because I'm watching a slow train wreck: What happens when a USFA fencing club explodes and/or falls apart and new clubs rise from the ashes without the benefit of being able to use the same name?

What do you mean by what happens? The old club ceases to exist and the new clubs come into existance. People change their affiliations to reflect the new reality. People who continue to list as the old club are affiliated with a non-existant club, regardless of where they fence. Might be a bit squivy the initial season when people are listed as part of a newly-non-existant club (which would make it very difficult to qualify to or compete in team events at nationals).

More interesting question is what if two different groups both claim to be the rightful continuation of the original club?

-B :)

[lindajdunn]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

What do you mean by what happens? The old club ceases to exist and the new clubs come into existance. People change their affiliations to reflect the new reality.
-B

That's what I don't get. I've only fenced part of one season thus far. How can you change your affiliation mid-season? Simply list a different club the next time you compete after the split/spin-off/whatever? Does it matter that the club listed on the form is different from the one you declared on your membership application?

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by lindajdunn

That's what I don't get. I've only fenced part of one season thus far. How can you change your affiliation mid-season? Simply list a different club the next time you compete after the split/spin-off/whatever? Does it matter that the club listed on the form is different from the one you declared on your membership application?

The only way to change mid-season is with BoD (national) approval. You can change from having a club affiliation to being unattached, or the other way around, but you cannot become affiliated with a club in a season in which you have represented any other club.

Note: This is all talking about primary representation. You can add secondary affiliation(s) without affecting who you represent.

Second Note: For NCAA athletes there is also a provision by which the fencer can list as unattached for primary club and have a secondary club which the athlete may officially represent outside of the NCAA season (which allows team participation for NCAA athletes who are not allowed to represent any outside club during their collegiate season).

As an example, I currently represent FAP. I've already competed this season, so for 05-06 I'm officially representing them. Let's say that I left FAP for whatever reason. I could drop my FAP affiliation, but would not be able to add an affiliation for club X (whether club X is new or not). Let's say FAP disbands. I STILL cannot list as any other club until 8/1/06. Let's say club X offers to pay me $1,000,000 plus all training/travel expenses to come represent them and participate on their teams at nationals. I cannot take them up on that offer until next season.

Representation for a club gets locked in the first time that you compete on behalf of a club during a season (listing it as your club when you enter the tournament).

Of course you can still add secondary clubs (which should also provide the same protection from fencing clubmates that primary clubs do), so really the only effect is on what club one can represent in team events at nationals (and the qualifiers to nationals).

-B :)

[lindajdunn]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

The only way to change mid-season is with BoD (national) approval. You can change from having a club affiliation to being unattached, or the other way around, but you cannot become affiliated with a club in a season in which you have represented any other club.

Note: This is all talking about primary representation. You can add secondary affiliation(s) without affecting who you represent.
....
-B

Thank you. That clarifies it for me. I would simply be unaffiliated for the remainder of the season and whatever rises from the ashes would be the next season's club. Makes sense. And if I win the lottery and move to another location, then I remain a member of that club for the season and add a secondary club from the new location.

[Inquartata]

And if fencing unaffiliated, does that mean you cannot enter team events?