FYI Div I TEAM

[jjefferies]

I realize that there was a previous thread about the SNQ's in which the elimination of Div I team was partly discussed. Unfortunately I did not become aware of this until this weekend when I was the division observer at our Summer National Qualifiers and the issue of qualifying Division I teams came up. Just in case any one else out there is likewise unaware I should point out that in the 2006-2007 Athlete's Handbook it specifically states that there are NOW only two team events "OPEN" and "JUNIOR".

A question directed to Christine Simmons reinforces this:
"Christine,

On the USFA website, the Senior and Div I team events are listed as one (Senior/Div I).
Can you clarify if there will be specific Div I teams competitions, independent of the Senior Teams, at the SN? Do we need to run separate team qualifiers for Div I team in preparation for the SN?
Thank you for your assistance. Chloe (Nor Cal Div Secretary) "

received the following answer:
"There is only Senior Team and Junior Team at Summer Nationals.

Christine Strong Simmons
Associate Executive Director
US Fencing Association"

So plan accordingly.

[eac]

Significantly, the new Athlete's Handbook says that seeding will be based on Senior Points plus classifications at the time of registration, which is much less random and bizarre than previous years' seeding methods.

[KD5MDK]

It's actually been discussed in several threads as I recall, including the one about the Board meeting where the decision was made.

[fencerbill]

The Senior teams were established one year when the Div I Championships, the last domestic qualifier to the Senior World Championships, and Div I Team Championships were held early because the World Championships were held very soon after the Summer Championships. If the Div I championships are held at Summer Championships, there is no need to have the separate Senior Team Championships.

I think the early Div I was in 2001.

[KD5MDK]

They will be in April next year as well.

[peet]

They will be in April next year as well.

Is that an olympic year thing? I seem to remember someone saying the Div1 champs and summer nats are separated on olympic years, but since I sometimes can't even remember what month it is right now, I'm not sure I remember correctly.

-P

[Soberin]

Ok. So the Open team is really the Senior Team? Correct? No Div I team, and no classification limits on the Open Team ?

[DJ Apostrophe]

Is that an olympic year thing? I seem to remember someone saying the Div1 champs and summer nats are separated on olympic years, but since I sometimes can't even remember what month it is right now, I'm not sure I remember correctly.

-P

It happens in all olympic years and years where worlds are held early...

-w

[peet]

Ok. So the Open team is really the Senior Team? Correct? No Div I team, and no classification limits on the Open Team ?

Were there classification limits on Div1 Team?

-p

[Soberin]

Were there classification limits on Div1 Team?

-p

Since you need an A, B or C to fence Div I, I was under the impression that Div I Teams could not have D, E or U fencers. But on page 23 of last year's Handbook, it does not specify this. It only says that for Div I and Senior Teams you need to be 13 years old. That would mean that the Div I and Senior Team events would have had identical requirements last year, hence I believe the classification rules of A, B or C apply to a Div I team. But of course, this being fencing, I could be wrong.

[jjefferies]

Ok. So the Open team is really the Senior Team? Correct? No Div I team, and no classification limits on the Open Team ?

That is my understanding. The Div I teams were limited, Senior teams could be anyone U-A.

[jjefferies]

It's actually been discussed in several threads as I recall, including the one about the Board meeting where the decision was made.

If you say so I accept that, but as some of us don't read all the threads or can skip parts of a thread it's highly probable that it could be missed in this forum. More importantly where did the USFA announce it on its own website?? Or does this mean that the USFA has decided to leave important announcements up to third parties??

[KD5MDK]

That is my understanding. The Div I teams were limited, Senior teams could be anyone U-A.

Div I Teams were not limited. There was a proposal made to the board to make it limited in order to have a distinction, but I believe that was supersceded by the elimination of Div I Team before it took effect on any events.

[edew]

That is my understanding. The Div I teams were limited, Senior teams could be anyone U-A.

There are no limits to the members of any team event (other than being under-19 as of Jan 1 for the U19 team events).

The difference between the Div I team event and the senior team event is that the Div I team has these really cool trophies that they have for the past 70+ years (fewer years for the WE and WS trophies, if they exist). The senior team events do not have any cool perpetual trophies.

[teacup]

Div I Teams were not limited. There was a proposal made to the board to make it limited in order to have a distinction, but I believe that was supersceded by the elimination of Div I Team before it took effect on any events.

For the 2006 Summer Nationals, fencers in the Div I team event had to be a C and above. Sr Team fencers could have any rating. If a division held combined Div I/Sr team qualifiers, if all fencers were C and above, the club would be qualified for both events, if some fencers were below a C then the club would only be qualified for the Senior team event.

Whether or not all divisions held separate qualifiers or noted the distinction is another question.

[Soberin]

For the 2006 Summer Nationals, fencers in the Div I team event had to be a C and above. Sr Team fencers could have any rating. If a division held combined Div I/Sr team qualifiers, if all fencers were C and above, the club would be qualified for both events, if some fencers were below a C then the club would only be qualified for the Senior team event.

Whether or not all divisions held separate qualifiers or noted the distinction is another question.

Thanks for confirming my recollection of last year. Now we just need to have the USFA change the SN website page to match the revision in the Handbook and show only a Junior and Open team.