Quote:
Originally Posted by KD5MDK 
There would be a lot more options in all of the above (all local referees in New England, cheaper hotels with smaller events, smaller venues with fewer strips) if tournament sizes went down. However, lots of people seem dedicated to their giant national tournaments, and that's an important issue that needs to be addressed.
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Thanks, I actually am aware of why national events are located in out of the way locations because I have researched quite a few venues and realize how hard it is to host these events in large cities due to price constraints.
Yet, I still would like to suggest that a radical overhaul be considered. Perhaps it has but it seems to me that the current structure will remain in place until 2012. I am pretty sure that contracts are already signed for venues for two years from now. The tournament Task Force Committee was asking for input two years ago since then not much has changed. The RYC/SYC implementation has been good though.
I believe that people do indeed want more fencing. Yes, they do want to go to National events because that is where there is a guarantee of a strong showing of fencers, they get to hang out with fencing friends from all over the country and maybe earn National points so they get to go to another event in the summer. But National events do not have to be every weapon and sex lasting over four days.
If Junior and Cadet points were given at strong regional events, it may curtail the growth in National events and also give athletes who are not financially well off a chance to compete.
There are not enough events for men's epee fencers aged 20 - 40 with a C and above. Maybe the rating system is broken, maybe it's because you don't need right of way refs, whatever, there are just more men's epee fencers. They want to fence, so all of them sign up for the Div I National events. Next year there will be over ME 300 fencers.
There was a huge growth in Div II/III. Two years ago I submitted a proposal to break Summer Nationals up into three events to help deal with the growth. My proposal may have had some issues but the solution from the USFA was to restrict the qualification paths. Meaning even fewer events for some fencers.
Briefly these are some of my suggestions. Please don't shoot them down immediately. In one sentence there isn't much of a chance for defense.
- two day single weapon events both regional and/or national
- regional events which award points, calculated with a strength factor
- men's epee points down to 64, ME 10% of the field gets points, WS 40%, something needs to be fixed
- all award points calculated with a strength factor
- remove the Y14 event from the November NAC (The Y14 ME fencers say, Heh, might as well fence junior since I am already here. I'll be out early so we can fly home by noon. This causes the Cadet and Jr events to be huge, with kids that really shouldn't be there. The top fencers end up in a bracket from hell and knock each other out going into the round of 64. Same thing happens in Div I.)
- add another Div I ME and for the other weapons maybe a Div I/II but again with single weapon events it would be easier to add different variations
- add regional Vets events, again awarding points, maybe even regional team events
- get rid of the sections and create regions instead
- add regional team events
- allow composite teams at both national and regional team events. Lots of clubs may not have three strong junior/senior women fencers able or willing to fly to a national event but two small clubs may have three women.
- fix the qualifying path for teams, allow petitions
- change the numbers qualified to 1-3 fencers 1, 3 - 15 fencers 4 anything to stop the fence off for third place.
- break the SN into three events
Memorial Day weekend - Youth Championships (or make the April NAC the Youth Championships
July 4th - Div II/III/Vets/Sr. team
Labor Day weekend - Div I/Jr/Cadet/U19 Team
- maybe reconfigure the Oct NAC to include Jr to start their season, there are a few options but aligning the Jr. and Cadet season with the International season not only shortens the season to avoid burnout but would enable kids to take summer courses, jobs etc. (The season has grown too long.) Clubs can still hold camps, they would just be later in the summer.
- create a Cadet Circuit which awards points similar to the SYC's or let organizers add a Cadet to SYC's. Fencers aged 12 and 13, especially women, need more competition experience. I would rather have a 12 year girl in a women's event than a Y14 mixed but they can't fence due to the under 13 rule. Single sex local Cadet events are usually just not strong enough, regional cadet events would be much better.
- restructure the point system for team selection to the best 6 or 8 of all the events rather than best four domestic and international points being added on top. Our fencers do need to fence internationally but under the current system those with greater financial means do have an edge. Yes, there are performance awards but you have to get to the tournament in the first place in order to do well. For the past two years, Cadet Men's Epee has only had one international cadet event with no strength factor consideration. Those points are added on top to the best of four domestic.
I am not "awarding points like candy". The reason SYC's have become so successful is because points are the incentive for people to go. Heck, cash prices for Veterans is probably just as good an incentive.
There are strong regional tournaments already out there that the USFA could support even more. Bring back the "Duel in the Desert".
Yes, lots of great people have come up with similar and even better suggestions than these and there are probably lots of problems with my ideas. I have gone on way much more than I sho
