Scheduling of Boys Events at NACs

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

I've never been involved in youth NAC events, so I haven't researched this and I don't really have a dog in this fight. Cathy McClellan, however, has been doing a fantastic job of growing some dynamic youth fencers from scratch up in the White Mountains, and she recently brought this up as a concern for her top fencers. Following is the text of her email:

Hello everyone. I wanted to send you the email that I sent to the USFA recently. I have not had any reply as of yet. This is a critical issue that needs immediate response from all USFA members. Some of you may not be aware of this conflict in scheduling.

Have a great summer.

GOOD LUCK to our US Olympic Fencing Team.

Cathy

Hello Everyone,

It came to my attention at the Nationals that the boys events at all NAC's this year will be restricted. The epee and foil events are scheduled on the same day. This means that boys will not be able to compete in both weapons and will have to choose just one. They are being forced to choose. This is unconscionable for the USFA to restrict the boys in this way. Why are the girls not being restricted as well? I do not think that anyone should be forced to not do something that they want to do. Especially with regard to athletic development. Competing in multiple weapons is a benefit to all fencers and is especially so for young fencers. Not to mention the fact that these young fencers may enjoy competing in both weapons. You are also unwittingly preventing the burgeoning of a potential phenomenal athlete by forcing one to choose. I have a fencer who is enamored with foil but is naturally better in epee. If forced to choose, he will choose foil eliminating his continued development in epee. Please change the schedules so that boys are not restricted.


Cathy McClellan

[KD5MDK]

Would she rather that they be restricted to only fencing Y12, Y14 or something else? Currently schedules are arranged so that fencers may fence up into higher age categories in their weapon.

[VorpalCat]

I do not think that anyone should be forced to not do something that they want to do.

I want to paint her house purple with orange stripes and green polka dots.

[leftyboy]

She makes a good point, but with a bad argument, IMHO.

[seltzerwater]

Hello Everyone,

It came to my attention at the Nationals that the boys events at all NAC's this year will be restricted. The epee and foil events are scheduled on the same day. This means that boys will not be able to compete in both weapons and will have to choose just one. They are being forced to choose. This is unconscionable for the USFA to restrict the boys in this way. Why are the girls not being restricted as well? I do not think that anyone should be forced to not do something that they want to do. Especially with regard to athletic development. Competing in multiple weapons is a benefit to all fencers and is especially so for young fencers. Not to mention the fact that these young fencers may enjoy competing in both weapons. You are also unwittingly preventing the burgeoning of a potential phenomenal athlete by forcing one to choose. I have a fencer who is enamored with foil but is naturally better in epee. If forced to choose, he will choose foil eliminating his continued development in epee. Please change the schedules so that boys are not restricted.

Cathy McClellan

I went thru all the NACS and am having a hard time locating which NAC she is talking about. In fairness to the USFA and the 'girl' fencers the NAC B has girls's epee and foil scheduled on the same day. In the past 4-5 years I have seen girls epee/foil scheduled on the same day many times in many events. There are only so many days in a NAC competition and you need to get it all in. Many fencers 'fence up' in the same weapon. The USFA realizes that of course and schedules accordingly. You cannot penalize a group of athletes fencing up in the same weapon by making their event schedules unworkable because you have a fencer who is enamored with foil but naturally better with epee and would like to try both.

Also - The NAC schedules better not change! I already made my advance flight arrangements for the year!

[KD5MDK]

seltzerwater - I presume you're referring to Y14 when you say girls? I think they're probably all girls, at least up through Cadet. One of the problems here is that the OP is thinking laterally in the same age group, while the vast majority of fencers would rather fence up in ages.

Incidentally, the proper fix for the original problem is to host an RYC or regular Youth tournament and make it so the fencer can do both epee and foil events. Keep at it and if he's better at epee he will presumably have better results there, and most little boys I know love to win. If that can't fix the "problem"...

[seltzerwater]

One of the problems here is that the OP is thinking laterally in the same age group, while the vast majority of fencers would rather fence up in ages. (I agree with you !)


Incidentally, the proper fix for the original problem is to host an RYC or regular Youth tournament and make it so the fencer can do both epee and foil events. Keep at it and if he's better at epee he will presumably have better results there, and most little boys I know love to win. If that can't fix the "problem"...

I have been to RYC's and Supers in the past where the kids have to pick one event/weapon over another due to scheduling conflicts. You really can't blame the USFA or the organizers. However, if you run your own then - problem solved....