New Team Events

[teacup]

You are right again. I made the jump to no division affiliation from no club representation is needed.

But all the email is stating is that school/composite teams do not have to represent a registered club.

So there could be "Team Tom, Dick and Harry" representing either themselves or a school as long as they are all from the same division.

So for using Northwestern Universities teams as an example, all the team members for each team must be from the same division. (Just can't see how that is possible though.)

So much for clearing things up.

[teacup]

Confirmed team entries:
ME 17
MF 13
MS 11
WE 11
WF 5
WS 5

[fdad]

Confirmed team entries:
ME 17
MF 13
MS 11
WE 11
WF 5
WS 5

Wow. Even though I didn't expect a huge turnout, I expected better than 5 teams to register.

It's likely that the 1st place team will win twice (and depending on seeding, the silver and bronze medal teams could win once). For WF that means each fencer will get 18 minutes (equivalent of 6 pool bouts) of fencing (assuming no subs) in return for an extra day of missed school and travel costs.

I *strongly* encourage the USFA to set a late start time for the WF team event so fencers from the east can fly in the morning and arrive on time. Otherwise I expect the teams from NY and AL to withdraw, leaving the possibility that two teams could medal without winning even once.

[pillow]

Wow. Even though I didn't expect a huge turnout, I expected better than 5 teams to register.

It's likely that the 1st place team will win twice (and depending on seeding, the silver and bronze medal teams could win once). For WF that means each fencer will get 18 minutes (equivalent of 6 pool bouts) of fencing (assuming no subs) in return for an extra day of missed school and travel costs.

I *strongly* encourage the USFA to set a late start time for the WF team event so fencers from the east can fly in the morning and arrive on time. Otherwise I expect the teams from NY and AL to withdraw, leaving the possibility that two teams could medal without winning even once.

A couple of other interesting points. I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of MS teams, even though that event requires staying an extra day. Also, at least in MF and ME, some of the major clubs are not represented. Perhaps this will change as we all figure out how to make the team events work better.

[fdad]

I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of MS teams, even though that event requires staying an extra day.

Actually, since MS is quick, and you can take a redeye from west to east, I don't think MS requires an extra day of missed school (since Monday is a holiday for most).

[teacup]

So if the fencers from North Western aren't from the same division and North Western isn't a club, doesn't that mean that teams comprised of anyone are being allowed to enter? In other words, are open teams being allowed?

[fdad]

So if the fencers from North Western aren't from the same division and North Western isn't a club, doesn't that mean that teams comprised of anyone are being allowed to enter? In other words, are open teams being allowed?

Teams are not listed with names of fencers. Until those names are available we can only speculate. However, the rules that are *currently* posted say:

"Division composite teams are allowed at the North American Cup. Fencers on composite teams must be from the same geographic USFA division and cannot be on a club team in the same event."

If I were on a team that was about to fence a "division composite team" (AKA not a club team) and I knew that the team was not composed according to the rules I'd likely protest. On the other hand If I registered for a team event and only five teams registered, I'd be hoping they'd relax the rules to let more teams participate.

My current nightmare scenario for the WF event at NAC D is the checkin time is set for noon, the east coast teams drop out since they can't get there on time with a morning flight. The NWU team is excluded since they are not all from same division, and two west coast teams fight it out for Silver and Gold in a single match.

[teacup]

If "open" teams are being allowed yet most didn't understand that this was the case, why couldn't or wasn't the registration deadline extended to allow for more teams?

For example, maybe flechewounds would enter a WF team, if open teams are allowed.

[oiuyt]

My current nightmare scenario for the WF event at NAC D is the checkin time is set for noon, the east coast teams drop out since they can't get there on time with a morning flight. The NWU team is excluded since they are not all from same division, and two west coast teams fight it out for Silver and Gold in a single match.

As long as you're constructing nightmares, note that the tableau is fixed ahead of time and scratched teams are merely removed without reseeding it.

The two remaining teams could be fencing off for gold and 5th or gold and bronze.

-B

[fdad]

As long as you're constructing nightmares, note that the tableau is fixed ahead of time and scratched teams are merely removed without reseeding it.

The two remaining teams could be fencing off for gold and 5th or gold and bronze.

-B

While the seeding won't change after the deadline, I *assume* (you know what happens when you do that) that all of the participating teams will be moved up in the final results (i.e. 2nd place wont be vacant if there are two teams seeded 1 and 4).

[lauralitz]

My daughter is on one of the two West Coast WF teams. As a parent I am worried about the check in time too. However I would like team to be over fairly early since they scheduled JWF for Saturday. This alone seems to be a reason for the low turn out in JWF team.

In Kansas City they scheduled Y14 to start at 2:30 on Sunday and then the Cadet event was the 7-8 check in on Monday. DD had to wait for the medals and then by time we go out of there it was after 8pm and we still needed dinner. We grabbed sandwiches at the local grocery so we could get to bed. The only bummer with that is kiddo ended up with a mild case of food poisoning from the sandwich and nearly died on the strip Monday morning. (second to last to make the cut). She ended up eeking out a 32nd finish, but still.... Needless to say I didn't care for the scheduling.

LL

[pillow]

My daughter is on one of the two West Coast WF teams. As a parent I am worried about the check in time too. However I would like team to be over fairly early since they scheduled JWF for Saturday. This alone seems to be a reason for the low turn out in JWF team.

In Kansas City they scheduled Y14 to start at 2:30 on Sunday and then the Cadet event was the 7-8 check in on Monday. DD had to wait for the medals and then by time we go out of there it was after 8pm and we still needed dinner. We grabbed sandwiches at the local grocery so we could get to bed. The only bummer with that is kiddo ended up with a mild case of food poisoning from the sandwich and nearly died on the strip Monday morning. (second to last to make the cut). She ended up eeking out a 32nd finish, but still.... Needless to say I didn't care for the scheduling.

LL

Doesn't matter--your kid got Cadet points--that's the important thing--not having fun, feeling well or having a convenient schedule. Welcome to the USFA. But you know this already. Seriously, I'm glad she's ok, and my thoughts on the team event schedules are well known.

[fdad]

My daughter is on one of the two West Coast WF teams. As a parent I am worried about the check in time too. However I would like team to be over fairly early since they scheduled JWF for Saturday. This alone seems to be a reason for the low turn out in JWF team.

In Kansas City they scheduled Y14 to start at 2:30 on Sunday and then the Cadet event was the 7-8 check in on Monday. DD had to wait for the medals and then by time we go out of there it was after 8pm and we still needed dinner. We grabbed sandwiches at the local grocery so we could get to bed. The only bummer with that is kiddo ended up with a mild case of food poisoning from the sandwich and nearly died on the strip Monday morning. (second to last to make the cut). She ended up eeking out a 32nd finish, but still.... Needless to say I didn't care for the scheduling.

LL

Well, the good news is ... if they start JWFT at 2:30 on Friday she could be done by 3, worst case by 4 ("worst case" being if all the teams show up).

[teacup]

Since Northwestern University isn't a registered club and its fencers are from different divisions, if they are allowed to fence at NAC D, does that mean that open teams are being allowed for the JO junior team events?

[fdad]

According to the USFA Site:

Seeding information will be based on the same deadlines used for individual events.
Preliminary team seeding and table will be posted on the USFA web site.
This will allow the teams to verify information and contact the National Office with any corrections by a designated date. If teams fail to do so, information stands as presented.
Table will only be reconstituted if the classification and/or NRPS are in error
If a team withdraws after the classification deadline for that tournament, the table stands as constituted.

The classification deadline has passed, when should we expect to see the team seedings and tables so we can verify the information by the designated date?

[Coldfire]

Better yet, when do I get to find out which team I'm fencing against first

[oiuyt]

An interesting note is that the composition of the team can be changed up until the 11th. Pretty much prevents seeding from taking place until the 12th at the earliest.

-B

[fdad]

An interesting note is that the composition of the team can be changed up until the 11th. Pretty much prevents seeding from taking place until the 12th at the earliest.

-B

Sounds like another fine example of USFA planning and communication skills. If the table can't be changed after the classification deadline (4th), and can't be created before the 11th, there can't be a table.