Was US Schedule now RYC

[Mo]

I agree with AFC about the regional Youth Circuits.
The National NAC is vital for fencers who have the ability to move up and start fencing in the Cadet and Junior Levels. In our division we have quite a few kids who can fence in Cadet and Junior Levels.

I cannot see how the RYC will work unless there is a chance for points so that a Y10 or Y12 fencer can move at the pace in which they are most comfy.

Kids need to be included in the national competitions. I agree that most kids are not ready for the big NAC's right off the bat but there are those that are.

Also, a kid can be top dog in his or her region. They can be in for hugely rude awakening when they fence at a national level. A lot of the young fencers have a problem with sportsmanship anyway. Experience is a good cure for that.

[westcoastsabre]

personally, at least in the chicago area, I think the RYC's need to be expanded. all of the fencers are from 1 of 4 clubs and I don't think any of the events has gone over 15. So personally I think that RYC's need to be bigger before they take on greater prominence

[oiuyt]

Points are in the plans. Either for all of the RYCs or for "Super-Regionals" (1/region/year). The exact mechanism for how to assign points is the main hurdle left, especially considering the current disparity between some regions (see West Coast's point about Chicago area RYCs, the ones in the Northeast are huge, the CT tournament in June had over 500 entrants among the various events).

Presumably some sort of strength factor (adapted from that used currently to weight world cups?) will be used and stronger regionals will be worth more points. Seems fair, but I can't wait to hear the complaints from parents in weaker regions.... :)

-B :)

[afc fencer]

Presumably some sort of strength factor (adapted from that used currently to weight world cups?) will be used and stronger regionals will be worth more points. Seems fair, but I can't wait to hear the complaints from parents in weaker regions....

Well then fencers from weaker regions will just start going to the stronger regions so they can get more points,defeating the whole purpose of the RYC.

[Mo]

** An athlete can fence in an age category IF: 1) the athlete's birth year falls in that age bracket OR 2) the athlete is on the national point standings in the next younger age bracket. For example, if a fencer was born in 1992, he/she can fence in Youth 10 and Youth 12 but can fence in the Youth 14 ONLY IF he/she has earned points in Youth 12 and is listed on the current Youth 12 point standings. For that same fencer to be eligible to fence in a Cadet event, the fencer must have earned points at a Youth 14 competition and be listed on the current Youth 14 point standings.

This is the major issue about RYT. In our division we had two kids fencing way out of their age groups. One kid a y 12 and fencing in Junior and another Y12 fencing in Division 1.
The way they got to fence in the upper age groups was by getting points in the next lower age group. They worked their way up. This year they both became eligible to fence in the upper levels. I know some kids in New Jersey and California who worked their way up too.

The RYT's would be good for kids to get into competitions but they will not provide the competition some kids need to get where they are capable of being.
If both NAC's and RYT's happen that would be excellent but the RYT will not fill the needs of the more advanced junior fencers. Fencing is still a small enough sport that the competitions still need to be nationwide.

[westcoastsabre]

The RYTs were designed to put more competition at the local level for youth fencers in order to breed local competition like that you would find in little league and local basketball conferences. By giving these tournaments monumental importance, like that of a youth NAC you will turn local friendly competition into national level fights for points. You'll also have the same group of fencers win every tournament. Is that what we want? I dont think so.

Note: I was a RYT youth-14 Foil and Sabre competitor in the Chicago RYT's.

[mtarascio]

Can someone explain to me the importance of fencers earning points in Youth events?

[Capt. Slo-mo]

For exactly the same reasons adults get them while fencing Div 1 or Veterans--national rankings. Pecking order in seeding at the NAC level is based on standings in the National Rolling Points List.

Additionally, there are two other considerations for youth fencers. First, Mo's scenario as listed above. Say you have a good Y10 or Y12 fencer. If they're under 13, then they are not eligible to fence anything else other than Y10 & Y12. No Div 3, Div 2 Div1A, Div1, , Cadet or Junior.

But if they can get points a Y12 event, then they can fence Y14. If they get points in a Y14 NAC, they can then enter Cadet. If they are good enough in cadet competition to earn national points, then they can fence Junior. Points there allow them to fence in the adult brackets. In this scenario, points enable them to compete at a more challenging level. Point also prove that they truly belong there.

Secondly, there are National Team spots at stake for the Cadet and Junior fencers, which allow them to compete overseas for the USA. How are team spots determined? By points accumulated through competition.

That's why points are very important to youth fencers.

[JEC]

And some deserve those ratings as they win national events. I know a B rated fencer in epee who is 14, but also has won open competitions in Texas and a Div. II NAC. Yes, he also every so often fenced in the national Y14 events, but not in the RYC circuit.