The Rating System

[D'Artagnan1673]

I finally understand the rating system in fencing from reading previous posts and looking at the chart in American Fencing.

As the chart said, an E1 tournament has at least 6 unrated fencers. The winner gets an E rating.

Here is my question. Is there anything in the rules to keep a single club hosting a tournament that no one but its own club comes to and then awarding an E to the winner?

[Peach]

There are some checks and balances. For instance, USFA-sanctioned tournaments have to follow division rules for holding tournaments. These rules generally require notification of fencers in the division a specified time in advance. A club which does not adhere to division rules can be prevented from holding USFA-sanctioned tournaments.

[Craig]

In order to be sanctioned events, the tourneys must be published per divisional bylaws and open to anyone to attend regardless of club affiliation.

Realistically, ratings don't mean anything. You still have to bout out of your pools to be seeded into direct eliminations, so a rating is only going to impact your placement in the first round pool. After that, it's all up to you.

This has been discussed on another thread in depth pretty well. Do a search on ratings and you'll find the other thread.

Cheers,
Craig

[D'Artagnan1673]

Cool, I was sure that that could not happen, but some of my club members asked.

Thanks!

[D'Artagnan1673]

Craig,

I went back and read every post on the rating system. Here's question that wasn't answered but that was somewhat hinted at.

In my case, my division is small, poorly organized, and rarely has tournaments. For me to compete, I have to go to tournaments in neighboring divisions (meaning a minimum 5 hour drive . If I place sufficiently high at a tournament to be ranked, will I get that ranking?

[neevel]

Yes, ratings awarded at a tournament are valid regardless of what divisions the fencers come from.

-Dave

[D'Artagnan1673]

Thanks

[Sciurus Rex]

... Except for Texas. The people there are a special case.

[D'Artagnan1673]

really?

haha

[edew]

Yes, fencers in Texas automatically get a two-letter drop, because they're from Texas. In addition, when you're fencing a non-Texan, the non-Texan only have to score four points, because you're automatically yellowed and red carded for being a Texan.

I believe that's in the Ops Manual since the mid 80s.

[D'Artagnan1673]

hehehe, you all are so funny. Though living in Texas, I am from another state. Although that will stay my secret, lest people have bad things to say about that state as well. <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" />

[its_me_mango]

i thought a fencer earned a rating by out fencing a higher rated fencer, i was suprised to learn that a person could, after many years of expereince, outfence beginners and earna rating, but i see the logic in it, the expereinced fencer deserves the rating based on their expereince, and the newbies need to learn to fence up!

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:
<strong>hehehe, you all are so funny. Though living in Texas, I am from another state. Although that will stay my secret, lest people have bad things to say about that state as well. <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

So you actually chose to be in Texas. That is worse than being born there.

Paolo

[Sciurus Rex]

[quote]Originally posted by its_me_mango:
<strong>i thought a fencer earned a rating by out fencing a higher rated fencer, i was suprised to learn that a person could, after many years of expereince, outfence beginners and earna rating, but i see the logic in it, the expereinced fencer deserves the rating based on their expereince, and the newbies need to learn to fence up! </strong><hr></blockquote>

It balances over time. You've got to have some small measure of faith in your own progress to be able to patiently work through the letter grades. Without finer differentiation between rankings (for example, a D, D+, C-, C, C+ etc.), it can feel like you're not accomplishing anything.

[Peach]

Or you can be like me and skip all kinds of steps to earn classifications that take you years to re-earn, if ever, which REALLY makes you feel like well-washed potato chip but gives you much easier pools. I never got an E, but earned a D, then a B at national events, for instance, and it took me two years each time to re-earn the thoroughly undeserved honor. And gawd knows if I'll EVER re-earn the A, I'm getting awfully creaky about the joints . . . though the WS Veteran in Reno was almost an A, so there is hope. On the other hand, in several tournaments recently I have failed (if it were required) to earn an E. I may never earn an E, come to think of it.

Can you detect a certain cynicism about letter classifications in my general demeanor?

[LeftyMutantChild]

Anybody else here thinking "She's got an A and she's complaining?"

If you're getting creaky joints then that must be something to look foreward to.

Still struggling along with my lonely little E.

[Peach]

I ain't complaining that I have an A. It's nice. It's cute. It amuses the heck out of me, epecially now that I'm 50, even though it gives people the right to curl their lips at me when they beat me rather more easily than they thought possible, which happens with disheartening regularity. But I'm pointing out that it doesn't have the direct correlation to ability that so many people seem to think it does.

[its_me_mango]

peach, come here and teach. you were an A, you should be teaching, teach, teach, teach.

[D'Artagnan1673]

[quote]Originally posted by damianip:
<strong>

So you actually chose to be in Texas. That is worse than being born there.

Paolo</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" /> <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" />
Sorry, I rather like Texas. Yes, I'd rather be up north where there's more fencing, but you can't have everything

[Peach]

I do teach. Elementary school. That's my job (<a href="http://www.dmturner.org/Teacher/" target="_blank">Science with Dr. T</a>). Fencing, on the other hand, is a hobby. Plus it allows me to hit people.

There once was a teacher named Peach,
Whose sabre extended her reach
She waved it about
And exclaimed with a shout
"I touché the future--I teach!"

Apologies to Christa McAuliffe. Yes, it's spring vacation. I recognize that manic stage when one has had enough sleep for a whole week.