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The strength factor of a tournament is a way for the US Fencing Association to qualitatively gage how strong an international tournament is.
[edit] Calculation
There are two strength factors, a junior strength factor and a senior strength factor.
The strength factor is capped at 2.0, even if math yields a higher number. The formulas are as follows (source: 2006-2007 Athlete Handbook):
SSF = [N/10 + 7(Sr8) + 6(Sr16) + 5(Sr32) + 4(Sr64) + 3(Jr16)+ 2(Sr100)]/100
SSF = Senior Strength Factor
N = Number of competitors
Sr8 = Number of competitors in the top 8 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
Sr16 = Number of competitors in the top 16 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
Sr32 = Number of competitors in the top 32 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
Sr64 = Number of competitors in the top 64 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
Jr16 = Number of competitors in the top 16 of the FIE Junior World Cup standings
Sr100 = Number of competitors in the top 100 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
JSF = [N/3 + 10(Jr8) + 8(Jr16) + 6(Jr32) + 12(Sr16) ]/100
JSF = Junior Strength Factor
N = Number of competitors
Jr8 = Number of competitors in the top 8 of the FIE Junior World Cup standings
Jr16 = Number of competitors in the top 16 of the FIE Junior World Cup standings
Jr32 = Number of competitors in the top 32 of the FIE Junior World Cup standings
Sr16 = Number of competitors in the top 16 of the FIE Senior World Cup standings
[edit] Important Uses
The USFA uses the strength factor for three important purposes:
- To determine the number of points a fencer earns at a particular tournament, given to fencers who make the round of 32 at an international competition. The higher the strength factor, the more points. If the tournament is a 2.0, points are awarded to fencers reaching the round of 33-64 as well.
- To determine grants awarded. The tournament must have at least a strength factor of 1.5, and money is multiplied by the strength factor of the tournament.
- To determine airfare subsidies for athletes attending Junior and Senior World Championships.
