Guidance for International Selection

National and International Representation for Young Fencers

This page attempts to explain the processes around selection for national junior and cadet fencing teams. This guidance has been provided by our head coach, Tim Miles, and is correct at the time of writing (January 2020). This is meant to be a helpful addition to British Fencing’s own documentation and may well not be accurate or up to date at the time of reading. Rules, systems and categories change and it is always worth asking for advice from any of our coaches. Senior and Veteran fencers please ask the coaches for guidance or refer to the British Fencing and British Veterans Fencing websites.

For ambitious, competitive young fencers one of many goals is to represent their country in an international event. There are a number of opportunities to do this at events home and abroad.

The international circuits are divided up between:

Home nation events: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, Selected events. Cadet U17 and Junior U20 age groups.

Commonwealth Events: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Selected events. Cadet U17 and Junior U20 age groups.

European Fencing Confederation Events (EFC): Open and selected events. U14 and U17 & U23 age groups.

International Fencing Confederation events (FIE): open and selected events. U20 age group.

For the Home Nation and Commonwealth competitions fencers will be selected by their respective selection panels to represent their home nation from a combination of home nation and National ranking tables. For all age groups and categories rankings are calculated from points gained at specific competitions which are publicised at the beginning of each season. Home Nation competitions are held annually, Commonwealth events bi annually.

EFC events are held from September to February every year. The calendar for these competitions is published on the EFC website. All U14 events are open to any fencer that wishes to compete, but a referee levee may be charged if more than four fencers per nation enter.

U17 (cadet events) are open to all unless the event is nominated by British Fencing as a selection event. If a fencer wishes to enter a non nominated event entry still has to be done via British fencing and a referee levy will be applied as above.

To be selected for a nominated event, fencers need to be ranked in the top 15 (cadet) top 12 (junior) of the respective weapon nationally. All nominated competitions are published on the BF website at the beginning of each season in September. The EFC events count along with domestic BRC (British Ranking Circuit) competitions towards a national ranking which contributes towards selection of the top three or four fencers to represent GB at European and World Championships held each year at the end of the season around March and April.

Selections and rankings are carried out in a similar way for Juniors (U20) and European U23 events.

Parents should be aware that despite national selection the costs to enter the events plus travel and accommodation primarily fall to the fencers. England has limited funding to support some events but British Fencing has nothing for young international fencers.

Ranking tables and selection procedures can be found on the British Fencing and home nation websites. A full calendar of international events can be found on the EFC and FIE websites.

Many parents and all club coaches have experience of traveling with young fencers to international events so if you require further information please don’t hesitate to ask.