Australian Fencing Circuit

The Australian Fencing Circuit (AFC) includes age-specific championship events for men and women in foil, epee and sabre. Team events are run in all age categories.

In addition to the championship events, the AFF holds, at least, four AFC events throughout the year, and is introducing 3 Australian Youth Circuit events for fencers aged U15.

Championships

Youth (Under 15) Championships

Cadet (Under 17) Championships

School Fencer Championships

Junior (Under 20) Championships

National Open and Veteran Championships

Australian Youth Circuit Final

Circuit tournaments

AYC #1

AYC #2

AYC #3

AFC#1 DH McKenzie Tournament

AFC#2 Robyn Chaplin Tournament

AFC#3

AFC#4

National Competition Policy

Entries to all AFF events are open to:

  • affiliated Australian fencers that meet any age group requirements, on payment of the required entry fee, as long as they are in good standing with both the AFF and their respective State Association; and
  • other international fencers affiliated with their national association/Federation, including Oceania Federations, that meet any age group requirements, with payment of one entry fee irrespective of the number of events entered

For any fencer who is under the age of 20, proof of their date of birth needs to be provided.  For Australian fencers, this needs to be provided before entry.  For international fencers, this needs to be provided before they fence in the tournament.

Competitive affiliation is required for all AFC event others than the AFC Schools Championships (for which participative affiliation is sufficient).

The AFF accepts registrations for entry as per the Operational Protocol that appears on the AFF web site. There are no limits to the number of entries to events, with the exception of the AFC Schools (Individuals) Championships and the AFC Schools (Team) Championships, where the numbers of entries per State may be limited to facilitate the effective organisation of these events.

The FIE rules relating to competitor ages apply for entry to all non-school AFF events. However, o.29.1 applies only for Senior, Under-23 and Junior (Under-20s) events. Please see possible exemptions below.  An exception will be permitted for these events where the fencer has previously achieved a Top 8 final ranking at an Youth (Under15) AFC or AYC event, or a Top 16 ranking at a Cadet (Under17) event.

For Cadet (U/17) events, fencers must be a 12 years old on the day of the competition.

For U/15 events, fencers must be at least 10 years old on 1 January in the year of the competition.

Exemptions for National Events

General Rule

All age exemption requests are determined by the HPC. The HPC retains the right to grant or refuse an exemption request. All requests must be made in writing to the HPC. (admin.hpc@fencing.org.au)

Guidelines

The HPC will use the following guidelines in considering age exemptions:

National Youth Competition

  • The athlete is at least 9 years of age; AND
  • The athlete has achieved a podium in an U12, U13, U14 or U15 event at State level

National Cadet Competition

  • The athlete is at least 11 years of age; AND
  • The athlete has achieved a Top 8 at National Youth level OR podium at State Youth level

National Junior Competition

  • The athlete is at least 12 years of age; AND
  • The athlete has achieved a Top 8 at a National Cadet Competition or podium at state cadet level

National Senior Level

  • The athlete is at least 12 years of age; AND
  • The athlete has achieved a Top 8 at National Junior Level or a podium at state junior level

Further Exemption Clause

  • A fencer who does not meet the above circumstances who still has a compelling case may apply to the HPC for an exemption

The AFF hosts four different types of Team events. These are shown below.

Names of the individuals comprising the team(s) for each team event entered must be lodged by the Team Captains with the Directoire Technique (DT) before the semi-finals of the relevant individual event, if relevant, otherwise, prior to roll call for the specific team event or as requested by the DT during the tournament.

Where there are at least two teams entered, the event will be run (even if both teams are from the same State or club). Where there is only one team entered, that team will be declared the winner by default.

State-based team events (at Under-15s/Cadets, Juniors, and Open Championships) - there is a maximum of two teams per State for each weapon/gender. Where other nations are competing, this rule extends to two teams per nation. These events are run as a straight direct elimination, with no ranking matches held for third place or lower.

Club-based team events (usually only at AFC3) - two teams per club are permitted for each weapon/gender. These events are also run as a straight direct elimination, with no separate ranking matches held for third place or lower.

School-based team events (at AFC Schools Championships) - each State is permitted to enter up to two Teams for each weapon/gender. All members of each team must be from the same school. However, where there are less than sixteen teams competing, any vacant places will be filled from additionally nominated teams pro rata according to State membership numbers. The event is usually run as a pool unique format. However, the specific format of the competition will be determined by the Tournament Management Commission and Tournament organisers once the number of entries is finalised.

Veteran team events (at AFC Veteran Nationals) - each State is permitted to enter up to two single gender teams. If at the time of team declaration (i.e. at the semi-finals of the corresponding individual event), there are only one or two single-gender teams entered, the event will be declared mixed. If an event is declared mixed, then (a) existing entries may be re-organised to accommodate the change, (b) additional entries may be made by any State, (c) each State is permitted to enter up to two mixed teams. Alternatively, if an event is declared as a separate Men's and Women's event, made up of single gender teams, a State that would otherwise be unable to enter a team in either event, may then elect to enter one mixed team into the Men's team event.

Individual Events

For all national circuit tournaments, including the National Championships, individual competitions will be fenced as:

  • one round of pools of six and / or seven, wherever possible, all fencers to promote
  • appropriate direct elimination phase (either complete or incomplete tableaux, with no repechage)
  • at the final four (semi-finals), an introduction of the semi-finalists in bout order pairs and presentation of the fifth through eighth medallists, if required.
  • on completion of finals, a medals ceremony of the top four finalists (according to final ranking) for presentation of finalists medals.

Team Events

Teams are seeded on the basis of the team scores. Team scores are based on the named team members’ final ranking in the comparable individual events. Any team member who did not fence in the comparable individual event, is assigned a ranking equal to the last fencer for that event plus one.

In determining the team score, only the final ranking of the top three ranked team members are totalled to determine each team’s score. Teams are placed on the direct elimination tableau according to their team score (lowest being first seed).

Each team match comprises a 45 Hit Relay format bout.

Entries for veterans events will be accepted under the following five age categories – 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80+. Rules for Non-Veterans Tournaments apply with the following exceptions.

Special rules apply in relation to Veterans Individual events:

Where there are six or more fencers of both genders present, separate men's and women's competitions will be held

An exception to this is where four or five fencers of either gender are present, competitions will include fencers of both genders in the pools round only, and separate men's and women's direct eliminations will be held;

An exception to the two rules above is that competitions will include fencers of both genders in the pools round and direct elimination rounds if there are three or fewer fencers of either gender;

Separate medals will be awarded to men and women based on the current medal-to-entry ratios and structure documented below.

Where a fencer withdraws from a Veterans event at any time up to and including roll call for the reason that it will be a fully or partially mixed event, that fencer will be entitled to receive a full refund of their entry fee for that Veterans event.

Poule bouts are fenced to five hits while bouts in direct elimination are fenced to 10 hits. In both cases there are no hits handicapped for age category differences between fencers.

The format of team and individual competition will to some degree depend on the number of individual and team entries. The following formats are indicative and may be changed at the discretion of the Tournament Management Commission and the Directoire Technique (with AFF approval) once final entries are known.

Individual:
Two rounds of pools (bouts to 3 hits in 2 minutes) with no direct elimination round. Final placings to be decided by the overall results from pools subject to a barrage for medals if required.

Teams:
One round of pool matches. The format of pool bouts (hits/timing) to be decided when entry numbers are known. Pools to be seeded based on individual results. Placings will be based on overall results from pools.

All competitor numbers are taken from entries at the official close of entries excluding any late entries that may subsequently occur. For events with less than four competitors, the event will not be run.
For other events, the AFF will award medals as follows:

  • for events with four or five competitors, a gold and silver medal will be awarded;
  • for events with six or more competitors, then additionally two equal bronze medals will be awarded

For Veterans events, additional awards relate to age categories:

  • The highest placed fencer for each age category will be awarded a certificate of recognition (1-3 fencers) or medal (four or more fencers).
  • Age categories, starting with oldest, are merged down with next youngest age bracket until the cumulative number of fencers reaches the minimum number required for a medal to be awarded, repeated starting from the age category below where the medal was just allocated.
  • No medal or certificate is awarded for an age category if the winner of the category finishes behind the winner of an older age category.

At all Team events, gold medals are awarded to the winners, with silver and equal bronze medals also awarded (regardless of the number of entries). Where a Veteran’s team event is mixed, a
single set of medals will be awarded.

Fencing competition Australia

The national competition circuit is structured to:

  • encourage participation
  • determine champions without placing unnecessary physical demand on elite athletes
  • not discourage young athletes competing in junior events

The AFF strives to meet these objectives while acknowledging the constraints of limited equipment, referees, and time.

Equipment Control

Equipment control is an integral part of all AFF tournaments. It operates to ensure all competitors comply with minimum safety levels and competitions are not delayed by weapons issues.

Setting an equitable benchmark for fair competition also reflects the pride we have in our sport and its honourable history.

Equipment control Australian fencing

Podium dress standard

All AFF National tournaments have podium presentations (medal ceremonies).  All athletes are expected to present themselves appropriately for these presentations and respect the importance of winning a medal at a National sporting event. 

Competition conventions

In addition to fencing rules, there are some conventions around score sheets observed at AFC competitions which have been detailed here for information. 

Video refereeing

Some National competitions may have certain bouts where video refereeing is used - in this case, the FIE rules apply (see o.105 of the FIE Organisation Rules - click here). For states hosting national events, a video equipment and live streaming checklist is provided here.

Check affiliation status

Affiliation information is controlled exclusively by state associations, but held in a central (national) database, One Point. Check affiliation status by viewing your record in the One Point.

Request missing medal

Occasionally a medal might not be available on competition day. If you have competed in an AFF event and are eligible for a medal which was not presented on the day, please contact operations@fencing.org.au.

Risk management

A risk management checklist has been developed by the AFF to assist state associations and other fencing bodies run competitions as safely as possible.

Frequently asked questions

All AFF National tournaments have a cut-off date for Early Bird registration generally closes 4 Saturdays before the the first day of the tournament (unless otherwise notified). After that, there is a period of 2 weeks where entries are considered Late, and an additional fee is payable.  After that period no further entries can be accepted.

Please ensure you check the dates as advised on the event page to confirm the exact dates and the times they close on the days.

It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that their fencers are in good standing with the State, properly affiliated and capitated to the AFF. If a levy is charged by the fencer's affiliated state, the state should notify the Tournament Commission prior to the event of the amount of the levy. If the state has not advised that a late entry fencer's levy has already been paid, it will be added to the late entry fee paid directly by fencers to the AFF Tournament Management Commission representatives and remitted to the fencers affiliated state by the AFF.

Fencers who cannot compete in AFF competitions on medical grounds should email a medical certificate to entries@ausfencing.org within one week of the final day of the tournament, and a refund will be arranged (by the AFF, not by the host State or the fencer's home federation or State Association).

Refunds will be provided in full for any withdrawals requested prior to the commencement of the late registration period for an AFC event, regardless of reason.

After the commencement of late registration period, refunds for withdrawal will not be available for reasons other than medical grounds, except where there are extreme extenuating circumstances, as determined on formal application to the Tournament Management Commission, who will decide the matter in their absolute discretion.  The same situation will apply for applications for medical withdrawals received more than a week following the final day of a tournament.

Veteran fencers whose event is mixed (men & women) either for the whole event, or for the pools only, may withdraw at any time up to and including the roll call stage of the event, and may receive refund of their entry fee.

Note that "transfers" of registration or entry fees from one event to another are not avilable as an alternative to any permitted refund, and that all refunds - regardless of timing or cause - are subject to a $10 processing fee.

If you edit your original entry registration, and mark yourself as "withdrawn", this is an acknowledgement that you are no longer able to compete, and  any registration fees are forfeited (regardless of cause).

In accordance with FIE rules, veteran fencers are considered to be part of an age category if they 50 or 60 or 70 any time in the relevant year. This approach has also been adopted by the AFF for its domestic circuit to align ranking and selection processes with the FIE - ie fencers are considered as being part of an age category if they turn 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 any timein the relevant year (not as at the date of the AFC event). So, for example if you were born any time in 1968, then in all 2018 AFC events and in the 2018 World Veterans Championships, you are considered to be in the 50+ age category. Age calculations are different for Commonwealth Veterans events.

The AFF is required to notify the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) of certain AFF events so ASADA may conduct random testing during the competition. NOTE: All event participants are potentially subject to ASADA anti-doping testing.

Click here for more information.

TBA - Please contact the Operations Manager if you have any questions. 

Veteran fencing Australia

Integrity in Sport

The Australian Fencing Federation strives for fairness and equity in all aspects of its competition policy and formats.

In addition to the policies referred to above, the AFF has the following policies in place.

 

Operational protocols

An Operational Protocol is information about the process by which the AFF Executive generally makes its decisions. It is designed as a matter of governance and transparency so that stakeholders in various decisions may inform themselves as to how decisions are usually made. An Operational Protocol is not policy, and cannot be subject to appeal.