Media Release – Key Changes to the AFF National Competition Policies for 2026/27 Season

The Australian Fencing Federation (AFF) is introducing a series of important updates to its national competition policies ahead of the 2026/27 season, designed to strengthen athlete pathways, improve safety and integrity standards, and enhance the delivery of national events.

Key highlights include:

• Launch of a new national Under 13 competition pathway, including National Championships and Australian Youth Circuit events.
• Streamlined youth competition structure, with Youth National Championships replacing the Australian Youth Circuit Finals and Cadet Nationals moving to March.
• New accreditation requirements for coaches and stricter access controls within competition areas.
• Updated residency and interstate representation rules, including new flexibility for athletes living near state borders.
• Enhanced weapons control, equipment safety checks and competition equipment standards.
• New team management requirements and stronger accountability for team entries.
• New podium attire standards for national events and championships.

Together, these changes aim to provide a safer, fairer and more consistent competition environment while supporting athletes in high-performance competition.

National Competition Policy

1. New Under 13 National Competition Pathway

One of the most significant developments is the creation of a dedicated Under 13 national competition pathway. New competitions include:

• National Under 13 Championships (individual and team events in all three weapons).
• Under 13 events added to the Australian Youth Circuit (AYC).

2. Stronger Athlete Verification Requirements

All competitors must now provide verification of date of birth and gender.

3. Simplified National Youth and Aged Categories Competition Structure

The Australian Youth Circuit Finals concept has been removed and the AYC competitions culminate in a Youth National Championships in July.

The Cadet National Championships will be moved to March to align with the Junior National Championships and the Cadet and Junior World Championships.

4. Updated Veteran Competition Formats

Veterans will see changes to event management when entry numbers are low.

Where fewer than four competitors are entered in one gender:

• Events may be conducted as mixed-gender competitions.
• Mixed medals may be awarded.

Veteran athletes can withdraw and receive a refund if they do not wish to participate in a mixed event. This provides greater certainty that events can proceed even when participation numbers are small.

5. New Podium Dress Standards

At Championship events medallists must wear:

• State uniform/tracksuit, or
• National team uniform (for international competitors).

At National Circuit events medallists must wear:

• State uniform/tracksuit; or
• Full fencing whites if approved by the state representative and DT.

Club tracksuits, Australian Team uniforms, Olympic team apparel, and generic tracksuits are not acceptable at national competition presentations. Failure to comply may lead to a fine of up to $150.

6. Increased Emphasis on Team Management

The policy formalises responsibilities for Team Managers in state, veteran, school and club team events.

• Team Managers become the sole point of communication with tournament officials.
• Team lists must be lodged by specified deadlines.
• Teams may face exclusion and potentially significant fines if they fail to present the entered athletes after the draw has been published.

7. Field of Play Controls

The policy formally introduces field-of-play management provisions.

• FIE field-of-play rules apply.
• Athletes, coaches and spectators must follow DT instructions.
• AFF may introduce accreditation controls for access to the competition area.

 

Residency Policy

The core principle of the policy remains that fencers residing in Australia must affiliate through the state or territory in which they reside.

A significant clarification is that fencers who reside within 75km of a state border can choose to affiliate with either neighbouring state or territory association. This provides greater flexibility for athletes whose closest club or regular competition pathway may be across a border.

Moving interstate

Fencers who relocate interstate must transfer their membership to their new state at the start of the next fencing/calendar year. A former state association must provide a release unless the athlete has outstanding financial obligations.

Athletes who move interstate for university or other formal education programs, or high-performance fencing development and training opportunities must:

• affiliate with their new state of residence.
• Must continue representing their former (“home”) state in AFF state-based national events for two years.

After the two-year period, athletes may continue to represent either their former or current state while they remain enrolled in their study program or approved training program. Once that program concludes, they must represent their actual state of residence.

Overseas-based athletes

International fencers living in Australia must affiliate with the relevant Australian state association and provide evidence of membership with their home country’s national federation.

 

Weapons Control Policy

1. Updated requirements at Weapons Control

Competitors are responsible for removing old tags and presenting equipment in a testable condition.

Event organisers may impose limits on the number of items submitted for checking, including:

• 4 weapons;
• 3 bodywires;
• 3 mask wires;
• 2 masks;
• 2 lames; and
• 2 gloves per fencer per event.

Across all three weapons, blades and masks may now be rejected if officials cannot verify mandatory markings due to rust, wear or tape coverage.

For foil, épée and sabre, gloves with tape repairs will not be accepted at Equipment Control.

For bodywires and mask wires, compliance now includes checks while cables are being manipulated. Officials may test wires while they are being “wiggled” or pulled.

2. New bodywire connection and security requirements

• Foil and sabre: Bodywires must include a security device to prevent accidental disconnection. Bayonet-style systems are acceptable. Prieur-style two-prong plugs remain acceptable if the weapon socket has the retaining clips fitted.
• Épée: Weapons must have a device that prevents accidental bodywire disconnection. Socket wiring must pass through separate holes.

3. Stronger mask safety checks

• Tape cannot be used to stabilise or hold mask springs in place.
• Officials may remove tape to inspect the condition of the spring mechanism.
• Masks must fit the fencer correctly.
• On-strip checks will assess whether:
  • Velcro straps are secured correctly; and
  • spring systems can retain the mask independently.
• Masks with detachable bibs must also have the magnetic retaining strap fitted.

4. Sabre equipment clarifications

Sabre blades may be marked with:

• FIE;
• M; or
• Maraging notation.

Guard interiors must be insulated by either:

• paint; or
• a pad covering the entire inner surface.

 

Equipment Policy

The biggest change is the formalising of different equipment standards depending on the age group and level of competition.

Schools Championships

Requirements remain relatively flexible, with:

• 350N mask permitted
• 350N jacket and breeches permitted
• 350N underplastron permitted
• Non-FIE equipment allowed
• Electric weapons and electric scoring equipment still required
• Conductive lamés required for foil and sabre events

AYC Youth and Under13 events (Not Championship events)

Requirements remain relatively flexible, with:

• 350N mask permitted
• 350N jacket and breeches permitted
• 350N underplastron permitted
• Non-FIE equipment allowed
• Electric weapons and electric scoring equipment still required
• Conductive lamés required for foil and sabre events

FIE uniforms become mandatory for all Championship events and all other events above Youth level  

All Youth (U15 and U13) Championships, Cadet (U17), Junior (U20), Open and Veteran competitions now require:

• 1600N FIE-approved masks
• 800N FIE-approved jackets and breeches
• 800N FIE-approved underplastrons
• FIE-approved lamés
• Fully conductive equipment that can pass electrical testing
• Foil and épée competitors must use FIE-approved blades, smaller blades are allowed for Youth categories.
• Sabre competitors must use blades marked S2000, smaller blades are allowed for Youth categories.

Chest protectors

• Chest protectors remain mandatory for female fencers
• A soft cover is required over the chest protector at Youth, Cadet, Junior, Open and Veteran levels

 

Accreditation Policy

Coaches attending AFF events must hold event accreditation to access the competition area. Unaccredited coaches will be treated as spectators and must remain outside the Field of Play.

To obtain accreditation, coaches must:

• Hold a valid Working With Children Check (or equivalent).
• Complete the required Sport Integrity Australia education modules.
• Read and understand key AFF integrity, conduct and event policies.

Anyone issued accreditation must wear and display it whenever they are within the Field of Play. This will help event staff, athletes and officials quickly identify authorised personnel.

The policy makes it clear that spectators cannot access the competition area. This includes parents unless they are accredited in another capacity, such as a coach or approved photographer.

All accredited coaches, photographers, videographers and media personnel must meet child safety and integrity requirements before accreditation is issued. These include Working With Children Check requirements and completion of AFF-mandated integrity education.

The National Competition Committee has discretion to refuse accreditation applications where:

• Accreditation requirements have not been met.
• There is an active integrity investigation.
• An individual is currently serving, or has previously received, a sanction under the National Integrity Framework.