This Operational Protocol applies to competitions identified as Level E events under the Selection Policy.

This Protocol only applies to referee costs, or – if the AFF decides not to send referees – the relevant fine to be levied by the host Nation or organising body.  The Protocol recognises and reflects the AFT/AFS/non-HPP hierarchy as reflected in the Selection Policy, as opposed to an order-of-entry process.

1. Each Level E event will have a date for cut-off of entries.  This cut-off date will be used to assess the point at which the referee costs will be allocated.
2. At the cut-off date, the referee thresholds shall be established.  Typically, these will be:
   1. 1-4 fencers: no referee required
   2. 5-9 fencers: one referee required
   3. 10+ fencers: two referees required
3. A list of the entered fencers should be established, in “HPP” ranking order from the most recently published rankings of the relevant age category (i.e. for a Cadet event, the Cadet rankings).  Reflecting the Selection Policy information:
   1. Firstly, members of the AFT whose relevant age category Point Aggregate is not less than the threshold specified in Appendix G for the relevant age category AFT, or members of the relevant age category AFT, in order of ranking on the relevant age category Ranking List;
   2. Secondly, members of the AFT or AFS whose relevant age category Point Aggregate is not less than the threshold specified in Appendix G for the relevant age category AFS, or members of the relevant age category AFS, in order of ranking on the relevant age category Ranking List;
   3. Thirdly, the remaining fencers in order of ranking on the relevant age category Ranking List
4. The referee cost will then be levied against the relevant ranked fencers depending on the number entered.  For example:
   1. 1-4 fencers: no referee cost
   2. 5-9 fencers: cost of a single referee shared equally among fencers 5-9
   3. 10+ fencers: cost of one referee shared equally among fencers 5+, cost of a second referee shared equally among fencers 10+.
5. The AFF may, in consultation with the tour manager, elect to apply the referee costs using another method (e.g. equally across all participating fencers).
6. Where a fencer, coach, or other acceptable (to the host organisation) referee attending the event volunteers to be a referee, that person will be reimbursed the amount of the nominal referee fine, and this will be identified as the referee cost for the purposes of the calculations above.
7. The AFF, either directly or through the person who is managing any event entry process, should keep all athletes aware of both this Protocol and the names and number of other athletes entered – as they enter, so that fencers can consider the cost implications of the team size, and thus make available the option of withdrawal prior to entry cut-off date.
8. Late entered fencers, regardless of the process above, will incur the full referee cost if the direct consequence of the addition of the late entered fencer is to require an additional referee.

[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.]

Last Updated 30 January 2016