Age Requirements

2010-2011 AGE & CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTION RULES (through 7/31/11): Download Here

2011-2012 AGE & CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTION RULES (as of 8/1/11): Download Here

The tables below reflect information for the 2011-12 Season.  Fencers must be current competitive USFA members in good standing to compete in competitions conducted under the auspices of the USFA.  Foreign fencers must have a current FIE or Federation license.

For a fencer to compete in a specific age category competition or any "Open" level of competition conducted under the auspices of the USFA at regional, divisional, sectional, or national levels, the following criteria must be met. 

  • The fencer's birth year falls within that age bracket OR ---

  • If a fencer is currently, as of the entry deadline for that tournament, listed in a National age group point standing, the fencer may enter the next older age category of competition, even if that fencer is younger than allowed by the age bracket.

  • For categories of competitions in which criteria in addition to age must be met, the fencer must also meet those criteria by the entry deadline. There are different age eligibility criteria for the Veteran tournaments.

* Veteran ages are determined by the first day of the month of the Championships that year.

A.  For 2011-2012 National Tournaments & Junior Olympic Fencing Championships
(Excluding July NAC, USA Fencing National Championships & Nationals Qualifying Tournaments)

CATEGORY CODE BIRTH YEARS CLASS
DIVISION I DV1 Born 1998 or earlier A, B, OR C
DIVISION II DV2 Born 1998 or earlier C, D, E OR U
DIVISION III DV3 Born 1998 or earlier D, E OR U
WHEELCHAIR CHR Born 1998 or earlier N/A
VETERAN VET Born 1971 or earlier N/A
VETERAN 50-59 V50 9/2/52-9/1/62 N/A
VETERAN 60-69 V60 9/2/42-9/1/52 N/A
VETERAN 70 & Older V70 Born before 9/2/42 N/A
UNDER 20 (JUNIOR) / U20 TEAM U20/JTM 1992-1998 N/A
UNDER 17 (CADET) U17 1995-1998 N/A
YOUTH 14 Y14 1997-2000 N/A
YOUTH 12 Y12 1999-2002 N/A
YOUTH 10 Y10 2001-2004 N/A
B. 2012 July NAC, USA Fencing National Championships & Associated REGIONAL & DIVISION Qualifying Competitions ONLY
CATEGORY CODE BIRTH YEARS CLASS
DIVISION I DV1 Born 1998 or earlier A, B, OR C
DIVISION IA D1A Born 1998 or earlier N/A
DIVISION II DV2 Born 1998 or earlier C, D, E OR U
DIVISION III DV3 Born 1998 or earlier D, E OR U
UNDER 16 (CADET) U16 1996-1999 N/A
UNDER 19 (JUNIOR) U19 1993-1999 N/A
VETERAN 40-49 V40 9/2/62-1971 N/A
VETERAN 50-59 V50 9/2/52-9/1/62 N/A
VETERAN 60-69 V60 9/2/42-9/1/52 N/A
VETERAN 70 & Older V70 Born before 9/2/42 N/A
WHEELCHAIR CHR Born 1998 or earlier N/A
YOUTH 10 Y10 2001-2004 N/A
YOUTH 12 Y12 1999-2002 N/A
YOUTH 14 Y14 1997-2000 N/A
UNDER 19 TEAM JTM 1993-1999 N/A
SENIOR TEAM STM Born 1998 or earlier N/A
VETERAN TEAM VTM Born 1971 or earlier N/A

EXCEPTION TO AGE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (All other qualification criteria remains): 
1.     Youth 12 – A fencer born after 2002 can fence in Youth 12 IF the fencer is on the National Youth 10 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
2.     Youth 14 – A fencer born after 2000 can fence in Youth 14 IF the fencer is on the National Youth 12 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
3.     Cadet (U17) – A fencer born after 1998 can fence in Cadet (U17) local and regional competitions, NAC Cadet tournament and Junior Olympic Cadet (U17) Fencing Championships qualifying round, IF the fencer is on the National Youth 14 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
4.     Junior (U20) – A fencer born after 1998 can fence in Junior (U20) local and regional competitions, NAC Junior (U20) and Junior Olympic Junior (U20) Fencing Championships qualifying round, IF the fencer is on the National Cadet (U17) point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
5.     Cadet (U16) – A fencer born after 1999 can fence in Cadet (U16) competition for the 2012 July NAC IF the fencer is on the National Youth 14 point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
6.     Junior (U19) – A fencer born after 1999 can fence in Junior (U19) competition for the 2012 July NAC IF the fencer is on the National Cadet (U16) point standings at the time of the entry deadline for that tournament.
7.     Division I, IA, II, III – For all local, regional (including ROC) and national (e.g., NAC) competitions, those born after 1998 must be on the National Junior point standings; for the 2012 National Championships and qualifying competitions for Division I, IA, II, III those born after 1999 must be on the National Junior point standings.