uyflrules

The “League” is split into two separate categories: the Utah Youth Fencing League (UYFL) includes all teams Y12 and below, the Utah High School Fencing League (UHSFL) will include 8^th – 12^th graders or Y14 - Junior. In order to participate on a HS League team the fencer must fall within the minimum grade requirement (rather than an age requirement).

There are two situations within the league where voting is necessary; one, making policy changes (specifically to the official rules), and two, voting on league awards at the end of the season.

All policy changes will be voted on by one representative from each “core club.” The current core clubs include: Park City Fencing, Schoolhouse Fencing, Utah Valley Fencing and Wasatch Fencing. The following criteria exist for the creation of new core clubs:

1) Must have at least twelve fencers participating as official league members (dues paid). Fielding a team is not required as long as these fencers are entering Cups.

The formula for awards is one vote per team age group. In other words, if Park City fields two teams in the Youth 12 age group they would have two votes in selecting awards for that age group.

Team - Comprised of four fencers (three fencers and one alternate) from any one club.

Club/Team Coach - Responsible for teaching and coaching individual clubs/teams. The Home coach will be responsible for the proper set up and running of each meet.

Club/Team Manager - Responsible for each club/team arriving on time. The team manager is responsible for the club/team in the absence of the coach.

Team Captain - The captain will be a member of the team (in terms of competing) and will be the only person allowed to address the official in a team match.

Each club is permitted to have multiple teams per age category. These teams will consist of club members (no teams with members from different clubs are allowed). A fencer may represent only one club during the season.

It is the responsibility of the club coach to compile each team. A fencer may not fence on two different teams on the same day. In forming teams, please note the age restrictions above. In order for a fencer to be eligible to compete on a Varsity team they must be in the eighth grade (as per Utah High School regulations). *Fencers in the High School arena (Junior Varsity/Varsity) are allowed to switch teams indefinitely. The only exception is that one fencer may not participate on both teams for the same dual meet.

Each fencer must pay $50.00 to participate in the UYFL/UHSFL, payable prior to the first competition. Checks should be written to the UYFL. For every ten paying members, each club will be allotted a scholarship (meaning the $50 league fee will be covered by the League). This scholarship should be only used if necessary and can ONLY be awarded by the coach.

A full, USFA standard uniform is required at all League events. This includes jacket, knickers, lame, plastron, long socks, glove, mask and chest protector (for girls Y12 and above). So that we do not exclude any new fencer who wants to participate, all clubs will bring extra equipment to outfit fencers.

An official armourers check will be conducted at each event. Fencers must have their equipment checked at least once during the season. This will include a mask punch test plus a lame and body cord inspection. A foil weight test will be administered before the following bouts:

All dual meets (other than Varsity*) will be fenced on one Saturday. Teams will be seeded into an elimination table based on ratings and results from Utah Cup #1. (see team seeding information at the conclusion of this document). All teams will fence each other in forty-five touch bouts as delineated by the United States Fencing Association. There will be a “fence-off” for third place. *Varsity teams will fence individual dual meets scheduled between team mangers and coaches. All Varsity team matches must be completed before the High School Championships

Four UYFL and four UHSFL Cups will be held throughout the competitive season. Pre-registration will be required for these events at www.askfred.net. UYFL Cups and UHSFL Cups may be held jointly or separately. These cups will be held in an individual format and result in individual winners. There will be no charge for league members to enter these events; non-league members will pay $15.00 to the UYFL.

1) UYFL Cups will include the Y8 Mixed, Y10 Mixed and Y12 Mixed tournaments. UHSFL Cups will include Y14 Mixed, Junior Mixed, and Junior Women tournaments. Where possible an “E and Under” competition will be included at High School only events.

2) A fencer may fence in more than one age category, provided he/she qualifies based on the age restrictions (limit two events per cup).

3) The seeding for these tournaments will be based on: first, total number of Utah State Points and second, USFA rating.

4) These tournaments will follow an individual format (pools, direct elimination, etc.), which will result in individual finalists for each age category. Any direct elimination bout in the Y12, Y10 and Y8 categories must be determined by two out of three five-touch bouts.

5) At the completion of each tournament, individual points will be awarded to the top 16 competitors of each age category (see III.A.). If a fencer has earned points in two separate events, his/her points will be calculated separately per event.

Each club will be required to provide volunteer personnel for the smooth running of each cup. These include referees, take-down personnel and a club contact. Please see the attached sheet at the end of this document for more specific information.

1) Girls are allowed to enter the boy’s (mixed) events and are considered on the overall point standings.

2) Girls point standings will be calculated separately. Group II girls points will be awarded based on a weighted point system.

3) In the interest of time, girls will only be allowed to enter two events per cup.

5) Awards in the mixed events will be given to the top eight regardless of gender.

Awarded according to place. Points are only awarded to the top 16 finishers. (See V. D5).

Group I points are earned at Utah Cups and are given per age category. A fencer may have Group I points in more than one age category.

Group II points are earned in a more competitive category (Y10, Y12, Y14 and Junior for Y8 fencers; Y12, Y14 and Junior for Y10 fencers; Y14 and Junior for Y12 fencers; Junior for Y14 fencers; Junior Mixed for Junior Women fencers; Y12 mixed, Y14, Junior Women and Junior Mixed for Y12 Girl fencers). For the purpose of Y14 Girls utilizing Junior Women points as Group II points, those points will be weighted at 50% and awarded only through 12^th place.

The format of the League Championships will be the same as the Utah Cups. This includes seven separate age category tournaments, with rounds of pools to a direct elimination table (no repechage).

An official awards banquet will be held on the day of the Championships. This banquet will include a light meal and presentation. All league members will receive a t-shirt and additional awards as earned.

1) Top Eight Medals – Awarded to the top eight finishers on the day of the championships.

5) Excellence Award – Awarded to any fencer within the league who attends six of the eight (or 75%) of League events during the season.

6) Sword in the Stone – Awarded to graduating seniors who have shown exemplary leadership within the fencing league.

7) Varsity Teams - For the Varsity age category the top two teams (based on win/loss) will hold a “fence-off” for the title of “League Champions” regardless of regular season results.

1) Top three Teams – A trophy will be awarded to first place. Medals will be awarded to the top three teams (a “fence-off” for third will be held).

Additionally coaches will be given a coaches award – One per team awarded at the coaches’ discretion (may be MVP, Most Improved, Sportsmanship or anything else).

*All awards calculated by individual points will only include the best three results for each fencer. However, in order to be eligible the fencer must participate in the Championships or be present at the Awards Banquet (although points earned at the Championships do not necessarily have to be considered for the award).

The purpose of this policy is to equalize the competition so that, theoretically, the two “best” teams will not fence each other until the final bout.

Each team is given a seed value based on the sum of the best results (i.e., placements) of its individual team members in the associated individual league tournaments (i.e., Y12, Y14, etc.). Each team member is assigned a value based on actual placement. (i.e., 1 point for first place, 2 points for second place, etc.). The team total is the sum of the lowest values of each of three members of the team. Teams are then ranked, assigning the highest seed to the team with the lowest seed value (or sum) and the team with the largest seed value ranked last.

If an unrated fencer on the team has not fenced in any of the individual competitions, the fencer is given the value equal to the number of fencers in the specific competition plus 1. (i.e., if the Y12 tournament had twenty-six entrants, the non-participating, unrated fencer is assigned the value of 27).

If a rated fencer on the team has not fenced in any of the individual competitions, the fencer is given a value based on their rating and the quality of the associated tournament as follows:

	A	B	C	D	E
A1, etc.	2	5	8	11	14
B1, etc.	2	2	5	8	11
C1, etc.	2	2	2	5	8
D1, etc.	2	2	2	2	5
E1, etc.	2	2	2	2	2
Unrated	2	2	2	2	2

(The following team is entering the Y14 competition; results are drawn from the Utah Cup #1 Y14 event, which we’ll say was a D1 event)