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Guide to USFA Competition

2014-06-27T20:29:41Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* USFA Membership */

If you want more strip time than you can get in collegiate competition, or if you want to compete during the offseason, you can fence in USFA events. The USFA is the national governing association for amateur fencing in the US. Local clubs host numerous USFA tournaments throughout the year.

==USFA Membership==
To compete in USFA events, you must have a USFA competitive membership. All members of the University of Maryland Fencing Club must have at least USFA non-competitive memberships; talk to the club secretary for guidance in upgrading your membership to a competitive one. In the USFA, members of the University of Maryland Fencing Club represent Terrapin Fencing, and are members of either [[Capitol Division]] (which comprises Washington, DC and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, including the University of Maryland) or whatever division their homes are located in. Note that '''Maryland Division includes only parts of Maryland outside of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties'''; residents of Montgomery and Prince George's are members of the Capitol Division.

==Types of Tournaments==
USFA events are distinguished by the following criteria:
* Gender - Men, Women, or Mixed
* Weapon - Foil, Sabre, or Epee
* Age - Youth, Cadet (under 17), Junior (under 20), Senior (13 and older), or Veteran (40 and older)
* Rating - see below

===Ratings===
A fencer can receive a rating in a weapon by placing sufficiently high in a tournament of the appropriate classification. By default, a fencer has a rating of U (unrated). The lowest rating above U is E, and the highest rating is A. A rating is followed by the year it was earned, e.g., a C2014 was earned in the year 2014. After four years, a rating decays to the rating immediately below it, e.g., in 2014, a C2010 becomes a D2014.

The classification of an event is determined by the number of participants, the rating of the participants, and how well the rated participants finish. For example, any event with 6 or more participants is at least an E1, which awards an E to the winner. Any event with 15 or more participants is at least a D1 if the event has at least 4 E-rated or better fencers participating and at least 2 of them finish in the top 8. A D1 event awards a D to the winner and E's to the fencers that finish between second and fourth. The full chart can be found [http://askfred.net/Info/eventClass.php here].

Events can restrict what ratings fencers must hold to be eligible to compete. Common event eligibility restrictions include Division I (A, B, or C), Division II (C, D, E, or U), Division III (D, E, or U), E & Under (E or U), and Unrated (U only). Open events allow fencers of all ratings to compete.

==Using AskFRED==
[http://askfred.net AskFRED] is the website used to find and register for USFA events. You can use AskFRED's search function to find upcoming tournaments that meet whatever criteria you specify within a given radius of a location. Click on the name of any tournament to get more information about it. You can sign up for the tournament by clicking preregister. '''Do not list your club affiliation as University of Maryland. Our USFA club name is Terrapin Fencing.'''

==Requirements to Compete==
You must bring the following things to compete in a USFA event:
* Proof of USFA membership (normally a plastic card that is mailed to every member by the USFA, but a printout of the receipt works as well)
* Entry fee (usually $25-$35)
* Plastron
* Jacket
* Glove
* Mask
* Two weapons
* Two body cords
* Lame (for foil and sabre)
* Two mask cords (for foil and sabre)
* Overglove (for sabre, if not using a conductive glove)

If you don't have your own, the necessary equipment can usually be borrowed from the UMD club. Ask the armorer.

Fundraising

2013-06-28T17:35:34Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "This article is about ways to make money outside of CRS and SGA budget allocations. ==Event staffing== ===Program sales=== Terrapin Sports Marketing employs club members to s..."

This article is about ways to make money outside of CRS and SGA budget allocations.

==Event staffing==
===Program sales===
Terrapin Sports Marketing employs club members to sell programs to fans at Comcast Center before basketball games. The club makes $1 for each program sold. A 6-person team can generally bring in $70-$160 in two hours, depending on the popularity of the game.

===Concessions===
Clubs can sign up to sell concessions at sporting events for a fraction of the proceeds.

===Redskins merchandise===
In the past, we have sold Redskins merchandise at FedEx Field on game days for a portion of the proceeds.

===Miscellaneous events===
Occasionally, events on campus will offer money to clubs in exchange for members to staff the event. The Career Center, for instance, offers clubs money for each manhour worked by members staffing career fairs.

==Sock sales==
Our Maryland flag socks are ordered custom-made directly from the manufacturer, which makes us the only sale point for them, and they are very popular among UMD students and athletes. They should be advertised and sold to the general public, potentially with a discount for bulk orders from other CRS clubs.

==Tournament hosting==
We make a lot of money from hosting fencing tournaments. The two tournaments that we host annually are [[Chaos]] and the [[Cherry Blossom Open]].

==Donations==
Donations to the club, mainly from alumni and parents, go into our [[Treasury#Foundation|Foundation account]], and are tax-deductible. One major source of donations for us is the [[Alumni Meet]]. Sending out newsletters with a note about how to donate at the bottom is also a good way to provoke donations.

Treasury

2013-06-23T00:55:05Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Foundation */

==Accounts==
===SGA===
SGA money is line-item allocated, which means that money is allocated for specific uses instead of as a lump sum. It cannot be used for lodging. Because the procedures governing SGA money are so rigid, it should be the first to be spend on eligible expenses.

===CRS===
CRS money is allocated in a lump sum, but has restrictions on how it can be spent, and it can only be spent through CRS (as opposed to directly from the club). Unlike SGA funds, it can be used for lodging. Since CRS money is subject to restrictions and somewhat hard to use, but not line-itemed, it should be spent second, after SGA money.
====Restrictions====
CRS funds cannot be used for:
* Banquets or parties
* Flowers or decorations
* Salaries, wages, or other compensation of coaches, managers, instructors
* Any item that will become the permanent possession of a participant (e.g. warm-up jackets)
* Meals and mileage for officials, coaches, advisors, or spouses
* Gifts or awards
* Reimbursement of expenses incurred by advisors and coaches due to their attendance at out-of-town meetings
* Telephone calls that are listed on officers’ and/or coaches' personal accounts
* Gas or tolls

===Capital One checking===
Our Capital One checking account holds all money we obtain from outside of CRS and the SGA (e.g., through dues and tournament hosting). We can pay expenses from our checking account directly using checks or withdrawn cash. Because it is the most flexible, checking account money should only be spent on expenses for which CRS and SGA money cannot be used.

===Foundation===
All donations that the club receives go into an account in the University of Maryland College Park Foundation. This money is not subject to the same restrictions as CRS money, but is still spent through CRS instead of directly from the club. We consider the account to serve as an emergency backup, and sometimes use it to pay for some portion of national championship travel.

==Budget Requests==
Budget requests are filed with CRS at the end of the season. They require estimates of all costs and income for the upcoming season. As such, they should be filled out by the president and treasurer, with the consultation of the armorer.

CRS and the SGA have separate budget requests that must be filled out, although both are turned in to CRS. In general, the SGA allocates us about twice what CRS allocates, so be sure to file both requests.

==Dues and Travel Fees==
We collect dues once a semester. Dues are normally $30 per semester, but can be changed to reflect expected expenses for the season. Dues should be collected from returning members starting about a week into practice, but new members should be given a trial period until they have to pay dues; in the past, new members have not been expected to pay dues until after [[Chaos]].

Travel fees are charged to all fencers competing in away tournaments. The treasurer and the officer organizing travel should determine the travel fee for a given event based on cost of transportation (only personal vehicles are free), distance and number of cars traveling (which determines gas and toll costs) if driving, and cost of lodging. In general, travel fees should be below $30 (with the possible exception of national championships).

==Budgeting==
Throughout the year, the treasurer should maintain a budget separate from the budget requests, updating estimates with actual figures as they become available. This will allow the officers to make informed decisions throughout the year.

===Useful Estimates===
<div style="display:inline-block">
{| style="float: left;" class="wikitable"
|+ Gas and Tolls
|-
! scope="col"| Destination
! scope="col"| Cost
|-
| Local*
| $10
|-
| Philadelphia
| $72
|-
| New Jersey
| $104
|}

{| style="float: left;" class="wikitable"
|+ Conference Dues
|-
! scope="col"| Conference
! scope="col"| Cost
|-
| BWCFC
| $50
|-
| MACFA
| $600
|-
| NIWFA
| $50
|-
| USACFC
| $100
|}

{| style="float: left;" class="wikitable"
|+ Entry Fees
|-
! scope="col"| Conference
! scope="col"| Cost
|-
|-
| Chaos
| $20/fencer
|-
| Temple Open
| $30/fencer
|-
| BWCFC meets
| $200
|-
| MACFA meets (regular season)
| $300
|-
| NIWFA Xmas
| $30/fencer
|-
| NIWFA Champs
| $450
|-
| USACFC
| $525
|-
| CBO
| $40/fencer
|}

{| style="float: left;" class="wikitable"
|+ Other Expenses
|-
! scope="col"| Item
! scope="col"| Cost
|-
| Van rental
| $200
|-
| Hotel room (4-5 people/night)
| $100
|}

{| style="float: left;" class="wikitable"
|+ Number of fencers
|-
! scope="col"| Event
! scope="col"| Fencers
|-
| Dues
| 30
|-
| Temple Open
| 21
|-
| BWCFC meets (regular season)
| 15
|-
| BWCFC Champs
| 20
|-
| MACFA meets (regular season)
| 14
|-
| MACFA Champs
| 9
|-
| NIWFA
| 9
|-
| USACFC
| 18
|}
</div>
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Baltimore, Annapolis, Northern Virginia, etc.

==See also==
* [[Fundraising]]

Division of labor

2013-06-20T21:26:06Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Vice Presidents */

Our club does not have a rigid division of responsibilities among officers and other club leaders. As such, the following division of labor is a suggestion; it is the responsibilities of the officers to determine the responsibilities of each person for their term of office.

==Positions==
===Officers===
As of the 2012-2013 season, our club elects five officers:
* President
* 2 Vice Presidents
* Secretary
* Treasurer

===Captains===
Each weapon squad should have a captain to act as leader of the squad. As of the 2012-2013 season, there is no formal process for selecting squad captains; they are determined by consensus, in consultation with the officers.

===Unofficial Positions===
The officers can select volunteers from the club to serve in unofficial capacities. These need not be limited to one person each. Possible positions include:
* Armorer
* Publicist
* Social chair

===Coaches===
Coaches are volunteers who must be registered with CRS. They do not have to be affiliated with UMD.

==Suggested Responsibilities==

===President===
* Handle and delegate all club business
* Render final decisions on club affairs
* Serve as first point of contact for the club

===Vice Presidents===
The vice presidents have the least well-defined jobs. They are the primary recipients of delegation of miscellaneous tasks from the president. However, operation of the club will be smoother if the vice presidents have predefined areas of responsibility.

One possible configuration is to have one VP be responsible for [[Meet hosting|home events]] and conference communications and the other responsible for [[travel]].

===Secretary===
* File weekly activity reports
* Ensure all members have waivers on file with CRS
* Ensure drivers have paperwork on file with CRS
* File CRS End-of-Semester reports
* File facilities requests
* Keep CRS up-to-date on our travel and hosting schedules
* Contact CRS on concerns related to facilities

===Treasurer===
* Collect dues, travel fees, and other expenses from members
* Keep track of club members' balances
* Write and send out or bring entry fees and dues to meets
* Draw up and maintain club budget for the season

===Weapon Squad Captains===
* Lead weapon group drills in practice
* Determine rosters for competitions
* Lead squads in competition

===Armorer===
* Repair broken gear
* Sign out gear to fencers for long-term use
* Maintain the closet

===Publicist===
* Post competition results to fencing website
* Post status updates and photos to Facebook page
* Raise campus awareness of the club and attract recruits through advertising and publicity events

===Social Chair===
* Organize club social events

Meet hosting

2013-06-17T15:39:46Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

We often end up hosting a meet for either [[MACFA]] or [[BWCFC]] each season. This article outlines what preparations are necessary to host a meet.

==Paperwork==
Ahead of home events, we need to file a home event form with CRS. In addition to furnishing CRS with information about the meet, this form allows us to request tables, chairs, floor tape, coolers, and scoreboards.

==Setup==
Setup should generally be done the evening before the event. It normally takes about two hours. Any fencers competing in the event are required to set up, and all other club members are encouraged.

==Format==
In generally, we fence [[dual meet|dual meets]] in a 2.5-strip format, which means that two sabre matches share a single strip, while each foil or epee match has its own strip.

===Strips===
The number of matches is half the number of teams (rounded down), and using the 2.5-strip format, the number of strips needed is 2.5 times the number of matches, rounded up. The Volleyball Gym can hold about 14 strips. Larger competitions generally must be held in the Reckord Armory.

==Time==
A dual meet usually takes about 60 minutes to fence on three strips and 75 minutes to fence on two strips.

==Referees==
When hiring referees, establish the amount of payment beforehand. If more than 8 referees are needed, consider hiring a head ref.

===Number of referees for a 2.5-strip format===
* # epee refs = # matches
* # foil refs = # matches
* # sabre refs = half of # matches, rounded up

==Other personnel==
Some people will be required to run the bout committee (BC), which coordinates the running of the meet. A small meet can be run with a BC of only two, but a larger meet may require more.

In addition, an EMT should be hired to be on site in case of an injury. We usually hire an EMT from the [http://www.cpvfd.org/ College Park Volunteer Fire Department] for $15/hour. Make to sure call them at least a week before the meet.

==Equipment==
Under the 2.5-strip format, every attending team should be asked to bring two strips.

Preparing for National Championships

2013-06-16T04:12:31Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Itinerary */

==Transportation==
===DOTS charter buses===
DOTS has charter buses available for rates significantly below those of commercial bus companies. These buses are equipped with outlets and WiFi Internet access. DOTS buses are popular, so they should be reserved as early as possible.

===Air travel===
For some locations, air travel is either necessary or cheaper than hiring a bus. In general, taxis should be reserved or cars should be hired to transport the team from the airport to the hotel if public transit is not available. When choosing a flight, keep in mind baggage fees, and whether the airline considers fencing bags oversize. To keep costs down, all weapons can be transported in communal bags.

==Funding==
Because we have gone to nationals every year since we were first invited, our budget requests for the year can include funds intended for use for nationals. CRS has a championships fund, from which we can request money for nationals specifically as the trip draws near.

==Requesting approval==
CRS policy requires that we request approval for the trip a month ahead of time. For it to count as national championships, we have to qualify. CRS considers us to do so because teams must be invited to compete in USACFC.

==Itinerary==
Because traveling to national championships often involves several legs of travel, during any of which team members might get separated from the group, the trip can be made smoother by drawing up a printable itinerary to be distributed to everyone going on the trip. This can include:
* A schedule of the trip
* Details about all modes of transportation
* Rosters
* Costs
* Baggage policies
* Lodging information
* Maps and directions

Mike Brown Award

2013-06-10T20:15:31Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Criteria */

The '''Mike Brown Award''' is an award bestowed upon the most promising new UMD fencer by the [[Capitol Division]] of the USFA.

==Award==
The award consists of a one-year USFA competitive membership.

==Nomination==
The recipient of the award is to be selected by the officers and coaches of the UMD Fencing Club. Ideally, the selection is made in March, so that the award can be presented at the [[Cherry Blossom Open]]. After the recipient is chosen, they are to send a picture and short bio to the Capitol Division to be placed on their website.

==Criteria==
The Capitol Division website gives the following description of criteria for the Mike Brown Award:

{{Quotation|
The division suggests that the term “new fencer” should normally be construed as a fencer who is new to fencing; however, an experienced fencer who is new to the University of Maryland may also be considered. To ensure that the nomination is based on a sufficient record of performance, nominations for a given season should not be made until at least four weeks into the second semester but at least one week before the Cherry Blossom Open.
 
"Promising” should be interpreted as showing potential for excellence as a fencer. Enthusiasm for the sport and team leadership should be considered as well.
 
Other factors to consider include the following:
* sportsmanship
* leadership
* skill as a fencer
* degree of improvement
* attendance at team events and at practice
* helping to plan, promote, or organize events that build the club
* willingness to teach less skilled fencers
* willingness to direct, especially in foil and saber
* skill and knowledge as a referee
* support for events (when not fencing)
* service as an armorer|USFA Capitol Division|Mike Brown Award}}

==External Links==
[http://capdiv.usfencing.org/capbrown.htm USFA Capitol Division Mike Brown Award webpage]

Dynamic stretching

2013-06-07T14:55:43Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "'''Dynamic stretching''' is a method of stretching in which the body is constantly in motion. It provides better performance than static stretching, but is not as precise...."

'''Dynamic stretching''' is a method of stretching in which the body is constantly in motion. It provides better performance than [[static stretching]], but is not as precise. Dynamic stretching is our preferred method of stretching.

==Routine==
This routine is performed across (not along) the basketball courts in the Volleyball Gym. The stretch itself is performed until the end of the first basketball court is reached (unless otherwise noted), and the other court is crossed by running at a certain fraction of capacity (unless otherwise noted).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"| Stretch
! scope="col"| Jog speed
|-
| High knees
| 50%
|-
| Butt kicks
| 50%
|-
| Leg swings out
| 50%
|-
| Leg swings in
| 50%
|-
| Quad hugs
| 50%
|-
| Shin hugs
| 50%
|-
| Hand walkout (5 reps)
| 50%
|-
| Back pedals
| 50%
|-
| Side shuffle
| Switch direction
|-
| Carioca/grapevine
| Switch direction
|-
| Side lunges (5 reps each side)
| 50%
|-
| Front lunges (5 reps each leg)
| 50%
|-
| Toy soldiers
| 75%
|-
| Mario jumps
| 75%
|-
| Jog 50%
| 75%
|-
| Jog 50%
| 100%
|}

Static stretching

2013-06-04T18:55:46Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "'''Static stretching''' is stretching that is not performed in the course of movement. It should not be performed without warming up first. Dynamic stretching is preferred..."

'''Static stretching''' is stretching that is not performed in the course of movement. It should not be performed without warming up first. [[Dynamic stretching]] is preferred, but static stretching can be a decent alternative, for instance, when space is limited or particular muscles feel tight.

==Routine==
* Arms: Lift an arm over the head, with the palm of the hand resting on the back between the shoulder blades. Pull the elbow (which should be directly over the head) with the other hand and hold.
* Shoulders: Extend an arm across the chest. Pull the elbow towards the chest using the other hand and hold.
* Quadriceps: Standing on one leg, grasp the ankle of the other leg, pull upwards, and hold.
* Legs: While standing, spread the legs, reach for one ankle, and hold. After doing so for each ankle, reach for the floor and hold.
* Lunges: Lunge forward with one leg, taking care not to extend the knee beyond the ankle of the forward leg, and hold. Without moving the feet, shift weight back, squat on the back leg, and hold. Without moving the feet, shift weight forward, placing on arm behind the forward leg and the other arm a shoulder-width from the first, and hold.
* Butterfly: While seated, grasp both ankles, bring feet together, pull towards the body, and hold.
* Spine: Sitting with legs extended, cross one leg over the other, hug the knee to the chest, and hold. Twist trunk in the opposite direction of the leg and hold.
* Achilles: Sitting with legs extended, place the heel of one foot on the toe of the other, reach for the toe of the top foot, and hold.

CRS page

2013-06-04T18:19:43Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "The CRS page for the fencing club is a central hub for CRS operations, like travel and activity reports. It can be accessed by clicking "Fencing" on the [http://www.crs.umd.ed..."

The CRS page for the fencing club is a central hub for CRS operations, like travel and activity reports. It can be accessed by clicking "Fencing" on the [http://www.crs.umd.edu/cms/SportClubs/ClubListingAZ.aspx CRS club listing page].

==Resources==
* Club waiver PDF
* Driver form PDF
* Club budget balances
* Checking account information
* Travel reports
* Activity reports
* Member roster (including contact information and waiver, driver, CPR, and dues status)

Travel

2013-06-03T18:02:07Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

Our team travels to competitions throughout the year. This document is about what needs to happen in advance of a trip.

==Checklist==
* Determine rosters
* Find drivers
* Assign passengers to cars
* File travel report
* Bring equipment
* Bring checkbook

==Rosters==
Rosters should be determined in consultation with weapon captains and coaches. In general, a single weapon squad (for a dual-meet format competition) should not exceed five fencers; four fencers (three starters and one alternate) is a good target.

==Drivers==
Drivers must have CRS paperwork filed before the Tuesday preceding the competition. Be sure to ask drivers whether they can drive well in advance of the competition, and try not to use the same drivers for each competition. Using personal vehicles is generally preferred (rather than rental cars).

==Travel report==
By the Tuesday before the competition, one of the officers must file a travel report on the [[CRS page]]. A travel report includes the following information:
* Name, location, and description of the event
* Name and phone number of event coordinator
* Event venue
* Name and phone number of nearest hospital to the venue
* Presence of EMT
* Time of beginning and end of event
* Time and location of departure from and return to UMD
* Distance of travel
* Directions
* Need for first aid kit
* Mode of transportation
* List of drivers and passengers for each car (if driving)
* Location and duration of lodging
* Cost of lodging
* Reservation numbers
* Trip leader

==Trip leader==
The trip leader can be anyone in the club; it is often a current or former officer. The trip leader must attend a very brief meeting with CRS, usually on the Wednesday before the trip. At this meeting, the trip leader takes possession of the CRS travel binder with a copy of the travel report for each car, as well as the first aid kit. The trip leader (or another club member, if delegated) is responsible for returning all CRS materials (AND ALL HOTEL RECEIPTS) on the first business day after the trip ends.

==Equipment==
Most meets we attend require that we bring equipment. This usually consists of a full strip (scoring machine, two reels, and floor cords), an extension cord, and a timer. Some meets request that each team bring two of each.

Practice

2013-05-30T15:40:28Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "In general, our practices consist of five stages: warm-up, stretching, announcements, footwork, and weapon groups. ==Warm-up== The most basic warm-up we do is running laps ar..."

In general, our practices consist of five stages: warm-up, stretching, announcements, footwork, and weapon groups.

==Warm-up==
The most basic warm-up we do is running laps around the gym. This can be replaced with any cardio-intensive game, such as ultimate frisbee or Knockout (especially half-court Knockout).

==Stretching==
Once the warm-up is complete, we do group stretching. We have done [[static stretching]] in the past, but we now favor [[dynamic stretching]].

==Announcements==
One of the officers, usually the president, summarizes club affairs, e.g., recent results and upcoming events.

==Footwork==
A coach or an experienced fencer leads the club in footwork [[drills]] (without weapons).

==Weapon groups==
The club splits up into weapon groups. Within each weapon group, at the discretion of the coach or captain, the group does drills, then free fences for the rest of practice.

Capitol Division

2013-05-29T19:26:09Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Members */

The '''Capitol Division''' is the regional authority of the United States Fencing Association of which the UMD Fencing Club is a member. Its authority encompasses Washington DC, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County (where the University is located).

==Members==
* Chevy Chase Fencing Club (Washington, DC)
* DC Fencers Club (Silver Spring, MD)
* National Capital Fencers Club (Washington, DC)
* National Fencing Foundation of Washington, DC
* NIH Fencing Club (Rockville, MD)
* Rockville Fencing Academy (Rockville, MD)
* University of Maryland Fencing Club/Terrapin Fencing (College Park, MD)
===Note about Half-Shell===
We are not permitted to represent the University outside of CRS-approved trips. Therefore, when fencers are competing outside of the team, they report their club affiliation as Terrapin Fencing.

Dual meet

2013-05-29T18:36:46Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "The '''dual meet''' format is a common format for team competition. In a dual meet, each member of one three-person weapon squad fences each member of the opposing squad. As a..."

The '''dual meet''' format is a common format for team competition. In a dual meet, each member of one three-person weapon squad fences each member of the opposing squad. As a result, there are 9 bouts in a dual meet, and the winning squad is the squad that wins at least 5 bouts.

Direct elimination

2013-05-29T18:16:29Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "The '''direct elimination''' format is usually used to determine the final results of an individual fencing competition. In this format, fencers are placed into a single-elimi..."

The '''direct elimination''' format is usually used to determine the final results of an individual fencing competition. In this format, fencers are placed into a single-elimination bracket based on seedings, usually obtained from a preliminary round of [[pool|pools]]. The winner of the final bout wins first place, and the loser of the final wins second place. In most tournaments, both fencers who lose in the semifinals are awarded third place, though some tournaments feature a fence-off for third. All other fencers are placed by the round they lost in, then their seed at the beginning of the direct elimination round.

Pool

2013-05-29T18:04:36Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "The '''pool''' format is often used for preliminary placement in individual tournaments. Each fencer in a pool fences each other fencer in the pool. All fencers in the tournam..."

The '''pool''' format is often used for preliminary placement in individual tournaments. Each fencer in a pool fences each other fencer in the pool. All fencers in the tournament are usually ranked by their pool results. Under official USFA rules, fencers are ranked using victory ratio (number of victories divided by bouts fenced) as the primary factor, indicator (total touches scored minus total touches received) as the secondary factor, and touches scored as the tertiary factor.

The Officers' Handbook

2013-05-29T15:22:57Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

This "handbook" is a directory of pages on this wiki that would be of use to the club officers.

==Administration==
* [[Typical schedule]]
* [[Division of labor]]

==Membership==
* [[Publicity]]
* [[Retention]]
* [[Mike Brown Award]]

==Financials==
* [[Treasury]]
* [[Fundraising]]

==Training==
* [[Practice]]
* [[Drills]]

==Competition==
* [[Travel]]
* [[Meet hosting]]
* [[Preparing for National Championships]]

Publicity

2013-05-29T15:07:17Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

This article is about how we can attract students to the club.

==Events==
There are a few events during the course of the year that give us an opportunity to gain exposure to the campus community.
===First Look Fair===
The First Look Fair is an event held at the beginning of the school year to allow students to explore the student organizations available to them. At the First Look Fair, every organization gets a table on the Mall to showcase what they do. This is possibly the single biggest recruitment draw for us.
===StampFest===
StampFest is an event held in the Stamp at the beginning of the spring semester. During StampFest, there is an organization fair at which we can man a table to advertise our club. There is also a talent showcase held, at which we can do a fencing demo.

==Advertising==
===Bus ads===
DOTS allows student organizations to [http://www.transportation.umd.edu/advertise_campus.html advertise] on Shuttle-UM for free.
===Flyers===
We can hang flyers around well-traveled areas of campus.
===Chalk===
Chalking is a very popular means of advertisement on campus. Good places to chalk include on the sidewalks surrounding the Mall, in front of the ERC, and in front of the Stamp.

USACFC National Championships

2013-05-28T21:27:49Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Hosts */

The '''United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs (USACFC) National Championships''' is the highest level of collegiate club fencing competition in the United States. The event is held in early April.

==Hosts==
* 2003: University of Florida (Gainsville, FL)
* 2004: University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
* 2005: Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
* 2006: Clemson University (Clemson, SC)
* 2007: Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
* 2008: Smith College (Northampton, MA)
* 2009: University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
* 2010: Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
* 2011: University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
* 2012: United States Military Academy (hosted in Hartford, CT)
* 2013: Michigan State University (hosted in Dimondale, MI)

==Format==
The USACFC National Championships take place across two days, and has events split by gender and weapon.
===Day One===
On day one, the weapon squads are placed into [[pool|pools]] according to seedings determined by the organizers based on regular season results. Each squad designates an A strip, a B strip, and a C strip fencer, and each team fences a match against each other team in the pool, with the A strips fencing each other, the B strips fencing each other, and the C strips fencing each other. After team pools are complete, the best-performing fencers compete for individual championships in a traditional pool and [[direct elimination]] format.
===Day Two===
On day two, the weapon squads are placed into a direct elimination bracket according to seedings determined by their performance in team pools. Each match is a [[dual meet]] that stops as soon as a winner is determined (that is, once a squad has won 5 bouts). The bracket is fenced to determine all places. For example, if a squad loses in the round of 16, it can place anywhere within 9-16, and is placed in a sub-bracket containing all teams that lost in the round of 16. If the squad wins its next match, it is competes for 9-12 against other winners from that sub-bracket; if it loses, it competes for 13-16 against other losers from that sub-bracket.

==External Links==
[http://usacfc.org USACFC website]

Cherry Blossom Open

2013-05-28T21:14:15Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Number of Participants */

The '''Cherry Blossom Open''' (CBO) is a USFA tournament that we host, usually in early April. It is not limited to college students, and it attracts many strong fencers from throughout the region.

==Location==
The CBO is hosted in the Armory, which is the only venue on campus large enough to hold it.

==Collaboration==
We host the CBO in concert with the [[Capitol Division]] of the USFA. They provide the capital and some organizational assistance, we provide the labor, and they split the profits with us evenly.

==Equipment==
Absolute Fencing sells gear at the CBO. They also provide most of the equipment for the tournament (scoring machines, reels, strips, etc.).

==Number of Participants==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| MxE
! scope="col"| WE
! scope="col"| MxF
! scope="col"| WF
! scope="col"| MxS
! scope="col"| WS
! scope="col"| Total
|-
! scope="row"| 2014
| 96
| 34
| 49
| 36
| 37
| 15
| 267
|-
! scope="row"| 2013
| 120
| 59
| 50
| 41
| 49
| 16
| 335
|-
! scope="row"| 2012
| 143
| 55
| 79
| 22
| 66
| 20
| 385
|-
! scope="row"| 2011
| 122
| 47
| 71
| 25
| 83
| 17
| 365
|-
! scope="row"| 2010
| 142
| 42
| 84
| 28
| 83
| 26
| 405
|-
! scope="row"| 2009
| 160
| 60
| 140
| 41
| 75
| 20
| 496
|-
! scope="row"| 2008
| 136
| 32
| 109
| 38
| 57
| 10
| 382
|-
! scope="row"| 2007
| 127
| 32
| 101
| 39
| 59
| 9
| 367
|-
! scope="row"| 2006
| 138
| 36
| 112
| 46
| 65
| 17
| 414
|}

National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association

2013-05-27T22:56:50Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Members */

The National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA) is a regional NCAA women's fencing conference, with both club and varsity members. Fencers must be NCAA-eligible to compete.

==Membership==
As of 2012, the conference has 20 members.
===Members===
* City College of New York (New York, NY)
* Drew University (Madison, NJ)
* Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ)
* Haverford College (Haverford, PA)
* Hunter College (New York, NY)
* Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
* Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA)
* New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
* Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)
* Smith College (North Hampton, MA)
* Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ)
* Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY)
* Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
* Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
* United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)
* University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
* University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
* University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
* Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
* Yeshiva University (New York, NY)

==Format==
The NIWFA season comprises two meets: the Christmas Invitational and Championships.
===Christmas Invitational===
The Christmas Invitational is an individual tournament open to NIWFA fencers.
===Championships===
Each team designates an A strip, B strip, and C strip in each weapon. All A strips fence each other, all B strips fence each other, and all C strips fence each other. Teams are ranked within weapons by total number of championship bouts won in that weapon. A small number of fencers qualify for individual championships based on their performance in the team championships, and compete for individual standings in standard [[pool]] and [[direct elimination]] format.

==External Links==
[http://niwfa.com NIWFA website]

Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association

2013-05-27T22:47:03Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Group C */

The '''Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association''' (MACFA) is a regional NCAA men's fencing conference, with both club and varsity members. Fencers must be NCAA-eligible to compete.

==Membership==
As of May 2013, the conference has 16 members separated into three groups.
===Group A===
* Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
* Lafayette College (Easton, PA)
* Drew University (Madison, NJ)
* Rutgers University (Piscataway, NJ)
* Haverford College (Haverford, PA)

===Group B===
* United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)
* Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ)
* New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
* Hunter College (New York, NY)
* Yeshiva University (New York, NY)

===Group C===
* College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
* University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
* University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
* Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
* United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)

==Format==
===Regular Season===
Each group attends three MACFA meets over the course of the regular season: one round robin within the group and a meet against each of the other two groups. Over the course of the season, every team fences a [[dual meet]] against each other team.

===Championships===
To qualify for the championships, a team must have fenced all other teams in the conference during the regular season. The team standings, however, are determined exclusively by the championships, at which each team designates an A strip, B strip, and C strip in each weapon. All A strips fence each other, all B strips fence each other, and all C strips fence each other. Teams are ranked overall by total number of championship bouts won across all weapons, and within weapons by total number of championship bouts won in that weapon. A small number of fencers qualify for individual championships based on their performance in the team championships, and compete for individual standings in standard [[pool]] and [[direct elimination]] format.

==External Links==
[http://www.macfa/net MACFA website]

Baltimore-Washington Collegiate Fencing Conference

2013-05-27T16:16:22Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* North Division */

The '''Baltimore-Washington Collegiate Fencing Conference''' (BWCFC) is a local club fencing conference. Meets are mixed gender, and all students who are not active NCAA varsity fencers are eligible to compete, be they graduate or undergraduate.

==Membership==
As of May 2013, the conference has 12 members separated into two divisions.
===North Division===
* Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)
* Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
* University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
* University of Maryland Baltimore County (Catonsville, MD)
* Millersville University (Millersville, PA)
* Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

===South Division===
* George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
* George Washington University (Washington, DC)
* Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
* United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
* St. John's College (Annapolis, MD)
* St. Mary's College (St. Mary's City, MD)

===Past Members===
* Goucher College (Towson, MD)
* Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)

==Format==
The BWCFC season consists of two regular season meets (the Fall Meet and Spring Meet) and a championship tournament.
===Fall Meet===
Each division holds a separate Fall Meet. At the Fall Meet, each team fences a [[dual meet]] against each team in their division.
===Spring Meet===
There is a single Spring Meet held for the entire conference. At the Spring Meet, each team fences a dual meet against each team in the other division.
===Championships===
The BWCFC Championships are individual events, into which conference fencers are seeded based on their performance during the regular season. They are fenced under the normal USFA format, with [[pool|pools]] of fencers seeding a [[direct elimination]] table.
===Standings===
Team standings are determined based on results from the regular season meets. Teams are ranked overall by number of matches in which they won more bouts across all weapons than their opponent, and within weapons by number of matches in which they won more bouts in that weapon than their opponents.
Individual standings are determined by the results of the championship tournament.

==External Links==
* [http://www.umdfencing.com/bwcfc BWCFC website]

Temple Open

2013-05-27T15:54:01Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

The Temple Open is an individual tournament hosted by Temple University, usually on the first weekend of November. It attracts strong collegiate fencers from all over the East Coast, and it lasts two days.

==Schedule==
Temple Open is held on a weekend with women fencing on Saturday and men fencing on Sunday. Our women travel to Philadelphia on Friday night and stay in a hotel, and the men travel on Saturday morning. The entire team stays in a hotel on Saturday night and drives back after fencing ends on Sunday evening.

==Traditions==
After fencing ends on Saturday, the team gets cheesesteaks from Pat's or Gino's.

Chaos Invitational

2013-05-27T15:52:58Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Number of Participants */

The Chaos Invitational is an individual tournament targeted toward less experienced fencers. We host it in early fall, usually October, and it is attended mainly by colleges from Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

==Location==
Chaos is held in the Reckord Armory when available, and in the Volleyball Gym of the School of Public Health otherwise.

==Number of Participants==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| ME
! scope="col"| WE
! scope="col"| MF
! scope="col"| WF
! scope="col"| MS
! scope="col"| WS
! scope="col"| Total
|-
! scope="row"| 2013
| 39
| 24
| 43
| 25
| 36
| 26
| 193
|-
! scope="row"| 2012
| 34
| 23
| 23
| 27
| 42
| 20
| 169
|-
! scope="row"| 2011
| 27
| 13
| 33
| 21
| 31
| 14
| 139
|-
! scope="row"| 2010
| 37
| 18
| 32
| 26
| 32
| 16
| 161
|-
! scope="row"| 2009
|colspan="2" | 36
| 27
| 13
| 26
| 12
| 114
|-
! scope="row"| 2007
|colspan="2" | 27
|colspan="2" | 21
|colspan="2" | 31
| 79
|}

Alumni Meet

2013-05-27T15:49:10Z

Ozymandias Fallick: Created page with "The Alumni Meet is an informal event that we host in early fall. Past fencers from UMD return to socialize and fence with the current members. ==Location== The Alumni Meet is..."

The Alumni Meet is an informal event that we host in early fall. Past fencers from UMD return to socialize and fence with the current members.

==Location==
The Alumni Meet is usually held in Ritchie Coliseum.

Typical season

2013-05-27T15:42:33Z

Ozymandias Fallick: /* Schedule */

This schedule lists events that the club attends on a regular basis, along with '''approximate''' dates.

==Schedule==

===Publicity===
* September, week 2: [[Publicity#First Look Fair|First Look Fair]]
* February, week 1: [[Publicity#StampFest|StampFest]]

===Competitions===
* October, week 2: [[Alumni Meet]]
* October, week 3: [[Chaos Invitational]]
* November, week 1: [[Temple Open]]
* November, week 2: [[BWCFC#Fall Meet|BWCFC Fall Meet]]
* November, week 3: [[MACFA#Regular Season|MACFA Meet 1]]
* December, week 1: [[NIWFA#Christmas Invitational|NIWFA Christmas Invitational]]
* January, week 4 or February, week 1: [[MACFA#Regular Season|MACFA Meet 2]]
* February, week 2 or 3: [[MACFA#Regular Season|MACFA Meet 3]]
* February, week 4: [[BWCFC#Spring Meet|BWCFC Spring Meet]]
* March, week 1: [[NIWFA#Championships|NIWFA Championships]]
* March, week 1: [[MACFA#Championships|MACFA Championships]]
* April, week 1: [[Cherry Blossom Open]]
* April, week 2: [[USACFC National Championships]]
* April, week 3 or 4: [[BWCFC#Championships|BWCFC Championships]]

==Traditions==
* Around winter break: [[Winter Formal]]
* By April: [[Mike Brown Award]]
* Early May: Paintball
* Early May: [[Senior Barbeque]]

==Event Summaries==
===Chaos===
Chaos is an individual tournament targeted toward less experienced fencers. We host it in early fall, usually October, and it is attended mainly by colleges from Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

===Alumni Meet===
The Alumni Meet is an informal event that we host in early fall. Past fencers from UMD return to socialize and fence with the current members.

===Temple Open===
The Temple Open is an individual tournament hosted by Temple University, usually on the first weekend of November. It attracts strong collegiate fencers from all over the East Coast, and it lasts two days.

===BWCFC===
The Baltimore-Washington Collegiate Fencing Conference is a co-ed conference of club teams divided into two divisions, North and South. We are in the North Division. At the Fall Meet, each team fences a dual meet against all other teams in the same division. At the Spring Meet, each team fencers a [[dual meet]] against all teams in the other division. The team standings are determined by the results of these meets. At the Championships, any fencers who have fenced a BWCFC bout during the regular season can compete to determine the individual standings.

===MACFA===
The Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association is our men's NCAA conference. The regular season consist of three meets, in which each team fences a dual meet against each of the other teams. Some meets have women's teams fence as well. To qualify for the championships, a team must have fenced all other teams in the conference during the regular season. The team standings, however, are determined exclusively by the championships, at which each team designates an A strip, B strip, and C strip in each weapon. All A strips fence each other, all B strips fence each other, and all C strips fence each other. The best-performing fencers can then compete for individual standings.

===NIWFA===
The National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association is our women-only conference. It holds the Christmas Invitational, which is an individual tournament, in December, and championships, at which teams compete in three-bout matches to determine team standings and fencers compete for individual standings, in March.

===Cherry Blossom Open===
The Cherry Blossom Open is a USFA tournament that we host, usually in early April. It is not limited to college students, and it attracts many strong fencers from throughout the region.

===USACFC===
The United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs holds a national championship every year in April. The two-day event has separate men's and women's dual-meet-based events to determine team standings, as well as individual results.

Main Page

2013-05-21T17:47:47Z

Ozymandias Fallick:

Consult the [//meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.

* [[Typical season]]
* [[The Officers' Handbook]]
* [[Guide to USFA Competition]]

==Our Conferences==
* [[BWCFC]]
* [[MACFA]]
* [[NIWFA]]