A summary of the anticipated changes which will be made to the BF GBR Selection Policy and the BF Ranking Policy before being presented to the membership for consultation (and subsequent Board approval). There is an early opportunity for members to input their views for consideration.
Annually, the GBR Selection and BF Ranking Policies are updated, and one or more rounds of drafts are provided to the community for consultation and subsequent finalisation and approval by the Board.
Throughout the season, we collate feedback, and as such, the following items are listed for addressing. Below is a list of the proposed changes:
(Ref. 3.3.6) An additional ‘Normal Grading Multiplier’ option will be added to create a new lower banding. This will accommodate smaller international events held at the U23 and U14 levels, reducing the potential for over-rewarding performances at these events.
For cadet rankings, the higher value between the U14 transition bonus and Cadet Carry Over points will be applied. This ensures athletes can make the best choice for their development, whether to enter U17 events early, without ranking points dictating the decision to stay at the lower age group. Eligibility for the transition bonus will remain unchanged.
Ref. (3.7.2) Starting in September 2025, an updated multiplier table will provide greater support for placing between 65 and 96. These changes acknowledge the competitive difficulty of performances at Senior World Cups and Grand Prix events, ensuring fair recognition without significantly affecting domestic events. Additionally, the amendments will reinforce the structure of events featuring repechage and placement fight-offs.
For the 26-27 season, the ranking schemes for U14 and U17 will transition to a rolling format, aligning with the existing process used for U20, U23, and Senior rankings. This adjustment aims to ensure consistency across all age categories. The early announcement will allow the community to plan their competitions accordingly during the 2025-26 season.
For the 26-27 season, eligible athletes who are subject to a transition bonus will receive a fixed bonus of 10% for U14 (5.2.3), U17 (6.2.3), and U20 (8.3.2) athletes, where applicable. Eligibility for the transition bonus will remain unchanged.
Restructuring of the document – to consolidate organiser-specific information to one area of the document.
It is anticipated that the policy will continue with minimal adjustments; however, the following amendments will be proposed for consideration.
General Changes:
Team Selections:
Qualification Performance standards:
Ref. 53e: The minimum performance standard will be uniformly set at 35% across all age groups. This adjustment acknowledges overall improvements within the categories and accounts for the inclusion of nominated Satellite and U23 events at the Senior level.
Para Fencing:
Ref. 124 – Amendments to Para fencing regarding World Championship Selection – as per the following post.
Selection Process:
Optimising the selection process by minimising the number of approvals required from the Weapon Selection Panels. Selections for U17 and U23 EFC events, determined directly from rankings, will no longer necessitate panel review. However, selections for Major Championships, FIE Junior and Senior events—where places are limited—or instances involving discretionary selections will continue to require panel approval. This refinement aims to accelerate the publication of selection announcements.
If you have any specific items you would like us to consider in the drafting phase please let us know here.
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