The annual Referee Allocation Process is conducted each spring once the international calendars have been finalised and the nominated selection competitions confirmed. BF Pathway Programme referees and active BF FIE/IWAS referees will be given priority.
All allocations will be made by the selectors using the published Selection Factors and Rules below:
Items marked with a * will be taken from the referee application form and it is therefore the responsibility of the referee to ensure that the form contains the correct and up-to-date information required. BF will provide supplementary information where possible. The order does not dictate priority; it will be the role of the allocators/selectors to take a balanced view.
An indication for each factor, for each selection is marked below (H – high, M – medium, L – low)
| Factors | Cadets | Juniors | Sats | Euro Champs |
| The current candidates to FIE exams | H | H | H | N/A |
| International career to date * | L | M | L | H |
| History of support for BF competitions – inc all National Champs, BYCs, Eden Cup, Camden Int etc * | M | H | L | H |
| Pathway membership and pathway goals * | M | H | M | H |
| Desire to spread opportunities (particularly at EFC level), with the requirement to rapidly up-skill FIE referees to be future FIE list candidates. | H | M | L | L |
| Attendance at/Involvement in BF referee training sessions | H | H | L | M |
| Availability * | H | H | H | H |
| Cost (particularly where country of residence is other than GB) | H | H | H | L(N/A) |
| International Relations Strategy | L | M | M | H |
| Ability to act as an ambassador for BF (professional behaviours and appearance) | M | H | L | H |
| Ability to support athlete development | M | H | L | H |
| Balance of experience to support referee pathway development | H | H | L | L |
Allocating referees to nominated international competitions be it FIE or EFC level is primarily based on addressing referee pathway development needs, prioritising as follows, taking into account factors as published above.
| Priority | FIE Allocation Rules | Pathway/Non-Pathway |
| 1 | Grand Prix Referees at weapon 1 with stated priority | Pathway |
| 2 | Aiming for Grand Prix Referees at weapon 1 with stated priority | Pathway |
| 3 | Newly qualified FIE referees to get FIE experience/exposure | Pathway |
| 3= | FIE Qualified Pathway Referees where that weapon is their stated priority weapon | Pathway |
| 4 | Grand Prix Referees at weapon 2 | Pathway |
| 5 | Pathway Associates | Pathway |
| 5= | FIE Qualified Pathway Referees non priority weapon | Pathway |
| 6 | Non pathway referees & associates | Non-Pathway |
| 6= | FIE Qualified referees needing to meet minimum attendance standards to retain qualification | Both |
| Priority | EFC Allocation Rules | Pathway/Non-Pathway |
| 1 | C qualified Pathway Referees aiming for FIE exam | Pathway |
| 2 | Pathway Referees who have stated that they are aiming at C level referee in their priority weapon. Priority given to referees reaching EFC performance standards on way to passing EFC C level. (Minimum level and number of assessments required in a certain time period by EFC) | Pathway |
| 3 | Pathway Referees who are aiming for C level in their second weapon. Priority given to referees reaching EFC performance standards on way to passing EFC C level. (Minimum level and number of assessments required in a certain time period by EFC) | Pathway |
| 4 | Pathway Mentors | Pathway |
| 5 | Pathway Associates aiming for C | Pathway |
| 6 | Other | Both |
Currently we have a small pool of IWAS qualified referees available to referee at IWAS World Cups. Allocation will follow similar principles in the unlikely event that more people wish to referee than there are available spaces. Once the number of qualified referees increases we will publish a set of IWAS allocation rules here.
• The published referee selection criteria and pathway categories
• The individual referee activity log held by British Fencing demonstrating support of BF run events
• The individual referee applications, conversations and planned CPD
• Engagement with the British Fencing Referee Pathway Programme and feedback discussions with the selection committee
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