U17 (CADETS) GBR GUIDE

There are a number of events specifically for U17s (also known as ‘Cadets) held in the UK (these are called ‘domestic’ events).

When fencers compete in these events they can be awarded BF ranking points – the number depends on the event and the final placing of the fencer.

Fencers should not be competing in all the events that have ranking points on offer. They should choose which of these events they want to compete in. Choices should be supported/informed by personal coaches/parents and, if they are looking to improve, their Individual Athlete Development Plans (see below).

Fencers wanting to get selected for GBR at major events (Europeans and Worlds) need to fence in nominated international U17 (EFC Cadet Circuit) events. Due to entry restrictions there is a selection process for nominated U17 internationals and primarily it will be a fencer’s BF ranking that is the main selection factor.

EFC Cadet Circuit events are normally the first international events for U17s to experience international federation level. Selected fencers are expected to travel with their parents or as part of a club managed trip to attend these events. BF see these events as vital opportunities for young fencers to have fun, develop as individuals as well as fencers and be allowed to make mistakes (and lose) in a personalised supported environment. There are sometimes team events (and GBR can often enter more than 1 team) and sometimes BF might have the resources to send a coach to support the teams. The focus is still on encouraging young fencers to learn to work together and developing relationships with team mates.

If a fencer wants to go on to represent GBR at a major championships, these U17 circuit events should not only be seen as opportunities for them to show what they are capable of in terms of results but also develop the individual resilience to self manage and meet the behavioural standards and expectations of an athlete. (more information below).

Importantly:

• Selections for major events are not based on BF rankings they are based on performances and qualification standards.
• Major events are managed GBR squad events and the expectations on athletes, personal coaches and the role of parents are different – more information can be found here.

• ADP – Athlete Development Programme (also known as the ‘GBR Pathway Programme) – ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ZONE
• BF – British Fencing
• BRC – British Ranking Competition
• Cadet – U17 – AGE GROUP DEFINITIONS
• EFC – European Fencing Confederation
• FIE – Federation Internationale d’Escrime
• Junior – U20 – AGE GROUP DEFINITION
• Major Events – European Championships, World Championships
• Sport:80 – the BF membership and events platform
• UKAD – UK Anti-Doping Agency
• WADA – World Anti-Doping Agency

Weekly news – sign up to the weekly news here. All important announcements will be made through the news posts.

Membership – Make sure your fencer has a valid compete level membership on auto renew to ensure that they are eligible for selection.

Your Contact Details – Selection invitations will get sent to the email saved in the fencer’s profile in the BF Sport:80 platform. If you don’t read them regularly and you miss invitations other fencers will get invited and take the selection place. Use an email address you regularly check.

Our Contact Details – We have a number of monitored shared mailboxes to support our members. Knowing which one to use when will help us answer your queries efficiently – CONTACT US – BRITISH FENCING. Please bear in mind that we aren’t a large organisation – around 25 full and part time staff members covering every aspect of the work that we do.

Nationality – All fencers wishing to be selected or entered by British Fencing must hold a Full Great Britain Passport or a British Nationality/Citizenship certificate.

Planning – There are a number of additional resources that are available on the BF website that can be used to support a young fencer’s development. At the minimum if a fencer is looking for international selection they must have an IADP – individual athlete development plan – IADP – INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PLAN . BF strongly recommend that at the start of a child’s representative career parents work with their child’s personal coach to put this in place. Over time as the child gets older and more experienced they should be able to work directly with their personal coach and as they move into seniors (age 21) they should be leading this process.

If you don’t yet have an IADP for your child, at a minimum use the published calendars to plan the season with your child’s coach – COMPETITION CALENDARS FOR GBR SELECTION – BRITISH FENCING. Don’t forget to tell your child’s personal coach if your child is aiming for selection (even if you only decide this mid-season), as they will be able to help you navigate the processes and ensure that they are planning the season around your child’s goals.

• Agree and publish the calendar of domestic U17 British Ranking Competitions (U17/Cadet BRCs) and nominated U17/Cadet international events for the season. This has to wait for the final international calendars to come out (earliest in April for season start in September) – see GBR U20/U17 CALENDAR ADVICE for more info.
• Update (based on annual consultation and subsequent Board approval) Selection Policies and Ranking Policies.
• Administer the rankings according to the approved BF Ranking policy.
• Confirm athlete GBR eligibility (checking full UK Passport or British Citizen certificate) and administrate EFC and FIE license applications.
• Administer selection process according to the BF approved selection policy and in accordance with the GBR Selection timelines for international competitions.
• Allocate GBR referees to EFC Circuit Nominated events – GBR Support will book the referees’ hotel and coordinate their travel arrangements. (Referees should be booking own flights where possible).
• Enter fencers to FIE and EFC events (both individual and teams) once final lists are confirmed and payments made
• Administrate late entries, withdrawals, charges and fines.
• Update the destination travel guides based on athlete/parent feedback
• Designate the official GBR tracksuits (which may vary depending on squad) and make them available for purchase.

Majors Only:

• Run squads to U17 European and World Championships. (see section below) – this includes booking accommodation for the squad.
• Collate ‘in loco parentis’ forms (process may vary due to EFC/FIE guidelines).

• Provide accurate contact details and update on the Sport80 platform
• Ensure that fencers are on an auto-renewing compete level membership (avoids breaks in membership which can lead to selection ineligibility)
• Provide prompt replies (accept or decline) to the selection notice, with immediate payment if accepting the place. Until payment is made in full, a place is not considered accepted and will in most cases be offered automatically to the reserves after the deadline stated in the email.
• Notify BF immediately of any changes, illnesses or injuries.
• Ensuring that the fencer’s sport:80 profile is up to date with any information on disabilities or long term medical information.  If we don’t know about disabilities we can’t make reasonable adjustments.
• Obtain an annual EFC licence for the fencer before the start of the International season (usually around August/September)  – FIE/EFC LICENCES – BRITISH FENCING.
• Arrange personal travel, hotel etc for the fencer (for Cadet EFC Circuit events, not for Euros and Worlds).
• Provide adequate travel insurance for the fencer ensuring that it covers competing in an amateur fencing competition abroad.
• Ensure fencer has a valid passport and visa to travel (if required).
• Provide a medical certificate on request if the fencer has to withdraw at late notice through a medical reason (or pay the relevant fines).
• Ensure that the fencer (and anyone travelling with them) is aware of the BF Codes of Conduct and the EFC Code of Conduct and the importance of complying with them.
• Undertake UKAD mandatory courses and Safeguarding for parents.
• Check all medication in GlobalDRO and take follow up action for any banned medication.
• For EFC Circuit competitions – check the competition reglements – to be found on the EFC website in the competition section under ‘cadet circuit’. Make sure you find out times of the competition, weapon check times, location and format eg number of poules, cut etc.
• Keep up to date with changing event information – bookmark the BF selection notice for each Cadet EFC your fencer is selected for, bookmark the web pages for major events.
• Purchase tracksuit and patches in accordance with the designated rules
• Arrange for yourself (or a guardian/nominated in loco parentis individual) to accompany your child to the event (EFC U17 Circuit events).

• Explain to fencers the requirements for BF Membership and EFC/FIE licences.
• Remind parents and fencers to share information around disability, illness and injuries with BF.
• Encourage prompt responses to selection invitations.
• Ensure that the fencer (and anyone travelling with them eg club coaches) is aware of the BF Codes of Conduct and the EFC Safeguarding Code of Conduct and the importance of complying with them.
• Signpost/remind parents of the UKAD mandatory course and Safeguarding for parents and using GlobalDRO.
• Help parents and fencers navigate the BF & EFC website
• Help explain the kit requirements (more info below)
• Support the fencer and parent to create and manage the fencer’s IADP
• Encourage a healthy approach to nutrition in accordance with BF guidance
• Teach fencers about competition formats, how to read a poule sheet, DE, and navigate the standard websites used by international competition organisers eg Fencing Time Live  and Engarde.
• Teach fencers the rules of the sport, particularly in relation to t.170 (Technical Book).
• Encourage fencers to use competitions as opportunities to develop independence and resilience and work with parents to support this in happening.
• If you are a personal coach looking to attend internationals work with the BF team (eg attending prep camps), ensure all your minimum standards are in place, ensure your fencers have up to date IADPs and complete any accreditation procedures in a timely manner.
• Help support and advise on good warmup, cool-down and recovery practices (if these aren’t done in club properly they won’t be done in competition!)

There are Minimum Age Rules 

For domestic (BF licenced) events – fencers must be at least 11 on 1^st January in order to compete in any UK cadet events in that calendar year.  

For EFC and FIE cadet events fencers must be age 13 or over on the day of the competition.

Fencers are ranked by category (Cadet, Junior, and Senior), weapon (foil, epee, or sabre) and competition gender (Men’s, Women’s).

Rankings are published here. 

Rankings are calculated from ranking points earned in competitions. The number of points earned depends on the strength of the competition and the fencer’s placing.

There are ranking policies that describe how the strength is defined and how the rankings are calculated.

BF POLICIES – RANKING SCHEME 

It is very important that you don’t make assumptions about selection in relation to BF Ranking, specifically in regards to selection for major championships (eg European and Worlds). Please check the selection policy for information – GBR SELECTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES

BF is responsible for selecting athletes to represent Great Britain internationally.

To help do this BF nominate domestic events (British Ranking Competitions “BRCs”) in which athletes can gain British ranking points.

Not all fencing competitions are eligible for ranking points so don’t expect your child’s ranking to change every time they compete!

In some cases BF nominate existing events (eg the Welsh Open, a Senior Open, has historically been selected as a Junior BRC for epee), and in some cases BRCs are organised in collaboration with BF affiliated clubs.

BRCs in the context of GBR selection can be found here: COMPETITION CALENDARS FOR GBR SELECTION 

BRCs in the context of all domestic events can be found here: Events Zone – BRITISH FENCING

To understand more about how and when the calendar is put together see: GBR U20/U17 CALENDAR ADVICE – BRITISH FENCING

EFC Cadet Circuit Events

The European Fencing Confederation has a series of U17s/Cadets events known as the EFC Cadet Circuit Events. These normally start in September and will continue at least until the Cadet European Championships held in February.

These circuit events are individual and team events.

Athletes are required to have an EFC licence to be entered and all entries must go through the athlete’s National Federation, which for British fencers is British Fencing.

There are additional rules that the EFC put in place which restrict the number of athletes/teams that can be entered and the requirement to provide referees or pay fines (based on an EFC published formula). There are also entry deadlines and rules about withdrawals.

BF designate some of these circuit events as ‘nominated’ events in which performances can contribute to selection for Major Events (GBR U20/U17 CALENDAR ADVICE – BRITISH FENCING). There are also some designated as ‘development events’ where squads of athletes are selected and some additional support provided (eg provision of referees) to facilitate athletes taking part.

This means that

• Performances in these competitions will count for selection to the European and World Championships.
• BF will select individuals and teams
• BF will organise referee provision (costs passed onto athletes)

The EFC Circuit events are the competition environments where we expect parents and coaches to support fencers to develop the skills, attributes and independence to be ready to be selected for a major championships. Whilst it is tempting to focus on results to the exclusion of everything else, fencers must be given an opportunity to learn for themselves how to manage a competitions environment (managing nutrition, warm-up etc).

EFC Cadet European Championships

Normally held in February the Cadet European Championships has an individual and team event. Up to 4 athletes can compete in each (individual and team) event and how they are selected are set out in GBR SELECTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES.

For these events, athletes are expected to travel (entry and exit) according to the BF published schedule, which take into account the additional requirements surrounding these events.

FIE Cadet World Championships

There is only an individual event for the Cadet category at the FIE World Championships and there are only 3 places per weapon. Fencers must have an FIE licence to compete at this event.

For these events, athletes are expected to travel (entry and exit) according to the BF published schedule, which take into account the additional requirements surrounding these events.

There are a few U17 EFC Cadet Circuit events that are not designated as nominated or development and are available for direct entry. There are no BF ranking points available for fencers that compete in these events.

However, there will still be entry limits and requirements to provide referees above a certain number of athletes (or pay a fine).

If you want to be entered for a ‘non-nominated’ EFC competition please complete this form GBR INDIVIDUAL ENTRY FORM TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS (smartsheet.com)

BF will let you know if a referee is needed – your club/coach should be able to connect you with referees in the community who might be available and BF can provide referee contact details on request.

Yes, the EFC and FIE set out the rules for minimum equipment standards.  If you aren’t sure whether your kit complies the best place to start is by asking your fencing coach.

FIE AND EFC EQUIPMENT RULES

DOMESTIC VARIATIONS FROM FIE RULES 

INTERNATIONAL FENCING CHECKLIST 

Equipment will normally be checked by some form of weapon control at the event – GBR GUIDE TO WEAPON CHECK

Your safety is our mission! (youtube.com)

INTERNATIONAL FENCING CHECKLIST – BRITISH FENCING

BF publish a series of TRAVEL GUIDEs designed to support people travelling to competitions as the various international circuit events are often held in the same places each year.

We rely on community feedback to keep these up to date. Please email [email protected] if you have any information or suggestions for inclusion.

There are a variety of ways that you can track your individual progress.

You can track your rankings (BF/EFC or FIE) on the various websites.

BF also publish:

• Individual U17 Performance Data
• ATHLETES OR TEAMS MEETING THE QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

The FIE and Ophardt also publish individual athlete biographies – which show head to head results.

You should let us know as soon as you can.

Ongoing issues should be recorded in Sport:80 – and you will be asked for permission to share these with competition organisers. This is very important. There are many hidden disabilities that BF and competitions organisers can put in support mechanisms for – but only if they know!

When your child is selected for a managed squad event (eg Cadet Euros/Worlds) you will be asked to complete a form which will ask you about any injury/illness/disability. We need you to tell us about these so we can help manage and support your child. We appreciate that sometimes parents are worried that informing us of an injury or illness may impact their child’s selection status. However a child’s welfare is paramount and should not be neglected.

If your child is taking any form of medication you must check  https://globaldro.com/Home and apply for TUEs as appropriate. More information here: Anti-Doping – BRITISH FENCING

Both the EFC and FIE have safeguarding frameworks in place which sit alongside the welfare structure in the UK.

It is mandated that all people in positions of authority over athletes representing GBR must undergo safeguarding and anti-doping training.

This means that parents and coaches must undertake training.

Why? We want to ensure we avoid the situations where parents have:

• assumed that if they give their child medication and their child fails a doping test somehow everything will be OK.
• purchased medication in chemists abroad and give it to their child without checking, assuming it is OK
• taken their children to the doctors and not checked prescribed medication against the banned list, assuming it is OK.
• not applied for the necessary TUEs, assuming it will be OK

Testing Process for Minors | UK Anti-Doping (ukad.org.uk)

With regards to safeguarding, the EFC and FIE are working hard to eliminate athlete abuse and harassment. However there will be times that you will witness young athletes being treated in a way that we (BF, EFC, FIE) would consider unacceptable. It is important to understand how everyone can play their part in reporting such instances. In addition there is a risk that parents and coaches might look at how some top performing athletes are being treated in different countries and cultures and this that this might be something to copy or role model.

GBR SELECTIONS – MANDATORY SAFEGUARDING TRAINING

EFC Safeguarding Code of Conduct

FIE Safeguarding

FIE Rules

Rules & statutes | Eurofencing

EFC Rules & Calendar – Website for European Fencing | Eurofencing

One of the most important documents in the world of GBR fencing is the GBR Selection Policy. This is published every season, and changes are consulted on with the community.

The Policy is published here: GBR SELECTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES

The people involved in administering GBR representational activities can be found here: GBR CONTACTS & SELECTION PANELS.

It’s important to understand the process that sits behind selection – there is an assumption that selections are done immediately on the date that the rankings are closed, however the administration is more complicated – GBR SELECTION TIMELINE FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

For coaches and parents new to the selection process we have published some specific GBR Selection Advice and Guidance for Parents and Coaches.

This advice includes: Read selection policies, input into consultations, don’t make assumptions about the calendar, prepare for non selection, don’t make ‘supporter’ travel plans too early, prepare for selection (money and logistical planning), check-in with coaches mid-season, help maintain individual athlete development plans, and what to do (and not to do!) if your child isn’t selected.

No they don’t, but if an athlete is serious about wanting to represent GBR at major events it is strongly advised.

The purpose of the GBR Pathway Programme (previously called the ADP – which stands for Athlete Development Programme) is to support and develop GBR athletes to international success.

Every athlete that is close to being selected for a Cadet or Junior European or World Championships will be invited onto the GBR Pathway Programme.

The GBR Pathway delivers athlete development support and education both in person (through camps) and online (zoom sessions). The GBR Pathway curriculum is designed to accelerate individual and team performance development, build relationships with other athletes and coaches, and support welfare and sport integrity.

Most of the GBR pathway activities are subsidised by Sport England Talent funding, hence why the in-person camps are typically held in England.

Yes, you have to compete at the corresponding National Championships – so if you want to compete at Cadet internationals you need to compete in the Cadet National Championships.

There are some circumstances under which athletes can apply for an exemption.

For information please read GBR Pre-requisites – National Championships.

Yes you can appeal but make sure that you know the circumstances under which an appeal can be made.

Where athletes have failed to meet published qualification standards there are limited circumstances under which they can appeal. More information can be found here: GBR SELECTION APPEALS POLICY 

Please also read GBR Selection Advice and Guidance for Parents and Coaches.

U17 Circuit – Yes, parents are responsible for all aspects of travel and accommodation.

U17 Cadet European and World Championships – No, although the official entry points are in country (either at the airport or hotel) so parents sometimes choose to travel with their children

U20 – No, although the official entry points are in country so parents  of U18s (if selected) sometimes choose to travel with their children.

More information:

GBR PARENTS AT FIE COMPETITIONS

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM A GBR ATHLETE IN COMPETITION

Athletes have responsibilities too, irrespective of age. As athletes get older they are expected to take on more of the administration responsibilities that their parents previously took on, but there are a basic set of responsibilities that all athletes representing GBR internationally are expected to have.

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM A GBR ATHLETE IN COMPETITION 

1. Personal accountability: athletes are expected to be personally accountable for their own behaviour and understand the codes of conduct.  GBR athletes are expected to behave like performance athletes and in doing so act as ambassadors and role models for the sport, inspiring others with their achievements.
2. Kit (weapons and clothing): athletes are expected to turn up with fully functioning kit, compliant with current FIE rules, and understand how to test, diagnose and fix basic weapon issues with tools they have brought themselves. They should also be able to get kitted up by themselves and pack their own fencing bags.
3. Nutrition: athletes are expected to be able to manage their own food and drink intake and have a basic understanding of their personal needs in regards to fuelling and hydrating before, during and after competitions.
4. Warm-up, cool downs and recovery protocols – athletes are expected to have their own protocols that they have developed with the support of their personal coach and practiced at training and in non GBR competitions.
5. Medication: athletes must understand the rules on anti-doping and the concept of Strict Liability. Athletes must also take personal responsibility for taking their own medication (learning to check in the Global DRO portal and TUEs may be required in advance.
6. Competition format: athletes should know how a competition is run. They should be able to read and understand poule sheets and tableaus. They should be confident in navigating the standard websites used by international competition organisers eg Fencing Time Live  and Engarde
7. Independence: athletes should not need a parent (or coach) at the end of the piste to feel OK to fence. It is becoming increasingly common that poules take place in areas where supporters and coaches are not permitted at the end of the piste. Athletes should also be able to focus on the match they fence in without the last question to the coach or thought in their head being ‘Where’s my mum/dad?’.
8. Follow instructions and rules: rules are there for a reason, and being part of a GBR squad, and participating in an international federation event means following the rules (whether these are put in place by BF/EFC/FIE/Local event organisers), respecting authority and adapting behaviour where necessary. This can be anything from respecting accreditation areas, wearing team tracksuits to not drinking alcohol.
9. Understand the rules of fencing: This sounds obvious but far too many athletes are unaware of rules and particularly penalties. This can lead to athletes losing hits and arguing unnecessarily with FIE referees which can have negative consequences for other GBR athletes too. Parents (even if they are themselves internationally qualified referees) should not interfere and argue with referees! The rulebooks are available in English, in PDF and as an app. Athletes on the ADP programme will be encouraged to get basic qualifications in refereeing so they can better understand the rules of the sport.

There are rules and conventions/choices laid out here:

GBR LOGOS, COUNTRY CODE, TRACKSUITS – BRITISH FENCING

Athletes qualifying for major events will be provided with a password for the BF Championship range tracksuits which must be worn for these events.

At EFC and FIE events full GBR tracksuits must be worn on podiums (no shorts, leggings etc).

First of all there is no requirement for a child’s coach to travel to all events.

Reason’s include:

• It is costly – there are plenty of development experiences that a fencer can have without their coach needing to be present.
• It can limit development – young athletes need to learn to make independent decisions and problem solve on the piste and developing an over reliance on a coach at an early age can limit future development.
• It can sometimes distract or put additional stress on athletes which can result in poorer performances.
• Not all coaches will get accreditation for major event, and in some major events coaches will not be permitted near pistes for the poules so an athlete must become accustomed to competing without their personal coach present.

When personal coaches do wish to travel there are mandatory requirements and they may need accreditation (rules set by EFC/FIE). Personal coaches are also expected to be supporting the fencer’s development through managing the IAPD along with the fencer and their parent/guardian.

For EFC Cadet Circuit events, BF typically do not appoint GBR coaches, although there are sometimes GBR coaches appointed to support the team.

For Cadet Euros/Worlds there will be official GBR Coach appointments made . And in some cases personal coaches will be permitted and accredited to attend for individual events.

More information: COACH ACCREDITATION

Personal Coach – Behaviours and Responsibilities

It is the expectation of BF that if a coach wants to support a fencer in a GBR squad that they are prepared to engage/communicate with the BF team throughout the preceding season and follow the processes that we lay out and attend any associated camps for the team. This isn’t just about how they support your child, it’s also about the impact that their presence can have on the other athletes, particularly if the coach themselves requires a lot of guidance and support from the BF team (staff and coaches) which detracts from the resources available to support everyone else.

If you child’s coach is not already engaged with BF (eg attending ADP/GBR camps) during the season and you think you might want them to accompany your child to a major championships please discuss with them as early as possible in the season and encourage them to reach out to us and get involved.

There are not enough accreditations for every child to have their personal coach attend and priority will be given to those athletes targeting medals and those coaches that can demonstrate an ability to be part of the GBR coaching team and are actively managing IADPs for their fencers.

Personal coaches that don’t meet the minimum standards to support international fencers (safeguarding, checks, anti-doping) will not be accredited.

When a GBR Pathway Coach is appointed by BF to support U17 EFC Circuit Team events, they will take responsibility for the following:

• Setting up of a WhatsApp communication group
• Collecting entry money for teams from fencers
• Being a point of contact for the competition organisers
• Allocating coaches across teams
• Coaching and support for the team events
• Making any changes to the team line ups where required
• Support for GB athletes and parents in relation to the team event
• Arranging a team briefing and de brief before and after the team event

They will not be responsible for:

• coaching fencers in the individual event (these coaches will likely have responsibility for their own club athletes on individual event days which will be financially supported by those clubs/athletes in private arrangements)
• any team manager duties such as transfers, accommodation etc

Athletes selected to compete are expected to be ready to independently join a group of other young people – in much the same way that they might have done on a school trip.

Like a school trip, parents will not be able to:

1. Stay in the same accommodation
2. Take their child in and out of the accommodation or away from the group activities
3. Interact with the coaching staff, especially when they are working – like a school trip there will be a designated point of parent contact

A guide on what to expect can be found here.

Some of the administration and activities (camps, sending coaches to events) that supports the U17 and U20 activities is funded by Sport England as part of the Sport England Talent funding.

British Fencing does not have it’s own resources to fund athletes – to do so membership fees for everyone involved in fencing would have to increase considerably. As the NGB we can support athletes with funding applications and signpost athletes to opportunities that they can apply for:

ATHLETE FUNDING & SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES – BRITISH FENCING

Are there any international GBR Camps?

Occasionally the GBR Pathway may recommend certain international camps, but typically clubs will be involved in taking groups of their fencers to identified camps – INTERNATIONAL FENCING CAMPS ADVICE AND GUIDANCE