Cobra Beginner Youth Challenge (Y8-Y10-Y12)

COBRA BEGINNER (NOVICE) CHALLENGE and PARENT INFORMATION SESSION April 30, 2017 Cobra Fencing Club; Jersey City, NJ 9 am - Parent information session and introduction to tournament procedures and competitions. Our experienced tournament staff will conduct the session and answer all of your questions. 10 am - Competition begins (Fencers may only compete in one event; medals will be awarded to top 4 finishers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd). ================================================================================================================================================================== This tournament will be a learning experience for novice fencers with no more than 3 results entered into FRED. Fencers with more than 3 FRED results must be approved by the Bout Committee to enter. Events with less than 6 fencers will be gender-mixed. QUESTIONS ??: Read the "More Info" section before e-mailing with questions. COMMUNICATIONS: Important tournament information will be communicated through the FRED e-mail system. Take time to verify that your FRED profile contains an up-to-date e-mail address (Log in and check MyFRED). Live tournament seeding and results (during competition): http://www.cobrafencing.com/results ================================================================================================================================================================== ===================================== TOURNAMENT ENTRY ==================================== This tournament is only open to novice (beginner) Y8, Y10, and Y12 fencers with no more than 3 tournament results posted on FRED. Events with less than 6 fencers will be mixed-gender. Must meet 2016-17 USA Fencing Birth Year Requirements: Y8 = 2008-2010 Y10 = 2006-2009 Y12 = 2004-2007 ....Current USFA competitive membership required. New memberships purchased after April 1 are good thru July 31, 2018. Present your USFA card at check-in. To join USA Fencing visit: https://member.usfencing.org/signup. Membership cards can be printed. ....Must register through FRED (e-mail us if you have any problems creating your FRED profile) ....Payment is required to complete registration (e-mail us to request an alternative payment method (other than through FRED) Please arrive on-time for the 9 a.m. Parent/fencer information session. The session will be held before we begin the competition. We will introduce and guide parents and fencers through the tournament and competition experience. Our bout committee will also be available throughout the day to answer any questions you have. ===================================== REGISTRATION AND EVENT FEES ==================================== Payment is required via FRED. If you prefer to make an alternate payment arrangement (other than through FRED) you MUST e-mail the organizer prior to April 24 for payment instructions). REGULAR entry/payment period (until April 24): $45 LATE entry/payment period (April 25-28): $90 WALK-IN (April 29-30): $150 REFUND POLICY Full refund if notified before April 16 50% refund if notified April 17-24 No refunds if notified April 25-30 - NO exceptions To submit refund request: Notify Steve Kaplan at steve@cobrafencing.com and include a mailing address. On tournament day, fencers who fail to check-in at the registration desk before the posted close of check-in time will be withdrawn from the competition, and no there will be no refund of entry fees. ===================================== SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ==================================== 9 a.m. Parent information session 10 a.m. Competition begins Medals awarded to Top 3 in all events (two third place medals) LIABILITY WAIVER - Upon entering this tournament you agree to abide by the current rules of USA Fencing and other applicable rules. You acknowledge you are entering this tournament at your own risk and release the USA Fencing and its sponsors, New Jersey Division of USA Fencing, Cobra Fencing Club, tournament staff, and referees from any liability. Cobra Fencing Club is not responsible for any lost or stolen property. ===================================== VENUE ==================================== Lakawanna Warehouse 629 Grove Street, 4th Floor Jersey, City NJ FREE Wi-Fi FREE Parking - Note Important Parking Information below PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: From Manhattan by train: PATH train from Manhattan to Hoboken. The walk would be about 20 minutes. Taxis available in Hoboken (appx 4 minute ride to Cobra). Have the cab take Observer Highway West and turn left on Grove St. The Lackawanna Warehouse is on the right-hand side between 18th and 16th St. IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION: To avoid possibility of your car being TOWED, please follow these parking instructions: There are 3 specified parking locations.* 1. The parking lot directly across the street. This lot always fills up first. If you park in this lot make sure you are not blocking anyone else from leaving. 2. You can park nose in to the cyclone fence between Grove St. and Marin Blvd on 16th Street. However, DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE SLIDING GATE which is in operation during the weekend and is clearly marked. Any car parking there will be TOWED. 3. When the above spaces are full, drop your fencer off at the building entrance so that they can go up and check themselves in. Proceed north on Grove Street to the light at 18th Street turn left and go one long block to Jersey Ave. Turn left at the light and make an immediate left into the parking lot directly across the street from the Cast Iron Lofts. You must then walk back to the entrance at 629 Grove Street. *IMPORTANT NOTE- the small parking lot at the southwest corner of Grove and 18th St is no longer available for Cobra Events. Do not park in this lot even if there are empty spaces. ===================================== TOURNAMENT FORMAT/RULES ==================================== • USA Fencing rules apply. http://www.usfencing.org/athletes-usa-fencing-rule-book • Must have at least two working weapons and two body cords when reporting to the strip. • Full USA Fencing regulation uniform required. Name is NOT required on uniform. Foil mask with conductive bib required. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT Fencers arm, equip and clothe themselves and fence at their own responsibility and at their own risk. • Uniforms (jacket, pants, knee-high socks, fencing glove): Standard fencing uniforms; cannot have any rips, tear, or holes. Warm-up pants or jeans are not allowed. Fencing glove must cover half of the forearm. 800N Saber Glove is mandatory. • Plastrons (underarm protectors): Standard fencing plastron; required with every uniform • Chest Protector: Required for females • Masks: 12K punch test; sewn in bib. Conductive Bib in foil is required. Elastic strap at back of mask is required • Blades: The maximum blade length permitted for Y8 and Y10 competitions is 32 inches. For Y12 standard blade length of 30-35” permitted. • Format for all events is one round of pools with 100% promoted to a direct elimination (DE) tableau. • Events with less than 6 fencers will be gender-mixed. Pools: All events will use pools of six or seven whenever possible, followed by 100% promoted to a DE (direct elimination) tableau. There is no fence-off for third place. One preliminary round of pools is comprised of the standard 5-touch bout in 3 minutes. 100% then advance to DE round. DE tableau shall be comprised according to the results of the preliminary pool round. Fencers are seeded by their results in the pool round wherein the results of fencers in all the pools are ordered by best results to poorest results: highest ratio of victories vs. bouts fenced, touches scored vs. touches received. Y8/Y10 DE format: 10-touch bouts (two 3-minuteperiods with a 1 minute break between). The first period ends either at the expiration of three minutes or when 5 hits are scored, whichever comes first. During the 1-minute break, ONE PERSON designated by the fencer (team-mate, coach, or parent) may be on the strip with the fencer. Y12 DE format: 15-touch bouts (three 3-minute periods with a 1 minute break between) During the 1-minute break, ONE PERSON designated by the fencer (team-mate, coach, or parent) may be on the strip with the fencer. • Seeding for pool round is random, but with separation of Club members and siblings as much as possible. Fencers are responsible for ensuring accuracy of all posted information and must report errors to the bout committee (BC) immediately. This includes club affiliation, division, classification, date of birth, gender, spelling of name, etc. Errors in posted pool results must be reported to the BC immediately (within 5 minutes). Once DE round starts and tableau is posted, the pool results are final and no adjustments will be made. Check all scores before leaving the strip. Fencer signature on pool sheet and DE slip implies accuracy. • Medals awarded to 3rd place (two third place medals). • Photography and filming is allowed, however NO flash photography is allowed near ongoing competitions. Withdrawal during tournament: • Withdrawal during pools: The pools must be fenced through the last bout. A fencer who withdraws, or who is excluded, is scratched from the pool, and his results are annulled as if he had not taken part. • Withdrawal during DE: When for whatever reason a fencer cannot fence or cannot complete his bout, his opponent is declared winner of that bout. A fencer who withdraws does not lose his place in the overall classification of the competition. SPECTATORS: Everybody taking part in or present at a fencing competition must remain orderly and must not disturb the smooth running of the competition. At no time is anyone allowed to criticize the Officials or their decisions, to insult them or to attempt to influence them in any way. Coaches and spectators are allowed to give advice to fencers, but in all situations, coaches and spectators must not disturb the order of the bout. The referee and/or the Bout Committee can decide to expel from the competition venue, with or without warning, any person who by gesture, attitude or language disturbs the good order or smooth running of the tournament. ==================================== TOURNAMENT PREPARATION GUIDES ==================================== These guides have been prepared to help you with understanding fencing and tournaments. Consult with your coach. Parents Guide to Fencing (courtesy of Fencing.net): http://fencing.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c06b72d48f8753ea260aac82d&id=a866c719a7 USA Fencing Parent Guidebook: http://www.usfencing.org/fencing-for-parents The USFA Athlete Handbook (http://www.usfencing.org/athlete-handbook) USA Fencing Rule Book (http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/695208-rulebook)