NEW WEST RYC Region 6

The first RYC of the Season! All USA Fencing rules and tournament regulations shall be followed, particularly those regarding age group eligibility, classification restrictions, attire and membership. Earn your qualifications for national events before school starts! NEW WEST RYC Region 6 tournament is USFA sanctioned and organized by the Maryland Division and hosted by Baltimore Fencing Center. The RYC provides competitive opportunities for youth fencers seeking to begin the transition from competing principally in local and regional competitions to competing at the national level by earning regional ranking points towards qualification. OPEN to domestic and foreign fencers who are age eligible. ARMORERS will be onsite for equipment control. REFEREES will be USA Fencing rated and Safe Sport certified. BLUE GAUNTLET will be on site to sell equipment. TRAINER/EMS personnel will be present. Athlete-friendly CONCESSION will be available. PROPRINTWEAR is the “Official Merchandiser” of the 2015 New West RYC and will offer Tournament T-Shirts for sale with the Athletes’ Names printed on the back. Proprintwear offers the World’s largest selection of fencing related merchandise. Please visit them at www.proprintwear.com Ample free parking is available. Venue is air conditioned with up to 10 strips, including grounded. Locker room and showers are available. Information about equipment and repairs, t-shirts, and other details will be updated when available, and sent to registered competitors by email as well. NEW WEST RYC REGION 6 is one of the possible qualification paths for Youth 10 and Youth 12 events at both the March NAC (North American Cup) and the Y10, Y12, and Y14 USA Fencing National Championships for the 2015-2016 USA Fencing season. Y10 and Y12 fencers must participate in at least one RYC or SYC tournament prior to the regular registration deadline for the March/April Youth NAC in order to be considered eligible to compete. See: http://www.usfencing.org/rycresources . TOURNAMENT COMMUNICATION; Urgent and important information will be communicated through FRED email system. It is the fencer’s responsibility to verify that the FRED profile contains correct e-mail address. REGISTRATION Tournament fees are $30 registration fee, and $25 per event. The first six (6) registered and paid fencers in all events will be given a promotional gift! Pre-registration starts now. Preregistration opens on 06/15/2015. Regular fee preregistration closes at midnight on 08/05/2015. Late registration entry fees ($30 registration fee and $75 per event). Registration is not complete until your full payment is made (through ASKFred only) * IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED AND WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE OR ADD AN EVENT AFTER THE DEADLINE THIS CANNOT BE DONE THROUGH ASKFred. CONTACT infor@maryland-fencing.org TO MAKE CHANGES* If your registration is rejected on ASKFred for age and you are on the NRP list for the next lower age group, email info@maryland-fencing.org for assistance in processing your entry. REFUND POLICY No-shows are not entitled to refunds. Registration fee and any ASKFred surcharges are non-refundable. The last day to request a refund of entry fees is August 1, 2015. Submit all refund requests to info@maryland-fencing.org . Please be sure to include your preferred mailing address. Refunds will be processed within FOUR weeks after the tournament. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: IN ORDER TO COMPETE THE FENCER MUST CHECK IN AT THE BOUT COMMITTEE DESK BEFORE THE LISTED DEADLINE WITH THE FOLLOWING IN HAND: 1) Valid, current membership card AND 2) A fully completed WAIVER FORM that has been signed by a parent or legal guardian AND 3) Government issued identification showing a date of birth UNLESS THE MEMBERSHIP CARD INDICATES THE BIRTH YEAR IS VALIDATED. To help us speed up registration, please download the waiver form, print it, read it, sign it and bring it with you. No fencer will be allowed to fence without a signed waiver form. USFA PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP is required. Current membership and good standing is required and MUST BE SHOWN at registration. Fencers are required to be present at registration. Domestic fencers must hold a current USFA membership and be in good standing. Foreign fencers must hold ONE of the following: Proof of current season USFA Membership, or Current FIE license, OR Current federation membership. We suggest current memberships be processed prior to the event. NOTE: THIS EVENT IS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE 2015 2016 SEASON. Be sure that your membership is current. If you join the USFA at the venue, and are not listed on their official list, YOU WILL COMPETE AS AN “UNRATED” FENCER TO AVOID THE RISK OF INVALIDATING YOUR EVENT. Fencers arriving without proof of valid USFA or other fencing federation membership MUST complete all appropriate forms and pay for USFA membership at the registration desk. If the current membership is subsequently verified, the USFA membership fees shall be returned. Fencers may join/renew at the door (parent signature required). We request that you arrive with a completed form and plan to come early to complete the required paperwork. Please have a separate check payable to “US Fencing” for on-site registration. AGE VERIFICATION USA Fencing requires age verification for ALL participants (domestic and foreign). Please bring ONE of the following: A government issued photo ID with date of birth included OR A COPY of birth certificate, OR Passport. This is not required if birth year has been verified by USFA and your permanent or temporary USFA card indicates: “Birth Year Verified – Y” NOTE: BIRTH YEAR ELIGIBILITY for events is determined by the 2015-2016 age eligibility schedule, NOT your age at the time of the event. Youth 10 event 2005-2008 Youth 12 event 2003-2006 or on Youth 10 NRP List Youth 14 event 2001-2004 or on Youth 12 NRP List We suggest PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, that if the membership card does not indicate “Birth Year Verified –Y” that you submit a copy of the fencer’s birth certificate or passport to the USA Fencing National Office via mail, email INFORMATION@USFENCING.ORG or FAX, in a timely manner so they may verify the Date of Birth (DOB) and provide an updated membership card. WAIVER OF LIABILITY: A completed waiver form signed by a parent or legal guardian is required. To help speed up the registration process, please DOWNLOAD the waiver form, print it, read it, sign it, and bring it to the table with you. This is extremely important if the fencer does not have a parent/guardian at check in. NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO FENCE WITHOUT A SIGNED WAIVER/Acknowledgement FORM. Click “Download Waiver”. PHOTOGRAPHY, FILMING, RECORDING or any other form of media of the athletes during the tournament can be used by the organizer (BFC and Maryland Division) and the USFA. Reference waiver form to opt out of this authorization. TOURNAMENT FORMAT The format for NEW WEST RYC Region 6 events is one round of pools with 100% of the fencers promoted to a direct elimination table. Details can be found in the Rulebook and Athlete Handbook at http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/695205-manuals On-line tournament results: Live real-time posting of seeding, pool and strip assignments and results. Live tournament feed: http:// .com. (On Smartphones with BFC free Wi-Fi ). Note: prior to tournament any posted seeding is preliminary and NOT official. POINTS, RATINGS AND SEEDING Seeding is based on current national rolling point standings according to age group and weapon, then letter rankings, then by classification year. Fencers with equal classification will be randomized among themselves. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0059/5402/Regional_Recognition_Initiative_Information_Document_2015-2016_-3.9.15.pdf RYC will ONLY use ratings and points standings that have been forwarded to and accepted by USFA in advance of the tournament and then downloaded by organizers from USFA. This information will be downloaded on Wednesday, August 12, 2015. Check your current points at http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/695476-current-point-standings. Fencers should verify their ratings prior to the event. Any discrepancies must be resolved with the USA Fencing. Only an official e-mail response from USA Fencing will override the ratings/points published on the USFA website. It is the fencer’s responsibility to notify the bout committee of any discrepancies before the close of check-in and before pools are posted. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND INSPECTIONS SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT POLICY RYC events are run in accordance with USFA rules and formats. Full fencing uniform is mandatory, including mask, jacket, plastron, fencing knickers, knee length socks and glove. Additionally, chest protectors are required for girls. All USFA uniform requirements apply. Conductive bibs are required for foil fencers. Each fencer is required to have two working electric weapons, and two working body cords. Foil and saber fencers need two working mask cords and saber fencers must have over-glove conductive sleeves. ALL Y10 fencers will be required to use size “0” or size “2” blades (less than 32.5 inches long). Blades labeled as “0” or “2” but are longer than 32.5 inches are not permitted. Names on uniforms are not required for RYC tournaments. EQUIPMENT CHECKS During the initial equipment inspection at check in, lames, masks, gloves, saber overgloves, body and mask cords, as well as any French grip weapons will be tested and marked (Stamp on mask, colored tape or other mark on cords) to show they pass inspection. Masks that do not pass the 12 kg punch test will be impounded or given a visible mark to signify that the mask is NOT APPROVED FOR USE. Equipment (using weights and shims) and uniforms will be inspected upon reporting to the strip for the pool round and each direct elimination bout to ensure the presence of underarm plastron, second weapon and cords, and weapon control marks. Failure to appear when called and with approved regulation equipment will subject fencer to penalties as defined by USFA rules and regulations. Note that vendors and armorers may be available to repair equipment for a fee per basis if time permits; but it is the ultimate responsibility of the fencer to have all necessary equipment in working order. Parents and fencers should expect significant lines for equipment checks on Saturday and Sunday. Please plan accordingly. Equipment may be check on Friday evening anytime after 2:00 p.m. EVENTS SCHEDULED Single gender events may be combined if there are insufficient fencers within an age category. There must be FEWER THAN 5 ENTRIES IN ONE GENDER for the event to be combined. Fencers may only compete in one event per day (extraordinary exceptions require Bout Committee approval.) FRIDAY August 14, 2015 (Fri @ 3 pm) Y10 Women's Epee (Fri @ 3 pm) Y10 Men's Epee (Fri @ 5 pm) Y12 Women's Saber (Fri @ 5 pm) Y12 Men's Saber SATURDAY August 15, 2015 (Sat @ 9 am) Y12 Men's Foil (Sat @ 11 am) Y12 Women's Foil (Sat @ 12 pm) Y14 Women's Epee (Sat @ 1 pm) Y14 Men's Epee SUNDAY August 16, 2015 (Sun @ 9 am) Y12 Men's Epee (Sun @ 9 am) Y14 Women's Foil (Sun @ 11 am) Y10 Women's Foil (Sun @ 11 am) Y10 Men's Foil (Sun @ 1 pm) Y12 Women's Epee (Sun @ 1 pm) Y14 Men's Foil (Sun @ 2 pm) Y10 Women's Saber (Sun @ 2 pm) Y10 Men's Saber (Sun @ 2pm) Y14 Women's Saber (Sun @ 2 pm) Y14 Men's Saber Event schedule times may be changed depending on entries. Rely on email communication. If there are six or fewer fencers in a gender specific competition and there is an opposite gender-specific competition in the same weapon on that day the two may be combined for one mixed competition. For competitions that have more than six fencers in each gender specific competition, the competitions shall remain separate. NOTE THAT ALL TIMES POSTED REPRESENT THE CLOSE OF CHECK-IN for the event. If all fencers for an event have checked in early, that event may start early (given availability of strips, referees, and readiness of the fencers to begin.) Fencing usually commences approximately 20 minutes after the close of check in. Start times are subject to change- check ASKFred for details. It is recommended that fencers arrive at least one hour prior to close of check-in times. This should provide sufficient time to register and have equipment checked and be properly warmed up. If all fencers for an event have checked in early, the event may start early depending on the availability of strips, referees, and readiness of the fencers to begin. BALTIMORE FENCING CENTER New West Learning Center doors open at 8:00 a.m. or one hour prior to close of registration. Fencers must check in each day they compete within the indicated hours of check-in. Fencers who fail to check in before the published close of check in time will be removed from the event, and there will be NO entry fee refunds issued. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Awards There will be separate awards for the top 8 places if an event has 8+ fencers. If an age event is combined because there are fewer than 5 entries of one gender, medals will be awarded without distinction based upon the gender of any fencer- only the final placement in the event. Come prepared with bio information including your top three best fencing results and information for your local newspaper(s). Awards ceremonies will follow the National format. All award winners report to the awards presentation area immediately after the gold medal final bout for the event, wearing club uniform (warm ups) or fencing whites. (No shorts, flip flops, spandex, hats are permitted.) Please use your best judgment as you represent your club and are showing respect to the sport and participants. Regional recognition: All region 6 athletes shall earn Regional Points based on placement. Larger fields will award more points for placement. Please consult the Regional Recognition Initiative document at http://www.usfencing.org/rycresources for details. Sanctioned RYC tournaments serve as a qualifying path for Youth North American Cup and Summer National Championships. Please refer to the Athlete’s Handbook for information on Youth Qualifying paths. http://www.usfencing.org/athletehandbook . Classification changes will be awarded according to USFA rules. In applicable age groups, the competition must meet or exceed criteria in Group C1 or higher to award changes in classification based on final results. Please refer to the USFA classification chart for more information. MISCELLANEOUS: Nearest airport: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport BWI (approximately 10 miles away from venue). Nearby Hotels: Hampton Inn Columbia Sonesta ES Suites Columbia MD Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia/South FENCING BAG STORAGE Fencing bags will not be allowed on the fencing floor. Please store fencing bags in the designated Bag Storage Area. The venue is not responsible for theft or damage to unattended equipment. CONDUCT POLICY Zero tolerance for poor conduct. This applies to every person in the venue. Staff members and volunteers deserve respect and appreciation. USFA rules and penalties shall apply and be strictly enforced. PHOTOGRAPHY Spectators are encouraged to capture the fencing moment; however, spectator seating in the salle space is limited, so please be sensitive to the needs of the fencers. NO FLASH photography is permitted near ongoing competitions. USFA RESOURCES: We recognize that there are many new fencers and parents at this event. We recommend you review the following guides prior to the tournament. They will provide a general understanding as to what to expect at a tournament. Guides are a courtesy of USFA and fencing.net. Beginner’s Tournament Guide (courtesy of fencing.net) http://www.fencing.net/forums/thread44882.html Parent’s Guide to Fencing (courtesy of fencing.net) http://www.fencing.net/forums/thread38526.html USA Fencing Parent Guidebook http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0034/6319/USA_Fencing_Parent_Guidebook.pdf LOCAL ATTRACTIONS For those who are coming in from out of town, the area offers many activities that may be of interest to visiting fencers and their families. Restaurants and fast food franchises are plentiful and varied. http://bfc.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=170948&module_id=187183 CONTACT If you have concerns or questions, please contact the RYC Organizers at info@maryland-fencing.org .