Virginia Division 2021 DIV II/III SN Qualifiers

PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM There is a lot of content here and understand in advance that we intend to provide the safest environment for our fencers, parents, coaches and officials. Failure to adhere to the requirements of this tournament may result in you/your fencer not being able to participate. IMPORTANT: It is NOT a requirement to compete in our Division Qualifier to possibly compete in the DIV II/III National Championships this July in Philadelphia. The National Offices will provide anyone who wishes to compete in the Junior Olympics a free waiver to apply to participate if you are uncomfortable competing in the division qualifier because of COVID19 Safety concerns. (Form not available yet) You would be placed in the lottery system however, so we cannot guarantee acceptance, but there this opportunity for those who wish to go this route. We are holding this event because the Commonwealth of Virginia's Phase III Guidelines allow for it. In addition to the Guidelines, we you to adhere to the following criteria to participate in either the JO or DIV II/III VA Division qualifier events: -If already qualified via other means, we ask that you please do NOT attend, including auto-qualification by attending regional or national events. Auto Qualification paths are listed on the USA Fencing website. -Each registrant is limited to 1 spectator (e.g. parent OR coach). -Every fencer, parent, coach, referee and tournament official MUST provide tournament officials at the door a negative COVID-19 test completed no more than 3 days prior to the event date OR provide proof of full vaccination completed prior to the tournament date. Entry will be denied for any participant who shows up without either. Testing locations in VA: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/ -The VA Division of USA Fencing has partnered with Inspire Diagnostics to offer attendees, coaches, parents a no cost no cost take home covid test from Inspire Diagnostics. This is the same company who provided tests for attendees of the April (and May up coming) NAC's. If you have not been vaccinated, and do not have access to a test, please click https://inspirediagnostics.com/usa-fencing-va-div/. and a kit will be mailed to you for those who need one - today. The test will be mailed to you free of charge. Follow the instructions, including the 72 hour timeframe for a negative test result, and bring the test result email with you to the venue if negative. •Upon arrival, all spectators and participants will submit to a temperature check, prior to entry. •Face coverings are always mandatory, including while fencing. •Face coverings must be multi-layer: athletic or sports masks, multi-layer cloth masks, N-95 or KN-95 masks, surgical masks. No single layer or gaiter masks. No Leon Paul face-covering fencing masks as a sole face-covering. •Masks must be worn appropriately, always covering mouth and nose. Non-compliance will result in a Group 3 Red Card (for disturbing order on the strip). A second violation will result in a Black Card and immediate dismissal from the tournament/venue. This applies to all spectators and participants. •Social Distancing of 6’ is mandatory unless the person is a family member. Non-compliance will result in a Group 3 Red Card (for disturbing order on the strip). A second violation will result in a Black Card and immediate dismissal from the tournament/venue. This applies to all spectators and participants. •Yelling will result in a Group 3 Red Card (for disturbing order on the strip). A second violation will result in a Black Card and immediate dismissal from the tournament/venue. This applies to all spectators and participants. •No shaking hands. Upon completion of the bout, please salute your opponent and referee. You may follow up with an elbow bump, fist bump or a respectful bow if you wish. •Water fountains are not available – please make sure you have plenty of fluids available with you. Water and Sports Drinks will be available for sale. If you need to hydrate, please either step outside or maintain the appropriate 6’ social distancing. •Hosts will place hand sanitizing stations throughout the facility. •Hosts will constantly disinfect bathrooms and common areas. •Hosts will provide maximum possible ventilation at the facility; this may include opening access doors and/or overhead doors or windows. •No loaner equipment will be available under any circumstances. Facilities will have limited equipment for sale prior to and during all events. •Please test equipment prior to the tournament: make sure you have at minimum 2 working weapons, 2 working body/mask cords, functional safe mask, knickers, plastron, chest protector (if applicable), jacket, lame. •Please come as fully dressed as you can to the tournament: knickers, etc. •Only 2 people per changing room in Richmond FC, 2 people per restroom in Nova FC. •Please follow the Bout Committee or Referee guidance. *********************************************************************************** This is the 2021 VA Division qualifier event to the 2021 USA Fencing Div II / III National Championships to be held this year during Summer Nationals (7/3 - 7/12) in Philadelphia, PA. You must complete your registration AND pre-pay all entry fees by Sunday 5/16/21 at midnight. Sorry, no exceptions will be made after 5/16. ALL EVENTS IN THE AM ARE SCHEDULED FOR 8AM. THE FINAL EVENT SCHEDULE/STARTING TIMES WILL BE DETERMINED ON 5/17, AFTER THE EVENT CLOSES ON 5/16. (Depending on registration numbers, we will run these events in either two time frames (9AM/1PM) or three (8:30AM/12:30PM/4:30PM) Saturday May 22 Events Scheduled: C & Under Women's Epee C & Under Women's Foil C & Under Women's Saber C & Under Men's Epee C & Under Men's Foil C & Under Men's Saber Virginia Division Members Only!!! A member can declare a Division affiliation based on his or her residence, location of the school that member is attending or location of club that the member will represent in USA Fencing competitions. Each year a member must declare the Division affiliation for that membership year. That Division is then the one from which the fencer must qualify to the USA Fencing National Championships and the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships. Fencers under 13 can compete in the Cadet event if they are on the NRPS for Y-14. Number of Qualifiers for Junior Olympic Fencing Championships and USA Fencing National Championships from Division Qualifying Competitions (25% rule) # Competitors 1 2 3 -12 13-16 17-20 21-24 25-28 # Qualifiers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [BOD, October 2003] Important note: Fencers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Any fencer who is a citizen or permanent resident, who has also represented another country in the last three years, in any FIE (Senior or Junior) and/or Union International de Pentathlon Monderne (UIPM) event, and who has not yet been granted permission to represent the USA by USA Fencing and the FIE is not eligible for any USA Fencing National Championship competition, individual or team, including division qualifying competitions. A foreign fencer who is in the United States on a visa is NOT eligible to fence in any National Championships, individual or team, or associated division qualifying competitions. If an athlete has a Green Card, a copy of this card should be brought to the event as part of check in. Finally, registration for this tournament automatically grants consent to the above statements from the Virginia Division of USA Fencing, LLC, without recourse or question. Preregistration opens on 04/18/2021 Preregistration closes on 05/16/2021.