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Competition Eligibility Policy

Fencing Victoria Competition Eligibility Policy

Required Membership Category

Victorian fencers must be affiliated with Fencing Victoria in order to compete in Fencing Victoria events. The affiliation required depends on the Category of the event.

  • Category 1 events require Full Junior or Full Senior affiliation;
  • Category 2 events require Club/School affiliation.

If a fencer has Full Junior or Full Senior affiliation, they are also able to participate in Category 2 events.

Members of Fencing Victoria who wish to compete in Fencing Victoria events must complete the Fencing Victoria internet-based entry process. An exemption to this requirement can be made by prior arrangement or by the payment of a late entry fee on the day of the event.

Category 1 & Category 2 Events

The following events are Category 1 events, requiring Full Junior or Full Senior affiliation:

  • Open
  • Under 20
  • Under 17
  • Under 15

The following events are Category 2 events, requiring Club/School affiliation:

  • Under 14
  • Under 13
  • Under 12
  • Under 11
  • Under 10
  • Under 9
  • Under 8
  • Veteran
  • Schools’ League
  • University Intervarsity
  • Novice Senior
  • Novice Junior
  • B-Grade Senior
  • B-Grade Junior
  • State Teams

In addition to membership requirements, there are further restrictions on entering all Fencing Victoria events. These include the age, experience, and capability of fencers. The requirements for each individual competition category are set out below.

Age Group Competitions

Eligibility to enter Age Group Competitions is determined based on the fencer’s age on 1 January of the relevant year. There are minimum ages and maximum ages for all categories of age group event. The minimum and maximum ages for 2024 events are outlined in the below table:

Age GroupMinimum AgeMaximum Age
Under 86 (born on or before 1 January 2018)8 (born on or after 1 January 2016)
Under 96 (born on or before 1 January 2018)9 (born on or after 1 January 2015)
Under 106 (born on or before 1 January 2018)10 (born on or after 1 January 2014)
Under 116 (born on or before 1 January 2018)11 (born on or after 1 January 2013)
Under 127 (born on or before 1 January 2017)12 (born on or after 1 January 2012)
Under 137 (born on or before 1 January 2017)13 (born on or after 1 January 2011)
Under 149 (born on or before 1 January 2015)14 (born on or after 1 January 2010)
Under 159 (born on or before 1 January 2015)15 (born on or after 1 January 2009)
Under 1711 (born on or before 1 January 2013)17 (born on or after 1 January 2007)
Under 2013 (born on or before 1 January 2011)20 (born on or after 1 January 2004)
Open13 (born on or before 1 January 2009)None

As outlined above, the minimum age to participate in any Fencing Victoria event is 6 years’ old as of 1 January 2024.

Special exemptions may be granted by the Australian Fencing Federation to enable fencers younger than the above minimum ages to participate in National Events of relevant Age Group Categories. Where this has occurred, Fencing Victoria will also enable these fencers to enter Fencing Victoria Events of the same Age Group Category as the National Event in which they have participated. This requires the special permission of the Fencing Victoria Selections and Eligibility Committee. Please contact vicepresident@fencingvictoria.org to apply for special permission.

Veterans’ Competitions

Eligibility to enter Veterans’ Competitions is determined based on the fencer’s age on 31 December of the relevant year. As such, fencers born on or prior to 31 December 1983 are eligible to fence in Veteran events in 2024.

Schools’ League Epee Competitions

Eligibility to enter Schools’ League Epee Competitions is determined based on the year level the fencer. Home-schooled students are eligible to compete as their year level equivalent. The year levels for 2024 events are as follows:

  • Junior Secondary events are open to fencers between Years 5 and 9;
  • Senior Secondary events are open to fencers between Years 8 and 12.

Fencers not currently enrolled in Secondary School are ineligible to compete, even if they otherwise meet age requirements.

Fencers will compete representing their current school, rather than their club.

Intervarsity Competitions

Eligibility to enter Intervarsity Competitions is determined based on whether fencers are current Undergraduate, Certificate, or Postgraduate students. Short Course students are not eligible to participate. There are no age restrictions on these events.

Fencers will compete representing their current University, rather than their club.

Novice Competitions

Eligibility to enter Novice Competitions is determined based on a series of factors. To be eligible for a Novice Competition, a fencer must EITHER:

  • Have been a member for less than 2 full calendar years (for 2024, that means fencers who first registered as members of Fencing Victoria in 2022 onwards are eligible); OR
  • Be an Under 13 fencer (born on or after 1 January 2011).

Additionally, fencers who would otherwise be eligible to participate in Novice Competitions may be excluded if they meet ANY of the below criteria:

  • Have fenced in any competitions organized by the Australian Fencing Federation (including AYC events); OR
  • Have finished in the top 50% of any Open Competition organised by Fencing Victoria with at least 16 participants; OR
  • Have finished first in the State Novice Championships or the State Novice Rankings for any previous calendar years.

Finally, to facilitate more even competitions, Novice Competitions are separated into Novice Junior and Novice Senior events. Eligibility to enter these events is determined based on age, and is outlined in the below table:

Age GroupMinimum AgeMaximum Age
Novice Junior9 (born on or before 1 January 2015)15 (born on or after 1 January 2009)
Novice Senior13 (born on or before 1 January 2009)None

Please note, for 2024, Novice Junior has been shifted down from an Under 16 to an Under 15 event to bring it in line with other Fencing Victoria Competitions.

Where there are insufficient Novice Junior entries, fencers will be offered the opportunity to compete in the B-Grade Junior event instead.

Where there are insufficient Novice Senior entries, fencers will be offered to opportunity to compete in the B-Grade Senior event instead.

B-Grade Competitions

Eligibility to enter B-Grade Competitions is determined on an exclusionary basis. All Fencing Victoria members are eligible to enter B-Grade Competitions, UNLESS the fencer meets the below criterion:

  • Have achieved a Top 8 result in an Individual Australian Fencing Federation Open Competition in the past 3 years, with at least 16 participants, in the weapon of the B-Grade Event.

Eligibility for B-Grade Competitions is assessed in each weapon individually. A fencer may not be eligible in their primary weapon, but eligible in a secondary weapon.

As above, to facilitate more even competitions, B-Grade Competitions are separated into B-Grade Junior and B-Grade Senior events. Eligibility to enter these events is determined based on age, and is outlined in the below table:

Age GroupMinimum AgeMaximum Age
B-Grade Junior9 (born on or before 1 January 2015)15 (born on or after 1 January 2009)
B-Grade Senior13 (born on or before 1 January 2009)None

Please note, for 2024, B-Grade Junior has been shifted down from an Under 16 to an Under 15 event to bring it in line with other Fencing Victoria Competitions.

a copy of this file can be downloaded below.

FV-Competition-Eligibility-Policy-2024Download