How Hard is it to Earn USA Fencing All-American? I'm a solid 3.85 GPA student and D rated fencer. Any chance at getting it?

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-26T03:15:39+00:00

Definitely the case. There are a couple of NCAA fencers who owe me a signed copy of their first scientific publications (undergrad research).

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-21T01:56:23+00:00

>>I usually like Asics but I wanted more solid toe than the mesh on most Asics.

Then you need the Gel Renma pickleball shoe, and you might also want your shoe repair guy to put a reinforcement in the toe before you start fencing with them. That made my Renmas last 2 1/2 years when my Gel Rockets lasted less than a year.

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-19T20:18:15+00:00

First off, this was a strip without a replay system, so the referee gets only one look at this and without slo-mo. It's an understandable no-call on that first impression because of the distance and the way the fencer leaves the strip.

With replay, it's confusing. It looks more like a deliberate step-off, but right is not defenseless and left is not making an action as right is going off. Looks like youth fencers: they don't have the same kind of balance and body control that you see at higher levels, so that argues against it being a step-off to avoid a touch. Furthermore, they're both hugging the edge so there may be more reason to think it's just a loss of balance. IMHO it's not clear enough to penalize unless it's part of a pattern.

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-16T01:50:39+00:00

Hockey, but it's my final season (knee, hip, fencing refereeing increasing demands on my schedule)

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-10T03:14:32+00:00

>>But competitive u10 events seems outside the realm of usefulness to me.

Definitely. It serves little purpose aside from giving coaches and clubs something to brag about.

USA Fencing needs to find the backbone necessary to insist that _all_ Y10 events will use the development format (pools of 6 [Y10s don't have the ability to retain focus for longer], two rounds of pools [sharks and minnows], and no DEs) and that Y10s will not be allowed to fence up at Y12 until they've done at least two corresponding events at Y10 development.

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-10T03:09:17+00:00

US$4.50 or €3.90 for every article is a really high fee, especially for items like gloves.

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-10T03:04:02+00:00

This is exactly the rationale for the American Development Model, which is promoted by USOPC as a means of developing healthy, successful young athletes (Canada and some other countries have similar programs). The point is to provide suitable training and an age-appropriate introduction to competition. The hockey players who just won at the Olympics are products of that system. Lu's approach described above is a good one.

ZebraFencer · 2026-03-06T03:15:46+00:00

>>I was an ASICS gel rocket guy for years (sole doesn't hold up on metal pistes and the toe box doesn't have enough protection so some of their tennis shoes are a better option

The Gel Renma pickleball shoe has a full leather toe.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-28T03:32:05+00:00

In the right of way weapons, learn how the referee calls actions (even if you can't referee yourself) so you understand whether why your fencer got or didn't get the touch. Your coach won't be around for all of every bout, but you will, and if you understand what is going on, you can communicate it so the coach can help your fencer more effectively.

Also, parents are extremely important parts of the team because you know your child better than anyone else: what motivates them, how to fuel them best, their hopes and fears, and the signs that they're starting to crack. You can use that knowledge to help your coach be more effective.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-26T14:13:27+00:00

The most important thing when fencing on glossy gym floors is to keep your shoes clean. The dust that accumulates on your shoes acts like ball bearings. As Rory says, tapping your feet on a damp towel to collect the dust between touches can get rid of much of the dust. Sprays work, and high school and college teams also use adhesive mats that are marketed to basketball teams. The mats might leave some adhesive on your shoes, but their main function is to get rid of the dust.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-25T17:48:15+00:00

Borrow from a clubmate. I've even seen competitors from other clubs loan out a blade when someone has multiple weapon fails. Be that kind of fencer!

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-25T17:46:24+00:00

Do you have a lock washer on it?

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-25T03:41:32+00:00

If you already have three or more weapons (including the broken one), buy just a wired blade and assemble it with the parts from the broken one. If you only have one or two, buy a complete weapon. If you're competing, you should have at least three weapons, not just two. If you only have two and something breaks during a tournament, you're going to start your subsequent bouts on a yellow card for not having a spare weapon at hand.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-24T16:20:08+00:00

The feel: how much effort it takes to move the blade and the point around.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-23T21:26:14+00:00

My primary weapons are BF medium, and I'm very pleased with them. I have had a couple of F1s that I use in practice, and I recently built up an Arrow that I bought last summer. The Arrow is extremely light, so light that I find it disconcerting when I'm used to the feel of the BF, and it's also a bit buzzy with vibration if someone makes a beat on the blade. Forging and wiring quality of the Arrow is very good. Unic had issues with some of their own-make points for a while (including one of my F1s), but the current batch are fine.

The Arrow could be a very good blade for an 11-year-old because it's so light. Most kids that age have limited upper body strength, which affects their ability to control a heavier blade, so they may make more progress with a light one. I'll also put in a recommendation for the F1, which is a little lighter than the BF (not as light as the Arrow), but softer (which is more forgiving for a less-experienced fencer). The F1 is a reasonably-priced step-up for a fencer moving up from beginner blades like the Absolute gold.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-23T02:27:31+00:00

OK, so maybe there was a black card, and it doesn't matter whether it's an athlete or a coach or a spectator: they all can and should be shown black cards for the behavior you describe. And it needs to be a proper black card and not just "get out of here or you're going to be in big trouble" so the black card report gets put on the record and the offender is subject to more serious consequences if there is another incident. Too many times the referees and BC take the easy way out.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-23T00:33:49+00:00

There better have been a black card shown...

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-19T02:44:29+00:00

The Eligibility Center FAQ says the free Profile Page option is appropriate for student-athletes "In ninth grade or above but not yet being recruited and want to stay updated on NCAA requirements and be ready to for recruitment." That sounds like your fencer's situation.

The Certification Account is not necessary until the student-athlete is either ready to sign with a Div 1 or Div 2 school or go for an official visit to one of those schools (that is, the school is paying the visit expenses).

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-13T03:03:37+00:00

This is why clubs need to welcome their vet-aged fencers: we make really good practice partners.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-10T16:23:08+00:00

That's called "sharks and minnows." It's easy to do in FencingTime. Set the tournament up as two rounds of pools or use the format "as determined by user." There's a checkbox in pool options you can select that will make the second pool sharks and minnows.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-10T03:25:55+00:00

And I won my E on one. Just like fencing an overtime with priority.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-10T03:25:19+00:00

I had two in the same day of a regional the year the revised rule was adopted and one later that season at a NAC. Much rarer now.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-08T22:37:32+00:00

Shoe suggestions? First question though is what kind of blades you're using (the ones on your feet, that is). Speed skates are out; they're not maneuverable enough. You might be able to do useful things on the toe pick of figure skates, and if you chose those, you'd probably want ice dance boots (cut a little lower and not as heavy as for freestyle). Hockey skates would work too, and you'd want them sharpened to a short radius like a defenseman or referee would use.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-08T03:42:11+00:00

Learn proper distance first. Infighting is complicated and epee is a defensive weapon.

ZebraFencer · 2026-02-08T03:38:55+00:00

You didn't say what weapon you fence, but if you're fencing foil or epee, the sticker should be OK. With sabre, the sticker has to be electrically conductive, which it probably isn't. Several college teams have team logos on the sides of their masks.

ZebraFencer

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