You’re at a fencing competition and you’ve had an amazing day. After training really hard, you are just sweeping the floor with your opponents, gliding through the pools and blasting your way through the DE. It’s been an incredible day, and you’re so excited about the progress you’ve made. Did you earn a new rating? Yes?! You did! That’s amazing.
As soon as you get home, you pull out your computer and log onto USA Fencing’s website to excitedly see your new rating there in black and white. You can’t wait. But now comes the waiting game – when will your rating be updated in the system? Probably not as soon as you want it to be.
To earn a new rating from USA Fencing, fencers must participate in USFA tournaments and meet specific criteria. It can be a bit of a confusing process, and many new and developing fencers take a while to get their feet under them regarding what the rating system is and how they can navigate it. The rating system categorizes fencers based on their skill level and performance in sanctioned competitions, but sometimes it can take a while for it to hit the system.
Let’s go through the topline of what a rating is, then work through why it can sometimes seem like it takes FOREVER for your rating to come through.
How you earn a fencing rating
Fencers need to compete in USFA-sanctioned tournaments to earn a new rating. These tournaments are officially recognized and will follow specific guidelines and rules. There are competitions outside of USA Fencing that clubs or schools organize, and none of those will count toward your rating. You could do some amazing things at these competitions, learn a lot and have a lot of fun, but it wouldn’t matter for your rating.
To earn a new rating, fencers must fence in a rated tournament and finish the competition within the boundaries of a new rating that is at least higher by a letter or a year than the fencer’s current rating. We’ve gone into detail about ratings in the past—you can dive deep right here.
It’s worth noting that fencers occasionally make significant leaps in their ratings. Some fencers can quickly advance from being an Unrated Fencer to a C, or even jump from a D to a B or A. These substantial advancements occur quite frequently, with many fencers skipping at least one rating level before reaching higher classifications.
Ratings play a crucial role in determining which competitions fencers are eligible to participate in, serving as a clear indicator of their progress. While the rating system isn’t entirely objective, it still reflects a fencer’s advancement and fundamental skill level. Progressing through the various ratings takes time and dedication, requiring years of training to reach the levels of B or A, with continual growth along the journey.
Why isn’t a rating alone a completely objective measure of a fencer’s abilities? Because there are only five ratings – E, D, C, B, A – and each can be earned in any rated and sanctioned event. However, achieving an A rating in a local tournament differs from earning the same rating at the national level. Furthermore, earning an A rating in a Cadet NAC event is distinct from achieving it in a Division 1 National Championship. A more accurate measure of a fencer’s skill level is their respective national ranking.
So, the rating itself must be considered only as an initial indicator of a fencer’s skill, but definitely not as an all-encompassing one.
Earning a new rating opens up opportunities for fencers to compete in higher-level tournaments, face stronger opponents, and become recognized by other people in fencing for their growth. Higher ratings give you access to certain events and opportunities within the USFA, such as participating in Division 1 events or even representing the United States in international competitions.
How long does it take to update a new rating
Updating ratings takes time. It doesn’t matter when in the season you’re fencing, there are always a lot of competitions going on around the country, and each of them has a whole lot of fencers who are leveling up and getting their ratings. That’s in addition to everything else that USA Fencing has to do.
In our experience, the ratings on USA Fencing’s website usually update within a few days after the national event, about a week or two after a regional fencing competition ends, and in about two to three weeks for other sanctioned tournaments.
This is a general rule of thumb. The amount of time can be shorter or longer depending on lots of factors. If things are taking longer than these timelines, then there could be something else going on.
One reason for the delay in updating ratings on the USA Fencing website is the meticulous verification process. Following a tournament, event organizers must submit the results to the national governing body for thorough examination. This involves cross-referencing scores, validating memberships, and ensuring compliance with all rules and regulations. While you might see your results promptly posted on platforms like AskFRED or FencingTimeLive, USA Fencing doesn’t solely rely on these sources for rating updates.
Each result must be individually submitted to USA Fencing through a distinct process. The USFA reviews the submissions to confirm that the tournament was officially sanctioned, the information provided is accurate, and it corresponds with each member’s profile and current ranking within the system. They also ensure that all tournament officials meet SafeSport criteria and that all participants are registered as competitive-level fencers. If discrepancies or unresolved issues are identified during the verification process, the competition results may be deemed incomplete, requiring organizers to promptly address and resubmit them. Any delay in submitting tournament data to the USA Fencing headquarters inevitably leads to a delay in posting updated ratings.
I can provide an example, based on my own experience, of what could go wrong. In the 2022 season, I organized the AFM Super Regional, and registration opened before the season ended. It turned out that a few individuals registered for the tournament in July using their then-current competitive-level membership but forgot to update it until the tournament date. Unfortunately, the tournament registration software did not catch this mistake, and these individuals were admitted to the tournament without valid membership. Consequently, when it came time to submit the results, they were invalidated. I had to personally contact these few members via phone and email, requesting them to upgrade their USFA membership. This process consumed additional time, causing delays in updating the results, and led to numerous emails inquiring about the status of the ratings. While this scenario may seem extreme, it serves as a pertinent illustration of potential complications when things go awry.
Consider the sheer volume of weekly competitions. Each tournament must undergo the same thorough review process. While much of it is automated through tournament software, a significant portion still requires manual handling and problem-solving. While it may take time for your new rating to appear, it is essential to trust in the process and recognize that USA Fencing is committed to maintaining a fair and accurate rating system, a responsibility we fully support.
What to do if your new rating update is late
Waiting for your newly earned rating to appear on the USA Fencing website can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re eager to compete in higher-level tournaments. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s essential to communicate effectively and seek guidance from your coach first. They may have insights into any potential issues that could be causing the delay. If it’s been a while and your coach doesn’t have immediate answers, reaching out to the tournament organizers for information about the process can be helpful.
USA Fencing’s Member Services Department should be your last resort if you’re unable to resolve the issue with the tournament organizers. When contacting them, ensure you provide all necessary details, including tournament information and your membership number. While it’s frustrating to wait for your rating update, understanding the complexities of the verification process and administrative workload can help ease some of that frustration.
Mistakes regarding rating updates are rare, so it’s unlikely that there was an error by your coach or the tournament officials. However, if you’re concerned and it’s been an extended period, reaching out for more information can provide clarity. In the meantime, focus on your training and continue working towards your fencing goals. Your new rating will be updated eventually; it just requires patience and understanding of the process.
A newly-earned classification is a snap-shot, i.e. how you performed at a solitary event It also enables your local-event higher initial-seeding, which may enable better results. Further, it also puts a target on your back for lower-seeds with something to prove.