Open competitions are the highest level of state competition. They are intended to prepare competitors for the competition at national or international level.
Intermediate competition is intended for fencers who have progressed beyond the level of novice competition but are not yet capable of fencing competitively in open competitions.
A fencer is permitted to compete in intermediate competitions in any weapon until they have completed one of the following requirements:
Note:
The first three disqualification triggers only disqualifies a fencer from intermediate competition in the weapon in which the disqualifying event occurs.
The fourth disqualifying trigger applies to intermediate competitions in all three weapons, not just the weapon in which the Top 16 AFF result was achieved.
In all cases, the fencer is allowed to continue fencing intermediate competitions until the end of the calendar year in which the disqualifying event occurs.
Novice competitions are intended to give beginner fencers they chance to experience competitive fencing against other fencers of similar standard.
All competitors must hold either a senior or junior Fencing SA license or be registered with Fencing SA.
A fencer may compete in novice competitions for twelve months after they were first licensed or registered with Fencing SA (i.e. they are in their first year of taking up fencing).
Veteran competitions are intended to allow elder fencers to compete against other fencers of similar age and fitness and experience.
All competitors must hold a senior Fencing SA license.
A fencer is eligible for veteran competitions provided they have had their fortieth birthday by the day of the competition.
All Direct Elimination bouts go to ten points instead of fifteen and consist of two three minute periods instead of three.
Junior competitions are intended to allow young people to experience competitive fencing against fencers of similar age and similar physical development.
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Any fencer who is not attending a primary or secondary school must be licensed with the AFF.
A fencer is eligible for a junior competition provided they are UNDER the age limit of the competition on the first of January of that year. eg. A fencer may compete in an under 13 competition provided they have not had their 13th birthday by the first of January of the current year.
Direct elimination bouts are fenced to ten points rather than the normal fifteen.
Direct elimination bouts consist of two three minute periods rather than three.
Junior competitions are intended to allow young people to experience competitive fencing against fencers of similar age and similar physical development. Given the increased age, strength, fitness and experience of the older fencer some different rules apply.
A fencer is eligible for a junior competition provided they are UNDER the age limit of the competition on the first of January of that year. eg. A fencer may compete in an under 17 competition provided they have not had their 17th birthday by the first of January of the current year.