EFC FENCING FOR EVERYONE CIRCUIT – URGENT GBR UPDATE

Details of GBR administration and charges for new EFC Fencing for Everyone events for U20s and U23s.

The EFC Fencing For Everyone is a new competition circuit consisting of four new events per season organised by the European Fencing Confederation, targeted at U20s and U23s. (N.B. Unlike the previous U23 EFC circuit, seniors cannot enter the Fencing For Everyone events, and participation numbers are restricted. All athletes need to be U23).

Alongside the individual event, there is a team event—one team per nation—in which at least two U20 athletes must participate.

Anyone wishing to attend these events (irrespective of nomination status and the number of referees required) will be charged a GBR administration fee and a GBR referee contribution. This season, the administration fee is £15.50, and the referee contribution is £80, with nominated events including a charge for support staff as laid out below.

As announced previously, BF is nominating a subset of these FFE competitions for Junior, U23, or both. This means that selection announcements will be posted, and results will count for GBR qualifying standards for major events (Euros/Worlds) in the nominated age category.

Information on which competitions are GBR nominated for which category can be found in the GBR Calendars here.

The administration (and the associated charges) for these events will differ slightly from the Junior World Cup administration therefore, any athlete that is selected should read this carefully before accepting their place:

For all FFE events – BF’s GBR Support team will:

• Enter fencers once all relevant payments are made.
• Administer late entries, withdrawals, charges and fines.
• Administer the referee sourcing, allocation, payment and entry (and/or any associated fines if a referee cannot be sourced).

This means for a non-nominated event, where there are no late entries or withdrawals) athletes should expect to pay a £15.50 admin fee and an £80 referee contribution (24-25 charges).

For the nominated events – BF – GBR Support will:

• Administer selection process for individual and team events according to the BF-approved selection policy and following the GBR Selection timelines for international competitions.
• Invite a combined GBR squad (U20s and U23s)  to accept a place on the team via Sport 80.
• Put support staff in place (e.g., team managers, team manager-trained coaches and coaches). All fencers attending will be charged a £52.50 contribution to this cost.
• Nominate a squad hotel where official coaches and staff will stay and publish details, including entry and exit points for athletes and personal coaches wishing to stay with the squad.  This is where any squad meetings will be held for athletes and personal coaches.
• Arrange payment of team entry fee and collect from the team athletes.
• Create a Whatsapp group to communicate with the athletes and personal coaches in attendance.

Accommodation

Unlike Junior World Cups and Major Events, BF will NOT book hotel rooms for athletes attending FFE events whether the events are nominated or not.

This is partly due to the large number of athletes attending and the availability of hotels that can accommodate a full GBR U20 and U23 squad.

The options for nominated events are as follows:

Option 1. Book directly into the nominated squad hotel (athletes and personal coaches only, no parents).

• Support staff will take responsibility for U18 athletes staying in the squad hotel, provided loco parentis forms are completed in advance and arrival and departure follow BF entry and exit points.
• By staying in the squad hotel, athletes and personal coaches are expected to act as part of the GBR squad and follow the reasonable instructions of GBR officials.
• Fencers fencing in the team event are strongly encouraged to book into the squad hotel to attend team meetings easily.

Option 2. Book directly into an alternative hotel (athletes, personal coaches, and parents), ensuring that you are close enough to attend any squad meetings at the squad hotel if necessary.

Irrespective of where athletes and personal coaches stay, the GBR Code of Conduct applies at all times in the hotels, and the venue and performance standards are expected to be adhered to. For the avoidance of doubt, the consumption of alcohol by athletes and coaches is not permitted.

More Information – Checklists:

As a reminder, as for all EFC competitions, all athletes must:

• Have an EFC license and the relevant passport /travel documentation purchased or uploaded to Sport:80.
• Read the competition reglements and the selection announcements.
• Provide prompt replies (accept or decline) to the Sport:80 selection/invitation notice, with immediate payment if accepting the place.
• The entry window for all invitations, including reserves, will be seven days (168 hours) from the time of the invitation.
• Check all medications in GlobalDRO and take follow-up action for any banned medication.
• Notify BF immediately of any changes, illnesses or injuries.
• Ensure you are aware of the BF Codes of Conduct and the EFC Code of Conduct and the importance of complying with them.
• Hold adequate personal travel insurance, ensuring it covers competing in an amateur fencing competition abroad.
• Ensure any accompanying parents undertake UKAD mandatory courses and Safeguarding for parents.
• Check the competition entry list (to confirm you have been entered) 10 days before travelling.
• Bring the required entry fee and team entry fee to be paid to the competition organisers.

For FFE Competitions where a GBR squad is competing:

• Arrange personal travel and accommodation in accordance with the entry and exit points and
• Submit emergency contact details and travel plan information via Smartsheets; the link can be found on the selection announcement.
• Complete in loco parentis forms for any U18 athlete booked into the squad hotel.

More details regarding international travel responsibilities can be found here.

If you have any questions about this post, please submit them via the form here, and a member of the ADP team will contact you.

Sign up for the weapon-specific GBR WhatsApp groups here.

Sign up for the Friday email here.

Disclaimer: This news post does not form a contract between BF and an athlete, personal coach, or parent. Charges and contributions may be subject to change due to changes in the rules, the international fencing calendar, or risk assessments.