REMINDER OF U14 EFC COMPETITION ENTRY PROCESS

As the EFC rules have changed, this is an essential reminder for any coach or parent responsible for an athlete who wishes to compete in EFC U14 events and avoid on-the-day fines from organisers. 

(This news post is  a reminder of the process as highlighted on 11th October )

There has been some recent confusion regarding the process for entering a U14 EFC event, which has led to last-minute fines. This is due to new rules being introduced by the EFC for referee provisions and fines at U14 EFC events.

This is a reminder of the process. Please note that the EFC rules have changed since last season, and the process might be different from what you have experienced before.

Entering an Event

Currently, U14 events do not have specific ranking requirements, and this category has no selection process. Instead, you must fill out this form to apply to participate in these events (note there are eligibility checks; see the form for more info).

Referee Requirements

The organisers set the referee requirements, which will change at each event. The information will be found within each event’s reglement/competition details. It is the responsibility of the parents and coaches to make sure they have read the reglements.

If the organisers require a referee, the usual EFC quotas are:

• 1-3 fencers – no referee required
• 4-9 fencers – one referee
• 10-15 fencers – two referees
• 16-20 fencers – three referees

There are likely fines for failing to provide the referee(s), depending on the organisers.

Responsibility for sourcing referees

The responsibility for organising a referee should be shared by the coach/parent community. If a referee is required, an email will be sent to the contact details of the fencer entered past the threshold for referee provision (usually the 4th entry for EFC events) to inform them that a referee must be provided. They then need to contact the squad attending to organise this referee and pay for any expenses.

What to do if you receive the email

Reach out to your club coach to help. They will hopefully be able to assist in reaching out to referees to see who is available. Do this as soon as the email is received to keep costs as low as possible for everyone. If a referee cannot be found, your coach may be able to organise for a local referee to step in. If not, there is usually a fine to be paid, which should be split between all fencers attending the event.

What can you do to help make this a smooth experience?

Here are some suggestions that could help get things organised quickly and efficiently.

• Set up WhatsApp groups with those attending to help arrange payments.
• Coaches should be ahead of the game, ask referees in advance, and pencil them in if needed. Communicate with each other about what is happening and how many you expect to enter from your respective clubs.
• Monitor the entry list and read the reglements to understand the organisers’ expectations.

Why doesn’t BF organise referees for U14 EFC Circuit events?

If the executive team organise referees for competitions, an administration cost will be passed on to the fencers. This includes the charge of the staff time (which can vary hugely depending on the location of the competition and availability of referees) and the administration cost of collecting charges and payments to referees.  Currently, BF cannot support the administration of referees for the U14 EFC circuit events, but this is under review, and we will seek feedback from parents and coaches on this topic as the U14 international circuit matures.

Related News Posts:

CLARIFICATION OF U14 EFC COMPETITION ENTRY PROCESS (11th Oct 2024)

U14 EFC CIRCUIT ENTRY PROCESS AND DEADLINES (17th Jan 2023)

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