2024-25 GBR SELECTION POLICY UPDATE

The draft 2024-25 GBR Selection Policy has been updated following community consultation. The updated document will go to the BF Board for approval.

The original consultation period for the 2024-2025 policy ran from 13th June to 30th June 2024.

Three members responded to the consultation within the consultation window.

We are grateful to all those who took the time to read the document in detail and provide feedback and suggestions, all of which were considered.

BF delayed publication pending confirmation of the new FIE and EFC calendars to allow consideration of any potential impact on the policy.

In summary:

• No fundamental changes were made to the policy from the draft version.
• An amendment to clause 14.2.d removes the European and World Championships reference and replaces it with the intended reference to the EFC U14 Festival.

The updated document will now be sent to the Board for approval.

The unapproved version of the document is here: GBR-Selection-Policy-24_25-v.02-Draft

 
RESPONSES TO FEEDBACK

World University Games 2025: Could results at the BUCS Nationals be used as a qualification standard?

BF Response: The BUCS Nationals is an excellent event that BF continues to support. We would like to see the event develop and strengthen further, but it is not eligible to be a qualification standard event as it is a domestic event. (Events in which qualification standards can be met for major events are international events). As it is not a registered ranking event it also cannot be used in any of our BF rankings.

Team World Ranking: Do we need to change the automatic team selection standards to FIE World Ranking top 10?

BF Response: Team rankings and performance are still an important priority. Due to the inconsistent number of teams competing across the weapon categories, the previous threshold was considered too low and not a meaningful performance measure for selecting some weapons.

Fencers capable of performing consistently at the international level can demonstrate their ability to qualify for major championships through their performances internationally and if three fencers qualify, are selected and  accept the invitation, BF will be looking to send a team (where a team event exists). In future we may look at a combination of team percentage finish in the ranking and actual ranking as a qualification standard.

EFC Under 14 Festival: Why are the selection criteria requiring three international events as minimum criteria for invitation to the Festival? Could they be different from the U17 and U20 requirements?

BF Response: This is consistent with all selection criteria across all age categories. It is the responsibility of BF to ensure that for fencers going to the U14 Festival we have evidence of their capabilities and experience to compete abroad. The experience of competing in the U14 Festival is very different to the experience of fencing in domestic competitions.  The pathway strategy has always been to promote appropriate events at the right time for the individual fencers, so encouraging young fencers to explore international fencing at the correct time is essential to their development.

Disclaimer

This news post is not the GBR Selection Document and is not intended as a replacement for that document. Athletes who wish to represent Great Britain, along with their coaches and parents, are expected to read the Selection Document rather than rely on summaries and news post contents. No selection appeals will be permitted based on the contents/interpretation of this news post.
For general support/international competition administration/urgent queries, please email: [email protected]

For feedback and questions, use the form here: Pathway/ADP Query Form

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