THE BRITISH FENCING RANKINGS – FAQ

Rankings are sports ratings that analyse the results of sports competitions to provide ratings for each team or player.

Here are some common questions about the BF rankings.

What are they for?

The rankings recognise an athlete’s relevant performances at BF-licensed events and international competitions and indicate relative competitive ability within their weapon, age group, and competitive gender category.

Who are they for?

They are one of the many benefits of being a BF member.

Competition organisers use them to provide a fairer seeding for the first round of domestic competitions.

Regions, Home Nations and BF may often use them in their selection process.

Why do they only count six results?

Competitions are fun and an essential part of an athlete’s development, but the number of events should always be considered carefully and appropriately for that individual. BF does not wish to encourage athletes to compete at every competition, with the risks of possible ‘burnout’.

Are they used for GBR selections?

Yes, BF will use them to select the U17, U20, U23, and Senior Age categories. At U14, athletes in the correct part of the rankings can apply to compete at Under 14s.

For domestic competitions in the UK, when are the rankings important?

Rankings are only used to seed the first round of domestic competitions, but they can undoubtedly help athletes get a good start to a competition.

Why are they important for GBR squad selection for international competition?

They are used to invite athletes to automatic invitation spots within the rankings.

As a rule of thumb, if athletes are ranked in the top eight places at the selection point, they will likely be invited to international competitions across all age groups.

Squad sizes can vary depending on the age category. If BF selects large squads, they may use some places for discretionary selections. Being in the ‘top 15’ or ‘top 20’ is not guaranteed to be selected if ranked in those places.

When are the BF Rankings important for GBR Major Championships selections?

At this stage of the season, they are rarely a factor that is considered or has much influence. Our selection strategies are focused on evidence of international performances and, less so, domestic results, which is automatically reflected in the number of ranking points awarded. The stronger the performance at the more challenging events, the more points are awarded.

If they are considered, it is for the following reasons:

• More athletes have met the qualification standards (see Selection Policy) than in the limited places available. Then, the rankings automatically select the first few places, and discretion is used for any remaining places.
• When all other discretionary factors and eligibility criteria have been considered, and there is no discernible difference in an athlete’s performance, the rankings may be used to separate athletes.
• Being placed in the top-ranked places is not a guarantee of selection if the international performances fail to meet the required qualification standards set out in the Selection Policy.