Referee Annual International Allocation FAQs

(Nominated EFC Cadet Circuit and Junior World Cup Events)

This page is designed to explain the rationale behind the International referee allocations. These may be subject to change depending on the EFC and FIE rules and the process by which referees achieve EFC and FIE referee qualifications.

WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN ALLOCATED ENOUGH COMPETITIONS TO ACHIEVE MY EFC C GRADE THIS SEASON?

As a result of the success of the BF Referee Pathway Scheme, we now have a large number of pathway referees all wishing to work towards their EFC C grade.

The EFC rules changed in July 2018: To be awarded a C Grade a referee must achieve a mark of 4 or 5 in a minimum of 5 EFC Cadet competitions from an EFC observer within a maximum of 2 seasons. C Grades are awarded at the end of the EFC Cadet season. More Information can be found in the recent information letter (dated June 20th 2018) attached here.

Over the past few years, when only 3 EFC graded assessments were required we able to allocate referees to 3 EFC Cadet competitions.  However not all referees were successful in achieving their qualifications despite the opportunity. We now have to balance the desire of these referees to continue trying for C alongside those up and coming referees that also indicate a desire to achieve C grade referee status.

For foil and sabre we expect candidates wishing to achieve EFC status to make themselves available for Manchester and Camden EFC Cadet tournaments. We also note that BF is not responsible for final invitations and allocations for these tournaments. We will do our best to work with the organisers of the tournaments to ensure that as many GB pathway referees seeking their C grade have the opportunity to referee.

Where possible, the selection committee will use feedback from the mock exams and referee activity logs to allocate priority candidates (those expected to achieve their C grade this season, and/or prioritised for FIE exams – subject to passing) to try to ensure there are sufficient opportunities to attend EFC level competitions (including Camden/Manchester).

In some cases (where we have been unable to prioritise one candidate over another, most often in epee) we may not be able to allocate a full set of EFC Cadet competitions in one season. We do provide an option for referees who believe they are ready to pass at C grade to self-fund additional EFCs and claim back expenses should they achieve a pass – see below.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT ACHIEVE MY C GRADE ?

Unfortunately, if you do not achieve your C grade across two active seasons where you have been assigned allocations, BF may not be in a position to extend a subsequent seasons of full EFC allocations to you, as this reduces the opportunity for other referees.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I SELF-FUND ADDITIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ACHIEVE MY EFC C GRADE?

BF will refund the cost of one additional competition to a maximum of £250 upon production of travel and accommodation receipts and using the normal BF daily subsistence payments applicable to EFC tournaments. We have a limited amount of money set aside for this, so we will need referees intending to take advantage of this offer to register with us in advance to ensure that we can allocate sufficient resources. This offer is not open to referees who have already been given 5 funded opportunities to referee over two seasons.

HOW DOES BRITISH FENCING DECIDE WHO IS ALLOCATED ENOUGH EFC COMPETITIONS TO ACHIEVE THE EFC C GRADE?

In the situation where there are many similarly qualified referees all expressing their desire to achieve their C grade in the same weapon in one season, BF will use both the internally held Referee activity log (prioritising attendance at BF events including involvement in ADP activities and referee education and training) and information from application forms to prioritise for the EFC allocations. This will also ensure that domestic pathway referees are prioritised over associate pathway referee, unless there is no suitable domestic candidate.

I AM AN ASSOCIATE PATHWAY REFEREE, WHO WANTS TO ACHIEVE MY EFC C GRADE, WHY HAVE I ONLY BEEN ALLOCATED 1 NOMINATED COMPETITION?

BF can only put forward British referees for the FIE exams, so we must prioritise those individual referee progressions over non-British referees. We however appreciate and value the commitment associate referees demonstrate to BF run competitions, and as such have extended the BF Pathway Scheme to include associates, albeit with a slightly reduced opportunity. If requested, BF will also write a letter to the Home Federation in support of the referees’ pursuit of their FIE license.

I AM A NEWLY QUALIFIED FIE REFEREE WHY HAVE I BEEN ALLOCATED TO EFC NOMINATED COMPETITIONS?

This is both to allow further experience and to act as mentors to those starting out on their international refereeing journey.

I AM A NEWLY QUALIFIED FIE REFEREE WHY HAVE I BEEN ONLY ALLOCATED ONE NOMINATED JUNIOR WORLD CUP COMPETITION?

As part of your development as a referee BF recognise it is important for you to establish yourself on the international FIE circuit. However, BF has a limited number of nominated competitions to provide such opportunities. BF will allocate all FIE referees a minimum of one competition to ensure that this exposure continues. As a means of supplementing this experience, any requests for FIE referees at satellites will be forwarded to all FIE referees, and our expectation is that newly qualified referees seek to attend these tournaments. The expectation is that FIE qualified referees are also expected to attend any FIE Satellite held in GB (eg Camden Sabre)

I AM A NEWLY QUALIFIED FIE REFEREE AND WANT TO ACHIEVE MY EFC C GRADE IN MY SECOND WEAPON, WHY AM I ONLY ALLOCATED TO MY FIE WEAPON?

It is crucial in your first season as a newly qualified FIE referee to maximise your exposure in this weapon, as such BF will if possible always allocate you primarily to your first weapon for that season. If you chose to focus on attaining your EFC C grade in your second weapon, then we will allocate you to this weapon but cannot guarantee both. We do not have the resources or nominated competitions. It also acts as a block on other referees who wish to progress.

I AM AN ESTABLISHED FIE REFEREE BUT NOT A MEMBER OF THE REFEREE PATHWAY SCHEME AND HAVE ONLY BEEN ALLOCATED ONE JWC, WHY?

There are pathway FIE referees that may also have only 1 FIE allocation – the challenge is that there are simply not enough JWC opportunities. Additionally, all allocations take into account demonstrated commitment to BF run events using the referee activity log held by BF. If you do not show support to BF run competitions, then personal allocations will reflect this.