LAST MINUTE reminder

Sign-up DEADLINE for the NAC-C in Dallas, TX is this Monday,  November 15th.  After that it is triple fees!

This competition is for Div1, Junior and Cadet fencers.  You must be age eligble to enter Junior & Cadet.  You also must have a ranking of A, B or C to enter Div 1.

You can check the age requirements here:  USFA age requirement chart

Check with your coach if there are any questions regarding attending this competition.


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Additional SYC's added to the 2010-2011 season

Attention all youth fencers (and parents) 4 additional SYC's have been added to the USFA Youth circuit.

You can find all of the info here on the USFA website:
Newly added SYC competitions

I have also posted the added competitions here as well.

The following tournaments have been added to the SYC 2010-2011 calendar. Watch the calendar for tournament information updates.

Tournament	Venue	City	Date
University of New Hampshire	UNH Hamel Recreation Center	Durham, NH	Jan. 7-9, 2011
Kentucky Division	Inn Place Conference Center	Louisville, KY	Jan. 28-30, 2011
Mission Fencing Center	Mission FC	Rocky Point, NY	March 4-6, 2011
Salle Mauro Fencing Academy	Salle Mauro FA	Houston, TX	April 9-10, 2011

You can sign up for the SYC in NH here at askFRED.com

as the sign-up for the other competitions goes live on askFRED we will update the links here.

As a reminder you can sign up for the "Capitol Clash" SYC in Virginia here at:  askFRED.com (Capitol Clash).  Dates for this competition are Feb. 4-6, 2011.

Please meet with your coach regarding these upcoming SYC's.  Some are relatively close and fairly easy to drive to.  It is always a fun time when a bunch of fencers go to these SYC's to support and cheer each other on the strip.  Team dinners are always a fun time as well.



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More NAC deadlines for your calendar

Get your calendar out and take a look at the dates below for upcoming NAC competitions.

NAC-C:  January 14-17, 2011 in Dallas, TX.  This is for Div 1, Junior (U20 and Cadet (U17) fencers
Regular fee deadline is:  November 15th, 2010.  Register and info here: NAC-C

Junior Olympics (JO's):  February 18-21, 2011 in Dallas, TX (Yes this is correct, Dallas 2 months in a row).  This competition is for Juniors (U20) and Cadets (U17).  Regular fee deadline is: January 10th, 2011.  Register and info here:  Junior Olympics

NAC-D:  March 11-14, 2011 in Detroit, MI.  This competition is for Div 2 & Div 3 eligible fencers.  Talk to your coach if you are unsure of your eligibility to fence in this competition.  Regular fee deadline is:  January 31st, 2011.  Register and info here:  NAC-D

NAC-E:  April 15-18, 2011 in Portland, OR.  This NAC is the last of the year and is for Y14, Y12 and Y10 fencers.  This will also be the Division 1 Nationals.  Regular fee deadline is:  March 14th, 2011.  Register and info found here:  NAC-E

"NAC-December" for Div 1 eligible fencers

This NAC was recently added after the USFA had moved the Div 1 National Championship to April in place of the previously scheduled NAC-E Div 1 competition.  Read more here: USFA news

The replacement competition is scheduled for December 18-20, 2010
For the recently added "NAC December" for Division 1 fencers the regular fee deadline is November 8th.  Starting the 9th thru the 22nd the fees are triple. 


Registration and schedule info can be found here:
NAC-December

Another SYC deadline to add to your fencing calendar

The Capitol Clash SYC in Annandale, Virginia is scheduled for Feb 4th thru Feb 6th.
The regular fee deadline is January 7th, 2011.
This is an excellent SYC for the youth fencers. 


Registration sign-up and more info can be found here:
Capitol Clash registration & info

Registration deadline for the SYC in Arizona is coming up fast

If you are interested in going to the SYC in Chandler, Arizona that is being held Nov 5th thru the 7th you need to register quickly.

Regular fee registration closes October 8th Friday.

All the info can be found here:

Arizona SYC Nov 5th - 7th

Cobra Club in NJ is hosting a RYC

Some of the youth parents have inquired about other regional competitions that the younger fencers can go to.  The Cobra Club is hosting a RYC (Regional Youth Circuit) competition.  These types of competitions are specifically geared towards the younger, less experienced, getting their feet wet fencers and parents.  The Cobra Club is a great place to experience a competition in a different area, against different fencers.

The Cobra Club is located in Jersey City, NJ.  Fairly easy to get to, a stones throw to the Holland Tunnel to NYC.

Info below:

Cobra Fencing Club will host the Denise O'Connor Youth RYC on Sunday, October 24, 2010. 
Events will be held in all weapons, ages Y8-Y14.

Cobra Club RYC - askFRED sign-up

USFA OK'd the addition of 3 SYC's to the 2010-2011 youth season

Good news for the youth crowd.  The USFA has approved  3 additional SYC competitions for the current season.  The final where and when is yet to be determined.  Bids for the additional SYCs are being accepted.  Hopefully one (or more) of the excellent fencing clubs here in the Northeast will be awarded a SYC competition.

USFA approves 3 more SYC's

Keep checking here, the RFC website and the USFA for more info as it becomes available.

Div 1 competition added for December 2010

For those fencing in Div 1 the USFA as added a competition in December of this year.  Dates are December 18-20, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.  They have not released the actual day schedule yet.  Keep checking the USFA website for information.

Div 1 NAC in December

IMPORTANT reminders

I am sure everyone is busy with back-to-school schedules and to-do lists.  Let me add a few to your fencing list.


For those younger fencers going to the RFC sponsered "Flower City SYC" competition please check to make sure you are registered, the deadline is September 15th, after that it is triple fees.
Register here:  Flower City SYC registration - askFRED

For youth fencers 13 years of age & older, older teen fencers that cannot fence in the SYC anymore or adult fencers you can still get some fencing in by joining the Flower City Open that takes place in the late afternoon on Friday, September 24th (the day before the SYC begins) and then volunteering to help out at the SYC on Saturday & Sunday.
The deadline to register is September 10th, you must hurry if you plan on signing up.
Register here: Flower City Open - askFRED

If you plan on going to the NAC-B in Milwaukee, WI  the first deadline is coming up fast.   
Deadline is September 13th, after that date it is triple fees until September 27th.
Register here: NAC-B online registration

The last reminder in this post is to take a look at the calendar for the NAC-C (Dallas, TX).  The competition is not until January 14th thru 17th of 2011 but the deadline for registration is November 15th of 2010.  With the busy holiday season looming ahead it is easy to forget and miss the deadline.  Take a look, make your plans.  It is not too early to reserve a room thru THS - NAC-C


Get that calendar out and start marking it up, not a moment to lose.

NAC-A schedule with start times is now posted on USA fencing website

The actual start time schedule for NAC-A in Cincinnati, OH is finally posted.  Check it out here:
NAC-A day & start time schedule

For those who are new and a reminder for others the time shown is for checking in at the registration table for your event.  You MUST check-in to each event separately as that event comes up.
 
It is advised to print this schedule out and double check your travel plans against the times shown for your event(s).  Typically at larger competitions like NACs you should arrive the day before your first event and leave the day after your last one.

REMINDER to register for the October NAC-A in Cincinnati

If you haven't registered for the NAC-A in Cincinnati, OH the deadline is coming quickly.

August 30th is the deadline for regular fees, after that it is TRIPLE fees. 

Even though October 15th-18th is 8 weeks away it is never too soon to make your travel arrangements.  Look at the day schedule for your event(s) and plan accordingly.
LINK to NAC-A event schedule

Remember the general rule is plan to arrive the day BEFORE your first event and leave the day AFTER your last event.  Occasionally, if you have an early AM start you may be able to leave that evening but if you are flying don't risk it, you will not want to decide between participating in the finals bout vs. making your flight.

Hotel reservations made thru THS can be found here:

THS Hotel Reservations

Using THS for your hotel stay IS NOT a requirement.  Many fencers (parents) make their own reservations.

RFC's Flower City SYC & Open Tournament reminder

Registration deadline reminders for the Rochester Fencing Club sponsored Flower City SYC and Flower City Open.


Flower City SYC  preregistration deadline is September 15th


Flower City Open  preregistration deadline is September 10th




Volunteers are needed to help at the Open and SYC.  Please see or contact Karen Keegan (Evan Keegan's mom)

Registration DEADLINE for the NAC-A is fast approaching

NAC-A is for all fencers who are eligible to fence in Div 1,  Div 2, Veteran or Wheelchair.

You must be at least 13 years old and  have a ranking of A,B or C to fence Div 1 or have a ranking of C, D, E or U to fence in Div 2.

A reminder for all of the fencers planning on going to the NAC-A in Cincinnati, OH the deadline for registration is August 30th.

NAC-A deadline dates

Online registration for NAC-A

Also if you are planning on going make sure you reserve your room(s) now.  THS has all of the hotel room info.

THS - hotel rooms for NAC-A

The coaching staff will be staying at the Millennium Hotel at 150 West 5th Street which is approximately  one block from the fencing venue.

If you have questions or need help using the new online registration process or THS for the hotel please see us at the RFC and we can provide some help or answers to questions.

NAC competition information and registration is live on USFA website

Good news, the NAC competitions have been given life on the USFA website.  Online registration or download & fax registration,  daily schedule, athlete packet and FAQ sheet is all available.

In order to use online registration: as a parent you will have to register using the info (email address) used to register your fencer with the USFA   If you are a fencer use the same info you used to register as a USFA member.

You can get there by:

Clicking on the 2010-2011 National Tournament schedule link on the right side of this page (this take you to the complete list of USFA sanctioned competitions)
Click on  North America Cup A
Under  Event Home on the left, click on  Registration, schedule & confirmed entries
Click on  Individual Entry form  to download faxable form or click on  Individual online registration  to register online.
 (PLEASE NOTICE you will also see under "EVENT HOME" links for "Travel, Lodging & Venue" info and "Age classification" information.)
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If you click online registration you will be taken to the online registration site.  You will have to sign in and obtain a password.  If you use your fencer's information and he or she is a registered, up to date USFA member, most of the information will already be there.

The NAC-A is for all fencers that are age eligible and class eligible to fence in Div 1, Div 2, Vet or Wheelchair.

If you have questions or need help - post them here.

Now get to it,  REGISTRATION DEADLINE for NAC-A  is August 30th

Welcome to the Rochester Fencing Club travel blog

A brief introduction is a good jumping off point.  For those who don't already know me my name is Myron Boyd, father of Spenser who is a level 3 foilist.  I am better known as "Spenser's Dad" a name given to me by one of my favorite people - Nolan Redhead.

We have been fencing for about 3-1/2 years and I say "we" because although the kids are on the strip it definitely becomes a family endeavour.  If you son or daughter is in it long enough you will realize you are planning vacations and personal days around the fencing schedule.

The main purpose of this blog is to provide information, help & advice about traveling to out-of-town competitions.  Iris has already posted some fixed links to some very important websites that you will need. These websites will be the source to find out specific information on competitions, register online for competitions, reserve hotel rooms etc.  Click on them, look around (you will have to register to use some of them) and feel free to ask questions, either here or in person at the RFC.  In the next post I will ID the links and provide a brief description of what you will find there and their use.

Although the intent here is to be a source of information it is not the only source.  One of the best places to find out info is from the parents of the older level 3 fencers.  They are all very easy to talk to and will answer questions and provide advice readily.  That is how we learned, from the parents of the kids who are now in college or will be this fall.

One of the other great ways to learn about fencing is to volunteer doing some small things around the club and ESPECIALLY at the RFC sponsored competitions.  There is the season long RFC Challenge held at the club, the very soon to arrive Flower City Open and the Flower City SYC for Y10 / Y12 & Y14.  There will also be the RFC ROC in Rochester in the spring.  There will be volunteer sign-up sheets posted at the club very soon.

Volunteer, get involved, have fun and learn about fencing.