Promoting the art and sport
of standard fencing in America

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• What is the American Fencing League?
• What is "standard fencing"?
• So, what makes the AFL different from the USFA?
• What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in foil?
• What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in épée?
• What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in sabre?
• Can I compete in the Olympic Games by way of the AFL?
• Do I need to belong to the American Fencing League in order to compete in AFL tournaments?
• Do I need to belong to the USFA, as well?
• How does the classification system work?
• Does my USFA rating transfer to the AFL?
• Does my AFL classification transfer to the USFA?
• Can my fencing club join the American Fencing League?
• How do I join the AFL?

What is the American Fencing League?

The AFL is a non-profit organization for fencers who wish to enjoy friendly-but-spirited modern fencing competition on local, and divisional levels (and eventually sectional and national levels, as well). The AFL provides rules, maintains a classification system for our members, organizes competitions, and provides training for fencers, teachers, and officials.

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What is "standard fencing"?

The weapons used are the standard (i.e. non-electric) foil, saber, and épée. 

All points are awarded by a jury -- no electrical scoring apparatus is used. The principle of right-of-way (or the priority of touches) is strongly maintained. Touches must be properly made in a manner that is theoretically consistent with the use of a sharp weapon -- even though the weapons are blunt and dull. 

The pace of standard fencing (also referred to as "modern fencing"), which de-emphasizes pure athletic ability, is somewhat slower than post-modern electrical fencing, which makes it an excellent spectator sport -- even for people unfamiliar with fencing. 

A side benefit of standard fencing is that the equipment is so much less expensive -- individual fencers' equipment costs  approximately 50% less, and equipment needed to run a tournament costs one-tenth that of electrical equipment. 

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So, what makes the American Fencing League different from the US Fencing Association?

• Visually-judged competitions (non-electric)
• Right-of-way that is rooted in a theoretically sharp weapon (for foil and sabre)
• One-touch épée rules
• Three-weapon competitions for the generalist, as well as single-weapon competitions for the specialist or newcomer to fencing
• Strict decorum on the fencing strip
• Tiered, regionalized competitions (no circuit events)
• Friendly to both sport and classical fencers
• All events at all levels are mixed gender

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What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in foil?

• We rely on visual judging instead of a machine. 
• The right-of-way rules have nothing to do with footwork or movement and are instead based solely on establishing the line. 
• The bib is valid target (beginning August 1, 2005). (Rule change suspended indefinitely.)

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What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in épée?

• We rely on visual judging instead of a machine. To facilitate judging, épées are equipped with three-pronged pointes d'arret and marker dye.
• Épée bouts are for one touch. A double-touch counts as a defeat for both fencers. A 0-0 tie due to time expiring is also recorded as a 1-1 double defeat.

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What are the primary rules differences between the USFA and the AFL in sabre?

• We rely on visual judging instead of a machine.
• The right-of-way rules we use make no mention of footwork in determining priority. 
• The weapon hand is valid target.
• Crossing the legs is legal, and therefore, so is the fléche.
• Cuts must be delivered with the leading edge of the blade -- not the flat.
• Counter-cuts must be delivered with the last one-third of the back edge of the blade (closest to the tip) -- not the flat.
• Thrusts must result in a visible bend in the blade.

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Can I compete in the Olympic Games by way of the American Fencing League?

No, not directly. Olympic fencing uses post-modern rules. Post-modern fencing is a different game with different rules and different objectives -- a game that branched off from standard fencing gradually during the the 1970s and 80s. While there is quite a bit of overlap between the two branches of the sport, ultimately American fencers who wish to compete in the Olympics will need to fence extensively (to put it mildly) in the USFA and internationally in order to qualify for the Olympics.

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Do I need to belong to the American Fencing League in order to compete in AFL tournaments?

Yes. All competitors in AFL tournaments need to be AFL members. Non-members will be able to join at the tournament. 

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Do I need to belong to the USFA, as well?

That's a decision you need to make for yourself. There is no requirement to belong to both organizations, and there is also no prohibition by the AFL on being a member of the USFA as well. 

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How does the classification system work?

The intent of the classification system is mainly to allow lower-level fencers opportunities to compete successfully with their peers. A fencer can always fence above their level (except for certain Senior-level events), but they can never fence below their level. 

The classifications, from lowest to highest, are as follows (classifications are per weapon):

• Prep
  Restricted to fencers in their first season of competition in a given weapon who have also not won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a tournament. (The fencing season begins September 1 and ends August 31.) Fencers who reach the Junior class in one weapon but who are Prep class in another weapon are automatically promoted to Novice in that other weapon.
• Novice
  A fencer becomes a Novice in a given weapon by the expiration of the time limit fixed for the Prep class; or by winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a competition (unless that entitles him or her to a higher classification); or by achieving Junior or higher classification in any weapon.
• Junior
  A fencer becomes a Junior in a given weapon by winning 1st place in a Novice competition; or by winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a Junior competition; or by winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a local Intermediate or local Open competition (unless that entitles him or her to a higher classification). Additionally, a fencer who wins 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in a national or sectional three-weapon championship is classified as a Junior in all three weapons (unless otherwise entitled to a higher classification). 
• Intermediate
  A fencer becomes an Intermediate in a given weapon only through competition at division-level or higher tournaments. Due to the small size of the AFL, this classification is not currently in use.
• Senior
  A fencer becomes a Senior in a given weapon only through competition at section-level or higher tournaments. See the rules for details. Due to the small size of the AFL, this classification is not currently in use.

Once a fencer achieves a higher classification, he or she may never be classed in a lower category (i.e. AFL ratings do not expire). Classifications are earned only in individual competitions (i.e. team events do not alter a fencer's classification, although a fencer may need a particular classification to compete in a particular team event).

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Does my USFA rating transfer to the AFL? 

New AFL members with a current USFA "D" or "E" rating will be classified as a Novice in the AFL in that weapon.

New AFL members with USFA ratings of "A", "B", or "C" will be will be classified as a Junior in the AFL in that weapon. Once you have joined the AFL, changes in your USFA rating have no effect on your AFL classification.

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Does my AFL classification transfer to the USFA?

No. Because of the differences in the intent and application of the two systems of classification, it is highly unlikely that AFL classifications will ever transfer directly to USFA ratings. However, AFL experience will be invaluable for those fencers who choose to compete in the USFA. 

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Can my fencing club join the American Fencing League?

Certainly! We always need more fencing clubs.

However, we strongly encourage fencing clubs to belong to the USFA as well, as the USFA's club liability insurance policy cannot be beaten (the AFL cannot yet offer this benefit to member clubs -- but we're working on it!). 

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How do I join the AFL?

Here is more information on joining the American Fencing League. 

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Page created 1/12/05. 
Last updated 02/12/2006 .

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American Fencing League
1020 Liberty Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
E-mail: info@americanfencingleague.org

The American Fencing League is a non-profit 501(c)(3) (tax-exempt status pending) corporation, which is not affiliated with the United States Fencing Association
or the Federation Internationale d'Escrime.