H.F.A. Novice League
Background
Apart from the annual county novice competition local novice fencers have little competitive fencing experience outside their clubs. In the 1999-2000 season it was therefore decide to start an adult novice league.
The objectives of this league are:
1. To promote fencing activities amongst novices
2. Build up inter club relationships
3. To increase the standard of local fencing
4. To decrease the novice drop-out rate
Participating Clubs
Dacorum Fencing Club
St. Albans Fencing Club
Welwyn & Hatfield Fencing Club
Watford Fencing Club
University of Hertfordshire Fencing Club
Hitchin Fencing Club will be joining in the forthcoming season.
Definition of eligability
A Novice fencer is:
1) Someone who has been fencing for 2 or less years.
2) Over eighteen years of age on the 1st January of the
year of competition or over thirteen years of age on the
1st January of the year of competition and in possession
of a consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
3) Insured via membership of BFA or equivalent
bodies.
Please be aware that the club/coach membership cover may not be sufficient to cover matches within this league. Currently the associate BFA membership is £15 per year. Remember that you may be making a claim one day.
Organisational Structure
The competition will be run by a League Organiser with help from an assistant and the participatory teams.
The League Organiser will be
responsible for:
1. Ensuring that this league is run in a safe and
efficient manner.
2. Regularly collecting and publishing results.
3. Keeping participating clubs informed.
4. Answering queries.
5. Ensuring that the rules to prevent accidents are
observed.
The Assistant League Organiser will be
responsible for:
1. helping the Organiser with running this league.
2. acting as the Organiser in her/her absence.
Each club should provide Team
Organisers (ideally 2 per club) which co-ordinate with
the League Organiser to ensure that:
1. Your club is informed with the current developments
of this league.
2. Your club and team knows when and where a match is
due and your team is on time
3. Check with the visiting team that they are aware of
the match time and location.
4. Inform the opposing club and the League Organiser
when rearranging a match date. A minimum of 1 full week's
notice is required unless the circumstances are
drastic.
5. Agree with the visiting team beforehand, the number
of participants per team (minimum 2), and if electric
equipment is to be used, and which club is to bring
it.
6. Let the League Organiser have the score within one
week after the match is completed
7. Ensure that all participants are wearing appropriate
clothing. 8. Ensure that the bouts are refereed and
judged in a fair and safe manner according to the BFA
Rule Book and Fencing Safety Guidelines
Scoring
Where possible, each fencer should fight each member of the opposing side in turn. However, if the teams are more than 4-a-side, they should be split into two or more poules. As a guideline: teams of 3 with 5 hits (9 bouts) takes about 1 hour, of 4 (16 bouts) takes around 2 hours.
When all bouts are completed, victory is decided on the number of bouts won. A winning team gets 3 points, a losing team gets 1 point. In the case of a draw then both teams get 2 points.
If a team fails to turn up and does not
give adaquate notice beforehand then the team present
gets 3 point and absent team none (Unless the reason is
unforseen. It is the responsiblity of the absent Team
Organisers to rearrange the alternative match)
If both teams fail to arrange their match by the end of
the season then neither team gets any points for the
match.
The team with the most points at the end of the season will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie at the end of the season, the team with the best record against other tied team(s) will be deemed the winner. If this does not produce a clear result, the an extra play off will be played by the tied teams.
Legal Disclaimer
Each fencer is personally responsible for making sure that his or her clothing and equipment conform to the FIE and British Fencing rules and are in good condition. Neither British Fencing nor the organisers of the competition, nor any official or referee involved in the competition is responsible for these matters, or for any accident, loss or damage to persons or property however caused.
