Are you ready to jump into your first fencing tournament? Tournaments are a lot of fun regardless of your experience level, and they can be a great way to practice your skills against new opponents—not to mention the medals to be won! We recommend fencers start off with local-level tournaments, which tend to be smaller, less expensive, and less intimidating than the large regional or national events. Keep reading to learn how to sign up for your first local tournament.
What Are “Local” Fencing Tournaments?
Fencing tournaments are divided into three main categories: local, regional, and national. Local tournaments are hosted by individual fencing clubs and are the smallest (usually 15-50 fencers) and most common type of tournament, with at least one nearby every month. They’re great for fencers of all ages and skill levels, beginners included. Entry fees can vary, but $30-$60 is common. Despite the name, local events aren’t limited by location; you can compete in a local event anywhere in the country.
Most local events are sanctioned by USA Fencing, meaning that you must be a competitive member of USA Fencing in order to participate. You can register for a membership for $85/year on member.usafencing.org.
AskFRED (The Fencing Results and Events Database)
AskFRED (short for “Fencing Results & Events Database”) is the platform used to find and register for local-level fencing tournaments in the US. All local tournaments get posted here, so you’ll never need to search anywhere else. You can also use it to find fencing camps and clinics. What you won’t find on AskFRED are regional and national tournaments; you can only register for those directly through USA Fencing.
Searching for Tournaments on AskFRED
AskFRED makes it simple to find events with their “Upcoming Tournaments” tab. If you already have a tournament in mind, you can simply search by name or date. If you’d like to browse around for upcoming tournaments, you can use their other search options to find tournaments in the area.
We recommend searching with the following criteria:
Registering for Tournaments on AskFRED
Once you’ve found a tournament, click “Preregister” to start the signup process.
On the next screen, enter your last name and then click “Go.” If you’ve used AskFRED before, your name will be in the dropdown list. If not, choose “Create a New Fencer Record.”
You’ll be taken to another new screen where you’ll have to enter your name, contact information, and some fencing specific information. If you’re a Modern Duelists fencer, choose “Modern Duelists Fencing Academy (MODUEL)” for your Club and “Maryland” for your Division. If you’re a member of USA Fencing, you can add your member number; otherwise, leave that section blank. Leave all ratings as “U”. If the tournament has multiple events, check the box for the event you’re registering for. Finally, you’ll have the option to create an AskFRED account; it’s highly encouraged but optional. Once you’ve filled out the form, click “Preregister” at the bottom of the page to complete your registration.
