The NCAA News - News and Features

July 21, 1997

Fencing Committee alters scoring method to enhance understanding by media, public

The NCAA Men's and Women's Fencing Committee revised the method of scoring for the National Collegiate Men's and Women's Fencing Championships and determined regional allocations during its annual meeting June 9-11 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The committee revised the scoring system to award one point instead of 10 for each individual victory. The committee determined that this system would decrease the difference in scores and would be better understood by the public and media.

The committee also determined the following regional allocations for the 1998 championships: men's epee (Mid-Atlantic South, 7; Midwest 4; Northeast, 8; West, 3; at large, 2); men's foil (Mid-Atlantic South, 6; Midwest, 4; Northeast, 5; West, 3; at large, 2); men's sabre (Mid-Atlantic South, 7; Midwest, 4; Northeast, 9; West, 2; at large, 2); women's epee (Mid-Atlantic South, 7; Midwest, 4; Northeast, 8; West, 3; at large, 2); and women's foil (Mid-Atlantic South, 7; Midwest, 5; Northeast, 8; West, 2; at large, 2).

The committee also established an alternate selection procedure stating that if a qualified fencer is unable to compete, the highest ranking eligible fencer will be selected from the list of alternates. If the elimination of a qualifier drops his or her region below the regional allocation, the replacement fencer will be the highest ranking fencer from that region.

If the appropriate alternate is not available, the next highest ranking alternate available from that region will be selected. If no fencer is available from the proper region, the next highest alternate from any region will be selected.

If a region drops below its allotment, the results of the alternate (from another region) will not be factored in figuring the next year's allocations. In no case may any institution have more than two competitors per weapon.

In other actions, the committee discussed adding women's sabre as an event but agreed to wait until the issue is acted upon by the United States Fencing Association.

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