Some great news, folks!

From this month’s “5 Minutes With Phil” (USA Fencing’s New CEO):

“A lot of chatter has been around the Y8-Y10-Y12 review group, and I first want to take a moment to thank the members of that group who have come together and worked on an aggressive time schedule to help our sport engage our youngest athletes. This month, the group will provide their report to the USA Fencing Board of Directors at its upcoming Feb. 16 board meeting. The group will not be recommending the removal of national competition for Y10 and Y12 while they recommend the formalization of Y8 at the regional level. Instead, the group will make recommendations in line with limiting burnout and encouraging fun within these age groups, likely to include the engagement in other activities or sports at these ages — an idea that was universally endorsed by the group.” (Emphasis added).

Full Report Here: February 2023

We eagerly await the Task Force Report this month. Thank you ALL for your hard work!!!

Please make sure you register for an Access Membership ($25) so you can vote in Board elections this year. Some of the people who wanted to cancel youth fencing are running again (sigh) and there are some new candidates who care strongly about our youth fencers who will fight for them the next time this issue comes up (it’s come up before and if we allow the status quo it will happen again and again).

We need to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear. We are three-thousand strong. That’s a lot of “chatter.” Keep it up, friends!!! 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. Good luck in your competitions! We hope to see you out there! 

xoxoxo

C