Tournament Info (posted Nov 20)
Waitlist update: Fencers are being moved from waitlist status to entry as notices of withdrawals are being received. Events are not being expanded beyond current cap. Waitlisted fencers who no longer wish to compete should withdraw themselves, or notify us. Waitlisted fencers may inquire in-person at Bout Committee for any available slots due to no-shows. There is no guarantee of entry, and any waitlisted fencers present will be taken in order of original waitlist position.**
Eric Kwalwasser, a Cadet Saber Fencer, founded Fencers Feeding Families; a project that looks within the fencing community to give back to those in need. This initiative will launch at the Cobra event! The suggestion is to bring two cans of food or any nonperishable items. Collection bins will be set up near the entrance. All donations will be given to the Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry.
Meadowlands Expo Center
355 Plaza Drive; Secaucus, NJ 07094
Free parking in any garages adjacent to the venue
Handicapped-accessible
The venue will be crowded and seating is limited. Each fencer should be accompanied by only one (1) spectator, which does not include their coach. Complete spectator registration here. Clubs will be limited to a maximum of 6 coaches per Club per day. Coaches badges will be issued in the lobby prior to entering the venue. To receive a coaching credential coaches must be SafeSport compliant (i.e. have a current NCSI background screen and have completed the required online SafeSport training). No parents, coaches, or spectators will be allowed in the designated fencing area (pod) during the pool round; however, one coach is allowed to assist a fencer during DE bouts and is allowed inside the pod. Coach will stand in a clearly designated area and will be instructed not to step out of this area until the bout ends. Repeated violators will be escorted out of the venue immediately.
USA Fencing Regional events follow the codes of conduct set by USA Fencing. All spectators, coaches and members will be expected to abide by these Codes of Conduct. To report MAAPP, SafeSport Policy or Code of Conduct violations visit https://www.usafencing.org/fencesafe-report.
• Food and drink will be sold by Expo Center staff however menu is limited so we encourage you to bring your own food/drink. Please help keep the venue clean. Dispose of trash/food/drink in trash receptacles.
• There is a water fill fountain in the lobby, however we encourage you to bring your own water, or purchase at the venue.
• There will be no monitors to display pools or results. Check live tournament results and tournament progress at www.fencingtimelive.com. Note, there is no Wi-Fi in the venue; internet access is via your cell phone or other provider.*
• Cobra Fencing Club and Meadowlands Exposition Center are not responsible for any lost or stolen property. Do not leave your personal belongings unattended in the venue. We do not advise bringing valuable items, and if you do should be kept with you at all times. Check to make sure you have all your equipment and belongings before you leave, as anything left at the end of the day will be thrown out!
CHECK-IN
BAG STORAGE
There is a bag storage area, however will likely not accommodate all bags. Overflow bags can be stored all along the perimeter of the venue (against the walls), however cannot block walkways or fire exits (bags in these locations will be moved). Do not leave your personal belongings unattended in the venue. We do not advise bringing valuable items, and if you do should be kept with you at all times. Many bags look alike - check to make sure you have all your equipment and belongings before you leave, as anything left at the end of the day will be thrown out!
EQUIPMENT CHECK/ARMORY PREPARATION
The equipment check line may be very long at times (especially Friday), so will be prioritized (i.e. fencers with earlier start times may be moved to the front of the line). Armory is open all day during hours of competition for equipment check.
Refer to the Athlete's Handbook, Section 2.17, for equipment requirements for domestic tournaments. There will be full equipment check. To help the line move quickly, do the following:
• Do not bring your fencing bag into the line; it is a tripping hazard.
• Make sure mask, glove, and lame do not have tears or holes. You may not repair your equipment with tape.
• Lames need to be right-side-out and zipped. Armorer will not zip it up, and may refuse to check it if it arrives at their table unzipped.
• Separate cords from each other. If you present a clump of body cords all together it takes a long time to untangle them. Take off all previous inspection tapes from body cords and mask cords.
• When called to the armorer desk take everything out of your mask, and place your equipment on the armorer's table.
SAFE SPORT AND MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES
USA Fencing Regional Events follow the SafeSport Code and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, as approved by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Please carefully read through these policies prior to your attendance at the event.
Additionally, USA Fencing Regional events follow the codes of conduct set by USA Fencing. Please carefully read the codes of conduct for spectators, coaches and members as you will be expected to abide by these codes of conduct.
Coaches attending this tournament must have a Coach credential. To be SafeSport compliant, a Coach member that is coaching must have a current NCSI background screen (valid for 2 years) and have completed the required online SafeSport training.
Good luck to all athletes
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Proudly hosted by Cobra Fencing Club. Absolute Fencing Gear is 2023 official sponsor and will supply all-metal strips and scoring machines. Absolute Fencing Gear will be on-site for equipment purchases and equipment repairs
IMPORTANT WAITLIST INFO: Should events reach waitlist capacity, to be officially on a wait list you must supply a valid credit card when registering, and your entry will show your position on the waitlist. Your card is not charged until you are moved into the event. If you join the waitlist during regular fee period your card will be charged regular fee, if join during late fee period you will be charged late fee. If you have an invalid/expired credit card on file, or if you did not supply a payment method when registering, we cannot move you into the event should there be an opening. The schedule will be evaluated after close of regular fee period and we know how many fencers are waitlisted in each event. Every effort will be made to accommodate as many as possible. If any questions regarding the waitlist contact the organizer immediately. Wait-listed fencers may inquire in-person at the Bout Committee on tournament day for any available slots due to no-shows, and will be entered according to original waitlist position.
There will be no exceptions to any COVID-19 safety protocols implemented throughout the tournament. We will be following USA Fencing guidelines and local regulations regarding COVID-19 at tournament time. Covid testing or proof of vaccination is not required. At this time wearing of masks is optional. If any circumstances arise that would preclude safe running of this event, this tournament can be cancelled at any time. Should tournament cancel, any refund of fees is subject to USA Fencing. We strongly encourage everyone to practice general infectious diseases prevention guidelines, including:
• If you are sick, stay home. Check your temperature before traveling.
• Fencers should wash their clothes each day before they come to tournaments. Armorers have the full right to decline inspecting unwashed or uncleaned equipment.
• Each fencer should be accompanied by ONE (1) person (does not include coach). Complete spectator registration here
• Clubs are allowed a maximum of 6 coaches per day. Coaches badges issued in lobby before entering venue.
Book Harmony Suites (next to venue) before October 22, 2023, (or until block is sold out) at special rate of $159-$199. Enter Promo Code "Cobra" when booking. Booking info
EVENT CAPS IN PLACE. NO GENERAL WALK-IN ENTRY.
In-person inquiries can be made at the Bout Committee on tournament day, and walk-in entry (at late fee) allowed only if there is space available and only after any waitlisted fencers present have been accommodated.
Registration opens June 18, 2023, and closes November 12, 2023, with regular and late fee periods as noted in Event Fee Details. It is your responsibility to be aware of fee period deadlines; no reminders will be sent.
2023-24 USA FENCING AGE ELIGIBILITY Current point standings here
SYC are possible qualification paths for Youth 10 and Youth 12 events at both the March and/or USA Fencing National Championships. The SYC competitions will award National points (to fencers of all regions) to the top 40% of the competitive field (rounded up to the next higher integer), to a maximum of 64th place. Points will not be tracked regionally or nationally for Y8 events.
Cadet events at SYC are sanctioned as Regional Cadet Circuit events and Regional points will be awarded to all participants residing in Region 3 based on place finished.
SYC EVENT INFORMATION here
RCC EVENT INFORMATION here
MORE GENERAL TOURNAMENT INFO here
All events will be capped and entry is on a first-come first-served basis – no exceptions. Caps may be adjusted depending on registrations to ensure balance throughout the day. Once the event cap has been reached fencers will be placed on a wait list. Fencer must supply a payment method to join the wait list and be eligible for graduation into the event. Wait-listed entry without payment method is considered pending and your position will drop below completed wait listed entries. Wait lists will also be cleared on a first-come first-served basis.
Fencers are not allowed to compete in more than one event per day, unless approved by the Bout Committee and Tournament Organizers. Contact organizer before registering for authorization.
All event days/times are subject to change, and we strongly urge you to keep your entire week-end flexible until final close of check-in times are determined. There will be no refunds issued due to time changes on the same day. Any day/time changes should be posted no later than November 9.
No exceptions to late fees will be made for inability to register within stated deadlines. There will be no reminder emails sent to competitors with incomplete registrations or incomplete waitlist registrations. It is your responsibility to be aware of registration deadlines and ensure your entry is completed with payment. If waitlisted you should receive e-mail confirmation of your position on the waitlist. Entry and waitlisting is first-come, first-served.
SYC REGULAR fee entry/payment until November 8, 2023: $55 registration fee plus $ 80 per event, plus any applicable USA Fencing fees
RCC REGULAR fee entry/payment until November 8, 2023: $50 registration fee plus $75 per event, plus any applicable USA Fencing fees
SYC LATE TRIPLE fee entry/payment November 9-12, 2023: $165 registration fee plus $ 240 per event, plus USA Fencing administration fee
RCC LATE TRIPLE fee entry/payment November 9-12, 2023: $150 registration fee plus $ 225 per event, plus USA Fencing administration fee
NO GENERAL WALK-IN ENTRY Waitlisted fencers may inquire in-person at the Bout Committee on tournament day and may enter if slot becomes available. Do not e-mail to inquire, as e-mails will likely not be answered during the tournament, or response will be delayed.
REFUND POLICY
Registration fees and USA Fencing administrative fees are nonrefundable. Requests for event fee refunds will only be honored if received prior to midnight on November 17, 2023. An exception to the refund policy will be made if your slot can be filled from the waitlist, and in this case event fee requests will be honored until November 22, 2023. After these dates no portion of the entry fees will be refunded for any reason, including illness/injury. USA Fencing will issue refund to credit card used for the registration.
All check-in times are subject to change, therefore we strongly encourage you to keep your entire day flexible until final close-of check-in times are posted as there is no refund in the event of time changes on the same day. Verify your check-in time prior to traveling to the venue.
On tournament day, fencers arriving late (after close of check-in) will not be allowed to compete; they will be withdrawn from the competition and no there will be no refund of entry fees. There is no refund for no-shows for any reason, including illness/injury.
Must send notification of withdrawal and request for refund to cherylfencing@gmail.com. FENCERS WHO WITHDRAW THEMSELVES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND.
Referee cadre will consist of highly ranked FIE/National/Regional referees. If interested in refereeing, email Ralph Bellantoni at bellantoniralphj@gmail.com. Only referees who are USA Fencing/FIE rated, FenceSafe-approved, and have background screen completed will be considered (FenceSafe and background not needed if under age 18).
Tournament Organizer - Steve Kaplan, Cobra Fencing Club
Head Referees - Jeff Bukantz and Charles Greene II
Referee assigner – Ralph Bellantoni
Bout Committee - George Janto, Cheryl Delaney
Head Armorer - Alice Kee
Absolute Fencing Gear is 2023 official sponsor and will provide all-metal strips and scoring machines. Absolute Fencing Gear will be also on-site for equipment purchases and repairs (for fee).
Book Harmony Suites (next to venue) before October 22, 2023, at special rate of $159-$199. Enter Promo Code "Cobra" when booking. Booking info
Free garaged parking in any garages adjacent to the venue on tournament days. Venue is handicapped-accessible.
Newark Liberty International airport is approximately 12 miles from the venue.
Nearby hotels:
Hyatt Place: link
Aloft Secaucus link
Six national hotel chains are within a 5 minute drive: Crowne Plaza Hotel, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Meadowlands Plaza Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Meadowlands, Candlewood Suites
Your current registrations for this tournament are listed here along with their status.
Tournament Menu
Only signed in users can register for events.
Sign InFriday, November 24
Saturday, November 25
Sunday, November 26
USA Fencing regional events follow the codes of conduct set by USA Fencing. Please carefully read the codes of conduct for spectators, coaches and members.
USA Fencing regional events follow the SafeSport and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies as approved by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Please direct all inquiries to this contact information.
Important dates and upcoming deadlines.
All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST).