AFF SELECTION SYSTEM

(Ratified December 2001)



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This selection system alone shall be used to select all AFF Representative Fencers.

1. THE SELECTORS
   
   
   1. There shall be a panel of five selectors
      
   2. The Selectors shall represent no fewer than two member states.
      
   3. The Selectors shall be selected at an annual general meeting of members.
      
   4. The period of office shall be the period of four consecutive annual general meetings.
      
   5. Each selector must be present at two thirds of the annual selection tournaments within Australia. Failure of a member to attend more than two consecutive tournaments without approval from the AFF Executive shall result in dismissal and a casual vacancy shall exist.
      
   6. Casual vacancies shall be filled by a postal vote of members. The term of those so elected shall be the duration of the term of the existing selectors.
      
   7. The Selectors shall not themselves be eligible for selection.
      
   8. The Selectors will elect a chairperson who will report to the AFF as specified or requested.
   
   
   
2. METHOD OF SELECTION

CADET

C2.1 To be eligible for selection to represent Australia, every Cadet fencer must previously have participated in an AFF approved training/competition tour. In exceptional circumstances, this requirement may be waived by the selectors.
C2.2 Points will be awarded for:-
  C2.2.1 The Australian National Championships
  C2.2.2 AFF Circuit #1
  C2.2.3 AFF Circuit #2
  C2.2.4 AFF Circuit #3
  C2.2.5 The Australian U/20 Championships
  C2.2.6 The Australian Cadet Championships
  C2.2.7 Any competitions which count for FIE world ranking, the World Cadet and Junior Championships, and FIE Category A Junior events.
C2.3 The points awarded in categories C2.2.1 – C2.2.6 will expire on a rolling basis. The most recent Australian Cadet Championships (C2.2.6), Australian U/20 Championships (C2.2.5) and the four most recent AFF Competitions (C2.2.1 – J2.2.4) can be counted. In the event that one of the six AFF Competitions (C2.2.1 – C2.2.6) is not held in a particular season, the points accrued in that competition in the previous season lapse 12 months after it was last held.
C2.4 Points awarded for FIE competitions under C2.2.7 lapse after 12 months. However, if any particular FIE Competition occurs twice in a 12 month period, only the more recent result can be counted. Points awarded for results from the most recent Cadet, Junior or Senior World Championships can be included, irrespective of whether they fall in the previous 12 months or not. (For the purposes of this paragraph, in those years when no World Championships is contested in a weapon because it is contested as part of the Olympic Games, the result achieved in the Olympic Games will be treated as if it were the World Championship event in that weapon for that year).
C2.5 Points will be awarded for competitions as listed in Appendix A. The points are specific to each weapon, and cannot be combined.
C2.6 The best four results from the competitions specified in C2.2 will be counted for each fencer, irrespective of whether the points are gained from competitions within or outside Australia, or from a combination of both.
C2.7 No fencer shall be selected to compete at the Cadet World Championships if they have fewer than 50 points, except under the provisions of C2.9. In each weapon, the two fencers who have obtained the highest points aggregate in that weapon shall be selected, provided that they have met the 50 point threshold. Additional available places will be decided at the selector’s discretion from among the remaining fencers who have reached the 50 point threshold, and the fencers who have applied for selection under C2.9.
C2.8 In the case of equality of points, the Selectors shall decide the priority of those fencers at their absolute discretion.
C2.9 Fencers who are resident overseas can apply to the selection panel for special consideration, upon submission of all the results they wish to have considered.
C2.10 In exceptional circumstances, fencers may be selected in more than one weapon, if their points justify such selection and they satisfy the relevant criteria.
C2.11 Selection for FIE Category ‘A’ Junior World Cup events will be subject to the conditions listed in Appendix B.


JUNIOR

J2.1 To be eligible for selection to represent Australia, every Junior fencer must previously have participated in an AFF approved training/competition tour. In exceptional circumstances, this requirement may be waived by the selectors.
J2.2 Points will be awarded for:-
  J2.2.1 The Australian National Championships
  J2.2.2 AFF Circuit #1
  J2.2.3 AFF Circuit #2
  J2.2.4 AFF Circuit #3
  J2.2.5 The Australian U/20 Championships
  J2.2.6 Any competitions which count for FIE world ranking, and FIE Category A Junior events.
J2.3 The points awarded in categories J2.2.1 – J2.2.5 will expire on a rolling basis. The most recent Australian U/20 Championships (J2.2.5) and the four most recent AFF Competitions (J2.2.1 – J2.2.4) can be counted. In the event that one of the five AFF Competitions (J2.2.1 – J2.2.5) is not held in a particular season, the points accrued in that competition in the previous season lapse 12 months after it was last held.
J2.4 Points awarded for FIE competitions under J2.2.6 lapse after 12 months. However, if any particular FIE Competition occurs twice in a 12 month period, only the more recent result can be counted. Points awarded for results from the most recent Junior or Senior World Championships can be included, irrespective of whether they fall in the previous 12 months or not. (For the purposes of this paragraph, in those years when no World Championships is contested in a weapon because it is contested as part of the Olympic Games, the result achieved in the Olympic Games will be treated as if it were the World Championship event in that weapon for that year).
J2.5 Points will be awarded for competitions as listed in Appendix A. The points are specific to each weapon, and cannot be combined.
J2.6 The best four results from the competitions specified in J2.2 will be counted for each fencer, irrespective of whether the points are gained from competitions within or outside Australia, or from a combination of both.
J2.7 No fencer shall be selected to compete at the Junior World Championships if they have fewer than 50 points, except under the provisions of J2.9. In each weapon, the two fencers who have obtained the highest points aggregate in that weapon shall be selected, provided that they have met the 50 point threshold. Additional available places will be decided at the selector’s discretion from among the remaining fencers who have reached the 50 point threshold, and the fencers who have applied for selection under J2.9.
J2.8 In the case of equality of points, the Selectors shall decide the priority of those fencers at their absolute discretion.
J2.9 Fencers who are resident overseas can apply to the selection panel for special consideration, upon submission of all the results they wish to have considered.
J2.10 In exceptional circumstances, fencers may be selected in more than one weapon, if their points justify such selection and they satisfy the relevant criteria.
J2.11 Selection for FIE Category ‘A’ Junior World Cup events will be subject to the conditions listed in Appendix B.


SENIOR

S2.1 Selection shall be made by reference to the point system herein except where the Selectors consider that exceptional circumstances, results or potential warrant the inclusion of a particular fencer within a team. S2.2 Points will be awarded for:-
  S2.2.1 The Australian National Championships   S2.2.2 AFF Circuit #1
  S2.2.3 AFF Circuit #2
  S2.2.4 AFF Circuit #3
  S2.2.5 Any Competitions that count for FIE world ranking.
S2.3 The points awarded in categories S2.2.1 – S2.2.4 will expire on a rolling basis. The four most recent AFF Competitions (S2.2.1-S2.2.4) can be counted. In the event that one of these four competitions is not held in a particular season, the points accrued in that competition in the previous season lapse 12 months after it was last held.
S2.4 Points awarded for FIE ‘A’ Grade competitions under S2.2.5 lapse after 12 months. However, if any particular FIE Competition occurs twice in a 12 month period, only the more recent result can be counted. Points awarded for results from the most recent World Championships can be included, irrespective of whether they fall in the previous 12 months or not. (For the purposes of this paragraph, in those years when no World Championships is contested in a weapon because it is contested as part of the Olympic Games, the result achieved in the Olympic Games will be treated as if it were the World Championship event in that weapon for that year).
S2.5 Points will be awarded for competitions as listed in Appendix A. The points are specific to each weapon, and cannot be combined.
S2.6 The points aggregate will comprise the sum of the best results from the competitions specified in S2.2.1-S2.2.4, the best result from S2.2.5 and the next two best results from S2.2.1-S2.2.5 irrespective of whether the points are gained from competitions within or outside Australia, or from a combination of both.
S2.7 For each season, the selectors will specify six FIE World Cup Competitions in each weapon. The competitions will be named within 14 days of the calendar being ratified and published by the FIE. These competitions, together with the previous years World Championships, will be known as the ‘designated competitions’
S2.8 In order to be considered for selection to represent Australia in any weapon at the World Championships, each fencer must satisfy two criteria:
  1. They must have earned FIE points in one of the ‘designated competitions’ in that weapon in the selection period.
  2. They must have at least 40 points in that weapon at the time of selection.
S2.9 Where equality of points exists the Selectors shall decide a ranking of fencers at their absolute discretion.
S2.10 In exceptional circumstances, fencers may be selected in more than one weapon for which their points justify selection.
S2.11 Selection for FIE Category ‘A’ World Cup events will be subject to the conditions listed in Appendix B.

3. THE FENCERS
   
   
   1. Fencers wishing to be considered for selection must comply with all the requirements laid down by the AFF in the call for nominations.
      
   2. Any fencer who nominated for a particular event, who is selected for that event and who subsequently declines selection may be liable to censure and penalty as specified from time to time by the AFF
      
   3. As one of the conditions of selection, all fencers selected shall attend such camps, and undertake such fitness tests as specified by the AFF
      
4. ADMINISTRATIVE
   
   
   1. Within one month of the completion of each of the AFF Annual Selection Tournaments, the Selectors must provide the Secretary General with a ranking list of Fencers.
      
   2. The selectors shall be advised of any conditions relating to numbers of entries or special conditions that apply to a tournament for which selection is being made.
      
   3. The selectors alone (using this selection system) will select the fencers for any team or individual competition; their selections will be forwarded to the AFF Board for ratification.
      
   4. If the controlling body of a particular event imposes conditions beyond the control of the AFF, those conditions will be implemented. However, the order of fencers shall still be determined solely by the selectors, using this selection system.
      
   5. Variations to any part of this selection system, other than at a general meeting of the Federation, must be passed by a majority of the AFF Board in a postal ballot.
      

1. The ranking and selection of Australian Fencers for the purposes of determining entry into FIE ‘A’ Grade Competitions will be carried out solely in accordance with this policy.
   
   
2. After the Australian National Championships or the World Championships (whichever comes later), the selectors will collate the points earned by each fencer, in each weapon, according to the current AFF Point System. The points earned by any fencer in each weapon will be treated separately, and cannot be combined. These points will be used to determine the eligibility of the fencer to compete in FIE ‘A’ Grade Competitions in the following FIE World Cup Season.
   
   
3. Only those fencers who have 20 or more points (on the list collated according to paragraph 2) will be eligible for selection to compete in FIE ‘A’ Grade Competitions outside Australia in the following FIE World Cup Season. The point requirement can be waived only in the case of exceptional results or potential, as allowed for in the current Selection System, S2.1.
   
   
4. The eligibility for selection will be valid for the entire FIE World Cup Season, even if the fencer falls below the 20 point threshold at some stage during the season.
   
   
5. If a fencer achieves the target 20 points at some later stage during the FIE World Cup Season, they will be added to the list of eligible fencers for the remainder of that season.
   
   
6. Once a fencer has competed in an ‘A’ Grade Competition in one weapon, they will not be eligible to compete in subsequent ‘A’ Grade Competitions in a different weapon during the same FIE World Cup Season. (FIE ‘A’ Grade Competitions held in Australia are exempt from this clause).
   
   
7. For each FIE ‘A’ Grade competition that a fencer wishes to contest, he or she must complete a separate copy of the Nomination/Results Form [Sections A and B] (Appendix C), and send it to the Secretary General of the AFF by the closing date for entries. Once nominations for a competition have closed with the AFF, those fencers who have nominated will be selected to compete in ‘A’ grades subject to following:
   
   
   1. Fencers will be ranked according to their AFF points; where two or more fencers have an equal number of points, the selectors will decide the ranking order among those fencers at their absolute discretion.
      
   2. Fencers living overseas can apply to be included in the ranking list for the purposes of selection to compete in ‘A’ Grades. Their position in the AFF ranking list will be decided by the AFF selection panel, based on the results they have submitted to the panel for consideration.
      
   3. Fencers taking place in an AFF sanctioned Tour will have precedence for entry into ‘A’ Grade competitions on that tour over higher-ranked fencers wishing to enter only some of the competitions that form part of the Tour.
      
   4. The maximum number of fencers that qualify, subject to the limitations imposed by the FIE, will be allowed entry to the competition.
      
   5. If the absence of sufficient referees would result in the imposition of a fine, as many fencers will be entered as allowed for by the FIE according to their AFF ranking subject to condition (c) above. If further fencers who have satisfied the other eligibility requirements choose to fence, they will be allowed to do so on condition that they each pay an equal share of the total fine, or they provide a referee who meets the requirements of the organising committee. In the event that the sanction is the barring of contestants from the competition, these additional fencers will not be able to compete.
      
      
8. Selection of teams for any FIE sanctioned team matches held in conjunction with ‘A’ Grade Competitions will be carried out by the AFF Selection Panel. The manager, coach or team captain, as designated by the AFF Executive, will select which of these team members will be used in each team match, the order in which they fence, and their substitution within any particular match.
   
   
9. If possible, arrangements should be made to send official copies of the pool sheets and direct elimination tables to the Chair of the Selection Panel. If this is not possible, it is the responsibility of each and every fencer to record the results of their pool sheets and their direct elimination bout scores, and to send a copy to the Chair of the Selection Panel, with a signed and witnessed statement attesting to their veracity
   
   
10. For each FIE ‘A’ Grade competition contested by a fencer, the fencer must complete a separate copy of Section C of the Nomination/Results Form (Appendix C), and send it to the Secretary General of the AFF within thirty days of the competition. In the event that the fencer is absent for a series of competitions, the completed forms must be returned within 30 days of the completion of the last competition of the nominated series.