Announcement

IMPORTANT UPDATE

2026 SoCal Junior Olympic Qualifier
November 14–15, 2026

Attention All Fencers, Coaches, and Parents

Due to changes in the USA Fencing 2026–2027 Athlete Handbook, all Cadet and Junior events with three (3) or fewer registered fencers will be canceled and will not be held.

A minimum of four (4) registered fencers is required for an event to take place.

Junior Olympic Divisional Qualification Table

Number of Fencers	Number Who Qualify
1–3	Event canceled — 0 qualify
4–8	1 fencer
9–16	2 fencers
17–32	4 fencers
33+	6 fencers

The qualification table applies separately to each Cadet and Junior event, by weapon and gender.

Important Qualification Requirements

1. Cadet and Junior Qualification Are Separate

Fencers must qualify separately for Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) events.

Qualifying for Junior does NOT automatically qualify a fencer for Cadet, even if the fencer meets Cadet age eligibility. There is no automatic trickle-down qualification between these age categories through the Divisional Qualifier pathway.

Fencers who wish to compete in both age categories at Junior Olympics must satisfy the qualification requirements for each category separately.

2. Age Eligibility

All fencers must meet USA Fencing’s age eligibility requirements for the 2026–2027 season.

• Cadet (U17): Generally, birth years 2010–2013.
• Junior (U20): Generally, birth years 2007–2013.
• Younger fencers may qualify for an age-category exception only if they satisfy applicable USA Fencing requirements.

3. Citizenship and Country Representation

All fencers must satisfy USA Fencing’s nationality and country-representation requirements.

• Fencers must be U.S. citizens or eligible permanent residents.
• Fencers must meet applicable requirements regarding representation of the United States.
• Athletes who have represented another country in certain FIE-level international competitions within the past three years may be ineligible unless officially approved to represent the USA.

4. Division Affiliation

Fencers must be eligible to compete in the Southern California Division Qualifier under USA Fencing’s divisional affiliation rules.

5. Other Qualification Requirements

All athletes must satisfy applicable USA Fencing membership, age verification, nationality verification, and event eligibility requirements.

Qualifying through a Divisional Qualifier does not waive these eligibility requirements.

Southern California Division
Reference: USA Fencing 2026–2027