How to Qualify for Summer Nationals
The paths to USA Fencing's two biggest annual events — for every age category, plain English.
USA Fencing runs four major national events each season — Junior Olympics in February, Div I Nationals in April, then Summer Nationals and the July Challenge in the same week in late June. Each event has its own qualification path. Pick the one you're aiming for and follow its rules.
- Four national events: Junior Olympics (Feb), April Div I Nationals, Summer Nationals (Jun/Jul), and the July Challenge (alongside Summer Nationals).
- Most paths fall into three patterns: be on the relevant National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS), hit a regional points threshold, or finish top 25% of your division's qualifying competition.
- The International Regional Circuit (IRC) — events held outside the US — counts as a qualifier (top 40% finishers).
- Junior Olympics has its own guide; see /junior-olympics/.
April Div I National Championships
April · Senior Div I only
Held separately from Summer Nationals. This is also a selection event for the Senior World Championships and Olympic Team.
Qualify by any one of these
- On Senior, Junior, or Cadet NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- Top 8 in last year's Div IA National Championships.
- Top 4 in last year's Div II National Championships.
- Top 4 of the current Veteran Combined NRPS at the regular entry deadline.
- One of the 24 NCAA Championships individual competitors.
- Epee only: top 3 of the USA Fencing Modern Pentathlon Point Standings.
Summer Nationals
Late June / early July · Y10–Y14, Div IA/II/III, Veteran
The umbrella championship event. Multiple event categories run simultaneously across the week — find your category below.
Y10 / Y12 / Y14
- Be on your age group's National Rolling Point Standings at the qualification deadline.
- For Y10 only: be on your region's Y10 Regional Youth standings.
- Hit your regional points threshold (top three results summed): Y10 → 60+ Y12 points; Y12 → 70+ Y12 or 160+ Y14 points; Y14 → 160+ Y14 points.
- Top 25% of your division's Y14 qualifying competition (Y12 fencers can use the Y14 qualifier).
- Top 40% at a Y10/Y12/Y14 IRC or ISC tournament.
Div IA
- On the Senior NRPS at the regular entry deadline.
- On the Div IA regional points list.
- Top 8 of the Div II regional points list.
- Top 20% of an Adult or Adult Combined regional event.
Div II
- Top 25% of your division's qualifying competition.
- On the Div IA or Div II ROC regional point standings.
- Top 40% of an Adult or Adult Combined regional event.
- Top 40% of a Div II NAC (if one is held).
Div III
- Top 25% of D/E/U fencers at your division's combined Div II/III qualifier.
- Top 25% of a separate Div III qualifier if your division holds one.
- On the Div IA or Div II ROC standings (if rating eligible).
- Already qualified for Div II Nationals (if rating eligible).
- Top 40% of an Adult or Adult Combined regional event.
- Top 40% of a Div III regional event.
Veteran (V40, V50, V60, V70+, V80+)
Veteran Nationals is also the final selection event for the Veteran World Championships team.
- Compete in your division's Div II or Div III qualifying competition.
- Compete in any ROC during the season.
- Compete in any NAC during the season.
- On your Veteran Age Group NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- On the Veteran Combine regional point standings at the qualification deadline.
July Challenge
Late June / early July (same week as Summer Nationals) · Div I, Cadet, Junior
The Div I, Cadet, and Junior events live here. Note that Cadet and Junior use post-Feb-NAC "age-out" point standings since this happens after Junior Olympics.
Div I
- On Senior NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- On aged-out Junior NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- Top 24 of the aged-out Cadet NRPS at the qualification deadline (and age eligible).
- Top 16 from Div IA regional points.
- Top 4 of Div II regional points at the qualification deadline.
- One of the 24 NCAA Championships individual competitors.
Cadet
- On Cadet NRPS (post-Feb-NAC age-out) at the qualification deadline.
- Top 50% of Y14 NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- 75+ regional points on the Cadet OR Junior regional standings.
- Top 40% at a Cadet IRC or ISC.
Junior
- On Junior NRPS (post-Feb-NAC age-out) at the qualification deadline.
- On Cadet NRPS (post-Feb-NAC age-out).
- 75+ regional points on the Junior regional standings.
- Top 25% of Y14 NRPS at the qualification deadline.
- Top 40% at a Junior IRC or ISC.
Where to track your status
USAF publishes National Rolling Point Standings for every age group on the member portal, updated within days of each scoring event. Registration deadlines and qualification cutoffs are published per-event — see our event calendar for dates.