In exceptional cases, subject to approval by the USFA Executive Committee, a member of the USFA in good standing may be permitted to qualify to the Junior Olympic Championships or Summer National Championships by appeal. No petition may contravene the results of a qualifying competition. There is no appeal for Division I Nationals, the fencer either meets the qualification standards or does not.
Here are some examples of appeals and their dispositions:
a) If you are injured or become ill while competing in a qualifying competition and do not withdraw on a medical basis, your result stands and there is NO appeal. It is better not to fence and get medical documentation or to withdraw and ask the bout committee for a written statement verifying the medical withdrawal. That statement or medical documentation must be submitted with your appeal.
b) Appeals will not be considered for the case in which fencer is attending school in another division. Division membership is determined by where you live, where you go to school, or the location of the club that you represent in competition. When you renew your membership in the USFA, you must state the Division to which you wish to be assigned based on these criteria. That is your Division for the year and the one from which you must qualify to Championship tournaments.
c) The Division scheduled the qualifying competition on the same weekend as an NAC. (Divisions and Sections try to avoid such conflicts but it may not always be possible.) The fencer must decide in which competition (s)he wishes to compete. An appeal will not be approved if the fencer decides to fence in the NAC rather than the qualifying competition.
The following criteria and procedures are applicable to filing an appeal.
An appeal may be filed by a fencer who qualified to that same competition in the prior season or whose competitive record during the current fencing season indicates a strong possibility that (s)he would have qualified had (s)he been able to compete in the qualifying competition but:
a) was unable to compete in the qualifying competitions this season (Mere attendance at an out of town school during the qualifying competition shall not constitute inability to compete), OR
b) did compete and had to withdraw because of a disabling injury or illness.
All appeals must be made in writing to the Director of National Events, USFA National Office, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5774. Such appeals should be filed within five business days following the competition at which the petitioner could have qualified. Petitions must be received at the National Office no later than the entry deadline for the Junior Olympic or Summer National Championships to which the petitioner seeks entry. Under no circumstances will petitions be accepted if received after the entry deadline for the Championships.
The appeal must be accompanied by:
a) A non refundable-filing fee of $40.00, payable to the USFA.
b) A written statement that gives the specific details of the dates, reason for absence or withdrawal, and other pertinent facts. Written notice from the attending physician and/or statement from the Bout Committee must substantiate any medical reasons if the medical reason required withdrawal from the qualifying competition.
c) A summary of the fencer's significant competitive results during the past year. In particular, results in previous National Championships and recent North American Cup competitions should be noted.
d) Evidence that a copy of the petition has been submitted to the Chair or Secretary of the Division or Section that hosted the qualifying competition. If the basis for the petition does not correspond with information available to the Division or Section officer, then the USFA expects that officer to so notify the national office in writing. The Officer can then file a statement recommending denial of appeal and reasons thereto. Otherwise, it will be assumed the Officer has no objection to approval of appeal.
e) A completed entry form for the competition with the correct registration and entry fees. If the petition is not approved, these fees associated with the entry will be refunded.
f) A self addressed, stamped envelope for reply to the appeal if fencer does not have a current e-mail address; otherwise responses to the appeal will be made by e-mail.
Petitions that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.
Decisions on petitions will be based upon the validity of reasons given for absence or withdrawal and the probability that the fencer would have qualified had (s)he competed in the qualifying competition to its conclusion, based on results achieved in other competitions. Petitions are processed within 3-5 weeks.
If a fencer is permitted to enter a National Championship competition by this appeal procedure, the fencer’s entry will in no way affect the number of qualifiers from the Division or Section involved.