Jerry Benson, elected to the USFA Board of Directors by the Southwest Section, has this information to pass on from the September 18th, 2005 meeting of the USFA Board of Directors, long in advance of the anticipated availability of the meeting minutes in spring 2006.

IMPORTANT USFA BOARD DECISIONS FROM SEPTEMBER 18, 2005 FOR THE SOUTHWEST SECTION AND ITS MEMBERS

"U.S. Fencing Association (USFA) now offers general liability coverage for member coaches at no additional cost. This coverage is extended to all USFA sanctioned and non-sanctioned fencing events/activities. As a member coach, you no longer have to purchase this coverage separately. This coverage is provided to you as an added benefit of your membership through USFA.”

1. Effective with the 2006 Summer nationals, that all National Championship competitions, excluding the wheelchair and team competitions, will have the following format:

   One round of pools with 80 percent (80%) of the fencers promoted to a direct elimination tableau without repêchage to a final of 8. Division 1, Cadet, Junior, U17, and U20 championships are currently fenced with this format; competitions affected by this change are the Division IA, Division 2, Division 3, and Veterans competitions.

2. Check USFA website for current regional youth circuit information! [Webmaster's note: Although it may not be as official as the main USFA Web site, the USFA RYC Web site is making more RYC information available faster than the main USFA Web site.]

3. Effective with the 2005-2006 season, that all qualifying tournaments to Junior Olympics and National Championship do not fence off to resolve a tie for third place except in the case that third place is the final qualifying place.

Respectfully reported by Jerry Benson
Southwest Section Board Representative