Fencing competitions are a great way to develop skills, work on technique, meet other fencers, and test abilities against a wider range of people. In other words, competitions can help fencers improve much faster than classes alone.
We encourage you to consider competitions when you or your child feels ready. Everyone progresses differently, so this will be different for each fencer.
This page has information about competitions at different levels: club, state, national and international. It also has answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you work out whether competitions are right for you or your child.
If you have any further questions about fencing competitions, please speak to a CSFC coach or official. We have members who have competed at every level. They can offer advice and support, whatever type of competition you're considering.
Ask us a questionWe occasionally run competitions at the club on Saturdays. The entry fee is $5 for club members and $10 for non-club members, payable on the day. Club equipment is suitable for use in these competitions. These competitions are organised on an on-demand basis, so keep an eye on our Facebook page for announcements.
Fencing SA runs competitions throughout the year. Entry fees, license and equipment requirements vary depending on the level of competition. Full details, including the timetable, can be found on the Fencing SA website, or scroll down to find answers to frequently asked questions.
National competitions are organised and run by the Australian Fencing Federation, but hosted by the State associations, such as Fencing SA. They offer junior, senior, veteran, and team competitions in all weapons. See the Australian Fencing Federation website for more information or scroll down to find our answers to some frequently asked questions.
International competitions are organised and run by either a host country or the Federation Internationale d'Escrime. Competing at this level is more involved than the other three levels. We suggest you consult with members who have competed at this level or with the Australian Fencing Federation for the entry requirements and process.
Starting fencing competitions depends on when you or your child feels ready. This is different for everyone. For beginners, it's usually a good idea to complete the first term of fencing lessons before trying a competition.
Fencing SA organises and runs competitions in SA.
As the State's peak fencing body, Fencing SA is responsible for encouraging, promoting and overseeing the sport of fencing in SA.
To learn more about when competitions will be held, you can:
Fencing SA holds competitions in the Adelaide metro area at The Lights Community and Sports Centre, 244-270 East Parkway, Lightsview.
Most fencing competitions are individual competitions.
However, in team tournaments, the competitor is groups with two or three fencers against competing teams. Each member of the team fences against each member of the opposite team one by one.
School competitions are generally open to children who undertake fencing at their school as part of Fencing SA's schools program. Fencing SA says the purpose of the schools competition is to allow "fencers from clubs and schools to experience competitive fencing against fencers of similar age and similar physical development."
You can register for a competition on the Fencing SA website.
Check Fencing SA's competition enrolment rules for more information.
Before entering, you must ensure that you or your child (whoever is the competitor) has the correct Fencing SA membership (or licence).
For more information, see the FAQ below about Fencing SA membership.
The entry fee has two parts:
In 2024, the standard base fee is $10 and the competition entry fee is $10 per category. Standard base fees apply for entries submitted before the deadline.
Extra fees apply for late entries. In 2024, the late base fee is $20. (You must also pay the competition entry fee in addition to the late base fee).
For more information, see the FAQ below about registration deadlines.
For up-to-date information, visit the Fencing SA website.
The Fencing SA enrolment rules say that standard entries close at 11:59 pm on the Sunday before the competition.
If you miss the standard entry deadline, you can register as a late entry. You must do this by 11:59 pm on the Thursday before the competition.
You must pay an extra fee for a late entry. For more information, see the FAQ above about fees.
No entries are allowed after the late entry deadline has passed.
It's a good idea to enrol at least two weeks before the competition date to avoid issues with missed deadlines.
A Fencing SA membership serves three purposes. It:
You or your child (whoever is the competitor) must hold a Fencing SA membership to enter competitions.
Competition equipment requirements depend on the category. The Fencing SA website has a comprehensive list of equipment requirements for every category.
If you are uncertain about any equipment requirements, please speak to a CSFC coach or official.
Junior competitors can borrow equipment from CSFC when they start comepting.
We do recommend purchasing equipment over time to spread the cost. If your child is still growing, you may wish to start with a mask or weapon and build from there.
CSFC equipment is not suitable and can't be used for some of the higher category competitions such as Under 17, Under 20, Open A, and Veterans. There are also different requirements for national competitions at every age level. For more information, see the FAQs below about national competitions.
If you need help, please speak to one of our CSFC officials. They may be able to help you:
Fencing competitions are usually divided into the following categories:
Age groups are worked out by the age the competitor is on the first day of January in the year of competition. For example:
We recommend entering the age category closest to the competitor's current age.
Child competitors
As your child gets closer to ageing out of a category, we recommend they enter the next age category as well. It helps them to adjust to the new category. For example, if your child is 12 years old as of 1 January 2024, we'd recommend they enter the Under 13 foil and Under 15 competitions.
If you're uncertain about what competitions your child should enter, please speak with a CSFC coach or official.
Visit the Fencing SA website for a full list of competition categories .
Whether the competitor can enter national competitions depends on their age. The Australian Fencing Federation has more information about national competition requirements.
Like State competitions, entering national competitions depends on when the competitior feels ready. Since it costs more, we recommend discussing it with a CSFC coach or official.
IMPORTANT: National competitions have stricter equipment requirements. CSFC doesn't have loan equipment that meets these standards, so you will need to purchase equipment before entering.
IMPORTANT: National competitions have stricter equipment requirements. CSFC doesn't have loan equipment that meets these standards, so you will need to purchase equipment before entering.
For more information about fencing competitions, please visit the following websites:
You can also talk to our friendly CSFC coaches and officials. CSFC has members who have competed at every: locally, nationally and internationally. They can offer advice and support.
Please get in touch and let us know.
Ask us a question