Youth
This category  includes athletes, 14 years old or under (U14.  The sub-categories are Youth 10 (Y10), Youth 12 (Y12), and Youth 14 (Y14).  Eligibility for the season is determined by the fencer’s age as of January 1.  The Age and Classification Eligibility chart can be found on the USFA website.  There are some exceptions to the age eligibility criteria where a younger fencer can fence-up an age group.  Details regarding these exceptions can be found in the USA Fencing Athlete Handbook.

Youth fencers are also eligible to compete in Super Youth Circuit (SYC) and Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) tournaments but only the fencers single best result in SYC’s and the fencers best results at RYC and/or RJCC tournaments within their home region (based on division affiliation) will be included in the National Point Standings.  RYC and SYC competitions are qualification paths for Y10, Y12, and Y14 at National[1] events.

Cadet and Junior
The Cadet category includes athletes, 17 years old or under (U17) and the Junior category includes athletes 20 years old or under (U20). 
Cadet and Junior fencers are eligible to compete in the Junior Olympic Fencing Championship (JOs) , the National Championships for Cadet, Junior and Junior Team.  Fencers must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, meet age eligibility and qualify to compete in this tournament.  The Division I National Championships are championships open to Juniors and the top Cadets on their respective Point Standings. For North American Cup (NACs) Tournaments athletes must meet the criteria for a “C” or better classification at the time of their entry.  

Senior
The Senior category includes athletes age 13 and up, and eligibility for the season is determined by the fencer’s age as of January 1, holding a classification of C or below (C, D, E, or U.)

Veteran
The Veteran category includes athletes age 40 and up, and eligibility for the season is determined by the fencer’s age as of January 1.  For North American Cup (NACs) Tournaments, there is no qualifying path to compete in Veteran events.  Athletes must meet age eligibility as noted above. 


[1] North American Cup Tournaments