Amateur Fencers League of America
Encyclopedia
The Amateur Fencers League of America, or AFLA, was founded on April 22, 1891 in New York City
by a group of fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union
. As early as 1940, the AFLA was recognized by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
(FIE) and the United States Olympic Committee
as the national governing body for fencing
in the United States
. The AFLA is now known as the United States Fencing Association
(USFA).
During the AFLA's first year, divisional organizations formed in New England
and Nebraska
, while the New York fencers remained in the "non-divisional group". The first section (composed of three or more divisions), the Pacific Coast section, was formed in 1925, followed in 1934 by the Mid-West section. In 1939, the national championships were held in San Francisco
— the first time they had ever been held outside of New York City. The All-Eastern section was recognized in 1939 as well.
By 1940, the rules had been revised several times, with some standardization finally occurring with the adoption of the FIE rules in the 1920s. Points for good form were no longer awarded, the jury had been expanded to four judges and a director, and rules for electrically judged épée
bouts were adopted. Foil
and sabre
bouts remained visually judged, and electrical épée bouts were the exception rather than the rule.
The AFLA remained a small organization for the first fifty years of its existence, with approximately 1,250 members in 1940. It had grown from three divisions to 25, with about 300 scheduled competitions each year. Despite its small size, the AFLA fielded teams to represent the United States in fencing events at all of the Summer Olympic Games
from 1904 onward.
In 1949, the AFLA made American Fencing (at that time a bi-monthly magazine) the official publication of the league. Continued growth resulted in the formation of the Southwest section in 1950 and the North Atlantic section in 1955 (the All-Eastern section was discontinued).
The league maintained a strict amateur code. Until 1953, professionals (those who received financial compensation for fencing or for teaching fencing) were excluded from membership in the AFLA. Competition for professionals was limited.
was affecting many sports, including fencing; the Soviet Bloc nations began systematically reinventing fencing to take advantage of the new electrical foil. In order to remain competitive internationally, AFLA fencers had to adapt to the emerging style.
Steady growth of the league continued, and in 1964, the AFLA incorporated as a nonprofit
in Pennsylvania
. By this time, more foil and épée competitions were being judged electrically than visually (sabre remained visually judged). In addition to the non-divisional group, the AFLA boasted 49 active divisions.
The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association
(c.f.) in June 1981. In 1982, the organization moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado
. The following year, it hired full-time employees for the first time. The organization's bylaws were rewritten to reflect a much stronger support for international and Olympic competitors, and the role of divisional and sectional level competition was substantially diminished. Except for beginners' competitions and small local events, essentially all competition in foil and épée was electrically judged.
These events in the early 1980s solidified the evolutionary branching between fencing (under the USFA) and standard fencing (which in 2006 began to experience a revival under the fledgling American Fencing League
). The intervening two decades also brought on the classical fencing
and historical fencing movements, neither of which have much connection to USFA/AFLA fencing.
Most of the activity in the AFLA occurred at the divisional level. As a democratic organization, divisions enjoyed almost complete autonomy.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by a group of fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
. As early as 1940, the AFLA was recognized by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime is the international governing body of Olympic fencing. It was founded on November 29, 1913 in Paris, France. Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland...
(FIE) and the United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
as the national governing body for fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The AFLA is now known as the United States Fencing Association
United States Fencing Association
The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States.The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union...
(USFA).
1891-1956
Less than a year after the AFLA's founding, friendly relations were restored with the AAU. The AFLA grew slowly, with New York City initially dominating American fencing. The first competitions were visually judged using a jury of three people. Early rules included provisions to award points based on good form.During the AFLA's first year, divisional organizations formed in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, while the New York fencers remained in the "non-divisional group". The first section (composed of three or more divisions), the Pacific Coast section, was formed in 1925, followed in 1934 by the Mid-West section. In 1939, the national championships were held in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
— the first time they had ever been held outside of New York City. The All-Eastern section was recognized in 1939 as well.
By 1940, the rules had been revised several times, with some standardization finally occurring with the adoption of the FIE rules in the 1920s. Points for good form were no longer awarded, the jury had been expanded to four judges and a director, and rules for electrically judged épée
Épée (fencing)
The épée is the modern derivative of the dueling sword, the smallsword . Épée is French for "sword"....
bouts were adopted. Foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
and sabre
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
bouts remained visually judged, and electrical épée bouts were the exception rather than the rule.
The AFLA remained a small organization for the first fifty years of its existence, with approximately 1,250 members in 1940. It had grown from three divisions to 25, with about 300 scheduled competitions each year. Despite its small size, the AFLA fielded teams to represent the United States in fencing events at all of the Summer Olympic Games
Fencing at the Summer Olympics
Fencing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. Women's foil made its Olympic debut in Paris, during the 1924 Olympic Games...
from 1904 onward.
In 1949, the AFLA made American Fencing (at that time a bi-monthly magazine) the official publication of the league. Continued growth resulted in the formation of the Southwest section in 1950 and the North Atlantic section in 1955 (the All-Eastern section was discontinued).
The league maintained a strict amateur code. Until 1953, professionals (those who received financial compensation for fencing or for teaching fencing) were excluded from membership in the AFLA. Competition for professionals was limited.
1957-1983
By 1957, the AFLA was scheduling more than 400 competitions every year. The Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
was affecting many sports, including fencing; the Soviet Bloc nations began systematically reinventing fencing to take advantage of the new electrical foil. In order to remain competitive internationally, AFLA fencers had to adapt to the emerging style.
Steady growth of the league continued, and in 1964, the AFLA incorporated as a nonprofit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. By this time, more foil and épée competitions were being judged electrically than visually (sabre remained visually judged). In addition to the non-divisional group, the AFLA boasted 49 active divisions.
The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association
United States Fencing Association
The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States.The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union...
(c.f.) in June 1981. In 1982, the organization moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
. The following year, it hired full-time employees for the first time. The organization's bylaws were rewritten to reflect a much stronger support for international and Olympic competitors, and the role of divisional and sectional level competition was substantially diminished. Except for beginners' competitions and small local events, essentially all competition in foil and épée was electrically judged.
These events in the early 1980s solidified the evolutionary branching between fencing (under the USFA) and standard fencing (which in 2006 began to experience a revival under the fledgling American Fencing League
American Fencing League
The American Fencing League, or AFL, was founded on March 25, 2005 in Salem, Oregon, United States, by a group of fencers seeking independence from the United States Fencing Association. It is a non-profit organization for fencers who wish to enjoy fencing using non-electric foil, sabre, and épée...
). The intervening two decades also brought on the classical fencing
Classical fencing
Classical fencing is the styles of modern fencing as they existed during the 19th and early 20th century. According to the 19th-century fencing master Louis Rondelle,...
and historical fencing movements, neither of which have much connection to USFA/AFLA fencing.
Rules
The AFLA's rules of fencing went through many revisions. The following is a summary of the revisions:1891 edition
- Four pages in length.
- Jury of three apparently co-equal judges.
- Points awarded for form and for touches.
- Target area at foil excludes the back.
- Dark fencing jackets required.
- Jabs (elbow beginning behind the hip) do not count.
- Field of play is 20 feet by 3 feet.
- Crossing a boundary with any part of the foot results in a deduction of one point.
- All weapons contested to five touches, with points for form added on.
- No time limits.
- It is implied that women are not permitted to compete.
1940 edition
- 121 pages in length.
- Jury of four judges and a director.
- Points awarded solely for delivering a touch.
- The back is valid target in all three weapons.
- White fencing jackets required.
- Explanation of right-of-way replaces "no jabbing rule".
- Field of play is 40 feet long by between 1.8 and 2.0 meters in width.
- Crossing the rear limit with both feet (at any time at foil, and for the second time at sabre and épée) results in a point for the other fencer.
- Crossing the side limit with both feet results in the loss of 1 meter of ground.
- Foil and sabre bouts are to five touches or ten minutes.
- Épée bouts are to one touch or five minutes or, to two or three touches or ten minutes.
- Women allowed to compete at foil (bouts are to four points or eight minutes), but touches below the waist (delineated by a dark-colored sash) are off-target.
- Warnings are given when there are two minutes remaining, and again when there is one minute left.
- At foil and sabre, tie scores are decided via sudden death, while at épée ties result in a loss for both fencers.
- The scores of bouts that go to time are advanced an equal amount until one fencer has five points (e.g. an actual score of 3-1 is recorded as 5-3; 1-0 is recorded as 5-4).
- At épée and sabre, the fencer is allowed to retreat twice as far as in foil, effectively doubling the length of the strip.
- Touches which arrive off-target (at sabre and foil) as a result of a parry do not stop the phrase.
- Reversal of positions of the fencers is permitted at standard épée, but not electrical épée.
- Electrical épée rules included.
- Rules for three-weapon team and individual competition included.
- Rules for indoor (foil, épée, and sabre) and outdoor (épée and sabre only) competitions included.
- Fencers are classified as Prep, Novice, Junior, Intermediate, or Senior based upon past competitive performance. Changes in classification occur after each competition.
1957 edition
- 151 pages in length.
- Electrical foil rules included for the first time. Target area for electrical foil excludes the bib of the fencing mask.
- Épée bouts are to one touch or five minutes or, to two to five touches or ten minutes.
- Alternate rules for 8-point bouts (women's foil) and 10-point bouts (men at all weapons), with a requirement of a two-point advantage are included (15-minute time limit).
- Touches which arrive off-target (at sabre and foil) as a result of a parry stop the phrase.
- Three-weapon bouts are limited to five minutes per weapon.
- At foil, sabre, and multi-touch épée, tie scores are decided via sudden death, while at one-touch épée ties result in a loss for both fencers.
- At foil, fencers are given a warning when they get within one meter of the rear limit of the strip.
- At sabre and épée, fencers are given a warning when they get within two meters of the rear limit of the strip.
- Reversal of positions of the fencers is permitted at both standard and electrical épée.
- Fencers are classified as unclassified, C, B, or A. Changes in classification occur at the end of the season.
1965 edition
- 287 pages in length.
- Target area for foil uniformly excludes the bib of the fencing mask.
- Field of play for épée and sabre is extended to 14 meters in length, with a uniform warning line for all weapons.
- Crossing the rear limit with both feet results in a point for the other fencer.
- Crossing the side limit with both feet results in the loss of 1 meter of ground at foil or 2 meters of ground at sabre and épée.
- At all weapons, fencers are given a warning when they retreat past the warning line.
- Time limits for all weapons are 5 minutes for 4-touch bouts, 6 minutes for 5-touch bouts, 10 minutes for 8-touch bouts, and 12 minutes for 10-touch bouts.
- A warning is given when there is one minute left.
- Outdoor sabre competition eliminated.
- Three-weapon events eliminated.
- Reversal of positions of the fencers is prohibited at all weapons.
- Target area for women's foil made the same as for men's foil.
Divisions
Most of the activity in the AFLA occurred at the divisional level. As a democratic organization, divisions enjoyed almost complete autonomy.
1940 divisions
Active (25)
|
Inactive (10)
|
1956 divisions
Active (42)
|
Inactive (10)
|
1964 divisions
Active (49)
|
Inactive (11)
|
Officers
Presidents (in order of service, through 1964)
|
Secretaries (in order of service, through 1964)
|
Treasurers (in order of service, through 1964) (office combined with secretary prior to 1936)
|