USA Fencing Ratings for Saber: How U, E, D, C, B, and A Work

Published September 1, 2026

USA Fencing ratings (U, E, D, C, B, A) seed saber events and gate NACs. How letters are earned, how they decay on August 1, and how a DMV beginner climbs local, Capitol Division, RYC, ROC, and Nationals.

Abstract saber fencing illustration for USA Fencing Ratings for Saber: How U, E, D, C, B, and A Work

USA Fencing ratings are the letter grades that seed saber bouts and decide which national events you can enter. They run from U (unclassified) up to A. Every rating also carries the year you last earned it, so a new B looks like B26.

If you are still learning the weapons and right-of-way, start with What Is the Sport of Fencing. This post is the next layer: how classifications are awarded, how long they last, and how a Bethesda saber fencer climbs from a local E1 to a ROC or NAC.

The six letters

USA Fencing’s 2025-26 Athlete Handbook lists six classifications: A (highest), B, C, D, E, and U (lowest). National ranking points sit on top of that for fencers who have them. Ratings are used for seeding. The printed form is letter plus year, such as A23, B22, or C21. Source: USA Fencing Athlete Handbook 2025-26, §2.1.1.

U means you have not yet earned a letter at a sanctioned event. That is normal. Most first-year saber fencers fence as U.

They expire on August 1

A rating is valid for four seasons after you earn it. If you do not re-earn it, it drops one letter on August 1, the start of the fencing season, and picks up the then-current year.

The handbook’s example: a B20 that is not re-earned becomes C24 on August 1, 2024. That C24, if not renewed, becomes D28 on August 1, 2028. Source: Athlete Handbook §2.1.4.

A letter is not a trophy on the wall. It is a four-year clock.

How a tournament becomes E1, C1, or A4

Ratings come from USA Fencing-sanctioned events at local, regional, or national level. The competition’s group rating depends on field size and which rated fencers showed up. Source: Athlete Handbook §2.1.2 and the Event Rating Chart.

Beginner-relevant floors from the chart:

E1: at least 6 competitors. First place earns an E.
D1: at least 15. First earns a D; places 2–4 earn an E.
C1: at least 15. First earns a C; 2–4 a D; 5–8 an E.
B1: at least 15. First earns a B; 2–4 a C; 5–6 a D; 7–8 an E.
A1: at least 15. First earns an A; second a B; 3–4 a C; 5–6 a D; 7–8 an E.

Larger fields (C2/B2/A2 at 25 fencers; C3/B3/A3/A4 at 63) award letters deeper into the tableau. The full placement tables are in the 2024-25 Event Rating Chart PDF.

National floors are fixed. Division I NACs and National Championships are always Group A4. Division I-A Nationals are at least A3. Division II NAC and Nationals are at least B3. Division III NAC and Nationals are at least C3. Division, section, and regional youth and cadet events must meet at least C1 to change ratings. Local tournaments need at least one rated referee. Team events do not change ratings (USA Fencing Board, March 29, 2012). Sources: rating-chart and the Athlete Handbook.

Not every format counts. One-touch events, straight-to-direct-elimination, and local or regional events that exempt a set number of fencers at the start do not award ratings. Pool bouts are 5 touches in 3 minutes. Direct elimination is 15 touches across three 3-minute periods (Veterans and Y10: 10 touches, two periods). In saber DE, fencers rest when one score hits 8 (or 5 for Vet/Y10) or time expires. Source: Athlete Handbook.

Who can enter which event

You need a current competitive USA Fencing membership in good standing to compete at sanctioned events. Source: Age Classification Eligibility.

For 2026-27, through the February 2027 NAC, the open division gates are:

Division I: born 2013 or earlier; classification A, B, or C
Division II: born 2013 or earlier; C, D, E, or U
Division III: born 2013 or earlier; D, E, or U

Youth bands on the same page: Y14 born 2012–2015; Y12 born 2014–2017; Y10 born 2016–2019; Y8 born 2018–2020. Junior (through the February NAC): 2007–2013. Cadet: 2010–2013.

The 2025-26 handbook said the same idea in rating language: Division I entry needs a C or better; Division II a C or lower; Division III a D or lower at time of entry (AH §2.2.4).

The ladder from a local E to a NAC

Local. Club and local-organization events. An E1 with six fencers is the smallest rated field. That is often where a U becomes an E. How to Start Fencing covers getting in the door. This is what comes after.

Capitol Division. Saber Nation’s salle at 4701 Sangamore Road is in Montgomery County, Maryland. Capitol Division is the USA Fencing administrative unit for Washington, DC, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County (capdiv.usafencing.org). The division runs sanctioned tournaments and holds qualifiers for Junior Olympics and Nationals (Div II/III, Y14, Veteran). Source: Athlete Handbook §2.2.2.

RYC (Regional Youth Circuit). Y10, Y12, and Y14. No national points. Qualifying path for the Y10/Y12 March NAC and for Y10/Y12/Y14 Nationals. Regional points are home-region only; best 3 results count. The points formula is ((# entries – place + 1) / # entries) × 100; the winner always gets 100. Minimum 2 competitors. Y8 may fence at an RYC but earns no regional points (ratings can still be awarded). Source: RYC resources.

ROC (Regional Open Circuit). Open and Division I-A above local and division fencing, below NAC Division I. Also Veteran 40+ and Division II (C, D, E, or U). One pool round, 100% promote to DE. Points to the top 40% of the field (rounded up), max 64th; best 3 results count. ROCs can qualify fencers to Nationals in D1A, DV2, DV3, and Veteran. Not mixed gender. Source: ROC resources.

NAC and Nationals. The national series. Junior Olympics are Cadet, Junior, and Junior Team, with citizenship or permanent-resident rules plus qualification. Summer Nationals run June/July for Y10–Y14, Veteran, and Div IA/II/III. For restricted championships, the rating that counts is the one at registration. Source: Athlete Handbook §2.2.

College coaches later read this record. See the Fencing College Recruiting Guide.

What membership costs this season

Ratings post to the official USA Fencing membership listing. After the organizer’s report and fees, updates are due within five business days. Regional organizers must upload rating changes within 72 hours (3 days). If a site other than USA Fencing lists a letter, verify it on the membership record. Source: Athlete Handbook §2.1.3.

What changed August 1, 2026 (and what did not)

Letter ratings still use the existing grouping chart. USA Fencing said that on June 5, 2026: “Fencers will continue to earn ratings using the existing ratings chart.” Source: new points and events structure.

What did change, for Cadet, Junior, and Division I only, is a two-year Trial ranking list. Best six results count. Youth, Veteran, and Para are not in the Trial. As of August 5, 2026, the 2026-27 Athlete Handbook was still being finalized, so treat Trial registration floors as news-page facts until the handbook is out. Source: registration updates.

If you are a U or E saber fencer aiming at local and regional events, the letter chart is still the thing that moves.

Bethesda, then the rest of the DMV

Saber Nation is a saber-focused club at 4701 Sangamore Road in Bethesda. Classes and private lessons with Olympic coach Fikrat Valiyev are how most fencers get bout-ready before a first rated event. Footwork is the other half; see the Fencing Footwork Guide.

We train people who live in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Washington, DC, and Arlington. The salle is the Bethesda location. There is no second club in Virginia. For class times and the next step, contact the club or start at fencing classes in Bethesda. More on the service area: Chevy Chase, Washington, DC, Arlington.