ATHLETE GUIDE
How to improve your fencing rating: a step-by-step guide
By Nathan — Frisco Fencing Academy
March 2026
9 min read
If you've ever wondered why two fencers with similar skill levels end up at different ratings after the same season, the answer is almost never talent. It's tournament strategy. Most competitive fencers — and their parents — don't fully understand how the USA Fencing rating system works, which means they're leaving ratings on the table every season. This guide covers the system, the strategy, and the training focus that actually moves the needle.
How the USA Fencing rating system actually works
The USA Fencing rating system uses letters — U (unrated), E, D, C, B, A — to classify competitive fencers by their demonstrated performance against rated opponents. Ratings are not given for skill level or years of experience. They are earned by finishing in rated positions at sanctioned events.
Here's the key mechanism most fencers miss: to earn a rating, you must finish ahead of a sufficient number of already-rated fencers in the same event. An event full of unrated fencers won't earn anyone a rating, no matter how many bouts you win.
The fundamental principle: Your rating reflects your performance against rated fencers — not against beginners. Choosing which events to enter matters as much as how you fence.
U
UNRATED
The starting point. No rating earned yet. You can compete in open and unrated events, and in rated events where U fencers are accepted.
→ To earn E: finish in the top portion of a sanctioned event with rated competitors
E
E RATING
Your first rated milestone. Shows you can compete at the regional circuit level. Earned at most local and regional events.
→ To earn D: finish ahead of sufficient rated (E+) fencers at sanctioned events
D
D RATING
Solid regional competitor. Often marks the point where a fencer becomes genuinely competitive at Regional and Divisional events.
→ To earn C: consistent top-half performances at regional events with C+ fencers
C
C RATING
Nationally competitive. C-rated fencers regularly qualify for Junior Olympics and NAC Division I. College recruitment often starts here.
→ To earn B: strong performances at national events (NAC, Junior Olympics) against B+ fencers
B
B RATING
Elite national level. B-rated fencers are competitive with the top fencers in the country at their age group. College scholarships become realistic.
→ To earn A: defeating A-rated fencers at national championship events
A
A RATING
The highest domestic rating. A-rated fencers compete on the national team circuit and are legitimate international prospects.
Earned through defeating A-rated fencers at Summer Nationals and NAC Div I events
The 5 steps to climb the rating ladder
Compete at sanctioned events — consistently
You cannot earn a rating at unsanctioned tournaments, club competitions, or inter-club scrimmages. You must compete at USA Fencing-sanctioned events. The cadence matters: fencers who compete in 10+ sanctioned events per season progress dramatically faster than those who compete in 2–3. Every event is a rating opportunity. Missing events means missing chances.
Enter events with rated fencers in your field
This is the strategy most parents miss. When registering for events, check the registered competitor list. If everyone is unrated, winning the event earns you nothing toward a rating. You want events where at least some competitors hold the rating you're chasing. For example, a U fencer trying to earn an E should enter open events that attract E-rated fencers — not beginner-only fields.
Focus on pool performance — not just direct elimination
Many fencers obsess over winning their DE bracket while ignoring their pool results. But pool performance often determines both your seeding for DEs and whether you finish in the rated positions that earn a new rating. Going 5-1 in pools and losing in the first DE round often earns a rating. Going 3-3 in pools and winning your first DE bout might not. Consistent pool fencing beats dramatic DE runs for rating purposes.
Track your wins against rated opponents specifically
Not all wins in an event count equally for rating purposes. A win against a U fencer has no rating impact. A win against a D-rated fencer when you're chasing a D yourself is what moves the needle. Start paying attention to who you're fencing, not just how you're fencing. Before each bout in pool play, check your opponent's rating. Know which wins matter most tactically for your rating goals this season.
Build a 90-day development plan around your rating gap
If your rating has stalled, it's usually because one of your 7 development dimensions is holding you back more than the others. A fencer with excellent Technical skill but a 4/10 Mental dimension will consistently perform below their capability in tournament pressure situations — and underperform on rating-earning days. Identify your biggest gap. Build the next 90 days around closing it.
The training focus that actually earns ratings
Most fencers train the way they compete — they drill the same actions they're already comfortable with. But ratings are earned by beating fencers who are slightly better than you, which means you need to be developing the specific capabilities your current rating requires, not the ones your last rating required.
U → E: Tournament composure and pool fundamentals
The biggest barrier for unrated fencers isn't technical skill — it's handling tournament pressure. Training focus: compete as often as possible in low-stakes environments, build pre-bout routines, practise resetting after a point loss. The fencers who earn their E fastest are usually those who are the most mentally composed in pool play, not the ones with the flashiest attacks.
E → D: Tactical variety and opponent reading
At the E level, many fencers have 2–3 reliable actions that got them rated. To climb to D, opponents start to adapt. Training focus: build at least 3 different tactical setups, practise responding to parry-riposte patterns, develop your second and third action after your primary attack fails.
D → C and beyond: Fitness and consistency across a tournament day
At C level and above, most competitors have solid technical and tactical skill. The differentiator is who performs best in their last pool of the day, or in a DE semifinal after fencing six bouts. Training focus: conditioning that builds fencing-specific endurance, nutrition and hydration management across a tournament day, and mental recovery routines between bouts.
The single most underrated rating improvement strategy: video review. Watch your own pool bouts from recent events. The patterns that cost you rating-earning wins are usually visible within 10 minutes of footage. Most fencers never do this. The ones who do climb faster.
Ratings and development: what to tell your fencer
Ratings are meaningful. They open doors — to higher divisions, to college recruitment conversations, to a fencer's own sense of identity and progress. But they are a trailing indicator of development, not a leading one.
The fencer who obsesses over their rating often makes worse decisions than the fencer who focuses on the seven dimensions of their game. They enter events for the wrong reasons, get rattled when a rating-earning event doesn't go their way, and conflate a bad tournament day with a failure of development.
The best path to a better rating is a better fencer. Track the 7 dimensions. Build the 90-day plan. Show up to sanctioned events consistently. The rating follows the development — not the other way around.
Track the 7 dimensions driving your rating
FencerIQ generates a personalised development score across Technical, Tactical, Mental, Discipline, Fitness, Support, and Nutrition — and tells you exactly which gap to close next to move your rating forward. Free for Frisco Fencing Academy members.
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