Age-Structured Transition Analysis of Competitive Exit in U.S. Fencing: Continuation, Temporary Absence, Return, and Terminal Non-Return, authored by Jeremiah Liu, Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts.…Read More
This study examines whether USA Fencing referees exhibit favoritism toward competitors from their designated regions, as frequent officiating within local areas could establish familiarity and potentially lead to unconscious bias. This issue is particularly relevant in foil and saber, where referees make subjective judgments on “right-of-way” during simultaneous hits, and in epee, where penalty decisions hold significant weight. Unlike other sports with subjective scoring that utilize referee panels, fencing relies on a single referee, granting them considerable control over bout outcomes. Despite the opportunity for prejudice, there are no studies of referee bias in fencing; this study aims to be the first to do so. Utilizing a substantial dataset of 35,111 Division I pool bouts from 2012 to 2019, I applied linear and logistic regression models to analyze the effect of regionality on score differentials and bout outcomes.…Read More
