The Intercollegiate Fencing Association (IFA) is the oldest collegiate fencing conference in the United States. It is affiliated with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The IFA has 12 members. Cornell only competes in women's fencing; the remaining 11 teams participate with men's and women's teams.
- Boston College
- Brandeis University
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Harvard University
- M.I.T.
- New York University
- Princeton University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Vassar College
- Yale University
Seven of the members of the IFA are also members of the Ivy League, and all of the Ivy universities with Division I fencing programs are also members of the IFA. Dartmouth College does not have a varsity fencing program.
The 2007 IFA Championship tournament was hosted by Princeton University on Saturday March 3, 2007. Because no suitable venue at Princeton was available, the tournament was held nearby at the Lawrenceville School.
There are 9 trophies given to teams at the annual IFA Championships in the following categories:
- Men's Foil
- Men's Épée
- Men's Saber
- Women's Foil
- Women's Épée
- Women's Saber
- Men's 3-Weapon Team
- Women's 3-Weapon Team
- Men's and Women's 6-Weapon Team
Among these awards, the most prestigious is the trophy given to the Men's Foil team champion, currently Yale University. This trophy is known as the Little Iron Man and is the oldest trophy still awarded for any collegiate sport in the United States. It was cast in 1893 and has been awarded to the IFA Men's Foil team champion since 1896.
The 2008 IFA Championship Tournament will take place on Sunday, 24 February at Columbia University.
The 2009 IFA Championship Tournament will take place on Saturday, 28 February at Brandeis University.
2010 will mark the first time in its history that the event will not take place.
The Little Iron Man is the oldest trophy in collegiate sports, still awarded today.
It is awarded each year to the team that wins the Men's Foil competition at the Intercollegiate Fencing Association championships.
The trophy was cast in 1893 and has been awarded to the IFA Men's Foil team champion since 1896.
- United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs (USACFC)
- National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA)