Spring 2004 Invitational
Fencing Tournament Rules

All fencers shall be responsible for complying with these rules. By signing the tournament registration form, you are agreeing that you have read these rules. Please make sure you understand them – especially the equipment requirements.

 It is very important that you be on time! We will have many bouts to fence.

Although this is a tournament, and it should be fenced competitively, remember that fencing is a sport of honor, respect, and sportsmanship. No matter how well (or poorly) you do, remember that not so long ago—weeks for some of you, months for others, years for a few of you—none of you could fence at all. The mere fact that you can fence at all is an achievement in and of itself.

Rather than a test of you against another fencer, let this competition be a test of you against yourself.

Simply strive to do your best. And have fun.

The Details

The day of the competition, check in at the time listed above for your event(s). Those fencers who have not checked-in by the end of the check-in time will not be allowed to participate.

There will be a brief lecture on judging, right-of-way, and other basic rules for fencers immediately after the close of check-in for each event. This lecture is mandatory for all fencers and judges.

This tournament will be standard (non-electrical) foil only. As such, a jury comprised of four judges and a director will visually judge each bout. In the event that we are unable to secure enough judges, fencers will be expected to judge at the pleasure of the directors during the tournament.

This tournament is not sanctioned by the United States Fencing Association.

The Fencing Strip

The fencing strip shall be of smooth wood or some other resilient surface. The strip shall be cleaned so that it is free of dust or other substances that might inhibit traction. The strip shall be 14 meters (45 feet, 11 inches) long. The strip shall be between 1.5 meters (4 feet, 11 inches) and 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) wide.

A centerline shall divide the strip in half at the seven-meter mark. Guard lines for each fencer shall be marked two meters (6 feet, 6 inches) back from the centerline. The two-meter area at each end of the strip shall be distinctively marked to alert the fencer that they are close to the end of the strip. Additionally, there shall be a run-back area of at least 1.5 meters (4 feet, 11 inches) beyond the end of the strip.

In the absence of permanent markings, the strip shall be laid out using 3M #2070 Painter’s Masking Tape with Safe Release Adhesive (2” width). This tape has been used successfully in the past, and is endorsed for safe floor marking by USA Volleyball (see their memo dated November 19, 2003). Use of other tapes may result in damage to gym floor finishes when the tape is removed.

The strip itself may be raised no more than 15 centimeters (6 inches) from the surrounding floor level. Raised strips shall have ramped run-back areas at the ends, and shall also have a safety border (either raised or ramped) that is at least 0.25 meters (10 inches) wide on either side of the strip.

During the course of fencing, if a fencer retreats past the end line of the strip with both feet (i.e. no feet in-bounds and at least one foot out of bounds), then the opposing fencer shall be awarded a touch.

If, during the course of fencing, a fencer crosses a sideline of the strip with both feet (i.e. no feet in-bounds and at least one foot out of bounds), then the bout shall be halted, the opposing fencer shall be advanced one meter from the position he occupied at the halt and the fencer who stepped out of bounds shall be required to take up a position at proper fencing distance. If the fencer who stepped out of bounds ends up placed on guard with both feet behind the end line of the strip, then the opposing fencer shall be awarded a touch.

The Fencers

The fencers shall report to the strip promptly when they are called to fence. The fencer who is called first shall take their place on the strip at the director’s right. If one of the fencers is left-handed, that fencer shall always take their place on the strip at the director’s left, regardless of the order in which the fencers were called.

The fencers shall take first (ready) position on the strip behind their respective on guard lines and await the director’s instructions. At the director’s instruction to salute, the fencers shall salute the director, the two judges opposite them, and, finally, their opponent. The fencers may, optionally, salute the audience prior to saluting their opponent.

After saluting, the fencers shall, without further instructions from the director, put on their masks and resume the first position. At the director’s command, “On guard,” the fencers shall assume the guard position.

The director will then query the fencers (“Ready?”). In the absence of an audible negative response, the director will assume that the fencers are indeed ready to fence. At the command, “Fence,” the fencers shall commence fencing and shall not cease fencing until the director shall command, “Halt!”

At the halt, the fencers shall resume the first position at the location that they occupied on the strip at the when the halt was called. If no touch is awarded, the fencers shall, at the command, “On guard,” assume the guard position, adjusting their distance so that they are at equal and proper distance from the ground as indicated by the director. The director will then query the fencers’ readiness and command them to fence as before.

When a touch is awarded, the fencers shall return to their on guard lines and once again assume first position, awaiting further instructions from the director.

Should the director instruct the fencers to exchange ends of the strip at the mid-point in the bout, the fencers shall shake ungloved hands with each other as they pass, and then assume the first position on their new on guard lines. If the director instructs the judges to changes sides, the fencers should walk forward to each other, shake ungloved hands, and then retire, without turning their backs to each other, to their on guard lines.

The fencers shall refrain from speaking during the bout (especially while the jury is deliberating), except in answer to questions from the director or in case of urgent need.

At the conclusion of the bout, the fencers shall remove their masks, salute each other, and shake ungloved hands before leaving the strip.

The Director

The director shall be the sole arbiter of violations of the rules and shall poll the jury to ascertain the materiality of the touch. The director's decisions are final and are not subject to appeal or protest. Protests, arguments, etc., before, during, or after the bout will result in warnings and penalties as described later in this document. In the event that there is uncertainty about a particular rule, the director(s) shall have the final decision.

The director shall call a halt and separate the fencers to proper fencing distance whenever the fencing becomes too confused or dangerous, including when the bell guards of the two fencers collide.

The director should not hesitate to declare that attacks were simultaneous if there is doubt as to the right-of-way. It is the responsibility of the fencers to fence cleanly and clearly for the jury.

The Director alone decides as to the validity or the priority of the touch by applying the following basic rules, which are the conventions applicable to foil fencing.

Respect of the fencing phrase

(a)      Every attack, that is every initial offensive action, which is correctly executed must be parried or completely avoided and the phrase must be followed through — that is to say, coordinated.

In order to judge the correctness of an attack the following points must be considered:

1.       The simple attack, direct or indirect, is correctly executed when the extending of the arm, the point threatening the valid target, precedes the initiation of the lunge or the flèche.

2.       The compound attack is correctly executed when the arm is extending in the presentation of the first feint, with the point threatening the valid target, and the arm is not bent during the successive actions of the attack and the initiation of the lunge or the flèche.

3.       The attack with a step-forward-lunge or a step-forward-flèche is correctly executed when the extending of the arm precedes the end of the step forward and the initiation of the lunge or the flèche.

4.       Actions, simple or compound, steps or feints which are executed with a bent arm, are not considered as attacks but as preparations, laying themselves open to the initiation of the offensive or defensive/offensive action of the opponent.

To judge the priority of an attack when analyzing the fencing phrase, it should be noted that:

5.       If the attack is initiated when the opponent is not ‘point in line’, it may be executed either with a direct thrust, or by a disengage, or by a cutover, or may even be preceded by a beat or successful feints obliging the opponent to parry.

6.       If the attack is initiated when the opponent is ‘point in line’, the attacker must, first, deflect the opponent’s blade. Directors must ensure that a mere contact of the blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent’s blade.

7.       If the attacker, when attempting to deflect the opponent’s blade, fails to find it (dérobement), the right of attack passes to the opponent.

8.       Continuous steps forward, with the legs crossing one another (i.e. cross-advances), constitute a preparation and on this preparation any simple attack has priority.

(b)     The parry gives the right to riposte: the simple riposte may be direct or indirect, but to annul any subsequent action by the attacker, it must be executed immediately, without indecision or delay.

(c)      When a compound attack is made, if the opponent finds the blade during one of the feints, he or she has the right to riposte.

(d)     When compound attacks are made, the opponent has the right to stop hit; but to be valid the stop hit must precede the conclusion of the attack by an interval of fencing time; that is to say that the stop hit must arrive before the attacker has begun the final movement of the attack.

The awarding of touches

In applying these basic conventions of foil fencing, the Director should judge as follows.

When, during a phrase, both fencers are touched simultaneously, there is either a simultaneous action or a double touch.

The first of these conditions is due to simultaneous conception and execution of an attack by both fencers; in this case the touches exchanged are annulled for both fencers even if one of them has been touched off the target.

The double touch, on the other hand, is the result of a faulty action on the part of one of the fencers.

Therefore, when there is not a period of fencing time between the touches:

1. Only the fencer who is attacked is counted as touched:

(a)   If the fencer makes a stop hit on the opponent’s simple attack.

(b)   If, instead of parrying, the fencer attempts to avoid the touch and does not succeed in so doing.

(c)   If, after making a successful parry, the fencer makes a momentary pause, which gives the opponent the right to renew the attack (redoublement, remise or reprise).

(d)   If, during a compound attack, the fencer makes a stop hit without being in time.

(e)   If, having ‘point in line’ and being subjected to a beat or a taking of the blade (prise de fer) which deflects his blade, the fencer attacks or places the point in line again instead of parrying a direct thrust made by the opponent.

2. Only the fencer who attacks is counted as touched:

(a)   If the fencer initiates his attack when the opponent has point in line without deflecting the opponent’s weapon. Directors must ensure that a mere grazing of the blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent’s blade.

(b)   If the fencer attempts to find the blade, does not succeed (is the object of a dérobement) and continues the attack.

(c)   If, during a compound attack, the opponent finds the blade, but the fencer continues the attack and the opponent ripostes immediately.

(d)   If, during a compound attack, the fencer makes a momentary pause, during which time the opponent makes a stop hit, while the fencer continues the attack.

(e)   If, during a compound attack, the fencer is stop hit in time before beginning the final movement.

(f)     If the fencer makes a touch by a remise, redoublement or reprise when the original attack has been parried and the opponent has made a riposte which is immediate, simple, and executed in one period of fencing time without withdrawing the arm.

3. The Director must replace the competitors on guard each time that there is a double touch and he or she is unable to judge clearly on which side the fault lies.

One of the most difficult cases to judge arises when a stop hit is made and there is doubt as to whether it was made sufficiently in time in relation to the final movement of a compound attack. Generally, in such cases, the double touch occurs through the fault of both fencers concerned, which justifies the Director replacing them on guard. (The fault of the attacker consists of indecision, slowness of execution or the making of feints, which are not sufficiently effective. The fault of the defender lies in delay or slowness in making the stop hit.)