U.S. Fencing - The Official Website of the U.S. Fencing Association

· Approved the following FIE rule changes to be effective immediately. (Please note the rules highlighted in red are those that were specifically mentioned at the board meeting.)

FIE (British) Version; June 2007

Obligatory use of the Rules

t.1. These Rules are obligatory without modification for the ‘Official Competitions of the FIE’, viz.:

— The World Championships, in all categories

— The fencing events at the Olympic Games

— All World Cup competitions.

— The Zonal Championships.

Substitution and use of the non-sword hand and arm

t.22. 1. The use of the non-sword hand and arm to carry out an offensive or defensive action is forbidden (cf. t.114, t.117, t.120). Should such an offence occur, the touch scored by the fencer at fault is annulled and the latter will be penalized as specified for offences of the 2nd group (red card).

Olympic Games and World Championships

Individual competitions

t.37. 1. For the rounds of pools and the direct elimination table, the Refereeing Delegates select the referees by drawing lots.

2. For the pools, the referee must be of a different nationality from that any of the fencers in the pool.

3. For the direct elimination tables at each weapon, the Refereeing Delegates establish, among the referees present, a list of the best referees in each weapon (according to the grades obtained during the season).

For each quarter of the table, 4 referees are assigned by drawing lots from among at least 7 to 8 referees, to referee the bouts in the order of the table. They must be of a different nationality from that of any of the fencers participating in that quarter of the table.

As the table progresses, the referees will be switched around in a sequence established beforehand.

4. At the end of each round, the Refereeing Delegates can withdraw a referee whose performance was not satisfactory. This decision must be taken by the majority of the Refereeing Delegates present. However, a referee may not be changed during of a bout except in exceptional circumstance.

In such a case the decision, which must be well founded, must be taken by the majority of the Refereeing Delegates present (this rule is equally valid for team competitions).

5. For the final of 4, the Refereeing Delegates, immediately after the end of the direct elimination tables, select 4 referees by lot from among at least 7 to 8 referees, who must be of a different nationality from any of the fencers.

10 minutes before the final, the Refereeing Delegates will draw lots to assign the referees for all the bouts at the same time, in the following order: 1st semi-final, 2nd semi-final, final, and 3rd place (Olympic Games).

6. The drawing of lots is done with the help of a computer for the pools and up to the direct elimination table of 64 and by hand from the direct elimination table of 64 onwards.

t.38. Team competitions

The same rules as those in article t.37 3), 4), 5) and 6) are applied to the team competitions, with two referees per match

Regulation equipment and checking of equipment by the Referee

t.43 Before the start of each pool, team match or bout by direct elimination, the Referee must assemble all the competitors and verify that (cf. t.35.2.c):

a) in all weapons, the FIE guarantee label is present on the fencers’ equipment (clothing, masks). (See the USFA note below)

b) in foil, the conductive jacket conforms to the provision of Article m.28 when each competitor is standing upright, is on guard and

is in the lunge position;

c) in épée, the material from which the clothing is made has not too smooth a surface, and the competitor is wearing a jacket conforming

to the regulations;

d) in sabre, the conductive jacket conforms to the provision of Article m.34 when each competitor is standing upright, is on guard and is in the lunge position;

e) in all three weapons, each fencer is wearing, under his jacket, a regulation protective under-plastron, made of cloth which can resist 800 Newtons. (See the USFA note below)

f) in all three weapons, the fencer is not equipped with any electronic communication equipment which would allow a person off the piste to communicate with the fencer during the bout.

In pools, this checking must be done at the roll call of the fencers. For bouts in the direct elimination and the finals this checking must be done in the assembly area.

The organizers of all official FIE competitions (junior and senior) must make provision in their set-up for an assembly area.

2. For bouts in the direct elimination and the finals at the World Championships and the Olympic Games, and for finals of World Cup competitions, the two fencers in each bout will go to the equipment checking zone, located near the strip, 30 minutes before they are due on the strip. Their equipment will be checked under the responsibility of the SEMI (or the designated expert for finals of World Cup competitions). If any anomaly is identified the equipment at fault will be changed at once, without any penalty being applied. The SEMI delegate will hand over the bodycords, the masks, and the weapons that have been checked to the Referee for the bout. Ten minutes before they are due on the strip the fencers will report to the Referee designated for their bout. The Referee will hand over a bodycord to each of the fencers in the access zone for the strip. He will check that the fencers are wearing regulation under-jacket protection.

3. The Referee and the fencers must stay together in the access zone until they go on the strip. One minute before they go on the strip the Referee will give a weapon to each fencer, for him to plug in his bodycord. No check will be carried out on the strip prior to the bout.

4. Competition organizers must organize a waiting area where the fencers can warm up during this checking procedure.

6. Non-regulation equipment

t.45.

….

(No change to introduction and section 1; omitted here for space considerations)

….

2. When during a bout an irregularity is found in the equipment which could be caused by conditions during the bout:

Examples:

— conductive jacket with holes in which hits are registered as nonvalid,

— weapon or bodycord no longer functioning,

— pressure of the spring in the point too weak,

— the travel in the point no longer regulation,

the Referee will apply neither warning nor penalty and any hit scored with the equipment which has become defective will be awarded.

However, even during the course of a bout, any fencer whose weapon, at the moment he presents himself on guard and ready to fence, has a curve of the blade which exceeds that permitted (cf. m.8.6, m.16.2, m.23.4) commits an offence in the first group and will be penalized in accordance with Articles t.114, t.116 and t.120.

Non-regulation equipment

t.45.

….

(New addition to t.45)

….

The same penalty is also applied for the absence of name and nationality, in accordance with the rules, on the back of the jacket at Junior World Cup competitions, at Individual Senior World Cup competitions before the last 64, and at Zonal Championships.

5. If the conductive jacket does not conform to the rules, the fencer must put on a spare jacket that does conform to the rules. If this jacket does not have his name and nationality on the back, the fencer has until the next stage of the competition (from the pools to the table of 64, the table of 32, etc) to get his name and nationality printed on it.

If this is not done and except in cases of 'force majeure' the referee will eliminate the fencer and he cannot continue to participate in the competition.

Presence on time

t.86. 1. The fencers, completely equipped, with all equipment conforming with the regulations (cf. t.43–t.45) and ready to fence, must be present at the time and place appointed for the beginning of the pool, match, or bout of direct elimination, or at the time appointed for the checking of their equipment before their bout (cf. t.43.1–3), as well as during the competition, whenever the Referee requires it.

2. When presenting themselves to fence a bout, the fencers must arrive on the piste completely ready to fence — regulation clothing, jacket fastened, sword-hand gloved and holding the weapon, bodywire connected to the plug inside the guard. The mask should be carried in the unarmed hand.

Before the start of the bout, the fencer’s hair must be fastened and placed inside the clothing and/or mask in such a way as to ensure that:

— it does not cover a valid surface (and thus prevent a hit from being scored).

— it does not conceal the name and nationality of the fencer.

— it does not need to be put back in place during the bout, thus interrupting it.

In the case of violation of this rule, the referee will apply the penalties for group 1 offences (t.114, t.116, t.120).

3. Under no circumstances should the fencers dress or undress in public except in the case of an accident duly recognised by the doctor on duty or by the representative of the Medical Commission (cf. t.87.8, t.114, t.116, t.120).

4. They must arrive on the piste, to fence their bouts, with two weapons (one as a spare) and two bodywires (one as a spare) which satisfy the regulations and are in perfect working order(cf. t.45.1, t.114, t.116, t.120).

5. In the course of the competition, individual or team, when a fencer does not present himself on the piste, ready to fence, when ordered to do so by the Referee:

— The fencer or team member not present will be penalised with a Yellow Card;

— A second call will be made, one minute after the first call, followed by a Red Card for the fencer or team member not present;

— A third and last call will be made, one minute after the second call, followed by elimination from the competition for the fencer not present in an individual competition or for the whole team in a team competition.

6. Should a fencer abandon a bout by leaving the piste (cf. t.18.6), he will be penalised as specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120.

Fencing etiquette

t.87. 1. The competitors must fence faithfully and strictly according to the rules laid down in these Rules. All breaches of these rules will incur the penalties laid down hereinafter (cf. t.114–t.120).

2. All bouts must preserve the character of a courteous and frank encounter. All irregular actions (flèche attack which finishes with a collision jostling the opponent, disorderly fencing, irregular movements on the piste, hits achieved with violence, hits made while falling) are strictly forbidden (cf. t.114–t.120). Should such an offence occur, any hit scored by the fencer at fault is annulled.

3. Before the beginning of each bout, the two fencers must perform a fencing salute to their opponent, to the Referee and to the spectators.

Equally, when the final hit has been scored, the bout has not ended until the two fencers have saluted each other, the Referee and the spectators: to this end, they must remain still while the Referee is making his decision; when he has given his decision, they must again perform a fencing salute and must shake hands with their opponent, with the unarmed hand. If either or both of the two fencers refuse to comply with these rules, the Referee will suspend him/them for the remainder of the competition taking place and from the following two FIE competitions in the weapon concerned (cf. t.114, t.119, t.120).

The points or titles obtained at the moment of the offence remain acquired.

4. Non-combativity

When both fencers make clear their unwillingness to fight, the Referee will immediately call ‘Halt!’

5. Individual events

a) If during the two first periods of a direct elimination bout of 10 or 15 touches both fencers make clear their unwillingness to fight*, the Referee will award a warning (yellow card) against each of the two fencers and will proceed to the next period, without the minute rest.

b) If the offence is repeated, the Referee will each time award a penalty hit (red card) against each of the two fencers and will proceed to the next period, without the minute rest.

c) When both fencers make clear their unwillingness to fight* during the final period of a direct elimination bout:-

i) if there has been no occurrence of the offence during the preceding periods, the Referee will award a warning (yellow card) against each fencer, and will proceed to a last minute of fencing;

ii) if the offence has already been committed during the course of the preceding periods, the Referee will award a penalty hit (red card) against each of the fencers, and will proceed to a last minute of fencing;

This last minute, which will be fenced in its entirety, will be decisive and will be preceded by a drawing of lots to decide the winner should the scores be equal at the end of the minute.

6. Team events

a) If both teams make clear their unwillingness to fight* during a team match, the Referee will award a warning (yellow card) against each of the two teams and will proceed to the next bout.

b) If the offence is repeated, the Referee will each time award a penalty hit (red card) against each of the teams and will proceed to the next bout, and so on up to the last bout.

c) If both teams make clear their unwillingness to fight* during the last bout:-

i) if there has been no occurrence of the offence during the preceding bouts, the Referee will award a warning (yellow card) against each of the teams, and will proceed to a last minute of fencing;

ii) if the offence has already been committed during the preceding bouts, the Referee will award a penalty hit (red card) against each of the teams, and will proceed to a last minute of fencing;

This last minute, which will be fenced in its entirety, will be decisive and will be preceded by a drawing of lots to decide the winner should the scores be equal at the end of the minute.

7. The fencer, whether on or off the piste, must keep his mask on until the Referee calls ‘Halt!’ He may under no circumstances address the Referee until the Referee has made his decision (cf. t.114, t.116, t.120).

8. Under no circumstances may fencers remove their clothes on the piste, even to change their bodywire (cf. t.114, t.116, t.120).

9. Immediately after the end of a pool or a direct elimination bout the Referee must bring together the two fencers, to announce clearly the score. He must say clearly: « Mister X won against Mister Y with the following score …. » fencers must then sign the pool or bout score sheet, under the responsibility of the Referee who must check the accuracy of the results on this score sheet. Before the score sheet is returned to the Technical Directory, the Referee must indicate in writing if a fencer refuses to sign it. No subsequent appeal relating to the results will be allowed.

* Clear unwillingness to fight (non-combativity)

If two of the criteria below are combined, there is unwillingness to fight:

1. criterion of time : one minute of fencing without a hit

2. absence of blade contact

3. excessive distance (greater than the distance of a step-forward-lunge).

t.104. A competitor may have a hit awarded against him which he has not in fact received, either because he has crossed the rear limit of the piste (cf. t.27), or because he has committed an offence which has prevented his opponent fencing (a flèche attack which jostles the opponent, a corps à corps at foil or sabre, the use of the unarmed hand while fencing, etc.) (cf. t.96.2, t.114.3.a/b, t.116, t.117, t.118.1, t.120).

Exclusion

t.105. 1. A competitor…

t.120

Use of non-sword arm/hand * ............................ t.22.1

t.127.

e) The athletes who participate in FIE competitions undertake to respect the FIE anti-doping Rules, use neither prohibited substances nor prohibited methods and agree to submit to any anti-doping control, whether in- or out-of competition;

o.2. 1. The official competitions of the FIE are open to fencers (individual or team) of all FIE member countries.

2. Every competitor or participant in a competition, irrespective of his status, is required to be licensed for the current season (cf. Statutes, Chapter IX).

o.53. Entries for World Championships

1. Three months before the start of the events, the federations will receive an entry form from the Organising Committee, on which they are required to specify the number of fencers and teams participating in each event of the competition’s programme, two months before the start of the events. No additional entry of fencers will be accepted after this date.

2. The entry of fencers and teams by name is to be made via the FIE website. This entry of the names of the fencers and all possible substitutes, and the entry of teams, must be made fifteen days before the first event of the Championships at the latest.

3. After the cut-off date for entries indicated on the FIE website, there can be no further additional entries nor any withdrawal of a name.

Nevertheless one or more fencers may be added, up until 10.00am on the day before the competition, after payment to the FIE of a fine of 150 euros per fencer added To do this the national federation must address a request to the FIE to add a fencer, together with the payment equivalent to the fine.

Changes of names, only with the agreement of the FIE and only for reasons of ‘force majeure’ or injury, can only be made up to 24 hours before each event.

o.54. Entries by name for Senior and Junior World Cup competitions,
Satellite competitions and Zonal competitions

1. The entry of the names of the fencers and all possible replacements, and the entry of teams, must be made via the FIE website 7 days before the competition at the latest (including for satellite competitions). - from 2007-08 season; until then 8 days for Satellite competitions, 15 days for all others. For Zonal competitions, both senior and junior, the entries of the fencers and of the teams must be made via the FIE website 7 days (from 2007-08 season; until then,15 days) before the first event of the Championships at the latest.

2. After the deadline for entries indicated on the FIE website, there can be no further additional entries nor the withdrawal of a name except in cases of properly authenticated injury or ‘force majeure’. However, before the Tuesday preceding the competition: — a fencer may be replaced by another. To do this, the national federations must send to the FIE, in writing (fax or e-mail), a request for a fencer to be replaced. — one or more fencers may be added, on payment to the FIE of a fine of 150 Euros per fencer added. To do this, the national federations must send to the FIE, in writing (fax or e-mail), a request to add a fencer, together with a copy of the bank transfer for the appropriate fine. From the Tuesday preceding the competition, if a fencer is withdrawn because of injury or 'force majeure', the national federations must inform the FIE and the organisers. The fencer cannot be replaced (from 2007-08 season; until then the text remains "In cases of injury or ‘force majeure’, the rules for World Championships will apply").

o.78. The Directoire Technique

1. The Directoire Technique shall consist of three suitable members from the organising country or invited by it.

2. (from 2007-08) For Grand Prix competitions, the competition supervisor, designated by the Executive Committee of the FIE, shall also be president of the Directoire Technique.

Participation

o.79. 1. For Individual Category A competitions, both Senior and Junior, at each weapon, each national federation may enter a maximum of 12 fencers. The organising country (competitions in Europe) may enter up to 20 fencers plus the number needed to make up the pools.

2. For Individual Category A competitions outside Europe, the organizing country may enter up to 30 fencers plus the number needed to make up the pools.

3. For Grand Prix competitions, entries are limited to a maximum of 8 fencers per weapon per country. The organising country may enter up to 12 fencers, plus the number of fencers needed to make up the pools, up to a maximum of 20 fencers.

4. For Zonal Championships, both Senior and Junior, each national federation may enter:-

- a maximum of 4 fencers per weapon in the individual competitions.

- one team (consisting of 3 fencers with or without a reserve) per weapon in the team competitions.