Adelaide Swords Club
Fencing guide for new members 2020
V2.1 adelaide swords club
Version control Version Date Description Comment 1.0 01/11/2017 Final For issue 2.0 13/02/2018 Final For issue 2.1 5/11/2020 Draft
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Contents
About adelaide swords club 4 Club membership 6 A brief introduction to fencing 8 Aim of the sport 9 The weapons and their target 10 Safety 12 Equipment 12 Basic techniques of fencing 15 Training 16 Competing 17 ASC development pathways 24 Appendix A – ASC 2018 timetable 25 Appendix B – ASC coaches 26
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About Adelaide Swords Club Adelaide Swords Club (ASC or the Club) would like to welcome you to our community and the world of fencing.
Originating in 1936, the ASC was the first fencing club in Adelaide. We have around 120 members. Our members are diverse in age ranging from 8 to 70+, and skillset with some members choosing to compete informally at club level through to those who compete on an international level. We also have members on the Australian Fencing Team and the Australian Fencing Squad. So, as you can see we cater for all ages and skill levels.
The Club offers beginner, intermediate and advance classes throughout the year. For more information on these courses refer to the ASC timetable in Appendix A. We also have several coaches who are available for one-on-one lessons to accelerate your development.
The Club has eight electric pistes which are set up according to demand. We encourage all fencers to develop their fencing by getting onto the piste and electric fence as often as they can, it’s the best way to improve those hard-earned skills and put them into practice. Club and state competitions are where it counts though and we like to see all our fencers giving it a go! They are great fun and there is an age group and skill category available for everyone to participate.
The ASC is affiliated with Fencing SA, the Australian Fencing Federation (AFF) and the International Fencing Federation (FIE). We are an Incorporated body as such we have a constitution which can be found in the forms section of our website at www.adelaideswordsclub.org.au. The Club is managed by a committee that meets on a regular basis. Financially we operate on a calendar year with memberships due for renewal at the beginning of Term 1 each year. We follow the ‘Play by the Rules’ program and have achieved provisional Star Club accreditation.
If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to talk to a committee member so we can ensure that you get the most benefit from your membership and fencing experience.
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Committee Members: President: Angus Kingston Vice President: Ursula Menz Treasurer: Lachlan Oerman Secretary: Alison Wotherspoon Committee: Keith Vinglis-Plant (armourer) Connor Bury (Coaching director) Coraine Sopru Michael Griffin
Child Safety Officer/ Public Officer: Dannielle Kurbatfinski
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Club membership
If you have finished a beginner course and you would like to keep fencing, or you are an established fencer new to the club, you need to join the club as a member. Memberships are paid half-yearly or annually.. Alternatively, if you don’t think you will be fencing regularly, you can become an associate member and pay a casual fee each time you fence at the club. To continue fencing you must also register with Fencing SA as a participative fencer or a licensed fencer, this is explained in more detail in the ‘Competing’ section of this guide. To become a member and complete the Fencing SA registration, go to our website at www.adelaideswords.org.au. If you have any questions, speak to a committee member who will be happy to assist you. Being a member means you can train as often as you like with full access to the club’s facilities along with other benefits such as: ● Use of 350N safety rated club jackets; ● Use of FIE 1600N rated masks and FIE Weapons; ● Use of training weapons, targets, scoring machines and the training space; and ● Insurance cover for Sports Injury through the Fencing SA registration. We also have a limited amount of 800N whites available for competition use. We offer three types of memberships, junior, senior and associate. We offer a family discount of 20% off the second and subsequent memberships in the same family.
Membership type Full year (Jan-Dec) Half-year (Jan-Jun, Jul-Dec)
Senior $300 $160
Junior/student $190 $100
Associate No fee but must pay casual visit $10 or class fees if fencing.
FSA participative registration $50 pa
FSA licence Junior/student $105 Senior $120
Member classification
Senior: Any fencer who does not fit any of the below criteria (i.e. most adult fencers) Junior: Aged under 20 on January 1 (as per competition criteria) Student: Full-time school or university student Associate: Family and friends who want to support the club Payment
Annual membership payments and FSA registration are due by the 15 March. The preferred method for payment is via the online try booking portal which can be accessed from the Club website.
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Governance We take Club governance very seriously. We have an extensive number of Policies and Plans on the Club website that you can access. As a member, you are required to become familiar with the ASC Member Protection Policy (MPP). The MPP is binding on members under the Club Constitution. You may also want to familiarise yourself with our Hot Weather Policy.
Newsletter We regularly email a newsletter to keep members informed of upcoming competitions, fencing courses, competition results, club merchandise, social events etc. Keep a lookout for it! If you haven’t received our newsletter email: [email protected], and we will add you to the mailing list.
Also, if you are on Facebook, don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page so you can keep in touch as to what is happening in the club and at competitions.
ASC Calendar of Events We have an annual calendar of events so you can keep up to date with what’s happening at Club, State and National levels. You will find the calendar on the Club website. The calendar will be updated regularly, when this occurs we will let you know in our newsletter.
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A brief introduction to fencing Fencing is an international and Olympic sport that provides high levels of physical and mental stimuli, with a great sense of satisfaction from the development of dexterity and the use of tactics to outwit the opponent.
Since it is predominantly a skill-based sport with a little premium on mere strength, it provides equal access and opportunity for both men and women. Australia is one of 105 nations affiliated with the international governing body the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) and competes regularly at international competitions including annual junior, senior and veteran’s world championships. Fencing is currently one of 28 sports competing at the Olympic Games and is one of only four sports to have been included in every Olympic Games since their inception.
In Australia, Fencing is widely practised in clubs, universities and increasingly in schools with strong participation bases in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia and developing participation bases in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. With support from the FIE, Australia is the base for the Oceania Fencing Masters Academy (OFMA) - the international coaching development centre for the Asia and Oceania region.
The sword is one of the oldest weapons. Fencing evolved from waging war to duelling and finally to the Olympic Sport. The modern rules and conventions still reflect the aristocratic origins of fencing and example of this is the salute.
The salute:
● Out of courtesy, it is customary for opponents to salute each other before a bout and to shake hand with the unarmed hands at the end.
● In competition, you salute the President or Referee before saluting your opponent.
● When receiving and individual lesson, you and the coach salute each other at the beginning and at the end.
● A good salute, given with a smile reflects your confidence and attitude towards the sport.
Fencing is an athletic sport and is not only great for fitness it also develops:
● Concentration ● Coordination ● Self-control ● Precision ● Confidence ● Speed of reaction
● Respect and loyalty ● Reflexes ● Balance ● Judgment ● Spatial awareness ● Decision making
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Aim of the sport Fencing has been around since the ancient Greek and Roman times. It's a fantastic way to improve balance, coordination and flexibility.
There are three types of fencing - epee, foils and sabre. In all three, weapons are wired electronically to record when a hit is scored.
In foil and epee, points can only be scored by the point of the weapon hitting. In the case of the foil, only a hit on the torso counts. In the epee, the whole body is the target. In sabre, points can also be scored by hitting the arms and head.
Fencing takes place on a specially marked strip called a piste (see below). Two fencers try to score a set number of hits to win. The validity of a hit will depend on where and how the hit is landed and varies according to the weapon used. With the foil and the épée hits are made with the point. Whereas with the sabre hits are scored by cutting with the blade as well as hitting with the point.
A bout is conducted by a referee who awards the hits as they occur following the conventions of that particular weapon. The first fencer to score the required number of hits wins the bout. There is a time limit for each bout.
In competitions, fencers are grouped in poules (or pool), usually of six but can vary. The fencers in each poule fight one another and those with the best results are promoted to the next round. The competition may continue with another poule or by direct elimination (DE). The competitors are then seeded according to their results in the previous round.
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The weapons and their target There are three disciplines in modern fencing each has its unique weapon as follows:
● Foil - a thrusting weapon (whereby you only score hits with the point), and the target area is the torso. This is the weapon that all beginners at ASC learn with; ● Epee - also a thrusting weapon, the target is the whole body. Many of the senior fencers at ASC fence this weapon; and ● Sabre - a cutting weapon (hits are made with the side of the blade) and the target is everything above the waist, excluding the hands.
There are several parts to a sword:
● Tip; ● Foible – The most flexible half of the blade closest to the point ; ● Forte – The stiffest part of the blade closest to the guard; ● Guard; ● Cushion/pad; ● Handle – Either French grip or pistol grip; and ● Pommel – On French grip it screws the weapon together and balances the weapon.
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There are fundamentally two types of grips (handles) for foil and epee swords, a French grip (the traditional grip) shown on the left, and a pistol grip shown on the right. There many variations similar to the pistol grip such as a Bavarian grip.
Foil with a French grip Foil with a pistol grip Foil
The foil is a light, flexible weapon weighing less than 500g. The blade is rectangular or square in section and must not be more than 90 cm long. The overall length of the weapon must not exceed 110 cm.
Of the three weapons, foil is the most common for beginners. The foil developed from the epee and was used in training for duels. In a duel hits to the torso inflicted the most damage to your opponent. In foil, the target area is only the torso, excluding arms, legs and head. In electric foil fencing, the valid target area on the fencer is covered by a metallic jacket (lamé), when the opponent’s weapon makes contact with it a coloured lamp lights up. A hit on the non-valid area (not covered by the metallic jacket) causes a white lamp to light.
Generally, most beginners start fencing with a traditional French grip and may choose later to use a weapon with a pistol grip as they become more experienced.
Epee
The épée is a development of the duelling swords that originated in the court of Louis XIV of France a replacement of the “small sword” already a learning weapon.
It is the second most popular weapon for beginners and is used in Modern Pentathlon. It is a pointed, with a guard much larger than that of the foil with a blade mounted eccentrically. The blade is fluted and roughly triangular in section. With a maximum weight of 770g, it is the heaviest of the three weapons! Its total maximum length is 110cm.
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Sabre
Sabre developed from the cavalry sword which was used with both slashing and point attacks. Sabre is the least common weapon for beginners but is growing in popularity in the UK. Its maximum length is 105cm with a total weight below 500g. The blade is approximately triangular in section. Its tip is curled over onto itself.
It was considered bad form to hit the horse that the rider was mounted on so in modern sabre the target area is the whole body from the hips upwards including head, arms and wrists. In electric fencing, the body from the hips up is covered by a lame and the mask is completely conductive.
Safety Fencing is a safe sport provided everyone plays by the rules. It is very important to make sure that both fencers are wearing the protective equipment, and that they follow the number one rule of fencing safety: never point a sword at someone not wearing a mask!! All fencers need to be aware of the people and objects that surround them and to fence toe-to-toe. Coaches and adults at training always keep an eye on the younger fencers, but we ask that parents stay to observe as well.
Equipment
ASC provides all the equipment needed for club and low-level competition fencing. It all conforms to international safety standards. The fencer needs to wear sneakers, a t-shirt, long tracksuit pants (not leggings) and long socks (no ankles showing).
During bouts fencers wear the following equipment as a minimum:
● Breastplate - this item must be worn by girls and women. It is made of plastic and protects delicate areas!
● Plastron - a one-sleeved shoulder/underarm protector, it provides an extra layer of protection. Worn on the fencing arm.
● Jacket - a long-sleeved, form-fitting jacket. Most of the jackets at ASC zip up at the back. The jacket tapers at the front into a strap which runs between the legs.
● Glove - worn on the fencing hand, it covers the jacket sleeve to prevent blades from contacting skin.
● Mask - covers the face (but not the back of the head). It has a bib which protects the front of your neck.
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Chest protector Plastron Jacket Glove
Foil mask Epee mask Sabre mask
When fencing with the electrical scoring equipment, you also need:
● Body wire: a cord that plugs into the sword at one end, runs along the sleeve, and plugs into the scoring equipment at the other end.
● Mask wire: a cord that connects the lame to the mask. Mark wires are required for foil and sabre.
● Lamé: a conductive vest that goes over the top of the jacket, it connects with the body wire. The lamé covers the valid target area, so the scoring equipment can determine whether a hit is valid or not (non-valid or “off-target” hits do not score a point). Lames are required for foil and sabre.
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Foil/sabre body wire Epee body wire Foil lame Sabre lame
When not fencing with the electric gear, it is referred to as “steam” fencing.
When the fencer progresses to a more advanced level, breeches and socks are required. Some fencers choose to wear shoes designed specifically for fencing.
Breeches Socks Fencing shoes
As can be seen, as the fencer progresses lots of equipment is required. Many fencers purchase a fencing bag with wheels called a roll bag. Fencing bags must be sturdy to endure the rigours of travel.
Roll bag
Purchasing your own equipment Purchasing equipment is quite expensive so if you’re just starting out, the Club has everything you need. We don’t recommend you purchase equipment until you are certain fencing is for you.
When you are ready to make a commitment to the awesome sport of fencing, equipment can be
14 adelaide swords club purchased from JG Fencing through Leon Thomas at the Club. There are a few other east coast based sellers. Alternatively, there are a number of high-quality European providers such as Allstar-Uhlmann, Leon Paul and PBT Fencing however you may find shipping costs are quite exorbitant. As a general rule a competitive fencer (fencing in open competitions) will have a minimum of three weapons (eg three epees) and the corresponding wires in the event something fails while on the piste.
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Basic techniques of fencing
Holding the weapon
The grip is the manner in which the sword is held. The handle is shaped in such a way so as to fit comfortably in the hand. It should be placed in the palm of the hand and under the fleshy part of the thumb. The front part should rest on the middle of the index finger and the thumb placed FLAT on top. These are called the manipulators. The remaining three fingers should be placed along the side of the grip, with the first part of each finger in contact (the aids). The weapon should be carried in a state of relaxation in order that the principle of finger play can be carried out. A faulty grip can cause a tired and contracted hand. CARRY THE WEAPON. DON'T GRIP. It’s like holding a pen, or violin bow.
Bouting etiquette
When two fencers fence, it is called a bout. This word can be used as both a noun (“to have a bout”) and a verb (“they are bouting)”. Before the bout, you salute your opponent by bringing the guard to your face, then down. You should also salute the referee. After the bout, you salute again, and shake hands with your non-fencing hand. It is also good form to concede a hit if it is obvious. You must never get angry or violent, or refuse to shake hands. In competition, there are penalties against this sort of behaviour and it’s just rude!
Right of Way/Priority
Right of way is gained by a fencer who threatens the opponent’s target with the view to attacking or riposting after a parry. The two opponents cannot score a point at the same time, i.e. you must be either the first to attack or if your opponent attacks you first defend yourself with a parry to gain the right of way for your riposte.
Fencing Lines
The positions in which the sword arm and the weapon may be placed to cover the target are the fencing lines. Lines are defined by target quadrant and hand position. The foil target area is divided into four distinct quadrants named as follows: Sixte (high-outside), Quarte (high-inside), Octave (low-outside), and Septime (low-inside). Lines and Parries with your hand in supination have the same name as the quadrant e.g. the parry of Quarte will defend the position of Quarte on the target. We can talk about closing, opening or changing the line. Opening the line is the action of moving the blade away from the line. Closing the line is to move the blade toward the line, thereby defending the target in that area. To change the line is to move the blade from one line to another and engage the opponent's blade in the line. This can be done by passing under or over the opponent's blade.
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Training
Training for beginners consists of footwork, technical work and sometimes bouting. Good footwork is essential to enable travel quickly along the piste. The importance of footwork should not be overlooked. In some European countries, beginner fencers practice footwork for one or more years before they pick up a weapon! During the technical part of the lesson, you will learn the technical aspects of fencing discussed in ‘The techniques of fencing’ section above.
The amount of training you undertake is up to the individual and will depend on how advanced you are and how fast you want to improve your skills ie the more training you do the faster you will see results.
The AFF recommends a staged development program. In fencing, as in life, a person must ‘crawl’ before they can ‘walk’ and ‘walk’ before they can ‘run’. It also makes sense that a fencer must develop along a continuum and that it is best to begin at the easier end of that continuum, gradually developing skill and experiencing a measure of success along the way until one reaches the élite level if that is what you choose to do.
As a general guide, ASC recommends beginners participate in one lesson a week and if time permits, bouting after the lesson with other members of the club. We also recommend you consider one twenty-minute coaching session per week with a Level 1 coach.
For beginners and intermediate fencers who would like to progress to a more competitive level of fencing, the following number of sessions and hours of training are recommended as well as club and State competitions.
Stage 1 - 6 to 7 hours per week • General fitness (including school sport, other sporting activities, cross-training) o Sessions per week: 2 x 20 minutes • Fencing o Sessions per week: 2 x 1.5 hours = 3 hours o This includes individual lesson(s), bouts – fencing for a total of 60+ hits each session, simulated competition • Footwork 1 x 15 minute session.
For information on Club opening times and training sessions refer to Appendix A.
Fencing SA – Junior development camp
FSA typically run a development camp in April each year. The camp is aimed at beginners, intermediate foil fencers and advanced epee fencers who are wanting to compete in the schools league, State and National (U13, U15 and U17) competitions. For more information, refer to FSA’s website: http://www.fencingsa.org.au/Development/Junior-Development-Camp
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Competing
Competing is the best way to improve your fencing skills. There are competitions to suit every age and ability and therefore we recommend you consider competing at club and State level as soon as you understand the basics.
Club competitions
ASC run a number of informal competitions throughout the week as follows:
1 ● Saturday Junior Club tournament (foil, epee and sabre) 11:30am – 1:00pm This competition is a fun competition suitable for all fencers. It aims to provide social fencing in a friendly environment.
● Wednesday Epee open tournament after the footwork session 7:30 – 9:30pm. This competition is open to all members and it provides an opportunity to fence against the club’s best fencers. This competition is more suited to older beginners who have some epee experience.
● Tuesday Epee team comp (generally the Thursday of every month). This is a team competition which is set up in Term 1 and runs through to Term 4.
We also hold special competitions such as the Festive Fencing and One-touch epee competitions in December which are lots of fun.
Club competitions are very informal but don’t be fooled they are fiercely competitive!
State competitions
Fencing SA (FSA) run State competitions throughout the year. These competitions generally start around February and go through to October/November. The FSA calendar can be found on the FSA website at http://www.fencingsa.org.au/. There are competitions to suit all ages and abilities. Beginner competitions are colour coded RED in the event column. ASC highly recommend you consider entering State competitions according to your age once you have completed the beginner course. If you are unsure which competition is right for you, see one of our coaches for advice.
The following section ‘ASC development pathways’ provides a guide as to the level of competition you can compete in based on your age and ability. It should be noted this a guide only, individual requirements can vary significantly, in this case it is recommended you speak to a coach or committee member.
Competition Enrolment
1 If sufficient numbers.
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Competition entry is subject to the following costs:
● Individual entry (any age): First event $15 ● $30 for each team entry in a team competition.
If multiple competitions are fenced on the same weekend then the subsequent competitions have a reduced rate for entry
● $7.50 for each subsequent event (any age)
To enter a competition, go to: http://www.fencingsa.org.au/-SA-Competitions/Enrolment and click on the appropriate links located on the right side of the page. If a link is inactive or broken, manual entries can be sent by email to [email protected] or you can write your name up on the corresponding entry sheet on the Club whiteboard.
The cut-off time for all tournament entry is 10pm Wednesday in the week leading into the competition. All competitions must have a minimum 4 entries or will be cancelled so it is preferable to enter by the cut-off day.
In the case of a female competition being cancelled due to lack of entrants, those competitors who are entered will be able to fence in the equivalent opposite gender's competition (provided that competition is going ahead with 4 competitors, without consideration of the other event being cancelled).
Notification of cancelled competitions will be posted on the FSA website by close of business on the Thursday prior to the competition.
Fencers must hold the appropriate License or Registration before the competition commences or they will be unable to enter. Entry money must be paid before roll-call or the fencer will be unable to enter.
FSA registration vs license
To fence in state competitions, you must be registered with FSA or hold a licence. A fee is payable to FSA each calendar year to allow the fencer to compete. Fees vary per annum, for 2018 the registration fees are as follows:
● Senior Competitive License - 20 years of age or over - $120 o All open state competitions, Australian Fencing Circuit competitions and national championships that the fencer is eligible for.
● Junior Competitive License - Under 20 years - $105 o All open state competitions, Australian Fencing Circuit competitions and national championships that the fencer is eligible for.
● Senior Participative Registration - 20 years of age or over - $50 o Limited state competitions (B competitions) and social fencing
● Junior Participative Registration - Under 20 years - $50 o Limited state competitions (Beginners and Junior Intermediate) and social fencing.
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Open - A Grade Competition Open - A Grade competitions are the highest level of state competition. They are intended to prepare competitors for the competition at national or international level.
Membership Requirements:
● All senior competitors must hold a Senior Competitive License. ● All junior competitors must hold a Junior Competitive License.
Eligibility: ● All fencers with a Competitive License may compete in this event. Be aware that this category is generally populated with adult fencers.
Open - B Grade Competition The Open - B Grade competition is intended for fencers who not yet capable of fencing competitively in Open - A Grade competitions. This category replaces the former Intermediate category.
Membership Requirements: ● All competitors must hold either a Senior or Junior Competitive license or Participative Registration with Fencing SA.
Eligibility:
● A fencer is permitted to compete in Open - B Grade competitions in any weapon until they have completed either of the following requirements, after which they must advance to the Open - A Grade in the following year ● Win the Open - B Grade (or former intermediate category) state championships where there are at least 8 people competing in that competition. This advances the fencer to Open - A Grade competition only in the weapon competed. B Grade status remains for other weapons. ● Attained top 8 ranking in any AFF event that has a minimum of 32 competitors. This advances the fencer to Open - A Grade competition in all weapons. ● Note: In all cases of advancement, the fencer is allowed to continue competing in Open - B Grade until the end of the calendar year.
Cadet - A Grade and U15 Competition Junior competitions are intended to allow young people to experience competitive fencing against fencers of similar age and similar physical development. Given the increased age, strength, fitness and experience of the older fencer some different rules apply.
Membership Requirements:
● All fencers must hold a Junior Competitive License with Fencing SA.
Eligibility:
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● A fencer is eligible for a junior competition provided they are UNDER the age limit of the competition on the first of January of that year. e.g. A fencer who turns 15 AFTER January 1st may compete in U15 competitions for the duration of the calendar year. ● Cadet - A Grade is limited to the under 17 age group.
Cadet - B Grade Competition The Under 17 Cadet - B Grade competition is intended for fencers not yet capable of fencing competitively in Cadet - A Grade or other age restricted competitions. This category replaces the former Youth Intermediate category
Membership Requirement: ● All competitors must hold a Junior Competitive License or Participative Registration with Fencing SA.
Eligibility: ● A fencer is eligible for a Cadet - B Grade competition provided they are UNDER the age limit of 17 on the first of January of that year. ● A fencer is permitted to compete in Cadet - B Grade competitions in any weapon until they have completed any of the following requirements, after which they must advance to the Cadet - A Grade in the following year. ● Nomination for or member of the Fencing SA High Performance Squad. ● Win the Cadet - B Grade (or former Youth Intermediate category) state championships where there are at least 8 people competing in that competition. This advances the fencer to Cadet - A Grade competition only in the weapon competed. B Grade status remains for other weapons. ● Attained top 8 ranking in any AFF event that has a minimum of 32 competitors. This advances the fencer to Cadet - A Grade competition in all weapons. ● They have the highest ranking at the end of the year in the former Youth Intermediate category or Cadet - B Grade in that weapon where at least 12 people competed in that competition. This advances the fencer to Cadet - A Grade competition only in the weapon competed. B Grade status remains for other weapons. ● Note: In all cases of advancement, the fencer is allowed to continue competing in Cadet - B Grade until the end of the calendar year.
Veteran Competition
Veteran competitions are intended to allow elder fencers to compete against other fencers of similar age, fitness and experience.
Membership Requirements:
● All competitors must hold a Senior Competitive License.
Eligibility: ● A fencer is eligible for Veteran competitions from January 1st of the year of their fortieth birthday.
Special Rules:
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● All Veteran Direct Elimination bouts go to ten points and consist of two three minute periods.
U11, U13 Competition
Junior competitions are intended to allow young people to experience competitive fencing against fencers of similar age and similar physical development.
Membership Requirements: ● All competitors must hold a Junior Competitive License or Participative Registration with Fencing SA.
Eligibility: ● A fencer is eligible for a junior competition provided they are UNDER the age limit of the competition on the first of January of that year. eg. A fencer who turns 13 AFTER January 1st may compete in U13 competitions for the duration of the calendar year.
Special Rules: ● All Direct Elimination bouts go to ten points and consist of two three minute periods.
Location
All competitions are held at The Lights Community Sports Centre on Hampstead Road.
Roll call
Fencers are required to be at the venue 15 minutes before the start time for roll call. This enables the Directoire Technique (DT) time to organise the poules. However, it is recommended you arrive at least 30 minutes (or earlier) prior to the start time to enable sufficient time to warm up and gear up.
If you are competing in the first or last competition of the day, you may be asked to help set up or pack up the pistes.
Equipment (gear) requirements
For State competitions, you may borrow protective equipment from ASC. There is a borrowing book that must be completed by yourself and a committee member. Masks, jackets and lames have a unique identifying number that must be referenced in the borrowing book.
An ASC committee member or coach will provide weapons and body wire/mask wires at Scotch College for use during the competition.
Gear requirements (standards) vary for each level of competition, refer to Appendix C for an equipment checklist.
Official people at the competitions
Referees: run the poules and the direct eliminations (DE). Referees are not to be argued with! DT (Directoire Technique): oversee the running of the whole competition.
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Format of competitions
There are two rounds to any competition: the round of poules and the round of direct elimination (DE).
In the poule, each fencer will fence everyone in their poule in bouts of 5 hits. Typically if there are more than seven entrants in a competition, multiple poules will be run. After the poule(s), the statistics are calculated (number of victories, the number of hits scored, the number of hits scored against you), and the fencers are given a ranking. Then the fencers fence off in rounds of DEs, which are to 15 hits (or 10 in U11, U13 and Veterans). The winner moves on to the next round and the loser is knocked out. This continues until there is a winner of the whole competition.
National competitions
The AFF run an Australian National Fencing (AFC) competition. There numerous competitions held throughout the year. Competitions are held in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne. There are also age competitions U9, U13, U15, Cadet (U17), Juniors (U20) and U23 as well as Veterans (over 40). The AFF timetable in Appendix D shows the National competition schedule.
With the exception of the State run Australian Minime Circuit and the AFF U15 and Cadet competitions, it is expected that fencers are reasonably competitive at the State level before entering National competitions. If you are interested in entering a National competition check with one of the coaches in the first instance.
Australian Minime Circuit
The Australian Minime Circuit is a competition tour for U/13 and U/14 or lower aged fencers, to help in the development and growth of young Australian Fencers. Each event is held in a different city and will offer different formats and experiences, all aimed to strengthen and educate young and little Fencers.
The Minime Circuit is a wonderful competition for young fencers. FSA/ASC coaches are on hand at the competition to provide support and mentor young fencers. ASC encourages younger fencers to attend these competitions if feasible.
Dates and Locations: ● 24 – 25 March 2018 Future Champions Cup (Adelaide, South Australia) ● 18 – 19 August 2018 Joseph D’Onofrio - Victoria Challenge (Melbourne, Victoria) ● 5 – 9 December 2018 NSW Koala Mini Challenge (Sydney, NSW) Each event holds an U/14 (or U/13) Competition in all weapons (Foil, Epee and Sabre). They will also include other age groups and weapons events, in various formats and in addition to the individual Championships and NSW also have Team events.
For more information on the Minime Circuit talk to a committee member or coach.
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U15 and Cadet competition
The AFF U15 and cadet competition is usually held in Sydney however this year it is being held in Perth. Intermediate and advanced fencers are encouraged to attend this highly competitive and beneficial competition. FSA organise a fully supervised tour meaning parents do not need to attend. More information about this competition will become available in Term 2.
International competitions
We have a number of advanced/elite fencers who compete at an international level. It is expected that fencers interested in entering International events are competitive at National level for their age category. Many of the International events are restricted to AFT and AFS members.
Competition equipment requirements
There are minimum equipment requirements for competitions depending on the level of competition you are competing in. Refer to Appendix D for a comprehensive competition equipment checklist.
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adelaide swords club
ASC development pathways
Juniors Seniors
8 - 10yrs 11-13yrs 14-15yrs 15-17yrs 17-21yrs 21-23yrs +23yrs +40yrs
U11 U13 U15 U17 / U20 U20 U23 Open Veteran
Beginners Foil Beginners Foil Beginners Foil
Int. Foil Int. Foil Int. Foil
Adv. Foil Adv. Foil Individual Epee Epee Lessons Sabre Sabre
Beginners Beginners Beginners Beginners Beginners
Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate
Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 - 2 Typically Level 2 to 3 depending on the individual fencer’s coaching needs, competitiveness and coach availability. Level 1 Level 1 - 2 Level 2 - 3 Level 2 - 3
U11 U13 Novice Novice Novice Novice Novice Novice
Youth Int. Youth Int. U20 Intermediate Youth Int. Intermediate Intermediate U11 U15 U17/U20 Intermediate Open U13 Open Open Intermediate Intermediate Open Veteran U11 U13 U15/U17 U17/U20 U20 Open Open Open U13 U15 U20 Open Open Veteran
Cadet (U17) U11/U13 U15 U20 / U23 U23 Open U15 U20 / U23 Open (Koala cup) Cadet (U17) Open Open Veteran Open
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Appendix A – ASC 2018 timetable
Day Club Times Classes Competitions
7:00 to 7:30pm: Warm up / Footwork and Monday 6:15pm to 10pm fitness – all welcome 6:30 to 7:30pm: Juniors training 7:00 to 7:30pm: Warm up / Footwork and Wednesday 6:15pm to 10pm Open Club Epee Tournament fitness – all welcome
9am to 10am: Junior Beginners (Course fee) 10am to 11:30am: ($15 per class) Junior Intermediate Foil Junior Club Fun Tournament Saturday 9am to 1pm Junior Advanced Foil Junior Epee Fencing SA Age Group Comps Junior Sabre 11:30am to 1:00pm: Strength and conditioning (fee) and Open fencing
Fencing SA Age Group, Open and Veterans (A) Comps, Sunday Closed No Classes Novice and intermediate (B) Comps
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Appendix B – ASC coaches Coaching fees are set by the individual coach depending on their skill level. Entry level coaching is typically with a coach*/Level 0 or 1 coach and as the fencer progresses and becomes more competitive the fencer may progress on to the senior coaches. (Level 2 and 3). As a guide a level 1 coaches charge between $10 to $20 per half hour lesson.
Coaches
Leon Thomas (Lever 3 Epee, Level 2 Foil and Sabre)
Ursula Menz Connor Bury (Level 2 Epee, Level 1 (Foil - Level 0) Foil, Epee)
Coraine Sporu (Foil, Epee)
Will Campbell (Foil - Level 0, Sabre)
Oliver Pring (Foil - Level 0)
Ashleigh Kurbatfinski (Foil - Level 0)
* Level 0 to 3 coaches are qualified coaches. While unclassified coaches are not qualified, these coaches have highly advanced skillsets, most compete nationally and some also compete Internationally. If you’re unsure as to which coach is appropriate for you speak to one of the coaches or a committee member.
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Appendix C – Fencing SA competitions requirements
COMPETITION CATEGORY Int er Vet me Youth No Un Und Und Un Un Op era dia Interm vic der er er der der en n te ediate e 20 17 15 13 11 AFFILIATION Registration Jnr Licence Snr Licence
WHITES
Chest protector (female only)
Cloth plastron, jacket, track pants OR cloth breeches and long socks 350N whites + long socks 800N whites + long socks Fencing glove Body wire Lame (foil/sabre only) N/ N/ N/ N/ Conducting cuff/glove N/A N/A (sabre only) A A A A
MASK Club mask 350N mask 1600N mask
Conductive bib (foil) + mask wire (foil and sabre)
Leon Paul: neck strap for No No No contour mask compulsory?
WEAPONS FIE/S2000
Card for fail weight/gauge?
SPECIAL
10 hit DE bouts 2 x 3 minute periods
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Appendix E - Fencing terms Below is a list of common basic fencing terms.
Equipment:
● Breast plate, plastron/half-jacket, jacket, glove, mask, body wire (used in electric fencing), lamé (metallic jacket used in electric fencing), breeches (special fencing pants)
Different styles of fencing:
● Foil (thrusting, only the torso is valid target) ● Epée (thrusting, whole body is target, and also a common crossword clue) ● Sabre (cutting, target is above the waist (not including hands)
Footwork moves:
● Advance - step forward ● Retreat - step back ● Lunge ● Recovery – moving out of the lunge position back into an en guarde position
Bladework moves:
● Extension - extending the front arm ● Attack - offensive action, made with extension and threatening the opponent’s target ● Parry - defensive action, blocking the opponent’s blade ● Riposte - offensive action following a parry ● Beat - a preparation- a sharp tap on the opponent’s blade to remove it from the line ● Feint - an attack that is not intended to land (a false stack) ● Disengage - deception of the opponent’s parry, usually by going under the blade ● Counter-attack - an attack made against, or into, an attack initiated by the opponent ● Salute - raising the guarde to the face, usually done before and after a bout or lesson
Blade positions:
● Sixte (6) - hand in front of shoulder, point raised. ● Quarte (4) - blade moves across the target, palm up, point raised ● Octave (8) - blade moves in a semi-circle to cover the target and finish under sixte, point is lower than the hand ● Counter-sixte - the blade makes a complete circle to the inside and finishes in sixte
Fencing:
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● Bout - the proper fencing term for a “game”, where the score is kept. Usually the first person to score 5 points wins, or whoever has the most points after 3 minutes of fencing time have elapsed ● Steam fencing - fencing with no electric equipment ● Covering target - the act of bringing the back arm/hand to cover the valid target. A big no-no. ● Referee - the mediator of the bout ● Cards (yellow, red, black) - a penalty system. Yellow is a warning. Two yellows = a red (a point for your opponent). A black card is a disqualification ● Strip/piste - the fencing area, usually 14 metres by 2 metres ● Right of way/priority - the rules for awarding the point in the event of a double touch. One gets priority by being the first to threaten the opponent’s target (ie extending first). Breaking the extended arm during an attack means relinquishing right-of-way. An opponent can take right-of-way by parrying the opponent’s blade. ● Off-target- a hit on the opponent that is not on the valid target (in electric fencing, white light comes on). The bout is still stopped, but no point is awarded, even if the fencer who made the hit had right of way.
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