FENCING RULES Authorized English Translation of the International (FIE) Rules Adopted by The Amateur Fencers The National Collegiate League of America Athletic Association FENCING RULES FOR CO,MPETITIONS An authorized translation of the Reglement pour les £preuves of the Federation Internationale d'Escrime by Joseph A. Byrnes prepared with the cooperation of Miguel de Capriles Membre d'Honneur and past President, FIE J I @AmateurFencers League of America, Inc., 1974 - .-- '" - ...- - --~- - , -. - / -'-'-='-"--~' ~ , -;:.;-.~.- FOREWORD This rules book, published by the Amateur Fencers League of :~':»' A Note on This Translation America, Inc. (AFLA), is basically a fresh translation of the FIE i~:"The international fencing language is French, and in all international ,:;>} 'lJventsonly the French text of the rules "fait foi." However, every nation Reglement, in the 1973 edition, with the further changes and cor- I rections adopted by the FIE Congress of 1973. It has been .....fences in its own language, and develops a salle jargon of its own-part I v ; French and part translation. 'This text, intended for the English-spe~ adopted by the AFLA for use in the United States. (In the domes- . fencers of North America, translates some terms that are elsewhere often tic edition, for the guidance of fencers in the USA, certain sup- retained in French ("Director" for "President") and translates differently plemental material has been bound in: the Operations Manual some others (usually "touch" or "cut" instead of "hit"). In most such cases, and wherever else it seemed advisable, the French term has been entered and the Bylaws of the AFLA, chapters on the NCAA practices in quotation marks and square brackets, e.g., ["piste"], immediately follow- in organizing tournaments and in disciplinary procedures, plus ing the English version in the text, at least at its first appearance. The ~' ' .. various American fencing records.) '1. brackets have also been used alone, sparingly but where appropriate, to The AFLA, founded in 1891, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organi- , 1'-· supply supplemental information, such as alternative nomenclature or brief explanations, none of which appears in the original French text. In the zation, consisting of geographically distributed divisions, pri- interest of facilitating direct comparisons an effort has been made to retain marily engaged in increasing participation in the sport of fencing. the detailed organization of the original.1 Equivalents for metric measure- The AFLA is the official governing body for fencing activities in ments have not been inserted in the text; however, a list of metrical sizes the USA, and is so recognized by the United States Olympic and weights applicable to fencing, together with their equivalents in Committee and the International Fencing Federation (FIE). English measures, has been included at the end. Membership in the AFLA is open to all persons who have any interest in fencing. As part of their membership, the bi-monthly magazine American Fencing, the official publication of the RULES FOR COMPETITIONS League, is sent to all members. Application forms and informa- tional brochures ("Questions and Answers re the AFLA," "How TABLE OF CONTENTS to Understand and Enjoy the Sport of Fencing," and others) are ,,' available on request from: the Secretary, AFLA, Ine., 249 Eton Place, Westfield, New Jersey 07090. PART ONE: GENERAL RULES AND RULES APPLICABLE The rules governing amateur fencing in the United States are TO ALL THREE WEAPONS enacted, amended, and repealed solely by the Board of Directors of the AFLA, Inc. As a matter of policy, the AFLA follows the Articles \ . rules enacted by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), CHAPTER I - HISTORICAL NOTE with occasional minor exceptions that are duly announced. CHAPTER II - APPLICABILITY OF RULES N.B.: The technical provisions in this rule book are mandatory 1. Mandatory application of the rules 1 without variation for all AFLA championships and nationally- 2. Exceptions to the rules 2 rated competitions. Unless exceptions have been announced in CHAPTER III - TERMINOLOGY advance by the appropriate authorities, they are also applicable A. Director ["President"] ......................•............ 3 to all events scheduled by any section or division of the AFLA, B. Competitions or held under AFLA auspices. 1. Freeplay and bout ........•.•....•.....•............. 4 The publication of this book represents a cooperative effort by 2. Team match .............••.•....•.••............... 5 3. Competition •.....•.....•......•.•••.......•••...... 6 the Amateur Fencers League of America, the National Collegiate 4. Championship ..•. • . • . • . • . •. 7 Athletic Association, and the National Fencing Coaches Associa- 5. Tournament ..........•.••••....•..................• 8 tion of America-an effort that is hitherto unprecedented in C. ExpJ!lnationof certain technical terms most often used in judging sports, and a happy augury for future developments. fencmg 1. Fencing time •......••.........••••.•............... 9 3 - -:~.",.-:- CONTENTS 3 • FENCING RULES FOR COMPETITION -.,-~R II - FIELD OF PLAY ["TERRAIN"] 201 ~: g~:n~~;ea:~~e~e.~~~~ .a~~.o.~. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :: l~ 4. Kinds of offensive actions . .. 13 '<.:1~R III - EQUIPMENT OF FOIL FENCERS ',.-'11+:""- A.. Weapons ... CHAPTER IV - FIELD OF PLAY [''TERRAIN''] 14 ;~.?- 1. General specifications for the foil 205 I ;,~·c 2. Specifications for the electrical foil 211 CHAPTER V - FENCERS' EQUIPMENT ' " B. ClothIng and equi)?ment 1. Responsibility of the ,fence,rs •...... .. 16 1. Ceneral specifications for clothing and equipment for all foil 2. Inspection of fencers eqwpment: fencers ............• " .....•...•.•....•...... " ..... 212££ a. Presentation of equipment for inspection • . .. 17 2. Specifications for clothing and equipment necessary for elec- b. Organization of inspection ........•••..... .' 17 trical foil .......••...•.••.••••.••••••••••••••••••..• 2l6H c. Personnel and equipment for carrying out the mspection .. 20 3. Non-regulation equipment 21 CHAPTER IV - THE CONVENTIONS OF FENCING WITH 4. Specifications common to all weapons : . .. 22 THE FOIL 5. General requirements for clothing and eqwpment 27 A. Method of making touches 219 B. Valid surface [target] (illustration) CHAPTER VI - FENCING ["COMBAT"] 1. Limitation of the valid surface 220 1. Manner of fencing •................................ "2 28 2. Extension of the valid surface 222 2. Distinctness of the touch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 309 3. Invalid surface [off-target] 228 3. Manner of holding the weapon . C. Corps a corps and fleches 224 4. Putting on guard ......................•............. 31 D. Number of touches-Duration of the bout 215f 5. Beginning, stopping and re~a~~ the bout . .. 32 E. Judging touches in foil 227 6. Fencing at close quarters [infighting] 33 I. Materiality of the touch 7. Corps a corps 34 1. With a jury (see article 6lff) 8. Evasive actions, displacing the target, passing the opponent . 35 2. With a scoring machine 228f£ 9. Ground gained or lost . .. 3368 II. Validity or priority of the touch 10. Crossing the boundaries of the strip . 1. Preliminary note 232 11. Duration of the bout . .. 45 2. Observance of the phrase d'armes 233ff 12. Accidents - indispositions - withdrawal of a fencer . .. 50 3. Judging 237 CHAPTER VII - THE DIRECTION OF A BOUT AND THE JUDGING OF TOUCHES PART THREE: EPEE 2. Officials NOTE 1. The Director •.•......•••...••••.................... 53 2. The Jury, Judges and Floor Judges 54 CHAPTER I - HISTORICAL NOTE 3. Auxiliary personnel 59 CHAPTER II - FIELD OF PLAY ["TERRAIN"] soirr B. Jtt:ti: ~i'tl7eDirector . .. 61 2. Location of the Jury. .. 62 CHAPTER III - EQUIPMENT OF EPEE FENCERS 3. Judging A. Weapons a. Procedure 6638fff 1. General specifications for the epee 306ff b. Materiality of the touch . B. Equipment c. Validity or priority of the touch 70 1. Mask 313 C. Judging with a scoring machine 2. Body wire 314 1. Direction of the bout ... ... • . .. 71 C. Cletbing 315 2. Judging CHAPTER IV - CONVENTIONS OF EPEE FENCING a. Materiality of the touch .•.......................... 72 b. Validity or priority of the touch 75 A. Manner of making touches 316 B. Valid surface [target} (illustration) 317 C. Corps a corps and fl&:bes 318 PART TWO: FOn. D. Number of touches - Duration of the bout 319 , E. Judging touches fii 6pee ..-•• : : : 322 CHAPTER I - HISTORICAL NOTE I. Materi~tyof the touch / .• - 'c-'· \ " . CONTENTS 7 6 FENCING RULES FOR COMPETITION R IV - INSPECTION PRELIMINARY TO A COMPETITION 1. Fundamental rule •...........•.....................• Si3 (See Article 17ff). 2. Annulment of touches ..•.•..........................• Su U. Validity or priority of the touch • > R V - SCHEDULE •..•.....•.•..••••............... 519H ~. Principle 329 " . Judging ..............................•............. 830 'CHAPTER VI - INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS . Formulas for organization •••...........•..••.......... 522 A. By pools . 1. Number offencers to a pool 523 PART FOUR: SABRE 2. Composition of pools ..•.............................. 524£ 3. Order of bouts •....••............................... 526£f CHAPTER I - HISTORICAL NOTE 4. Classification [standing] in the pools 528 CHAPTER II - FIELD OF PLAY [''TERRAIN''] •••............. .401£f '.' 5. Promotion to the -next round (qualification) 529 r;t«~ 6. Fence-off ["Barrage"] 530 CHAPTER III - EQUIPMENT FOR SABRE 7. Final pool - classification •........................•.. 531 A. Weapons 8. A fencer not finishing