BOYS AND GIRLS FENCING
The United States Fencing Association Rules shall be the rules that govern, unless
expressly changed in these rules.
1. A team consists of nine total competitors - three each in
sabre, foil and epee.
2. Failure to field a complete squad will result in a forfeit
of the missing fencers' bouts. Forfeits will be scored as a 5-0 victory
for the opponent.
3. A fencer may fence in only one weapon per meet, and for a
total of three bouts.
4. Substitutions are permitted. Notice must be given to
the director (referee) one bout prior to the change. When the meet has
been decided, substitutions may be made at any point. ("Mercy Rule").
5. Once a fencer is substituted out of the match he/she may not
return.
6. A match will consist of 27 bouts - nine each in sabre,
foil, and epee. Fourteen bout victories or more will constitute a victory.
7. Sabre and foil will be fenced on one strip, with epee
fenced on an adjoining strip.
8. In each weapon, the three competitors from one school will
fence each of the three competitors from the opposing school, for a total of
nine bouts. The order of bouts shall be: 4-1, 5-2, 6-3, 4-2, 5-3, 6-1,
4-3, 5-1, 6-2. The home team shall use numbers 4, 5, 6. The visiting
team will use numbers 1, 2, 3.
9. A match will start with three sabre bouts then three
foil bouts. Three epee bouts will be fenced on the additional strip.
A two-minute team break will be taken after nine total bouts have been
fenced. Nine more bouts will then take place in the same manner ending
with a second two-minute team break. The final nine bouts will then be
fenced.
10. A bout will be to five touches and for four minutes stop
time. A tie at the end of four minutes will be fenced to the next valid
touch.
11. A one-minute time-out may be called by a coach or their designee
during any valid stoppage of a bout.
12. At the beginning of the match the fencers will salute. At
the conclusion of the match the fencers will return to the on guard lines,
salute then shake hands.
13. The USFA penalty chart will be enforced. Equipment
penalties will be given with illegal equipment confiscated for the bout.
12/4/96
Section XI Tournament
1. All teams must field a nine-person team, three each in
sabre, foil and epee. Should any team not be able to field a full team,
the strongest positions must be filled first. Forfeits will be charged for
any bouts not fenced because of team shortage, with wins being awarded to
opposing teams.
2. Each team will fence all other teams in a round robin,
seeding to be decided by league dual meet records. The order of
competition shall be:
Strip A Strip B Strip C
Bye
Round 1
1-7
2-6
3-5 4
Round 2
1-3
2-7
4-5 6
Round 3
1-4
2-5
6-7 3
Round 4
4-6
2-3
5-7 1
Round 5
1-5
3-6
4-7 2
Round 6
1-6
2-4
3-7 5
Round 7
1-2
3-4
5-6 7
3. Each team encounter shall be for nine points. In each
of the three weapons, the weak fencer will fence the opposing weak fencer first.
The middle fencer will fence the opposing middle fencer second, and the strong
fencer will fence the opposing strong fencer last. The order shall
be sabre, foil, then epee. Each individual win shall count as one
point in a team's score. At the conclusion of all rounds the point shall
be totaled, high score is the winner. Ties shall not be broken.
Section XI Individual Tournament
1. Six fencers in each weapon (sabre, foil, epee) will qualify
for the individual championships - one from the weak pool, two from the middle
pool and three from the strong pool. Winning percentage will be the first
selection criteria. Any ties in winning percentages will be decided by
indicators (touches scored minus touches received). Ties in indicator will be
decided by which fencer received the least number of touches. Ties in winning
percentage, indicator and touches received will be decided by a fence-off.
2. The individual finals will consist of a six-person round
robin pool in each weapon. Bouts fenced in the team portion are in no way
carried over to the individuals. USFA rule S519 shall be used to ensure that
teammates fence first in the final pool. USFA rule S524 shall be used to
classify the fencers at the completion of the final pool.
Section XI Tournament Procedures
1. At sign-in, each coach will list the team members in order
of strength with the weakest fencer in each weapon designated number one, the
middle fencer number two, and the strongest fencer number three. This
order may not subsequently be changed. A fencer may be removed from
competition and a substitute put in. However, once a fencer is removed
they may not return. The replacement is not eligible for the individual
championships. Substitutes must be announced prior to the beginning of the
preceding bout. Substitutes may not enter in mid-bout except with the approval
of the director technique.
2. Any delay due to equipment failure that will unnecessarily
prolong the proper running of the competition will be fenced on available
strips. The existing team order will remain intact regardless of a change
in strip.
3. The bout committee for resolving protests will consist of
the first three available (present and impartial) of the following list: fencing
sport chairman, fencing official rules interpreter, president fencing officials
association, host coach, impartial fencing officials, impartial fencing coach.