
To start a bout, the referee will give fencers a command, "En garde!", indicating that they have to take their guard positions to start the match.Īfter fencers are in their garde positions, referees will ask fencers: "ready?" Referees are also the ones who stop and start and the fencing match. Referees must be treated with great respect by fencers, as they are the maximum authority in a fencing bout. In saber and foil, based on the right of way rules, referees must decide who gets the point when both fencers touch each other at the same time.

They are the ones responsible for making a fencing bout go on as smoothly as possible, and that fencers are competing safely, within the rules, and with sportsmanship. In fencing, referees hold a lot of power in their hands. The black card excludes the infractor from the competition. Black cards are given out for serious infractions, like unsportsmanlike conduct, or if a fencer cheats. A red card is given if a medium infraction is committed, or if it is the second time a yellow card infraction is committed.īlack Card: A black card is the rarest of them all in fencing. Red Card: A red card in fencing awards a point to the opponent of the fencer who committed an infraction. If a fencer commits a second yellow card infraction, he or she is given a red card. The yellow card is given in the event a mild infraction is committed, like if fencers turn their backs to the opponent. Yellow Card: A yellow card in fencing works as a warning. For that to happen, the fencer must have both of their feet behind the last line. The right of way rules determine who gets awarded a point in foil and saber.Įxiting the strip on the side: If a fencer exits the strip by one of the sides, the action is stopped, the fencer who exited retreats one meter from the spot where he or she exited.Įxiting the strip on the end: If a fencer exits the piste by the end, the opponent is awarded a point. Different from epee, in those weapons both fencers are not awarded points if they touch each other at the same time. The right of way rules are used in saber and foil. “Right of Way” rules: Also called priority. In fencing, in addition to the basic rules such as time-keeping and how points are awarded, it is important to know some of the most common faults, for which fencers are penalized.Ĭheck out some of fencing's most important rules: However, they can be easily explained by those who have experience with the sport. In saber, if a fencer hits another on the leg, nothing will happen, and the bout will not be stopped.įor someone who doesn't know the sport well, fencing rules may look and sound confusing. If fencers touch their opponents outside of the target area, they will not be awarded a point, although the consequences of hitting off-target vary depending on the weapon for example, in foil, if a fencer hits an opponent on their arm, a white light will come on on the scorer, and the bout will be stopped. The target area in fencing is the area of the fencer's body where points can be scored. The last line on the fencing strip is the final line, placed 7 meters away from the central line, it marks the end of the fencing strip. Three meters from the en guarde line, there is the warning line, where the warning zone starts. There are the en guarde lines, one to the left and one to the right of the central line. The strip has a central line, which marks the middle of the area, placed two meters from it.

The srtip has a rectangular format, 46 feet (14 meters) long and between 4.9 and 6.6 feet wide. In a fencing bout, fencers go back and forth on the strip's 46 feet, and cannot cross each other. The fencing strip, also known as piste, is the metal surface over which athletes fence.
