Global Sports: Fencing Rules - Using an Epee, Saber or Foil

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Fencing Rules - Using an Epee, Saber or Foil

By Dan White


Believed to have been brought from Egypt and Greece around 1200 BC, fencing is one of the most complex sports in history. With passage of time, the sport has suffered many revisions, making it easier to learn and play. The rules of fencing as they are used today have played a crucial role in increasing the fame of this game around the world, especially the US. Lots of people misunderstand this sport, generally as a result of watching films, and consider it chiefly to comprise of people up to all antiques, while fighting with a sword most of the time. Well, that may be true, but there is a lot more to this elegant game.

Game Play: Fencing rules differ slightly by the weapon used but the basic rules always are kept the same. At the outset of a bout, both competitors stand on their respective guard lines one in front of the other, facing each other. The arbiter calls 'fence' to start the confrontation. If the referee does not decide to interrupt the confrontation, it keeps going for the stipulated time, or until the arbiter calls, 'halt'. The referee can stop the match at any time if he thinks that the play is getting dangerous or if one of the fencers is badly injured. If a player, hits instead of touching the other contestant, or if a fencer is disarmed, or leaves the piste, the referee can interrupt the bout.

Duration: The time of bouts is based on the rounds. Preliminary rounds go on for 4 minutes or 5 touches, and the time is based on whichever happens first. In direct elimination matches, the length is nine minutes or three more rounds of 3 minutes each. There is a one-minute break between sessions. These confrontations also end on 15 touches if these occur in less than 9 minutes. For team plays, each match keeps on going for 4 minutes regardless of the number of touches that are taken into consideration.

Scoring: In fencing, points are validated only by touching an opponent's body with the sword. The pattern of the score is decided on the weapon of choice. If a contestant is using an epee, he gets points by touching any part of the challenger's body. With the saber, the fencer makes a valid score only when he touches his other player in the area of the upper torso with the tip of the sword. A player using a foil receives points only when he touches the opponent's trunk which is the area below the collar and above the groin.

Fouls: Fouls according to fencing rules are committed when any of the following occurs. If a player is getting off the piste to prevent getting touched, this is a foul. Using the unarmed hand to defend or attack a rival is also taken as a foul. In both situations, a first foul call is given a warning and a point is given to the other player on the second foul. If a competitor refuses to obey an order from the referee, this action results in a foul.




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