CENTRAL VIRGINIA DIVISION
AMERICAN FENCING LEAGUE
RULES FOR COMPETITIONS
Revised 25 March 2007
The following rules supplement the current edition of the American Fencing League Fencing Rules and are applicable to competitions hosted by the Division. These rules serve as notice of special regulations differing from the American Fencing League Fencing Rules (see Part I (F) 15.).
PART I. RULES GOVERNING ORGANIZATION OF COMPETITIONS
Chapter 3. INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS
Para 27. (a) modified text: Individual three-weapon events shall be organized as single (direct) or double elimination competitions.
Para 27. (e) insert new first sentence: Individual events at epee shall be fenced as a pool unique, unless the number of competitors and the available time for the competition makes this impractical.
Para 28. new subparagraph (c): In Central Virginia Division competitions, initial seeding shall be based upon (first) the fencers current American Fencing League classifications, and (second), among fencers holding the same classification, on the current season Central Virginia Point Championship point total for the weapon being fought. Seeding of those promoted for second and subsequent rounds shall be determined by (first) the percentage of victories, (second) touches received, and (third) touches scored.
Para 29. (b) insert as new sentence after the first sentence: The order of bouts generated by any commonly accepted tournament management software may be substituted for the bout order in the table.
PART II. TECHNICAL RULES AND CONVENTIONS OF FENCING
Chapter 2. EQUIPMENT AND ARMAMENT
Para 68. replacement text: The use of a martingale is not required.
Note: Martingales offer no advantage in safety, and may actually trap an opponent’s weapon or cause a dropped weapon to rebound into or trip one of the fencers. In addition they may create confusion in the mind of the opponent or of the Director as to whether or not a fencer has been disarmed, leading to a fencer unable to protect himself or herself being hit with full force by an opponent acting in good faith.
Para 70. replacement text: The Button. The button for epee shall conform to rules for the button for foil. The use of electric points, practice electric points, points d’arret, tin-tack points, and metal points covered with adhesive tape is prohibited.
Para 70. and Para 71. deleted.
Note: Electric points are prohibited to ensure that all blades in use are of roughly equivalent weight, and to prevent one fencer from securing an unfair advantage in blade weight over his or her opponent. Points d’arret and tin-tack points are prohibited because they are inherently unsafe, being designed with sharp points that are intended to arrest by cutting into the fencing jacket, compromising its protection, and potentially inflicting injury.
Para 75. insert as additional text at the end of the first sentence: Blades intended for use in electric fencing or practice electric blades may not be used.
Note: Electric blades are prohibited to ensure that all blades in use are of roughly equivalent weight and stiffness, and to prevent one fencer from securing an unfair advantage in blade weight over his or her opponent.
Para 79. revised text for the last sentence: The use of a martingale is not mandatory.
Para 80. replacement text: The Button. The tip of the foil blade must be covered by a plastic or rubber button in good condition, without splits or wear, and seated firmly on the tip. If adhesive tape is used to secure the button, this tape must be a bright color other than white.
Note: Securing the plastic button with white adhesive tape makes it very difficult for judges to detect light, but valid, touches, leading to potential hard hitting. A plastic button in good condition which has been applied to the end of the blade when warm (these can be heated to a pliable state by use of hot water from a faucet) will remain in place under competition stress. It is possible for a button under adhesive tape to fail without being noticed, and the use of adhesive tape can obscure the fact that fencer has not used a button at all, creating a dangerous condition as the tape wears under hits.
Para 115. deleted.
Chapter 4. GROUND RULES
Para 129. new subparagraph (a): In cases where the use of the official piste is impractical given space limitations, a minimum length strip may be used. This piste shall have a fencing area 32 feet in length and 3 feet to 6 feet in width.
129.(a)(1) Lines shall be marked upon the piste at the mid point of the piste, as on guard lines 6 feet from the mid point, as epee and sabre warning lines 6 feet from the ends of the piste, and as foil warning lines 3 feet from the end of the piste.
129.(a)(2) At foil – a fencer who retreats off the end of the piste with both feet will be replaced on guard with his or her front foot at the foil warning line. Off the piste a second time with both feet results in a touch for the opponent.
129.(a)(3) At epee and sabre – a fencer who retreats off the end of the piste with both feet will be replaced on guard with his or her front foot at the on guard line. The fencer may then retreat off the piste once more before being replaced on guard at the epee-sabre warning line. Off the piste with both feet a third time results in a touch for the opponent.
129.(a)(4) Fencers may regain their distance by forcing the opponent off the far end of the piste, after which they are once again allowed the full retreating distance.
Note: The provision of a minimum length piste parallels the provisions of editions of the rules of the Ameteur Fencers League of America from 1940 through 1965, which provided a piste for use in facilities where space was not adequate for a full length piste.
Chapter 5. SCORING AND TIME LIMITS
Para 153. added text: Epee double defeats will be scored as follows:
153.(a) For double defeats in which both fencers are hit simultaneously, a score of 1 touch shall be entered for both fencers, and a defeat recorded.
153.(b) For double defeats in which neither fencers scores a touch during the allocated time for the bout, a score of 0 touches shall be entered for both fencers, and a defeat recorded.
Note: This clarifies the character of double defeats, and preserves the statistical integrity of competition records by not awarding double touch credit when in fact no touch is received. This permits the touches received and touches scored indicators to be used to differentiate places appropriately.
Subpara 154(b). revised text: Next they shall fence a single touch at epee.
Note: This retains the character of epee as a single touch weapon as found throughout the remainder of the American Fencing League rules. It also increases the probability that a three weapon bout will require sabre touches for its resolution.
Subpara 154(d). revised text: As the maximum number of aggregate touches scored by both fencers is 11, the contestant who first scores 6 touches shall be declared the winner.
Para 157. revised text: In three-weapon bouts, double touches in epee shall be scored as a touch for each contestant.
Added PART III. CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS
501. The Central Virginia Point Championships. Each year the Central Virginia Division will award a Central Virginia Point Championships in Three Weapons, Foil, Epee, and Sabre to recognize fencers who have achieved competitive success and who have participated consistently in Central Virginia Division events. Participants in each competition will receive points inversely equal to their placement in the competition. Thus, in a competition with 7 fencers, the first place fencer receives 7 points and the last place fencer 1 point. At the end of the fencing year the fencer who has achieved the highest total points in the individual weapons of Foil, Sabre, Epee, and Three Weapons, and the fencer with the highest overall aggregate of points will be recognized as Central Virginia Point Champions.