Fencing Rules
Bout Duration
The bouts are started with the command of the referee "Fence" and stopped when he/she calls "Halt".
The bout ends after three minutes of fencing or after eight touches in sabre fencing.
In 15 points bout, the fencers get a one-minute break after every three-minute.
If nine minutes are elapsed in a 15 touch bout or three minutes in a five touch bout, then the bout is considered to be over and the current scores are taken as the final scores.
Right Of Way (Priority)
It is a decision making criteria used in sabre and foil fencing to determine which fencer should be given a point if both land a valid attack/hit at the same time. In epee fencing, both fencers receive a point if they both land valid hits at the same time.
Penalties
In the case of rule infringements, penalties are awarded and indicated by a penalty card. A yellow card signifies a warning with no further action, a red card to a fencer awards his/her opponent a touch and a black card signify that the fencer is excluded from the competition. The main offenses are:
- Group 1- Making bodily contact with the opponent, removing equipment, delaying a bout makes a fencer penalized with a yellow card.
- Group 2- Showing any kind of violence, not getting proper inspection marks on the equipment makes a fencer penalized with a red card.
- Group 3- Disturbing the order of bout, falsifying inspection marks makes a fencer to be penalized with a red card with any subsequent offense results in a black card penalty.
- Group 4- Breaching of protocols such as refusal to salute, doping and manifest cheating makes a fencer penalized with a black card.
