Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Bout Formats
Fencing competitions use two primary bout formats:
- Pool Bouts: In the preliminary round, fencers are divided into pools of 5–8 competitors. Each fencer meets every other fencer in the pool once. Pool bouts are fenced to 5 touches with a maximum time of 3 minutes of effective fencing time (clock stops when the referee calls “Halt”). If time expires before either fencer reaches 5 touches, the fencer with the higher score wins. If tied at the end of time, one minute of priority time is fenced (see 5.5).
- Direct Elimination (DE) Bouts: Following pool seeding, fencers compete in a single-elimination bracket. DE bouts are fenced to 15 touches over three periods of 3 minutes each, with a 1-minute rest between periods. If neither fencer reaches 15 by the end of three periods, priority rules apply.
5.2 Right of Way (Priority) — Foil and Sabre
Right of way is the foundational convention that distinguishes foil and sabre from épée. When both lights illuminate simultaneously, the referee must determine which fencer had priority:
- The Attack: An attack is initiated by extending the weapon arm and continuously threatening the opponent's valid target with the point (foil) or blade (sabre). The attacker holds priority until the attack is completed, parried, or falls short (attack into preparation or distance).
- The Parry and Riposte: A defender who deflects the incoming blade with their own blade (parry) immediately gains priority for the return attack (riposte). The riposte must be executed without delay to maintain priority. A delayed riposte may lose priority to a renewed attack (remise).
- Counter-Attack: A touch made against an opponent who has already initiated their attack. In foil, a counter-attack only scores if it arrives at least one fencing time before the final movement of the attack. In sabre, counter-attacks must arrive clearly before the attack to be awarded — simultaneous actions result in the touch being awarded to the attacker.
- Simultaneous Actions: When both fencers initiate attacks at the same moment with no identifiable priority, neither touch is awarded and the referee calls “simultaneous.”
- Point in Line: A fencer who extends the weapon arm and threatens valid target before the opponent begins their attack has established a “point in line,” which has priority. The attacker must deflect the point in line (beat or bind) before attacking.
5.3 Épée: No Priority
Épée has no right of way rules. If both fencers touch within 25 milliseconds of each other (the electrical lockout time), both receive a touch — this is called a double touch. If only one light illuminates, only that fencer scores. In the final period when the score is tied at 14–14, a double touch at 14–14 results in no score (the touch is annulled), because the bout must be won by a single decisive touch.
5.4 Team Relay Format
Team bouts consist of 9 individual relay bouts between the three members of each team. The order of bouts is predetermined by a draw. Each relay bout has a cumulative target score:
- Bout 1: fenced to 5 touches (or 3 minutes)
- Bout 2: fenced to 10 touches (or 3 minutes from current score)
- Bout 3: fenced to 15 touches
- Continuing in increments of 5 up to Bout 9: fenced to 45 touches
The team reaching 45 first wins. If time expires in the final bout with a tied score, priority time of 1 minute applies. The reserve fencer may substitute for any teammate once during the match, but the substituted fencer may not return.
5.5 Priority Time (Tie-Breaking)
When a bout is tied at the end of regulation time, the referee conducts a priority draw (coin toss or electronic draw). One fencer is designated as having priority. One minute of additional fencing time is then added. If a touch is scored during this minute, that fencer wins regardless of the priority designation. If no touch is scored, the fencer with priority wins the bout.
5.6 Terrain and Movement
Fencers may advance, retreat, lunge, flèche (running attack, forbidden in sabre), and execute other footwork. Crossing feet (passing forward) is permitted in foil and épée but results in a flèche being called — the attacker must not make contact after passing the opponent. In sabre, the flèche is banned; a fencer who crosses their feet while moving forward receives a penalty. Corps à corps (body contact) is forbidden in all weapons: deliberate body contact results in a penalty, while accidental contact results in a halt with no penalty if neither fencer is at fault.