Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Touch Validity
Each valid touch scores 1 point. The electronic apparatus determines whether a touch has landed, while the referee determines (in foil and sabre) whether the touch should be awarded based on priority analysis:
- Foil: A colored light (red or green) indicates an on-target touch against the lamé. A white light indicates an off-target touch (landing on a non-valid surface). Off-target touches in foil halt the action but do not score — however, if the off-target touch had priority, it annuls any subsequent on-target touch by the opponent.
- Épée: Only colored lights (red/green) are used. Any touch on any surface scores, as the entire body is valid. There is no off-target indication. The 25 ms lockout window determines whether single or double touches are registered.
- Sabre: A colored light indicates an on-target touch anywhere on the conductive lamé, mask, or glove cuff. Off-target touches do not register electronically in sabre (the blade must contact the conductive target surface). If the blade lands below the waist, no light illuminates and play continues.
6.2 Individual Bout Scoring
- Pool bouts: First to 5 touches or highest score after 3 minutes. Results feed into an index calculation (touches scored minus touches received, divided by bouts) to determine DE seeding.
- DE bouts: First to 15 touches or highest score after three 3-minute periods. In the event of a tie, priority time applies (see 5.5).
6.3 Team Bout Scoring
Team relay bouts accumulate to a maximum of 45 touches across 9 relay bouts. The team that reaches 45 first, or leads when time expires in the final relay bout, wins the match. Individual relay results carry over — if Team A leads 23–20 after bout 5, bout 6 begins at that score and is fenced to a target of 30.
6.4 Competition Rankings
After pools, fencers are ranked by: (1) victory percentage (V/M), (2) indicator (touches scored minus touches received), and (3) touches scored. This seeding determines the DE bracket placement. The final standings follow the DE bracket results, with losers of the semi-finals sharing third place (both receive bronze medals at the Olympics and World Championships).