Rules

This document establishes the rules for all Connecticut high school or secondary school fencing competitions, including team matches, individual competitions, the Connecticut State High School Individual Fencing Championships and the Connecticut State High School Team Fencing Championships. The most recent edition of Fencing Rules, as published by the United States Fencing Association, Inc., and any and all subsequent changes, shall be the governing authority for these fencing competitions, except as set forth hereinafter. In the event of a conflict between the text of this document and the Fencing Rules, the text of this document takes precedence. Nothing in this document, however, supersedes applicable laws and regulations.

A. General definitions. The definitions in Articles t.2 through t.5 in the Fencing Rules are applicable to these rules.

1. Meet. A meet is a team competition that is contested by three or more teams.

2. Tournament. A tournament consists of a number of competitions held at the same place, during the same period of time, and under the same aegis (see Article t.107).

3. Formula. The manner in which a competition is organized. The competition may consist of rounds of pool, direct elimination, or both.

4. Varsity. The highest level of inter-scholastic fencing competition is referred to as varsity. The varsity team is the first team representing a school.

5. Junior varsity. The next-highest level of inter-scholastic fencing competition is referred to as junior varsity. A fencer meeting the following criteria is considered junior varsity:

6. Novice. The lowest level of experience in inter-scholastic fencing competition is referred to as novice. A fencer who began training and receiving coaching in the current school year is considered novice. All training and coaching is counted, whether obtained within a school program or not.

a) Three (3) boys or three (3) girls, as appropriate, plus additional members as substitutes, or;

b) Four (4) boys or four (4) girls, as appropriate, plus additional members as substitutes.

c) The choice of three-person or four-person teams will be at the discretion and agreement of both Coaches.

2. Team members must meet the eligibility requirements of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) or similar organization, as well as those of the school.

3. Mixed teams are allowed, but boys should not fence against girls unless both Coaches agree, and boys’ squad scores are kept separate from girls’ squad scores.

1. The score sheet for each team match will be prepared in accordance with Section III. D. 2 and 3, and Appendices A and B as appropriate.

2. In a match between three-person teams the Home Team will fill positions 1 through 3 on the match score sheet (Appendix A). The Visiting Team will fill positions 4 through 6.

3. In a match between four-person teams the Home Team will fill positions 1 through 4 on the match score sheet (Appendix B). The Visiting Team will fill positions 5 through 8.

4. When a match is held at a neutral location the designation of Home Team and Visiting Team will be decided by drawing lots.

5. The order of the individual fencers will be decide by the Coach or a Team Captain. Only the Coach or a Team Captain will submit the order of the individual fencers to the Scorekeeper.

6. Only the Coach or a Team Captain will submit the names of any substitutes to the Scorekeeper.

1. The Referee will allow a reasonable time for both teams to warm up, and the Referee will check with both Coaches as to their readiness before asking the Scorekeeper to call the first bout.

2. From that time to the end of the match the Referee will be in charge, with all the powers over the conduct of the competition, the Coaches, contestants, spectators, or others, as stated or implied in the Fencing Rules, and any and all subsequent changes.

3. Before the start of the match or bout, the Referee will verify that the equipment conforms to the Fencing Rules, (see Articles t.43 through t.45). In particular, the Referee will verify that each contestant is wearing an underarm protector, In a foil bout, the Referee will verify that the pressure of the spring in the electric foil will lift a 500-gram weight (see Article m.11). In an épée bout, the Referee will verify that the pressure of the spring in the electric épée will lift a 750-gram weight and that the lighting stroke is correct (see Article m. 19).

1. The bouts of each team match will be fenced according to the round robin formula. Each fencer (or their substitute) of one team will fence each fencer (or their substitute) of the opposing team in turn.

2. The bouts of each match between three-person teams must be fought is the following order:

3 - 6	1 - 6	1 - 4
1 - 5	3 - 4	2 - 6
2 - 4	2 - 5	3 - 5

3. The bouts of each match between four-person teams must be fought in the following order:

1 - 5	6 - 1	3 - 6	8 - 3
2 - 6	5 - 3	1 - 8	6 - 4
3 - 7	8 - 2	4 - 5	7 - 1
4 - 8	7 - 4	2 - 7	5 - 2

4. If this order is altered, intentionally, or unintentionally, the team making the alteration loses the match (see Article t.86).

5. The duration of each bout will be three (3) minutes of actual fencing time (stop and start).

6. The two opponents in each bout will fence until one of them has scored five touches, within the time limit of three minutes.

7. If by the expiration of three minutes of fencing time the scores are equal, the match will continue for a deciding touch, with a maximum time limit of one minute. Before the fencing recommences, the Referee will draw lots to decide who will be the winner if scores are still equal at the end of the extra minute.

8. The contestants on the strip may request at any time during a normal stop-time in the bout, and will be given, the time remaining to the end of the bout, per the Fencing Rules. No one else may ask for, and no one else may volunteer, such time-remaining information.

1. The winning team will be that team whose members have obtained more individual victories.

2. In four-person team matches, in the case of a tie in individual victories (i.e. 8 - 8), the winner will be the team that has scored more touches. In the case of a tie in individual victories and in touches scored, the match will be a draw.

2. Only the Coach or a Team Captain may submit the names of substitutes to the Scorekeeper.

3. A fencer who has been replaced by a substitute may return and fence again in that match (except in the case of injury or sickness). He or she, however, may not fence an opponent for the second time in that same match. Both Coaches and both Team Captains should be specifically informed of such a return.

G. Injury or Sickness. If an injury or sickness occurs in the course of a bout, the injured or sick fencer may be replaced by a substitute in accordance with the provisions of Articles t.33 and o.44 of the Fencing Rules, except as follows:

1. A doctor on duty, an athletic trainer on duty, or the Referee must duly recognize and attest to the validity of the injury or sickness.

2. The Referee will allow the Coach or a Team Captain to put in a substitute to continue the match at the point where the injured or sick fencer withdrew, even during a bout in progress.

3. A fencer who is thus replaced cannot again take his or her place in the team during the same match, meet or tournament.

H. Coaching. Coaching the fencer on the strip is allowed only under the following conditions:

1. Each Coach, Team Captain, or designated team member may call a time-out for coaching, once only, at any time during a bout.

2. There is no minimum or maximum number of touches that must be scored by the contestants before a time-out for coaching can be called.

4. One person only (Coach, Team Captain, or designated team member) is allowed to talk to the fencer.

5. A Coach, Team Captain, or designated team member may talk to his or her own fencer during the opposing team’s coaching time-out, for as long as the other time-out lasts, and may still use his or her own coaching time-out if he or she wishes.

6. In spite of the provisions of Sections H. 1 through H. 5 above, during the State Championships, in the interest of fairness to all competitors and Coaches, no coaching time-outs will be taken by anyone (Coach, Team Captain, teammate, parent, etc.) while a fencer is on the strip.

A. Organization. Individual competitions will be organized and run in accordance with Chapter 2, ORGANIZATION RULES, as published in Fencing Rules.

B. Formula. The formula for the competition should be chosen from Article o.11 of the Fencing Rules.

C. Classification. An individual competition may be classified using the definitions of Section II, that is, varsity, junior varsity or novice.

D. Entrance criteria. The entrance criteria should be clearly stated in the interest of fairness to all fencers.

E. Announcement. The classification, entrance criteria, and formula chosen for the competition should be announced 30 days in advance of the competition date.

1. The State Championships will be organized and run in accordance with Chapter 2, ORGANIZATION RULES, as published in Fencing Rules, except as set forth hereinafter.

1. The State Championships are composed of Individual Championships and Team Championships for boys and girls who are in grades 9 through 12 at a Connecticut high school, or are home-schooled in the State of Connecticut, and are residents of the State of Connecticut.

3. A formal team or club organization is not necessary for a high school fencer to enter the Individual Championships. However, individuals entering unattached to a school team must comply with the entry requirements of Section V. C.

4. Once a tournament begins no entries or substitutions are allowed for any reason.

1. Completed entry forms, entry fees, and other required information and documents must be received by the Organizing Committee of the event no later than seven days before the event date.

2. Individual Entries. Individuals entering unattached to a school fencing program must comply with the following entry requirements:

a) The individual shall submit a completed entry form, the entry fee, evidence of physical preparedness, evidence of insurance coverage, and evidence of eligibility.

b) The individual shall sign a waiver of liability which contains the following language as a minimum:

“Upon entering the Connecticut State High School Fencing Championships, I (insert individual’s name) agree to abide by the rules of these Championships as currently published. I understand and appreciate that participation in a sport carries a risk to me of serious injury, including permanent paralysis or death. I voluntarily and knowingly recognize, accept and assume this risk and release (insert name of school), their sponsors, the event organizers and officials from any liability.”

c) If the individual is under 18, a parent or guardian of the individual shall sign a permission statement contains the following language as a minimum:

“I give permission for (insert individual’s name) to participate in the Connecticut State High School Fencing Championships. I realize that, even with the best coaching, proper protective equipment and strict observance of the rules, fencing involves the potential for injury that is inherent in all sports. On rare occasions these injuries can be so severe as to result in total disability, paralysis, or even death. I will not hold (insert name of school), their sponsors, the event organizers, and officials responsible for any injury sustained by my child while engaged in practice or competition conditions or while traveling to or from the competition.”

d) A fencing coach of the individual shall sign a statement containing the following words as a minimum:

“I (insert name of coach) certify that (insert individual’s name) has received adequate training and instruction in the sport of fencing and is familiar with the Fencing Rules, 2000 Edition as published by the USFA.”

e) A school official shall sign a statement containing the following words as a minimum:

“I (insert name of school official) certify that (insert individual’s name) is a resident of the State of Connecticut, is a full time student at (insert name of school) and has satisfied the eligibility requirements for athletic competition.”

3. School Entries. A Connecticut high school or secondary school that has an established fencing program may enter the Individual Championships as a unit (up to four boys and four girls). The members of the unit shall have met the eligibility requirements of the school, or as otherwise set down in these rules. The Coach, Faculty Advisor, or another school official shall sign a statement containing the following words as a minimum:

“I certify that the fencers listed on the entry form are residents of the State of Connecticut, are full time students at (insert name of school), meet the eligibility requirements of the school, and meet the eligibility requirements of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) or similar organization. Furthermore, the parents or guardians of these fencers have given permission for their sons, daughters or wards to participate in the fencing program and have executed a waiver of liability. The school maintains adequate insurance coverage in case of injury or illness.”

1. The Individual Championships shall be scheduled for the first Saturday in March with an alternative date of the second Saturday in March.

2. The Team Championships shall be scheduled for the second Saturday in March with an alternative date of the third Saturday in March.

1. The Individual Championships shall be run on the pool - direct elimination formula, with the results used to compute the seeding for the Team Championships.

a) By direct elimination with a mixed system consisting of one (1) qualifying round of pools, with no-one eliminated, followed by a direct elimination table to qualify eight (8) fencers for a direct elimination final.

(1) The round of pools is seeded according to Articles o.12 through o.15 of the Fencing Rules.

(2) After the round of pools, all fencers are ranked according to the bout and touch indicators, and all advance to a direct elimination table.

b) By direct elimination with a mixed system consisting of two (2) qualifying rounds of pools, with no-one eliminated, followed by a direct elimination table to qualify eight (8) fencers for a direct elimination final.

(1) The first round of pools is seeded according to Articles o.12 through o.15) of the Fencing Rules.

(3) After the second round, all fencers are ranked according to the bout and touch indicators from both rounds of pools, and all fencers advance to a direct elimination table.

3. Awards will be given to the top eight (8) finalists. The first place fencer in each division will be awarded a gold medal. The second place fencer in each division will be awarded a silver medal. Each of the remaining finalists will be awarded a bronze medal. The top eight finalists in each division will be declared All State Athletes.

1. Only schools that have competed in the Individual Championships with a full complement of fencers (four per team) will be allowed to compete for the Team Championship. A team shall consist of three fencers, with or without a reserve. A team may only begin a match if it is complete.

2. The competition shall be run by integral direct elimination with a direct elimination table that may be incomplete.

3. The teams shall occupy the places in the table according to their points. Each team’s points shall are arrived at by adding together the points obtained by their three highest –finishing team members in the Individual Championships. The team with the lowest points will be seeded first. The team with the highest points will be seeded last. If two or more teams have the same number of points, they will be separated by drawing lots.

4. All places up to 8^th will be fought for. From 9^th place onward the teams will be ranked according to their initial index in the table.

5. The formula for the competition shall be in accordance with Article o.44 of the Fencing Rules as published by the USFA, except as follows:

a) The bouts shall be fenced according to the round robin formula set forth in Section D.1. and D.2. of these rules.

6. Awards will be given to the Team Champion and the Runner-up Team, in both the boys and girls divisions.

A. All schools, coaches and competitors are advised to purchase new fencing masks meeting Fencing Rules specifications, and are provided with safety back straps.

B. All competitors should wear knickers or long pocketless pants that fasten below the knee. When knickers are worn, all competitors should wear socks that cover the legs up to the bottoms of the knickers. These socks should be held up in such a way that they will not fall down. The competitors clothing must not have buckles, pockets or openings in which the opponent’s blade may be caught and held (see Article m.25 of the Fencing Rules).