Fencing Rules continued

Equipment Regulation Change (2001)

"New Safety Guidelines

The Board discussed this issue again at their last meting and has taken into account all the letters

received from fencing clubs and other interested parties but also consulted our Honorary Medical

Officer, Dr. Raymond Crawfurd and our Honorary Legal Advisor Mr. Peter Cadman. The important point

to remember is that we have to comply with forthcoming legislation which when passed will make it

illegal for equipment manufacturers to sell kit under 350N and all kit will have to be marked showing

the newton standard. The Board had to combine what it thought was best for fencing at all levels in

Great Britain with the legal obligations it has to operate under as a National Governing Body.

Accordingly the Board has adopted the safety recommendations of the BFA Safety Group but these

will not be implemented until 2006. (The exact text of the new safety standards appears separately in

this edition of the Sword and is on the BFA Web Page.) I would like to highlight that those fencing

with either size 3 or smaller blades at all three weapons and also those using steam foils only have to

wear 350N jackets and plastrons and a 350N mask. They do not have to wear breeches. For all other

fencing the fencers must wear 350N jackets, breeches and mask and a 800N under plastron. For All

FIE events fencers must wear FIE regulation kit which is 800N jacket, breeches and under plastron

and 1600N masks. The implementation date was set at January 1st 2006 so as to give clubs and

individuals the time to prepare for this change."

Extract from the BFA web site "news from the President"

Please refer to the BFA's site for latest info.

Thanks to the BFA President for writing the material from which this was copied.

This page updated:

16 Sep 2004 Reloaded (Homestead hanging up)

18 Oct 2003 Results button changed from Surrey Archives to page within this site.

30 Sep 03: Added top note re Breeches, Plastrons & Testing

16th Apr 03: Updated Coach and Results button links

15th Dec 02 Typos corrected

5th June 2001 created

IdeW

Safety and Equipment

These notes are in addition to the notes on the British Fencing web site.

SCFU requires that competitors in all its events wear safe equipment.

Plastrons: Fencers in all categories must wear plastrons.

Breeches: In all events, breeches of at least 350N are recommended. 

In the U14 youth events (size 2/3 blades), safe trousers may be worn instead of breeches ...

but fencers should ensure that any weak locations (eg pockets) are taped up.

In the U16 and U18 youth events, breeches are mandatory.

Competitors over the age of 18 are responsible for their own (and each others) safety....

safe trousers may be worn instead of breeches

but fencers should ensure that any weak locations (eg pockets) are taped up.

Testing: If you test your equipment by hitting an opponent without a mask, do look where your point is going !

Blade Sizes: Click here