Judged Bouts

  1. Judged bouts will consist of at least two adversaries and a President; ideally two to four Judges will aid the President.
  2. The President has sole authority over the bout within the customary confines of bouts, and his or her decisions are final without dispute.
  3. Based solely on his or her judgement, the President will award valid touches against opponents, up to an announced number, usually three to five.
  4. Judges are obliged to remain focused on the bouts with attention to their assigned participant’s target area.
  5. When addressed by the President, Judges’ responses are limited to, “yes”, “no”, or “abstain.”
  6. During judged bouts, fencers shall salute the President, Judges, and opponent in that order.
  7. Fencers shall remain silent; a fencer may petition to address the President between touches via an appelle with the leading foot.
  8. Fencers shall restrict their advances and retreats to the established confines of the piste.
  9. The President may halt a bout to warn a fencer that he or she is near the boundary of the piste; should the fencer subsequently step beyond the boundary, the President may award a point against.
  10. Participants shall endeavor to learn all roles of the judged bout and rotate through them at the direction of the instructor.
  11. All persons are obliged to full attention during the bout and may not distract bouting, or the address of the president of a bout; spectator whispering, in the spirit of inquiry or critical observation, is acceptable so long as it does not distract.