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As with other sports fencing bouts
are monitored by a referee. This could be another fencer
or a certified referee. They use hand signals to show when
to start, stop, how points are being awarded and who gets
penalties. Since fencing is an international sport and
language could be a barrier hand signals are very important to
help fencers understand the rules. |
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On Guard
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This is the referee signal to order the fencer into the guard
position.
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Ready
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This is the signal made by the referee to determine if both
fencers are ready to begin. |
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Play/Fence
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This is the signal to start fencing. The
referee will bring his hands together. |
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Halt
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This signal requires you to immediately stop fencing. The
referee will normally hold up his right hand unless the halt was
caused specifically by the left hand fencer. |
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Attack from left/right
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This is the signal that determines the attack fencer. Left
hand raised represents the fencer on the referee's left while
the right hand raised represents the fencer on the referee's
right. |
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Hits
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This is the signal that determines which fencer hits. Left
hand raised shows the fencer on the referee's left has been hit
and if the right hand is raised it shows that the fencer on the
referee's right has been hit by the opponent. |
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Point Awarded
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This is the
signal that determines whom the referee is awarding the point.
Left hand raised means the point goes to the fencer on his left
while the right hand raised means the point goes to the fencer
on the referee's right. In Epée if both hands are raised
it means both fencers receive a point. |
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Together
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This is the signal that shows
both attacks started
simultaneously.
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Off Target
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This is the
signal that shows that the fencer has hit a non-valid target.
In this case the fencer does not score a point.
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Parried
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This signal
indicates that a fencer successfully parries an attack.
The left hand represents the fencer on the referee's left
performed the parry while the right hand represents the fencer
on the right. |
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Point in Line
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This referee
signal indicates that one of the fencers established
point-in-line against his/her opponent. The left hand
represents the fencer on the referee's left took point-in-line
while the right hand represents the fencer on the right. |
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Fails/Miss
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This signal
shows that the action of one of the fencers has failed to hit
either on or off target. Left hand raised shows the fencer on
his left has missed while the right hand raised means the fencer
on the referee's right has missed. |
