FENCING

Corporate Challenge Information

Format : Teams will consist of three members and optionally one substitute.

Any combination of male and female is allowed as long as they are all from a participating company. A participant may not compete in this event if they have ever held a USFA rating of "C" or higher in any of the three blades. The Team Fencing Competition is governed by the Rules of the United States Fencing Association (USFA) where applicable. The weapon that will be used will be the EPEE.

This tournament will be held in a relay format using a direct elimination bracket. One team loss means team elimination.

Registration : All team members must be present in order to check in. Pre-registration times will be given to all participating company team captains before the tournament day.

Team Position: The position of each team on the match score-sheet is decided by how you ended up last year. All new teams will be seated accordingly in random order. The order of the individual fencers is decided by each company's team captain. If the order of the individual fencer is altered, intentionally or unintentionally, the team making the alteration loses the match.

No team shall be permitted to compete with a lesser number of members than required for this particular competition, unless the other team agrees to it, nor may you interchange members with other team members after the start of the competition. What ever members you start with at the beginning of the competition will be the same ones you finish up with.

Equipment : Fencing equipment you will need in order to compete. Mask, glove, epee, body cord, fencing jacket, under arm protector and in addition for women a plastic chest protector. Fencing equipment will be rented out to anyone who needs it for a cost of $5 per item or $20 for everything if you do not own your own equipment, provided that we have what you need. It is preferred that you have your own equipment and therefore your responsibility to have the correct equipment on hand. You must also wear athletic shoes and long pants (jeans are OK). Water bottles are highly recommended. No food other than power bars are allowed in the building. No smoking or flash pictures during the competition is allowed. Non-flash pictures and video cams are allowed. Flash pictures for the medal winners are highly allowed. You may bring borrowed fencing equipment if desired. All personal fencing equipment must be checked in at the armorers table when you arrive.

Scoring: The target area for Epee is the whole body. Who ever touches the other first gets the touch. A double touch can be scored if both fencers touch each other at the same time which scores a point for each fencer's team. All scoring will be done by electronic machines. All directors will be rated directors by the UFF. (United Fencing Federation)

Three fencers from one team fence the three fencers of the opposing team (9 relay bouts). Each 'lap' (bout) of the relay match consists of three touches and the maximum time for each bout is 2 minutes. When one team reaches a multiple of 3 (3, 6, 9, 12, etc.); both teams then bring in the next 2 members to fence.

Example: The first two fencers' (one from each team) fence to whoever gets to 3 touches first. Then the next two fencers fence to whoever gets to 6 touches total for their team. Then the next two fencers' fence to 9 and so on until a total of 27 is reached. Each bout can take no longer than 2 minutes. If time runs out and you have not reached the target number then the next two fencers take it from the current number and fence to that next target number.

The first team to reach a total of 27 points for their side (or is ahead of the other team after time runs out on the final bout) wins the match and they then go on to the next elimination round. If you lose your match then your team is out of the competition. If you win your match then you advance to the next round. A fence off for third place will be held.

End of match : At the end of the match both team captains sign the score sheet indicating their agreement.

Event information : Be sure that you obtain information only from the Company Coordinator, the Event Coordinator, or the Corporate Challenge office (get a name). Information from any other source cannot be guaranteed accurate.

Sportsmanship : Good sportsmanship and fencing etiquette are expected of team participants and cheering sections. No hard hitting or bullying tactics will be permitted. A broken blade resulting from a hard hit will result in the team forfeiture. No screaming or cussing at the referee will be allowed. A second warning of unsportsmanlike conduct from the Event Coordinator or fencing referee will result in the teams being black carded (disqualified) from the event.