FIE Rules changes for the 2004-2005 season
PLEASE NOTE: "all scoring machines will be the OLD timing until further notice"
The FIE, the international organization that governs the Olympic sport of fencing, has made changes to the timing of actions in foil and sabre as registered on the scoring equipment. These changes are provisional for this season, though they are expected to become permanent next year. The USFA Board of Directors, at its October 2, 2004 meeting, has voted to adopt the same changes for all North American Circuit (NAC) events, National Championships, and national qualifying events. These changes will be implemented at the first NAC of the season in Atlanta.
All divisional, sectional, and collegiate competitions can be run using either the old or the new timing, but the timing must be the same on every strip at the competition. Information about the timing used at any competition should be published before the event.
The exception to this is qualifying events for Junior Olympics and National Championships: these must be run with the new timing.
The timing changes are:
1. In foil, the lockout time decreases slightly (from 350 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds). This reduces the window of time after a fencer registers a touch that his or her opponent may also register a touch.
2. Also in foil, the amount of time the foil tip must remain depressed in order to register a touch has increased from 1-5 milliseconds to 15 milliseconds.
3. In sabre, the lockout time decreases from 350-400 milliseconds to 120 milliseconds.
It is important for our fencers to have experience with the timing that
will be used at all international competitions this season. This is why
the Board of Directors has voted to adopt these changes. Sections, divisions,
and clubs are encouraged to use the new timing so that your fencers have
the opportunity to compete with the new timing before traveling to a national
tournament.
All new scoring equipment on the market is equipped with the new timing. Many existing scoring boxes may be converted by replacing the computer chip in the box. Ask your equipment vendor about their procedure for making this change. Information will also be posted at the USFA website as it becomes available.
Please note: These are the ONLY CHANGES to the equipment that the FIE has finalized this year. Changes to the foil point and weight were under discussion, but they are NOT in effect and will not be used this season.
Also, the Board of
Directors did not make any changes to the Regional Youth Program. The
RYC program remains a valuable component of the USFA youth development
plans. Modifications to the RYC program will be presented for discussion
at the next Board meeting. More information about the current Board action
will be available shortly. In the meantime, Local Organizing Committees
with upcoming RYCs should consult with the regional coordinator as well
as refer to the 2003-04 guidelines to plan their events.
Thank you.
