New Rules, effective August 1, 2002
from USFA website
http://usfencing.org/Documents/Rules/New2002.asp
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The regulation time for each bout in both pools and team matches is three
minutes.
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An immediate warning (1st group) will be given against the competitor whose
blade is bent more than the rules allow (1 cm for épée, 2 cm
for foil, 4 cm for saber) at the moment the fencer indicates that she or
he is ready to fence.
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Falling is no longer an offense and consequently is no longer penalized.
(It is understood that an offensive action that is launched in such a way
that the fencer is not in control, and thereby falls, is disorderly fencing
and does require a warning and the annulling of any touch scored.)
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In pools and during the first and second periods of a direct elimination
bout, if the fencers show themselves obviously unwilling to fight, the referee
will call "Halt!" and warn the fencers; should they continue to be unwilling
to fight, the referee will call "Halt!" In a direct elimination bout, the
fencers will go straight into the next period of fencing, without the minute
break and without the possibility of consulting with their coaches. Should
they be unwilling to fight during the third period of fencing in a direct
elimination bout or in a pool bout, the referee will call "Halt!" and the
fencers will start a final minute of fencing preceded by drawing lots to
decide the winner should the score be equal at the end of the minute.
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During team events, if adequate space is available, the organizer shall reserve
a zone for the team members. Only the team captain and one additional person
(coach, medical, et cetera) have the right to stay with the team fencers
inside this zone. The team zone must be well delimited, with a line on the
floor or some other system. If possible, it should be sufficiently sized
to seat six people and be located at each end of, and separate from, the
strip zone. During team matches, the members of the team must remain within
the zone reserved for their team.
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During team events, no member of either team may enter inside the limits
of the strip zone without the permission of the referee. Should such an offense
occur, the referee will apply the penalty provided for by articles t.114,
t.116, and t.120 against the team at fault. The warning will be awarded against
the team, and will be valid for all the bouts of the match. Each time any
fencer commits another offense of the 1st group, in the same match, the referee
is to penalize the fencer at fault with a red card.
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Direct elimination bouts are for 15 touches, or end when three periods of
three minutes, with a one-minute period of rest between each period, have
passed. In saber only, the first period will end either when the three minutes
have passed or when the score of one of the fencers has reached eight.
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Crossing a lateral boundary without having passed one's opponent with one
foot or both feet results in the command "Halt!" and the opponent advances
one meter from where she or he was at the "Halt!"
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A touch scored by the fencer who has crossed the lateral boundary of the
strip with one foot remains valid, if the action was launched before the
"Halt!"
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If one of the fencers is off the strip with both feet, that fencer may not
score. Only a hit made by the fencer who remains on the strip with at least
one foot is counted, even in the case of a double touch, if the action by
the fencer who is on the strip was started before the "Halt!"
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The surface area for advertising is increased to 75 cm2 per logo (four logos,
in total 300 cm2); allowable area is extended to the collar of the fencing
suit. A diagram will be provided showing the authorized locations and dimensions.
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The life cycle of five years for the use of FIE blades is canceled, provided
that the manufacturer has conducted periodic controls.
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