What Parents and Athletes Need to Know.

Welcome to the thrilling world of fencing — a sport that combines the grace of ballet, the strategy of chess, and the speed of the 100-meter dash!

Picture this: the clashing of blades, the agility of footwork, and the ultimate test of wits and reflexes. Fencing is a sport steeped in history, drama, romance, and art — offering the physical rigor your child craves alongside a mental workout that keeps their intellect sharp.

The Youth Program: Future Champions Fence Here

USA Fencing's Youth Program offers an unbeatable introduction to one of the safest yet most captivating sports. Our program is designed to cultivate discipline, balance, coordination, and — most importantly — good sportsmanship. The bonus? Your child will develop lightning-fast reflexes and the ability to make quick tactical decisions on their feet!

Thanks to the trailblazing efforts of American youth since the first national youth tournament in 1985, our fencers have become sought-after talents by college coaches nationwide.

Benefits of Fencing

Fencing isn't just about the about. It's a holistic approach to character building. Your child will learn the importance of teamwork, the nobility of accepting defeat, the joy of victory, and the unparalleled benefit of physical fitness.

Above all, fencing hones students' analytical skills, teaching them to think critically, solve problems, and make quick decisions.

Your Role as a Fencing Parent

Your role is crucial in your child's fencing journey. From being their primary motivator to the justice of good sportsmanship, your influence goes a long way.

The key is to be consistent in your support. Celebrate their wins, help them learn from their losses, and encourage them to set and achieve their goals. Your attitude can make all the difference!

It is essential to let your fencers establish their goals and play the game for themselves. That means avoiding the urge to impose your or the coach’s goals on your child.

“Success,” sometimes interpreted as “winning,” comes at different ages for each fencer. Youth fencing is successful if the program helps the child love fencing. 

At fencing tournaments, you can meet new people, visit different cities, and explore outside the competition space. Fierce competitors and their families have formed many lasting friendships. Take advantage of all the growth opportunities to enjoy the whole competition experience.

A Quick Breakdown

Whether you're familiar with a "piste" or still wondering which weapon is an "epee," you're in for a thrill.

Your fencer will compete on a metal fencing strip, aiming to outscore their opponent within various time limits based on their age group and the event they're participating in. Points are registered electronically, ensuring fair play and quick results.

Bring Your Patience

Fencing tournaments generally take place all day. Unless your fencer does not move up from the initial rounds (pools), you can expect to spend much time in the venue. Be patient.

The Bout Committee (BC) is working to get your fencer's event moving as quickly as possible. Bring something to help you pass the time — a book, knitting, a personal computer, etc. Comfortable shoes are a must as you will be "on alert" during the entire competition, at least until you become accustomed to the tempo of the competitive day.

And Bring This Stuff, Too

Prepare for the event with the necessary fencing equipment, which is detailed in the section below. Other essential items for parents include snacks, medical insurance cards, emergency contacts, small bills, credit/debit cards, books or hobbies, Band-Aids, batteries, Sharpie, ice packs, water bottles, hair ties, camera/tripod, chargers, and other essentials for your fencer's well-being.

Different Tournament Levels

Your fencer will start with tournaments at the club and then local level. 

After that, they may be ready to move to a regional tournament, which offers fencers a platform for gaining experience and competing against athletes from their region and other regions.

If your child shows consistent performance and improvement locally, they may be ready for a national tournament. These include the North American Cups (NACs), Junior Olympics, and National Championships. Check the entry rules and qualifying paths in the Athlete Handbook and ensure you send entry forms promptly to avoid late fees.

Next, athletes with a specific national ranking may qualify for international events like the World Cups and Cadet European Cups. All World Cup entries must be submitted through USA Fencing, and most athletes are responsible for their expenses.

What Equipment Fencers Need

Equipment selection is critical for both safety and performance. Below is a list of minimum required equipment that you should check and recheck for functionality:

  • Mask (sewn‐in bib, must pass 12K punch test)

  • Underarm protector

  • Breast Protector (mandatory for women)

  • Jacket (no holes, must close in back or opposite weapon arm)

  • Lamé

  • Knickers (no holes) must close in the back or opposite weapon arm and be overlapped by jacket by at least four inches. 

  • Glove (no holes except for body cord; Must cover approximately half the forearm)

  • Long socks (white, must reach bottom of your knickers- soccer socks work well)

  • Fencing shoes or sneakers

  • Minimum of two working weapons (epees must pass weight and shim test)

  • Y10 fencers must use weapons with blades at most 32.5 inches. This includes both genders and all three weapons.

  • Minimum of two working body cords

  • Fencing bag (to carry your equipment in)

  • Water Bottle

  • Towel and plastic bag to hold wet equipment

  • Tool Kit (screwdrivers for tip and pommel, spare screws, springs, Allen wrenches, small white cloth to use at base, small magnet, flashlight)

  • Test Box, weight, and shims will help avoid penalties on the strip for nonworking equipment.

Could you make sure all of your equipment is clearly labeled?

Washing Equipment

You'll need to maintain your fencing attire. Masks can be washed in dishwashers (alone), lamés can be spray-rinsed, and gloves and socks can usually be washed.

Bill of Rights for Young Athletes

We believe youth have the right to:

  • Be treated with dignity by all involved. 

  • Fence as a child and not as an adult. 

  • Fence regardless of skill level.

  • Fence at a level that is commensurate with each child’s development. 

  • Fence in a safe and healthy environment.

  • Please make sure to prepare appropriately for fencing.

  • I have qualified leadership skills in the sport of fencing. 

  • Have an equal opportunity to strive for success. 

  • I hope you have fun fencing.

Fencing isn't just a sport. It's a thrilling blend of athleticism and strategy that's stood the test of time — featured in every Summer Olympics since the first modern Games way back in 1896.

When you fence, you'll sharpen both body and mind while diving into a spirited, inclusive community.

Whether you're 8 or 80, fencing is accessible for all. Join the ranks by enrolling at one of the numerous USA Fencing clubs across the nation. Click the blue banners on this page to learn about fencing rules, the three weapons and the terms that define our sport.

Fencing Fast Facts #

  • Fencing is one of just five sports contested at every Olympics since 1896. (The others are athletics, cycling, swimming and gymnastics.)

  • The metal fencing strip, or piste, is about 46 feet long. That's about a foot shorter than the distance from the baseline to the half-court line on a basketball court.

  • Action begins when the referee says "En garde! Prêts? Allez!" — or "On guard! Ready? Fence!"

  • Most fencing tournaments begin with round-robin pool play (first to five touches) followed by elimination rounds (first to 15 touches).

Fencing Glossary

Advance: Taking a step towards one’s opponent.

Attack: Movement, or series of movements by which a fencer tries to score a point. In foil and saber, the fencer who attacks first acquires the “right‐of‐way.”

Beat: Sharp tap on the opponent’s blade to initiate an attack or provoke a reaction.

Engagement: Contact between the fencers’ blades – often as the prelude to an attack.

En Garde: Position taken before fencing commences.

Feint: A false attack intended to get a defensive reaction from the opposing fencer, thus creating the opportunity for a genuine attack (“feint‐disengage attack”).

Fleche: Explosive is running an attack (Foil and Epee only).

Flunge:Action unique to saber – a combination of a lunge and a fleche. They evolved recently after the FIE modified saber rules 1992 to prohibit running attacks.

Guard: Part action in which a fencer blocks his opponent’s blade.

Lunge is the most common attacking technique, in which the fencer launches themselves at their opponent by pushing off from the back leg (which generally remains stationary).

Parry: Defensive action in which a fencer blocks his opponent’s blade.

Piste: French term for the fencing strip.

Point‐in‐Line: Action in which the fencer, generally out of attacking range, points their weapon at their opponent with their arm fully extended. A fencer who establishes a point in line has the right‐of‐way, and their opponent cannot attack until they remove the blade from the line by executing a beat.

Recover: The return to the en guard position after lunging.

Riposte: Defender’s offensive action immediately after dodging their opponent’s attack.

Second Intention is A tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing yet false action to draw a genuine, committed reaction from their opponent. Stop Hit, Stop Cut (saber)A counter‐action made at the moment of an opponent’s hesitation, feint, or poorly executed attack. To be awarded the point, the fencer attempting to stop the hit must catch their opponent’s tempo. Hence, if their Stop Hit is not “in time,” the referee may award the touch to their attacker.StripFencing area, 14 meters long by 2 meters wide (approximately 45.9 feet long by 6.6 feet wide).

The Objective of Fencing

The goal of fencing (that's what an individual “game” is called) is to score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) before your opponent can do the same or time expires. Each time a fencer scores a touch, they receive a point.

Points are received by making a touch in the opponent’s target area. Direct elimination matches in epee and foil consist of three three‐minute periods with a one‐minute break between each. In Saber, the first period lasts for eight touches, and the second period ends when the first fencer scores 15 points.

*Note: Some classifications of fencing, such as certain youth classifications and Veteran (age 40 and up), fence 10-touch bouts. There are two periods instead of three in these.

(Photo by USA Fencing)

Following the Action

The fencer being attacked defends using a "parry" — a motion used to deflect the opponent’s blade, after which the defender can make a "riposte," or an answering attack. Whenever a hit is made, the referee stops the about, describes the action, and decides whether to award a touch.

Fencers seek to maintain a safe distance from each other — that is, they try to stay out of the range of the opponent’s attack. Then, one will try to break this distance to gain the advantage for an attack. At times, a fencer will make a false attack to gauge the types of reactions of their opponent.

When a fencer lands a hit, the referee stops the about and — in foil and saber — determines who the attacker was, whether their opponent successfully defended themselves, and which fencer should be awarded a touch, if any.

The referee always clearly raises their hand on the side of the fencer for whom they have awarded a point. Watching these hand signals can make it easier for newcomers to follow the momentum of fencing about without understanding every rule.

(Photo by USA Fencing)

Right‐Of‐Way

One of the trickier rules to learn in fencing is "right-of-way." But, like the other fencing rules, you'll understand it more as you practice with your coach and teammates.

Right-of-way is a rule in fencing designed to determine who gets the point when both fencers hit simultaneously. Important note: This rule applies only to foil and saber fencing, not epee fencing.

So what happens when both the red and green lights light up simultaneously? The referee decides who had the right-of-way, determining who "owns" the attack.

Why Do We Need It?

The right-of-way rule exists to eliminate confusion when two fencers attack each other at the same time. Without this rule, bouts could turn into chaotic free-for-alls, lacking the finesse and skill that make fencing such an art form.

The Basics

In its simplest form, the right-of-way rule states that the fencer who initiates the attack first gets priority and will win the point if they successfully hit the valid target area. This sounds simple, but here's where things get interesting.

Defense and Taking Over Right-of-Way

You have options if you're on the receiving end of an attack! You can either defend yourself with a "parry," a defensive move that blocks your opponent's weapon, or make your opponent miss their attack. Successfully doing so allows you to "take over" the right-of-way and create your attack to score a point.

Hesitation Is Your Enemy

In fencing, hesitation could cost you. If a fencer hesitates too long while advancing, they give up the right-of-way to their opponent. Referees are particularly strict about this in saber bouts, where you might see a fencer execute a "stop cut" against an opponent who hesitates, thereby winning both the right-of-way and the point.

Exception in Epee

Epee fencing doesn't use the right-of-way rule. Rooted in its dueling origin, epee matches are straightforward when scoring: the fencer who hits first gets the point. If both fencers hit within 1/25th of a second of each other, both earn a point.

Penalties

So, what's legal in fencing, and what isn't? You can learn some of the rules right away. Your coach will help you understand the essentials and introduce you to more specifics over time.

Category One

All Category One penalties are interdependent. Upon the first occurrence of an offense during an about, the fencer is warned and receives a yellow card. Committing any additional offense during the about will result in the offender receiving a red card and the opponent receiving a penalty touch.

Category Two

All Category Two penalties are also interdependent. A fencer is given a red card upon first and any subsequent infraction during an about.

Category One and Two infractions result in the annulment of a touch made by the offending fencer while committing the offense.

Category Three

Category Three penalties may be assessed for infractions against safety or the order of the competition.

Such infractions can result in penalty touches (red card) or expulsion (black card) from the competition.