Rules of Fencing Tournaments (for Spectators)
Sort of intended for parents, since I fence at the high school level, but this could be applied if you have someone in your family, or are friends with someone who fences. Because, sometime or another, they will go to a tournament. Written from the point of view of a fencer.
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On Getting to the Tournament
-DO wake up on time. If you don’t, you will be late. It is karma for one thing or another. Seriously, just don’t. It doesn’t matter how early it is, you have to get up.
-DO make sure the fencer in your life eats something for breakfast. You do want them to live to see tomorrow, don’t you? Even if they say they’re not hungry; they have to eat.
-Make sure they have ALL their equipment. Yes, it is all necessary.
-If the fencer wants to talk on the car ride to the tournament, DO talk to them. If they don’t, then let them have the silence. If they want to rant, let them rant.
-DON’T ask how long it will take; they don’t know either. Plan on being there the whole day.
-The worst possible thing you could say to a fencer right before they get to the tournament is, “I’m sure you’ll do better than last time.” It really kills their confidence.
-A fencer’s confidence is one of their weapons; if they’re shaky, let them work it out. If they’re acting jumpy, let them calm down. If they are acting cocky, quietly suggest that they cool down a little. Even if they glare at you.
On Entering the Tournament Area:
-If the fencer tells you to go somewhere, it is probably a good idea to go there. They are familiar with the set-up, and if you’re not, their judgment is probably better than yours. Even if they are twenty years younger.
-For the love of all things holy, DO NOT walk in front of the referees. Their patience is thin at best, and they don’t have a sense of humor. At all. You don’t want to get a lecture, do you?
-If there is a bout going on, give the strip a good five-foot berth AT LEAST. The fencers will be concentrating on killing the other person. They will not be watching for bystanders. Being hit with a blade is NOT FUN.
-The food placed on the tables is usually for a SPECIFIC TEAM. Do not take food from a table that is not your own. The concessions stands are neutral; anyone may buy from them. Don’t complain about the price.
On Equipment
-DO NOT touch a fencer’s equipment without permission. Some of them are VERY possessive of it.
-If they ask you to hold onto their weapons, DO NOT play with them. The edges may not be sharp, but the point CAN take someone’s eye out. No one will be amused if you do so.
-DO NOT fuss with the body-cords. Tying them in knots is NOT an acceptable pastime, no matter how bored you happen to be. They NEED those. Yes, all five of them.
-DO NOT make fun of the knickers. They KNOW they look ridiculous, and being reminded of the fact will only make them VERY ANNOYED.
-DO NOT make fun of the stamps on the masks. They are badges received from tournaments, and many fencers are very proud of them. DO NOT comment on the fact that they are bears, little cars, and smiley faces in a sarcastic tone. It will not be taken kindly.
On Warming Up
-DO NOT interrupt the fencers at this time
-DO NOT offer to “help” the fencers warm-up. It will not be appreciated.
-Give them space. A LOT of space. And yes, they really do need that much of it.
On Food
-Make sure the fencers eat.
-DO NOT comment on the type of food they choose to eat.
-That goes for drinks as well
-They WILL burn it off
-DO NOT steal the granola bars or the Gatorade. YOU are not fencing for over five hours.
-If it is not from your team’s table, DO NOT touch it.
On Watching Pool-Bouts
-DO cheer the fencers on. Please refrain from shouting, though. No one will take kindly to it.
-DO be courteous to the other audience members.
-DO NOT insult the fencers. Their teammates/parents/siblings/friends/significant others WILL take offense if they are in earshot. If you must say rude things, do so under your breath where no one else can hear you.
-DO NOT shout suggestions down to the fencers, even if you do know what you’re talking about. That is the coaches’ job, and will distract the people bouting if it is said by anyone OTHER than the coaches.
-DO NOT question the judgment of the referee. Just don’t. They, like the fencers, will take offense.
-Please don’t be insulted if the fencer runs off after finishing the Pool-Bouts. They will probably want to talk to their teammates/coaches for a bit. Let them.
On Waiting for the Direct-Elimination Bouts to Be Announced
-DO make sure the fencers eat something. They are prone to forgetting.
-DO let them relax. They need a cool-down period after fencing the pools.
-DO NOT let them take a nap. Even if they give you puppy-dog eyes.
-DO NOT ask when the DE Bouts will begin. They don’t know either.
-Really, don’t ask what they plan to do to their first DE opponent. The answer might disturb you a little bit. Just remember, fencing is a rough sport, and when the fencers say that they’re, “going to kill the other guy”, they do mean that.
-In the past fifty years, only two people have died while fencing. DO NOT encourage your fencer to change this fact. They WILL take that seriously.
-DO listen to the intercom. It is your ONLY warning as to when and where things are being posted.
On Waiting for Your Fencer’s DE Bout to Start
-The fencer rocking back and forth and staring at an inanimate object is NOT having a nervous breakdown. They will not appreciate it if you say as much.
-Every fencer has a different way to prepare for DE bouts. If someone’s is to hug their weapons and stare at the floor, then let them do that. They DO know what they’re doing.
-Fencers DO NOT appreciate having their time before their DE disturbed. It’s like a ritual, and doesn’t take kindly to interruptions.
-DO be patient. DE bouts are to fifteen touches; they take a while to complete, especially in foil.
-If a fencer looks vaguely homicidal (or even more than vaguely) don’t be too scared. This is normal, really. Really.
On Watching Direct-Elimination Bouts
-DO cheer (though again, no shouting). It is great motivation for the fencer to know someone is routing for them.
-If someone is hurt, the referee WILL stop the bout. Getting hit hard does not count (and your definition of “hard” will probably be VERY different from the fencers’ and the referee’s definition). They WILL shrug it off.
-If a fencer is loosing a DE, DO keep cheering them on. Sometimes all they need is the proper motivation.
-DO NOT talk to the fencers during their one-minute breaks. That time is reserved for the coaches to give advice, and it WILL NOT be appreciated if you butt in.
-Both fencers will take hard hits. They will look very painful. In all likelihood, they were. It is part of the game. DO NOT suggest otherwise. It is something they hear too much.
-DE bouts will, in all likelihood, get viscous towards the end. This is normal.
On the Aftermath of Direct-Elimination Bouts
-If the fencer has won, DO congratulate them.
-They might want to rant. Let them.
-Remember to smile. They just did a good job, no matter who their opponent was.
-DO let them run off. They will need to take their scorecard to the Bout-Committee.
-If the fencer has lost, DO NOT patronize them.
-If they look homicidal, let them walk it off. It WILL pass.
-If they cry, let them do so. High-level competition is very stressful, and even the toughest fencers can get emotional.
-DO NOT yell at them. No only will it be mean, one of the fencer’s teammates WILL hear you. They WILL take offense to that, and often direct action against it.
-Often fencers will either want to be a) with their teammates, or b) on their own for a while, after loosing a DE. Let them. Teammates understand better than anyone else.
On Awards
-It might be just a piece of metal, but is IMPORTANT. DO NOT belittle the accomplishments of the fencers.
-DO smile when the opponents get their awards. They worked hard, and deserve recognition as well.
-Go easy on the pictures. The fencers have been at the tournament for a long time, and want to go home.
On Dealing with Opponents and their Supporters
-DO be courteous.
-DO NOT take their food.
-Or their claimed area for sitting
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-
-
On Getting to the Tournament
-DO wake up on time. If you don’t, you will be late. It is karma for one thing or another. Seriously, just don’t. It doesn’t matter how early it is, you have to get up.
-DO make sure the fencer in your life eats something for breakfast. You do want them to live to see tomorrow, don’t you? Even if they say they’re not hungry; they have to eat.
-Make sure they have ALL their equipment. Yes, it is all necessary.
-If the fencer wants to talk on the car ride to the tournament, DO talk to them. If they don’t, then let them have the silence. If they want to rant, let them rant.
-DON’T ask how long it will take; they don’t know either. Plan on being there the whole day.
-The worst possible thing you could say to a fencer right before they get to the tournament is, “I’m sure you’ll do better than last time.” It really kills their confidence.
-A fencer’s confidence is one of their weapons; if they’re shaky, let them work it out. If they’re acting jumpy, let them calm down. If they are acting cocky, quietly suggest that they cool down a little. Even if they glare at you.
On Entering the Tournament Area:
-If the fencer tells you to go somewhere, it is probably a good idea to go there. They are familiar with the set-up, and if you’re not, their judgment is probably better than yours. Even if they are twenty years younger.
-For the love of all things holy, DO NOT walk in front of the referees. Their patience is thin at best, and they don’t have a sense of humor. At all. You don’t want to get a lecture, do you?
-If there is a bout going on, give the strip a good five-foot berth AT LEAST. The fencers will be concentrating on killing the other person. They will not be watching for bystanders. Being hit with a blade is NOT FUN.
-The food placed on the tables is usually for a SPECIFIC TEAM. Do not take food from a table that is not your own. The concessions stands are neutral; anyone may buy from them. Don’t complain about the price.
On Equipment
-DO NOT touch a fencer’s equipment without permission. Some of them are VERY possessive of it.
-If they ask you to hold onto their weapons, DO NOT play with them. The edges may not be sharp, but the point CAN take someone’s eye out. No one will be amused if you do so.
-DO NOT fuss with the body-cords. Tying them in knots is NOT an acceptable pastime, no matter how bored you happen to be. They NEED those. Yes, all five of them.
-DO NOT make fun of the knickers. They KNOW they look ridiculous, and being reminded of the fact will only make them VERY ANNOYED.
-DO NOT make fun of the stamps on the masks. They are badges received from tournaments, and many fencers are very proud of them. DO NOT comment on the fact that they are bears, little cars, and smiley faces in a sarcastic tone. It will not be taken kindly.
On Warming Up
-DO NOT interrupt the fencers at this time
-DO NOT offer to “help” the fencers warm-up. It will not be appreciated.
-Give them space. A LOT of space. And yes, they really do need that much of it.
On Food
-Make sure the fencers eat.
-DO NOT comment on the type of food they choose to eat.
-That goes for drinks as well
-They WILL burn it off
-DO NOT steal the granola bars or the Gatorade. YOU are not fencing for over five hours.
-If it is not from your team’s table, DO NOT touch it.
On Watching Pool-Bouts
-DO cheer the fencers on. Please refrain from shouting, though. No one will take kindly to it.
-DO be courteous to the other audience members.
-DO NOT insult the fencers. Their teammates/parents/siblings/friends/significant others WILL take offense if they are in earshot. If you must say rude things, do so under your breath where no one else can hear you.
-DO NOT shout suggestions down to the fencers, even if you do know what you’re talking about. That is the coaches’ job, and will distract the people bouting if it is said by anyone OTHER than the coaches.
-DO NOT question the judgment of the referee. Just don’t. They, like the fencers, will take offense.
-Please don’t be insulted if the fencer runs off after finishing the Pool-Bouts. They will probably want to talk to their teammates/coaches for a bit. Let them.
On Waiting for the Direct-Elimination Bouts to Be Announced
-DO make sure the fencers eat something. They are prone to forgetting.
-DO let them relax. They need a cool-down period after fencing the pools.
-DO NOT let them take a nap. Even if they give you puppy-dog eyes.
-DO NOT ask when the DE Bouts will begin. They don’t know either.
-Really, don’t ask what they plan to do to their first DE opponent. The answer might disturb you a little bit. Just remember, fencing is a rough sport, and when the fencers say that they’re, “going to kill the other guy”, they do mean that.
-In the past fifty years, only two people have died while fencing. DO NOT encourage your fencer to change this fact. They WILL take that seriously.
-DO listen to the intercom. It is your ONLY warning as to when and where things are being posted.
On Waiting for Your Fencer’s DE Bout to Start
-The fencer rocking back and forth and staring at an inanimate object is NOT having a nervous breakdown. They will not appreciate it if you say as much.
-Every fencer has a different way to prepare for DE bouts. If someone’s is to hug their weapons and stare at the floor, then let them do that. They DO know what they’re doing.
-Fencers DO NOT appreciate having their time before their DE disturbed. It’s like a ritual, and doesn’t take kindly to interruptions.
-DO be patient. DE bouts are to fifteen touches; they take a while to complete, especially in foil.
-If a fencer looks vaguely homicidal (or even more than vaguely) don’t be too scared. This is normal, really. Really.
On Watching Direct-Elimination Bouts
-DO cheer (though again, no shouting). It is great motivation for the fencer to know someone is routing for them.
-If someone is hurt, the referee WILL stop the bout. Getting hit hard does not count (and your definition of “hard” will probably be VERY different from the fencers’ and the referee’s definition). They WILL shrug it off.
-If a fencer is loosing a DE, DO keep cheering them on. Sometimes all they need is the proper motivation.
-DO NOT talk to the fencers during their one-minute breaks. That time is reserved for the coaches to give advice, and it WILL NOT be appreciated if you butt in.
-Both fencers will take hard hits. They will look very painful. In all likelihood, they were. It is part of the game. DO NOT suggest otherwise. It is something they hear too much.
-DE bouts will, in all likelihood, get viscous towards the end. This is normal.
On the Aftermath of Direct-Elimination Bouts
-If the fencer has won, DO congratulate them.
-They might want to rant. Let them.
-Remember to smile. They just did a good job, no matter who their opponent was.
-DO let them run off. They will need to take their scorecard to the Bout-Committee.
-If the fencer has lost, DO NOT patronize them.
-If they look homicidal, let them walk it off. It WILL pass.
-If they cry, let them do so. High-level competition is very stressful, and even the toughest fencers can get emotional.
-DO NOT yell at them. No only will it be mean, one of the fencer’s teammates WILL hear you. They WILL take offense to that, and often direct action against it.
-Often fencers will either want to be a) with their teammates, or b) on their own for a while, after loosing a DE. Let them. Teammates understand better than anyone else.
On Awards
-It might be just a piece of metal, but is IMPORTANT. DO NOT belittle the accomplishments of the fencers.
-DO smile when the opponents get their awards. They worked hard, and deserve recognition as well.
-Go easy on the pictures. The fencers have been at the tournament for a long time, and want to go home.
On Dealing with Opponents and their Supporters
-DO be courteous.
-DO NOT take their food.
-Or their claimed area for sitting