Signals by the Referee

Transcription

1 Signals by the Referee The referee directs the fencers by speaking and making gestures. These gestures can be seen by the fencers and spectators alike. They were developed in the television age, so they are intended to be clear when viewed from behind (the normal vantage point for televising or videorecording a bout). Accordingly, all gestures are made to one side of the referee or the other (or on both sides at once). After ordering a halt, the referee calls the action that just occurred, identifying the fencing actions of the fencing phrase just before the halt and simultaneously making the corresponding gestures. In so doing, the referee will normally refrain from describing more than is necessary. After the action is called, the fencers may ask the referee to re-state the analysis of the phrase. The referee has the option to explain the action more fully, to start at a different point in the action, or as is most likely to do no more than repeat the first analysis, with or without gestures. Figures in the table and examples that follow are taken from FIE Technical Rules, Article t All signals except for Ready? and Fence! (next page) begin from the neutral position: hands at the sides like this: For each gesture, red arrows indicate the direction of movement. Where there are two arrows on the same side of the referee, the first movement is in the direction of the top arrow followed immediately by movement in the direction of the lower one. Each signal (not each movement) lasts from one to two seconds. The referee should make the signals one at a time, returning to the neutral position between signals most of the time. (Examples begin on page 11.) Note particularly that in all weapons, the touch or hit is first indicated against the fencer who received it and then the point is announced for the fencer who delivered the touch. These are two separate gestures, performed on opposite sides of the body. They should not be performed simultaneously. 1 Images have been cropped, flipped, and resized for convenience.

2 On guard! En garde! Ready? Prêt(es)? The signal begins from the referee s position calling the fencers to come on guard. The Rules (t.17) state that the referee asks, Are you ready? Fence! Allez! The signal begins from the referee s position when asking the fencers if they are ready. In the Referee s Manual, the word is Play! 2 of 14

3 Halt! Halte! No gesture is required when the equipment has signaled a touch. When stopping the action because of an infraction, signal with the hand on the side of a fencer at fault. If both are at fault (or neither), either hand may be used. Point in line! Pointe en ligne! The fencer on the right has established a point in line (against the left).* Before signaling the result (a valid touch, off-target, or a miss), return to the neutral position. The fencer on the left has established a point in line (against the right).* * In the Referee s Manual, the referee is shown looking in the direction the weapon is pointing. 3 of 14

4 Attack! Stop-hit! Counterattack! Remise! Reprise! Redoublement! Attaque! Arrêt! Contre-attaque! Remise! Reprise! Redoublement! In the final phrase, the action named came from the right. In the final phrase, the action named came from the left. This gesture follows a touch against the fencer on the left.* Touch! Touché! This gesture follows a touch against the fencer on the right.* * In the Referee s Manual, the referee is shown looking in the direction of the fencer who is touched and saying Hit against! 4 of 14

5 Point for right! Score a point for the fencer on the right.* Point! Point for left! Score a point for the fencer on the left.* In the Referee s Manual, the referee says, Hit scored for! Off target! Non valable! To prepare to make the offtarget signal, move the elbow from the neutral position out to the position shown, leaving the hand next to the body. The touch made by the fencer on the right landed off-target on the left.* The touch made by the fencer on the left landed offtarget on the right.* * In the Referee s Manual, the referee says, Not valid! 5 of 14

6 To make this signal, move the forearm (from the side of the attack) to the position shown (pointing in the direction of the attack, horizontal and at least as high as the eyes). At the same time, swing the other arm to a vertical position with the radial (thumb) side of the wrist touching the outer knuckle of the horizontal hand. Parry! or Counter-time! Parade! ou Contre-temps! The attack from the left is parried by the fencer on the right. or (counter-time) The attacker (on the right) acts against a stop-hit from the left.* The attack from the right is parried by the fencer on the left. or (counter-time) The attacker (on the left) acts against a stop-hit from the right.* * USFA rules do not mention a signal for counter-time. 6 of 14

7 Simultaneous! Simultanées! For foil and saber, this is the signal for both simultaneous attacks and simultaneous remises. Double touch! Touchés! Épée only. Point for each fencer! Points! Épée only. Often heard: Point for each! 7 of 14

8 No touch! Rien! Prepare to make this signal by crossing the arms as shown OR by starting with the hands at the hips to make a signal like a double offtarget executed symmetrically and simultaneously on both the left and right side of the body. Often heard: Nothing! or Nothing done! Prepare to make this signal by putting the index finger near the temple. Action from the left did not land on any target (it s short, flat, or passé) and has no result. No! Non! Action from the right did not land on any target (it s short, flat, or passé) and has no result. In saber, the referee may reserve this signal for a short or missed attack. If a cut lands on the guard (coquille), the referee may say, No! but signal a parry. 8 of 14

9 The action from the right does not qualify as an attack.* Preparation! Sur la preparation! The action from the left does not qualify as an attack.* * The FIE word used to be Non correct! (changed in 2009) Warning (yellow) or onepoint penalty (red) to the fencer on the right.* Yellow card! Red Card! Black Card. 9 of 14 Carton jaune! Carton rouge! Carton noir. Warning or penalty to the fencer on the left.* * The referee also identifies and records the infraction (corps a corps, covering, substituting target, etc.) The black card disqualifies the fencer from further competition.

10 The winner is [ ] over [ ] by a score of [ ] to [ ]! Vainqueur! (nom) par (score) Palm toward the victor, in this case, on the left. Palm toward the victor, in this case, on the right. 10 of 14

11 In foil and saber, the words and gestures of the referee are intended to describe a sequence of events, informing the fencers and the spectators where the action started and the result of the action that occurred. After the halt, the referee will speak and signal: Announcement Gesture Preparation! Attack! Each signal is followed by a return to the neutral position. After an attack, one of the following will indicate the result: No! Touch! Off-target! Parried! A touch made by a fencer with right of way, whether valid or off-target, will end the action. So will a stop-touch or counterattack if it registers in time to prevent the attacker s hit from registering. If a point is awarded, it will be indicated: Point! If there was no touch or a parry, the referee will return to the neutral position, then continue to describe the subsequent actions of the phrase (if any) in a similar manner. 11 of 14

12 In the following sequence, a saber fencer on the right advanced with a bent arm (which is not considered a correct attack). The sabreur on the left extended his weapon arm and lunged, landing a valid touch. The referee would describe the action and gesture as follows: Announcement Gesture Duration Preparation! 1 2 seconds momentary Attack! 1 2 seconds momentary Touch! 1 2 seconds momentary Point! 1 2 seconds 12 of 14

13 In the following sequence, the foil fencer on the left extended the weapon arm with an advance and a lunge. The fencer on the right used his weapon to deflect the attacker s blade, then extended the foil to hit the leg of the fencer on the left. The referee would describe the action and gesture as follows: Announcement Gesture Duration Attack! 1 2 seconds momentary Parried! 1 2 seconds Riposte! As long as it takes to announce the action Note that there is no hand signal for Riposte! or Counter-riposte! Off-target! 1 2 seconds 13 of 14

14 During a bout, the épée fencer on the left lunged, landing a touch on the leg of the fencer on the right. At the same time, the fencer on the right landed a touch on the arm of the fencer on the left. On the recording apparatus, both red and green lights are lit. The referee would describe the action and gesture as follows 2 : Announcement Gesture Duration Double touch! 1 2 seconds momentary Point for each! 1 2 seconds In épée, terms and signals related to right-of-way are irrelevant and they are not used. These are: attack/stop hit/counterattack/remise/reprise/redoublement, off-target, parry, no, preparation, simultaneous, and point in line. 2 If this occurred in a 5-point bout tied at 4 4, a 15-point bout tied at 14 14, or a team bout tied at then no gesture for touches would be made. The referee would say, Nothing done! and make the corresponding gesture, then re-start the bout without moving the fencers to the on-guard line. 14 of 14