Fencing Referee General Test 2025 | Exam Revision Questions And Correct
Answers | Graded A+ | 2025 Update |
What are the uniform format requirements? - ANSWER- The letters must be in dark blue, in
capitals, between 8 cm and 10 cm high, and between 1 cm and 1.5 cm wide, according to the length
of the name.
The protective plastron must be checked every: - ANSWER- Pool, team match and direct
elimination bout.
What action should a Referee take if a fencer reports to the strip with a jacket that has a torn sleeve?
- ANSWER- Safety is of the utmost importance and under no circumstances should Fencer X
be allowed to fence a competition with a jacket that has tears/holes. Clothing/equipment non-
conforming to the rules is an offense of the 1st group and should be penalized with a Yellow Card.
Practically speaking, give them a time limit. The rule says "reasonable amount of time." However,
some people might think that means a half hour. That would cause considerable delay to the
tournament - enforce the rule but have common sense. If you want to alter the order of pool bouts,
you must ask Bout Committee permission.
A fencer in a Y-12 women's sabre competition presents to the strip without chest protection and
without a plastron. What should the referee do? - ANSWER- This fencer has committed two
individual offenses of the first group for equipment not conforming to the rules, one for the missing
plastron and another for the missing chest protector as this is a women's event. For the first of these
offenses the fencer receives a Yellow Card and for the second she receives a Red Card. The fencer
should then be allowed a reasonable amount of time to find conforming equipment. It is important
to enforce this rule for the safety of all fencers.
A fencer at a national event reports to the strip without their last name on the back of their uniform
between the shoulders. What is the correct outcome? - ANSWER- The absence of a fencer's
name on the uniform is a second group offense punished with a Group 2 Red Card at the start of
each bout in which the fencer reports without an appropriate uniform. In the case of USA Fencing
events, the name may also be on the leg, so in this particular case the referee should ensure that
the fencer's name is not present on the rear leg of the knickers before applying a 2nd group Red
Card.
, Fencer comes to the strip and the mask's tongue/spring does not touch the back of the fencer's head
and the elastic strap does not lay next to the lower back of the head. What does the referee do? -
ANSWER- The referee must ensure that the mask is safe for use, even if there is an inspection
mark on it. The rule states that the strap must be positioned low enough across the rear of the
cervical region that the position of the strap on the head ensures the mask cannot slide off. The
band must be in a solid material: when stretched the material should not sustain permanent plastic
deformation and should quickly return to its original shape and size.
Before the start of the bout and with no other penalties given, the Referee notices that there is no
safety strap on the back of the mask of Fencer X. What does the referee do? - ANSWER- All
masks must have lateral straps as specified in the rules. In this case, Fencer X has committed an
offense of a 1st group by presenting with non-conforming equipment and a Yellow Card should be
issued. If Fencer X cannot affix a horizontal strap to the mask, then the mask should be confiscated
and Fencer X should be required to find another mask.
A fencer with one foot off of the SIDE of the strip is a: - ANSWER- "Halt."
If a fencer has one foot off the side of the strip, that fencer loses: - ANSWER- One meter during
their next attack.
If a fencer has one foot off the side of the strip while deep in the warning zone, what will happen?
- ANSWER- A point is awarded to their opponent and both move back to en garde position.
If a fencer has one foot off, can they still earn a touch? - ANSWER- Yes if the action is started
before the ref calls "halt."
If BOTH of a fencer's feet are off of the strip, that fencer loses: - ANSWER- One meter during
their next attack.
If Fencer X lands a touch on Fencer Y while both of X's feet are off the rear limits, X's touch is: -
ANSWER- Annulled.
Answers | Graded A+ | 2025 Update |
What are the uniform format requirements? - ANSWER- The letters must be in dark blue, in
capitals, between 8 cm and 10 cm high, and between 1 cm and 1.5 cm wide, according to the length
of the name.
The protective plastron must be checked every: - ANSWER- Pool, team match and direct
elimination bout.
What action should a Referee take if a fencer reports to the strip with a jacket that has a torn sleeve?
- ANSWER- Safety is of the utmost importance and under no circumstances should Fencer X
be allowed to fence a competition with a jacket that has tears/holes. Clothing/equipment non-
conforming to the rules is an offense of the 1st group and should be penalized with a Yellow Card.
Practically speaking, give them a time limit. The rule says "reasonable amount of time." However,
some people might think that means a half hour. That would cause considerable delay to the
tournament - enforce the rule but have common sense. If you want to alter the order of pool bouts,
you must ask Bout Committee permission.
A fencer in a Y-12 women's sabre competition presents to the strip without chest protection and
without a plastron. What should the referee do? - ANSWER- This fencer has committed two
individual offenses of the first group for equipment not conforming to the rules, one for the missing
plastron and another for the missing chest protector as this is a women's event. For the first of these
offenses the fencer receives a Yellow Card and for the second she receives a Red Card. The fencer
should then be allowed a reasonable amount of time to find conforming equipment. It is important
to enforce this rule for the safety of all fencers.
A fencer at a national event reports to the strip without their last name on the back of their uniform
between the shoulders. What is the correct outcome? - ANSWER- The absence of a fencer's
name on the uniform is a second group offense punished with a Group 2 Red Card at the start of
each bout in which the fencer reports without an appropriate uniform. In the case of USA Fencing
events, the name may also be on the leg, so in this particular case the referee should ensure that
the fencer's name is not present on the rear leg of the knickers before applying a 2nd group Red
Card.
, Fencer comes to the strip and the mask's tongue/spring does not touch the back of the fencer's head
and the elastic strap does not lay next to the lower back of the head. What does the referee do? -
ANSWER- The referee must ensure that the mask is safe for use, even if there is an inspection
mark on it. The rule states that the strap must be positioned low enough across the rear of the
cervical region that the position of the strap on the head ensures the mask cannot slide off. The
band must be in a solid material: when stretched the material should not sustain permanent plastic
deformation and should quickly return to its original shape and size.
Before the start of the bout and with no other penalties given, the Referee notices that there is no
safety strap on the back of the mask of Fencer X. What does the referee do? - ANSWER- All
masks must have lateral straps as specified in the rules. In this case, Fencer X has committed an
offense of a 1st group by presenting with non-conforming equipment and a Yellow Card should be
issued. If Fencer X cannot affix a horizontal strap to the mask, then the mask should be confiscated
and Fencer X should be required to find another mask.
A fencer with one foot off of the SIDE of the strip is a: - ANSWER- "Halt."
If a fencer has one foot off the side of the strip, that fencer loses: - ANSWER- One meter during
their next attack.
If a fencer has one foot off the side of the strip while deep in the warning zone, what will happen?
- ANSWER- A point is awarded to their opponent and both move back to en garde position.
If a fencer has one foot off, can they still earn a touch? - ANSWER- Yes if the action is started
before the ref calls "halt."
If BOTH of a fencer's feet are off of the strip, that fencer loses: - ANSWER- One meter during
their next attack.
If Fencer X lands a touch on Fencer Y while both of X's feet are off the rear limits, X's touch is: -
ANSWER- Annulled.
