Fencing

:This article is about the sport. For the structures for dividing property, and the process of erecting them, see fence; or, for other meanings, see fence (disambiguation).

Electronic scoring equipment

Electronic scoring is used in all major national and international, and most local, sport competitions. (Classical fencing does not use such devices, as classical fencers feel that such devices hurt the practice of the art.) The electrical scoring system requires additional clothing for foil and sabre: Foil fencers wear a conducting vest which covers the torso and groin. Sabre fencers wear a conducting jacket, mask, and a special sabre glove or manchette that goes over a regular glove, which is conducting up to but not exceeding the wrist. Fencers used to wear a gauntlet (wrist/forearm cuff) before the weapon hand became off-target. In both weapons, the fencers' weapons are also wired. When a fencer scores a touch on an opponent, this completes an electric circuit which turns on a light and an audible alarm to notify the referee that a touch has been scored. The referee observes the fencers and the scoring machine to determine which fencer has the right-of-way.

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In épée and foil, the fencers carry special weapons with compressible tips. When a touch is scored, the tip of the weapon compresses, completing a circuit and signalling a touch. In foil fencing, the competitors wear special conductive vests covering the target area that allows a "valid" circuit to be completed, and a coloured light (usually red or green) turns on. If the touch lands off of the valid target area, an "off target" circuit is completed, and a white light turns on. In épée fencing, since target area is the entire body, the fencers do not wear special conductive clothing. In both, the strip itself must be grounded, to prevent a touch from scoring when the tip of a weapon hits the strip (as opposed to striking the opponent's toe, for example). In epee it is considered "illegal" to strike the floor next to the strip to make the light go on since the floor is not grounded out. This action would receive a yellow card.

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Fencers connect their weapons to the scoring apparatus via a bodywire, which is threaded from a socket in the guard of the weapon, up the sleeve of the jacket and down to the waist. A spring-loaded spool of cable, placed at the end of the piste, then connects to this bodywire. The springs in the spool ensure that the wiring extends taut from the fencer's waist to the rear of the piste, and doesn't interfere with the fencer's movements.

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The electronic scoring system caused an unexpected side effect in foil: touches can be scored by using the blade like a whip and depressing the tip on the back and other obscured target areas on an opponent. The F.I.E. recently adopted rules intended to remove this anomaly by changing how long you must hold the tip on valid target. The rule changes have been controversial, primarily on two accounts: some argue that "flicks" or "whip-hits" are a valid method of scoring a touch, and others contend that the changes cause scoring anomalies where touchs which have obviously landed do not register. If their intention was to remove the flick, they have been only partly successful, as they are still possible, albeit more difficult. However, there has also been recent speculation that the change in depression timing was a direct result of the ambiguity of Right of Way. Changing the times and removing the flick makes it easier for referees to have less ambiguity in their decisions.

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Recently, reel-less gear has been adopted for sabre at top competitions, including the Athens Olympics. In this system, which dispenses with the spool, the lights to indicate touches are mounted on the fencers' mask. FIE regulations prohibit the use of transmitters in official scoring equipment to prevent cheating; however, extension lights may be wirelessly connected to the fencers so long as the wired lights (on the fencers themselves) remain the official indicators. Plans for reel-less épée and foil have not yet been adopted.

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Whenever possible, organizers use a metal mesh or panels to electrically ground the piste, although this is not always possible for small competitions. Each competitor's coquille (hand guard) is always grounded, as it is often hit when trying to strike at an opponent's hand. This allows the scoring apparatus to ignore touches on both items.

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Electronic scoring was introduced to épée in 1936, to foil in 1957, and to sabre in 1988.

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