New Guidance Helps Referees — and Everyone Else — Navigate Conflicts of Interest

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A referee is assigned to a bout featuring a fencer they coached several years ago. Should they step aside? What if an assigner is asked to rule on a protest involving a family friend? Or — thanks to a packed schedule — what happens when the same official draws the same athlete four times in a row?

These and more than a dozen other real‑world dilemmas headline a brand‑new USA Fencing Guidance on Conflicts of Interest for Referees, published this week by the volunteer members of the Referees’ Commission. At 20 concise “you‑make‑the‑call” vignettes, the document turns policy into plain English, helping referees, assigners, coaches, fencers and parents understand when an official must recuse, should consider recusing, or can confidently stay on the strip. While this document serves as a guide for identifying conflicts of interest, these policies must be adapted to the level of competition and are not universally applicable.

Why does this matter beyond the referee corps? Because confidence in impartial officiating underpins every touch, every bout, every medal. By spelling out best practices — like proactive self‑assessment, transparent disclosure, and context‑based flexibility — the RC’s guidance boosts fairness for athletes while making life easier for assigners juggling tight pools and long days.

“Good judgment remains essential,” the document notes, recognizing that no policy can predict every twist a tournament throws our way. Still, starting from a shared playbook keeps misunderstandings (and unnecessary protests) to a minimum.

Ready for the full list of scenarios and recommended responses? Download the Referee Conflict of Interest Guidance (PDF) or find it anytime on the Resources & Protocols for Officials page.

A huge thank‑you to the Referees’ Commission volunteers for the hours — often invisible — they devoted to crafting this member‑driven resource. Their work is essential and appreciated.