P-Yellow Card Eliminated at USA Fencing Events Beginning Oct. 1

The Board of Directors adopted the FIE's 2025 Congress rule changes on Sept. 19. Among other changes, the first minute of non-combativity now brings a P-red card, with no P-yellow first.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The P-Yellow card is gone, and there are other small rules changes for 2026-27.

The USA Fencing Board of Directors voted Sept. 19 to adopt the changes to the Technical ("t") and Organizational ("o") rules approved at the 2025 FIE Congress and to incorporate them into the USA Fencing Rules of Competition. Among them is the amendment to t.124, "Unwillingness to Fight (Non-combativity)," which removes the P-Yellow card from the penalty sequence. The updates to the USA Fencing Rules bring them up to date with current FIE rules, and include other changes in addition to the removal of the P-yellow.

These changes take effect at USA Fencing competitions on Oct. 1, 2026. The first national event under the new rules is the October NAC, set for Oct. 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Until now, non-combativity carried a three-step progression: a P-Yellow card as a warning, a P-red card that awarded a touch against both fencers, then a P-black card that ended the bout. With this update, the P-yellow has been removed, and there is only a two-step progression: P-red, then P-black. Nothing else about the rules for non-combativity changes — each card comes after one minute of fencing time without a touch.

In addition to the removal of the P-yellow, updating to the most current FIE rules will bring two other changes:

1. The first codifies something that was formerly not allowed into an explicit penalty: appearing on the strip with a mask that doesn’t have a secondary safety device or strap. (t.72). This is currently not allowed, but its penalty status has been ambiguous. The secondary strap is required for safety and must always be worn when fencing.
2. The second change adds some required equipment when warming up or taking a lesson at competitions (t.20). During practice bouts, fencers must now dress in full fencing equipment. During lessons, fencers must now wear a chest protector (plastron), and coaches must be in long pants. Both changes protect the safety of USA Fencing Members. 

The definition of non-combativity is unchanged: one minute of fencing without a touch. The minute restarts after each touch, each touch off target, each annulled touch, each penalty touch and at the start of each period. The bout continues after a P-red card and the rules for determining the winner after a P-black are not changing.

For the equipment rules changes, not much should be changing. Masks without secondary retraining devices are already forbidden at USA Fencing competitions. The FIE has made other changes to its requirements for warming up (such as covering the knees) that USA Fencing did not adopt — t.20 is only changing to enhance safety.

USA Fencing does not adopt FIE rule changes automatically. Every change to the USA Fencing Rules of Competition must be approved by the Board of Directors. The FIE amended several dozen rules at its 2025 Congress in Manama, Bahrain, and communicated more changes in a recent FIE Information Letter 12-26 with an application date of the 2026-27 FIE season. 

An implementation date of Oct. 1 gives everyone time to learn about the changes yet ensures all USA Fencing national competitions will use the updated rules. Occasionally, as was the case this time, the needed motion for the Board of Directors of USA Fencing takes time to prepare, which is why referees at USA Fencing events continued to apply the P-Yellow card through September. The motion, brought by Board member Dr. Scott Rodgers PLY at the request of Donald Alperstein, the Board's liaison to the Referees' Commission, passed as part of the Board's fall retreat in Cleveland.

Athletes and coaches should review the new progression with athletes before traveling to Orlando. The Referees' Commission will share additional guidance for officials ahead of the October NAC. Anyone with questions about the USA Fencing Rules is always encouraged to contact the Referees’ Commission at RCRulesandExams@refereescommission.org or information@usafencing.org.