USA Fencing

Update, Dec. 31, 2022: This article has been updated with additional guidance from the Referees' Commission. The Referees' Commission has also provided some helpful answers to FAQs at the bottom of the article.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The USA Fencing Board of Directors has unanimously voted to adopt a set of rule changes from the FIE (International Fencing Federation) concerning “unwillingness to fight,” also known as non-combativity.

The changes, passed by the FIE on Nov. 26 and sent to fencing national governing bodies around the world on Dec. 16, will take effect in the United States on Jan. 1, 2023, and be enforced at all USA Fencing tournaments at the national, regional and local levels. 

The update concerns Rule t.124 of the USA Fencing Rulebook and eliminates the second P-Red card within the progression of P-Cards. It also changes the rule so that P-Yellow and P-Red cards are always awarded to both fencers (or teams in team events) simultaneously, regardless of the score of the bout. (For example: If Fencer A has a 5-1 lead over Fencer B, and one minute of fencing occurs without a touch, both fencers will be sanctioned with a P-Yellow card for the first such offense). 

Moreover, a P-Black in a team event ends the match immediately. (Previously, a team could sub in their reserve fencer to replace the fencer on the strip who received a P-Black.)

Unwillingness to fight, primarily seen in epee, occurs when there’s one minute of fencing without a hit or without a hit scored off-target. “Unwillingness to Fight” rules apply only to Direct Elimination (DE) bouts — not pools bouts. 

Some refer to this 60-second span as fencing’s “shot clock.” These actions reset the shot clock:

• Touch scored

• Touch off target (the floor, for example)

• Touch annulled

• Penalty hit

• Beginning of each period

Previously, referees awarded P-Yellow, P-Red or P-Black cards after one minute of non-combativity under the following guidelines:

• Score tied: Referee sanctioned both fencers with a P-Card

• Score not tied: Referee sanctioned the fencer with the lower score a P-Card

The awarding of P-Cards followed this progression: P-Yellow → P-Red (touch against) → Second P-Red (touch against) → P-Black. 

Finally, in team events, if one fencer was shown a P-Black, that team was eligible to sub in their reserve fencer.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, referees will award P-Yellow, P-Red or P-Black cards after one minute of non-combativity to both fencers/teams simultaneously — regardless of the score.

Note that the P-Yellow (warning), P-Red (penalty hit) and P-Black (the possible losing of a bout or match) cards received during any one bout or match (during all 9 relays of a team match) are valid only for that bout or match. They are not transferable to the following bout or match. 

Individual Events

• After the first minute of unwillingness to fight, both fencers are sanctioned with P-Yellow cards

• After the second minute of unwillingness to fight, both fencers are sanctioned with P-Red cards

• After the third minute of unwillingness to fight, both fencers are sanctioned with P-Black cards and the bout ends:

  • If the score is tied, the fencer with the higher initial seeding in the competition wins the bout.

  • If the score is not tied, the fencer with the higher score wins the bout.

P-Cards (of any color) cannot be awarded when the score is 14-14 (in 15-touch bouts) or 9-9 (in 10-touch bouts).

Team Events

• After the first minute of unwillingness to fight, both teams are shown P-Yellow cards

• After the second minute of unwillingness to fight, both teams are shown P-Red cards

• After the third minute of unwillingness to fight, both teams are shown P-Black cards and the match ends. Teams are not permitted to sub in their reserve fencer.

  • If the score is tied, the team with the higher initial seeding in the competition wins the match.

  • If the score is not tied, the team with the higher score wins the match.

P-Cards (of any color) cannot be awarded when the score is 44-44.

Q: Does unwillingness to fight apply to all age groups and competition levels? Veterans and Youth events? Local events?

A: The updated unwillingness to fight rule applies to all USA Fencing competitions at the local, regional and national levels, effective Jan. 1, 2023. This includes all age categories (youth, cadet, junior, senior, veteran).

Unwillingness to fight applies to direct elimination bouts and team matches using the relay format (note: many collegiate and scholastic team matches use a cumulative bout format and do not use the relay format). Unwillingness to fight does not apply in pool bouts.

Q: What happens if the fencers demonstrate unwillingness to fight during a pool bout?

A: Unwillingness to fight applies only to direct elimination bouts and team matches. The rule does not apply and should not be invoked during pool bouts.

Q: I thought unwillingness to fight didn’t apply to youth events. Does unwillingness to fight apply to Y8/Y10/Y12 now?

A: For a period of time, unwillingness to fight (at the time known as non-combativity) applied to direct elimination bouts of 10 or 15 touches and team matches, while some youth events included a best two-out-of-three, five-touch, direct-elimination format. With subsequent changes to use 10- or 15-touch formats for direct elimination at all age categories, this previous exception is no longer applicable or relevant.

Q: Rule t.124.3.a indicates that no P-card is awarded in individual competitions at 14-14 or in team matches at 44-44. Does this also apply in 10-touch DE bouts at 9-9?

A: USA Fencing has adopted an equivalent modification for domestic tournaments (USA Fencing competitions) that no P-card (yellow, red, or black) may be awarded in individual competitions at 9-9 in 10-touch direct elimination bouts (i.e., direct elimination bouts in Y10 and Veteran categories).

As of this time, the FIE has not yet adopted a similar modification for 10-touch bouts.

Q: There is unwillingness to fight when there is one minute of fencing without a hit or without a hit scored off the target. Does this include hits not on the opponent?

A: As specified in t.124.3.d, the one minute starts again after each hit, each hit off the target, each hit annulled, each penalty hit, and at the beginning of each period or relay.

This includes touches on valid target (scored or annulled), touches on non-valid target (e.g., the arm in foil), touches entirely off target (e.g., the floor, scoring machine, table, etc.), or when touches are annulled.

If the machines registers a touch well after the “Halt!” and not part of the fencing action (e.g., as a fencer is returning to on guard after passing or leaving the strip), this does not restart the one-minute countdown.

The one-minute countdown additionally restarts after any change in score (i.e., due to a touch being scored via fencing or penalty) and at the beginning of each period.

Q: What happens if a fencer challenges the referee’s determination of whether one minute of fencing without a hit has elapsed?

A: By rule, declaration of unwillingness to fight is a decision of fact and cannot be appealed.

Q: When, for the third time, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, if the scores of the two fencers are equal, the referee sanctions the fencer with the lower initial seeding in the competition with a P-black card and the fencer with the higher initial seeing in the competition wins the bout. Locally, it is common for initial seeding to be equal (i.e., fencers have the same letter and year rating, or the fencers are both unrated); who receives the P-black card when ratings are equal between the fencers?

A: Part of the initial seeding procedure for competitions is splitting ties based on equal classification by random drawing of lots, thus initial seeding is not equal. That random order within equal classification determines seeding priority and applies during direct elimination when a P-black card is awarded due to a third instance of unwillingness to fight within a bout.

Q: If a fencer has a yellow card for non-conforming equipment and then unwillingness to fight occurs for the first time, does that fencer get a red card?

A: P-cards (yellow, red, and black) are tracked separately from all other penalty cards and are not cumulative with any other sanction awarded. That is, a fencer may receive a yellow card for a first offence in the 1st group (e.g., non-conforming equipment) and also receive a P-yellow card for a first offense of unwillingness to fight in the same bout.

Q: If a fencer received a P-yellow card and P-red card for unwillingness to fight in one direct elimination bout and again commits unwillingness to fight in the next round, what card is awarded?

A: P-cards are reset between bouts or matches so the first instance of unwillingness to fight within a direct elimination bout or team match is sanctioned with a P-yellow card (to both fencers or teams) regardless of any instances of unwillingness to fight in previous bouts or team matches.

Q: What if only one fencer is unwilling to fight and the other fencer is trying to score?

A: Unwillingness to fight applies to both fencers and is defined as when there is one minute of fencing without a hit or without a hit scored off the target. When unwillingness to fight occurs, both fencers are sanctioned as laid out in the revised t.124.

Q: Does unwillingness to fight apply only to the fencer who is trailing (i.e., has a lower score)?

A: Unwillingness to fight applies to both fencers. When for the first time there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the referee sanctions both fencers (individual direct elimination bout) or teams (team events) with a P-yellow card regardless of score. When for the second time there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the referee sanctions both fencers or teams with a P-red card and awards a point to each fencer or team regardless of score. When for the third time there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, relative score matters. If the scores of the two fencers or teams are equal, the referee sanctions the fencer or team with the lower initial seeding in the competition with a P-black card and the fencer or team with the higher initial seeding wins the bout or match. If the scores of the fencers or teams are not equal, the referee sanctions the fencer or team with the lower score with a P-black card and the fencer or team with the higher score wins the bout or match.

Q: Are fencers who receive a P-black card excluded from the event results the way they are for unsportsmanlike conduct?

A: P-black cards differ from other black cards in that fencers or teams receiving a p-black card lose the bout or match but retain the place normally earned and any corresponding medal or ranking points. In events where teams (or individual fencers) fence off for place, the team continues into the placement bouts/matches as usual.

Q: Does unwillingness to fight apply during the overtime minute if the final period of fencing ends with equal scores?

A: Unwillingness to fight does not apply during an extra minute after the end of regulation time. Before the extra time commences, the referee draws lots to decide who will be the winner if scores are still equal at the end of the extra minute (cf. t.40.3 and t.41.5).

Q: If a team receives a P-black card, can they substitute in their reserve fencer and continue the match?

A: No. A P-black card immediately ends a team match. The team that receives a P-black card (the trailing team if scores are not equal or the team with a lower initial seed if scores are equal) has lost the match.

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USA Fencing has adopted the following changes to t.124:

[Note: The following text has been amended to remove references to seeding being based on the FIE rankings and to indicate that, consistent with 14-14 in 15-touch bouts and 44-44 in team matches, unwillingness to fight should not be called at 9-9 in 10-touch bouts]

t.124

Unwillingness to fight (Non-combativity)   

There is unwillingness to fight when there is one minute of fencing without a hit or without a hit scored off the target. 

When one or both fencers make clear theirIn the event of unwillingness to fight, the Referee will immediately call ‘Halt!’ as a decision of "fact" (cf.t.136.2). 

Unwillingness to fight is sanctioned as follows: 

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1 Individual events – Direct elimination

P-yellow cards and P-red Cards are awarded to each fencer separately to both fencers simultaneously, starting with a P-Yellow card, followed by two a P-Red cards.and finally by a The P-Black card is awarded as described in 1c) below. 

a)              When, for the first time, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the Referee sanctions one or both fencers with a P-yellow card. as follows:

a)      If the fencers are equal: the Referee sanctions both fencers with a P-yellow card.

b)      If the fencers are not equal: the Referee sanctions the fencer who has the lower score with a P- yellow card.

b)              When, for the second and third times, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the Referee sanctions one or both fencers with a P-red card. as follows:

If the fencers are equal: the Referee sanctions both fencers with a P-red card. If the fencers are not equal: the Referee sanctions the fencer who has the lower score with a P- red card.

c)              When, for from the fourth third time, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, a P-black card is awarded as follows: one or both fencers who have already received two P-red cards, receive a P-black card

ie) If the scores of the two fencers receive P-Black cards simultaneously and their scores are equal, the Referee sanctions the fencer with the lower initial seeding in the competition with a P-Black card. Tthe fencer with the higher initial seeding in the competition wins the bout. 

iif) If the scores of the two fencers receive P-Black cards simultaneously, and their scores are not equal, the Referee sanctions the fencer with the lower score with a P-Black card. Tthe fencer with the higher score wins the bout. 

2   Team events  

P-Yellow, and P-Red cards are awarded to the two each teams separately simultaneously, starting with a P-Yellow card and followed by twoa P-Red cards. The P-Black card is awarded to the fencer. as described in 2c) below. 

a) When, for the first time, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the Referee sanctions one or both teams with a P-yellow card. as follows:

a)     If the teams are equal: the Referee sanctions both teams with a P-yellow card.

b)     If the teams are not equal: the Referee sanctions the team with the lower score with a P-yellow card.

b)              When, for the second and third times, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, the Referee sanctions one orboth teams with a P-red card. as follows:

c)              If the teams are equal: the Referee sanctions both teams with a P-red card.

d)              If the teams are not equal: the Referee sanctions the team which has the lower score with a P-red card.

c) When, forfrom the fourththird time, there is one minute of unwillingness to fight, a P-Black card is awarded as follows: given to the fencer on the piste of either or both teams which have already received two P-red cards.

i)                If the scores for the two teams are equal, the Referee sanctions the team with the lower initial seeding in the competition with a P-Black card. The team with the higher initial seeding in the competition wins the match. 

ii)               If the scores for the two teams are not equal, the Referee sanctions the team with the lower score with a P-Black card. The team with the higher score wins the match. 

e)              A team in which a fencer has received a P-black card may use their reserve fencer, if they have one and if the replacement has not already been made previously for tactical or medical reasons. If a replacement is made following receipt of a P-black card, no further replacement may be made, even for medical reasons.

 If no replacement can be made following receipt of a P -black card (because there is no reserve fencer or because the reserve fencer has already been used previously), the team in which a fencer has been sanctioned by a P-black card loses the match.

Following the replacement of a fencer after the awarding of a P-Black card, the relay in question continues. Any further occurrence of unwillingness to fight results in a further P-Black card and the team in question loses the match.

f)               If a P -Black card is given to the fencers on the piste in both teams simultaneously and neither of the teams can make a replacement and their scores are equal, the team with the higher initial seeding in the competition, which is based on the FIE ranking, wins the match.

g)              If a P-Black card is given to the fencers on the piste in both teams simultaneously and neither of the teams can make a replacement and their scores are not equal, the team with the higher score wins the match.

3 In both individual and team competitions

In case of unwillingness to fight, it is up to the referee to call “Halt” as a decision of fact (cf. t.136.2).

a)              The P-yellow (warning), P-red (penalty hit) and P-black (the possible losing of a bout or match) cards received during any one bout or match (during all 9 relays) are valid only for that bout or match. They are not transferable to the following bout or match. 

No P-card (yellow, red or black) may be awarded in individual competitions at 14-14 or in team matches at 44-44. 

In USA Fencing competitions, no P-card (yellow, red, or black) may be awarded in individual competitions at 9-9 in 10 touch bouts

b)              In both individual and team competitions, fencers and teams who have lost the bout/match following the award of a P-Black card, will be ranked in the final results of the competition as having lost the bout/match. They receive the corresponding points. 

c)              In both individual and team competitions, the period/relay continues after the awarding of a P- Yellow or a P-Red card.  

d)              The minute starts again after each hit, each hit off the target, each hit annulled, each penalty hit and at the beginning of each period or relay. 

e)              The referee must record these P-yellow, P-red and P-black cards separately on the score sheet. The sanctions awarded for unwillingness to fight are not cumulative with any other sanction awarded. 

f)               In both individual and team competitions, if, at the end of the regulation time, there is equality of scores, article t.124 does not apply and articles t.40.3 and t.41.5 will apply.