Signals by the Referee

Signals by the Referee

The referee directs the fencers by speaking and making gestures. These gestures can be seen by the fencers and spectators alike.They were developed in the television age, so they are intended to be clear when viewed from behind (the normal vantage point fortelevising or videorecording a bout). Accordingly, all gestures are made to one side of the referee or the other (or on both sides atonce).

After ordering a halt, the referee “calls the action” that just occurred, identifying the fencing actions of the fencing phrase justbefore the halt and simultaneously making the corresponding gestures. In so doing, the referee will normally refrain from describingmore than is necessary.

After the action is called, the fencers may ask the referee to re-state the analysis of the phrase. The referee has the option toexplain the action more fully, to start at a different point in the action, or—as is most likely—to do no more than repeat the firstanalysis, with or without gestures.

Figures in the table and examples that follow are taken from FIE Technical Rules, Article t.42.4.1 All signals except for “Ready?”and “Fence!” (next page) begin from the neutral position: hands at the sides like this:

For each gesture, red arrows indicate the direction of movement. Where there are two arrows on the same side of the referee, the firstmovement is in the direction of the top arrow followed immediately by movement in the direction of the lower one. Each signal (noteach movement) lasts from one to two seconds. The referee should make the signals one at a time, returning to the neutral positionbetween signals most of the time. (Examples begin on page 11.)

Note particularly that in all weapons, the touch or hit is first indicated against the fencer who received it and then the point isannounced for the fencer who delivered the touch. These are two separate gestures, performed on opposite sides of the body. Theyshould not be performed simultaneously.

1 Images have been cropped, flipped, and resized for convenience.

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Gesture Speech (US) FIE Comments

On guard! En garde!

Ready? Prêt(es)?

The signal begins from thereferee’s position calling thefencers to come on guard.

The Rules (t.17) state that thereferee “asks,‘Are you ready?’”

Fence! Allez!

The signal begins from thereferee’s position whenasking the fencers if they areready.

In the Referee’s Manual, theword is

“Play!”

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Halt! Halte!

No gesture is required whenthe equipment has signaled atouch. When stopping theaction because of aninfraction, signal with thehand on the side of a fencerat fault. If both are at fault(or neither), either hand maybe used.

Point in line! Pointe en ligne!

The fencer on the right hasestablished a point in line(against the left).*

Before signaling the result (avalid touch, off-target, or amiss), return to the neutralposition.

The fencer on the left hasestablished a point in line(against the right).*

* In the Referee’s Manual,the referee is shownlooking in the directionthe weapon is pointing.

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Attack!Stop-hit!

Counterattack!Remise!Reprise!

Redoublement!

Attaque!Arrêt!

Contre-attaque!Remise!Reprise!

Redoublement!

In the final phrase, the actionnamed came from the right.

In the final phrase, the actionnamed came from the left.

Touch! Touché!

This gesture follows a touchagainst the fencer on theleft.*

This gesture follows a touchagainst the fencer on theright.*

* In the Referee’s Manual,the referee is shownlooking in the direction ofthe fencer who is touchedand saying “Hit against!”

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Point for right!

Point!

Score a point for the fenceron the right.*

Point for left!

Score a point for the fenceron the left.*

In the Referee’s Manual, thereferee says,“Hit scored for!”

Off target! Non valable!

To prepare to make the “off-target” signal, move theelbow from the neutralposition out to the positionshown, leaving the hand nextto the body.

The touch made by thefencer on the right landedoff-target on the left.*

The touch made by thefencer on the left landed off-target on the right.*

* In the Referee’s Manual,the referee says,“Not valid!”

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Parry!or

Counter-time!

Parade!ou

Contre-temps!

To make this signal, movethe forearm (from the side ofthe attack) to the positionshown (pointing in thedirection of the attack,horizontal and at least ashigh as the eyes). At thesame time, swing the otherarm to a vertical positionwith the radial (thumb) sideof the wrist touching theouter knuckle of thehorizontal hand.

The attack from the left isparried by the fencer on theright.

or (counter-time)

The attacker (on the right)acts against a stop-hit fromthe left.*

The attack from the right isparried by the fencer on theleft.

or (counter-time)

The attacker (on the left) actsagainst a stop-hit from theright.*

* USFA rules do notmention a signal forcounter-time.

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Simultaneous! Simultanées!

For foil and saber, this is thesignal for both simultaneousattacks and simultaneousremises.

Double touch! Touchés! Épée only.

Point for eachfencer!

Points!Épée only. Often heard:“Point for each!”

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No touch! Rien!

Prepare to make this signalby crossing the arms asshown OR by starting withthe hands at the hips to makea signal like a double “off-target”—executedsymmetrically andsimultaneously on both theleft and right side of thebody.

Often heard:“Nothing!” or“Nothing done!”

No! Non!

Prepare to make this signalby putting the index fingernear the temple.

Action from the left did notland on any target (it’s short,flat, or passé) and has noresult.

Action from the right did notland on any target (it’s short,flat, or passé) and has noresult.

In saber, the referee mayreserve this signal for a shortor missed attack. If a cutlands on the guard(coquille), the referee maysay, “No!” but signal aparry.

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Preparation!Sur la

preparation!

The action from the rightdoes not qualify as anattack.*

The action from the left doesnot qualify as an attack.*

* The FIE word used to be“Non correct!” (changedin 2009)

Yellow card!Red Card!

Black Card.

Carton jaune!Carton rouge!Carton noir.

Warning (yellow) or one-point penalty (red) to thefencer on the right.*

Warning or penalty to thefencer on the left.*

* The referee also identifiesand records the infraction(corps a corps, covering,substituting target, etc.)

The black carddisqualifies the fencerfrom further competition.

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The winner is[ ]

over[ ]by a score of[ ] to [ ]!

Vainqueur!(nom) par

(score)

Palm toward the victor, inthis case, on the left.

Palm toward the victor, inthis case, on the right.

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In foil and saber, the words and gestures of the referee are intended to describe a sequence of events, informing the fencers and thespectators where the action started and the result of the action that occurred. After the halt, the referee will speak and signal:

Announcement Gesture

Preparation!

Attack!

Each signal is followed by a return to the neutral position. After an attack, one of the following will indicate the result:

No!

Touch!

Off-target!

Parried!

A touch made by a fencer with right of way, whether valid or off-target, will end the action. So will a stop-touch or counterattack if itregisters in time to prevent the attacker’s hit from registering. If a point is awarded, it will be indicated:

Point!

If there was no touch or a parry, the referee will return to the neutral position, then continue to describe the subsequent actions of thephrase (if any) in a similar manner.

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In the following sequence, a saber fencer on the right advanced with a bent arm (which is not considered a correct attack). The sabreuron the left extended his weapon arm and lunged, landing a valid touch. The referee would describe the action and gesture as follows:

Announcement Gesture Duration

Preparation! 1–2 seconds

momentary

Attack! 1–2 seconds

momentary

Touch! 1–2 seconds

momentary

Point!1–2 seconds

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In the following sequence, the foil fencer on the left extended the weapon arm with an advance and a lunge. The fencer on the rightused his weapon to deflect the attacker’s blade, then extended the foil to hit the leg of the fencer on the left. The referee woulddescribe the action and gesture as follows:


Attack! 1–2 seconds

momentary

Parried! 1–2 seconds

Riposte!As long asit takes to announcethe action

Note that there is no hand signal for“Riposte!” or “Counter-riposte!”

Off-target! 1–2 seconds

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During a bout, the épée fencer on the left lunged, landing a touch on the leg of the fencer on the right. At the same time, the fencer onthe right landed a touch on the arm of the fencer on the left. On the recording apparatus, both red and green lights are lit. The refereewould describe the action and gesture as follows2:


Double touch! 1–2 seconds

momentary

Point for each! 1–2 seconds

In épée, terms and signals related to right-of-way are irrelevant and they are not used. These are:attack/stop hit/counterattack/remise/reprise/redoublement, off-target, parry, no, preparation, simultaneous, and point in line.

2 If this occurred in a 5-point bout tied at 4–4, a 15-point bout tied at 14–14, or a team bout tied at 44–44 then no gesture for touches would be made. The refereewould say, “Nothing done!” and make the corresponding gesture, then re-start the bout without moving the fencers to the on-guard line.

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Signals by the Referee