Parent Involvement-
In order for us to have a better focus for improvement we need parents to feel that they have a say by helping out with their children's development. We have formed a parents 'Active Parent Advisory Group' to help with new ideas for the Center and the continuing development of the Youth and Jr. Program.

Understanding the sport of fencing that your child has chosen can be easier than you think. Check out the Pacific Coast Section's website at www.pcsfencing.com and then click on Parent's Corner. There you will find a lot of information for the beginning parent.

WEAPONS: Main overview

Three weapons are used in fencing competition: foil, epee and sabre. Olympic-level fencers generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon. Foil and epee are point-thrusting weapons. Sabre is a point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. All three weapons are composed of the following parts:1. A flexible steel blade completed at its forward end by a point and at the rear by a tang, which is included in the hilt when the weapon is mounted. Flexibility is measured by comparing bend in the blade with and without a weight an inch from the end of the blade. 2. A grip in which the tang of the blade is fixed by a locking nut or in any other way, which enables the fencer to hold the weapon. The grip may be composed of one or several parts; if in parts, it is divided into a handle (which is normally held in the hand) and a pommel (rear portion of the hilt which locks the handle onto the tang). 3. A metal guard, with the convex face towards the front, fixed between the blade and the hilt, serving to protect the sword hand. The guard may contain a padding or cushion to reduce the effect of blows. It also contains a socket to which the bodywire can be connected.

FOIL:    

The modern version of the dueling rapier, the foil is perhaps the best known fencing apparatus. The teaching weapon for the other swords, it has a flexible blade and is used chiefly for thrusting.The maximum length of the entire foil is 3 feet, 6 inches and the maximum allowable weight is 1.1 pounds. The tapering quadrangular blade is made of fine steel and can be no more than three feet. The flexibility equivalent of the blade must measure a minimum of 2.1 inches and a maximum of 3.7 inches. The guard diameter must measure between 3.7 and 4.7 inches.

EPEE:   

The epee is the descendant of the ancient dueling sword. It developed from the dueling weapons of European noblemen.It is about the same length as the foil (3 feet, 7 inches) only heavier, weighing approximately 1.7 pounds. The epee has a larger hand guard which must measure less than 5.3 inches in diameter and between 1.1 and 2.1 inches deep. Its steel blade is thicker and triangular, measuring one inch wide on each side.The flexibility equivalent of an epee sword must be between 1.7 and 2.7 inches. It was designed to be effective as a thrusting or stabbing sword.Note: The epee is also used in the fencing portion of modern pentathlon.

SABRE:   

A lighter version of a cavalry sword, this until recently was used by male fencers only. Women competed in the individual sabre event in 2004 for the first time and the United States WON GOLD and BRONZE! The sabre owes its heritage to the Middle Eastern scimitar and the 18th-century cavalry sword. It is similar to the foil, but weighs slightly less because it is about one inch shorter, a maximum of 3 feet, 5.3 inches. The steel blade is rectangular, measuring at least 4 millimeters wide and 1.2 millimeters thick, and up to 2 feet, 10.6 inches long. Its flexibility equivalent is between 1.5 and 2.7 inches.The sabre is a thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon. The end of the sabre blade is folded over onto itself, or is made in one piece with a square or rectangular tip measuring between 4 and 6 millimeters.The guard of a sabre is full and convex, with no rim or holes. It must be sized so that it is able to pass through a rectangular gauge measuring 5.5 by 5.9 inches around and 5.9 inches long. The interior of the guard is insulated with insulating paint or a pad. The exterior of the guard, the grip, and the pommel are all completely insulated.

Piste:
  

Fencing competitions take place on a dueling surface known by the French word, "piste." The piste is also referred to as the fencing "strip." It is made from metal, metallic mesh or another substance with a base that conducts an electrical current. The strip measures 14 meters long (46 feet) and 2 meters wide (6 feet, 7 inches).

The piste evolved from dueling, when combatants would draw lines in the dirt. Stepping behind one's line was considered cowardly.

End Line (Rear Limit)
The end lines indicate the rear limit of the fencing strip. If a competitor crosses the rear limit of the strip with both feet, a touch is scored against him or her.

Warning Line
Two warning lines are drawn 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) from the rear limit of the piste on each end. The warning lines indicate the start of the warning area.

En Garde Line
Also referred to as the "on-guard" lines, these are drawn on each side of (and parallel to) the center line, 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) away. The fencers begin a bout by standing behind these lines in the en garde position. The spacing ensures that with the fencers' arms straight and the blades in line, the points of the two blades cannot make contact.

Center Line
The center line is drawn across the piste, dividing it into two equal halves.

Warning Area
From the warning line to the rear limit of the piste, the last 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) on each side is clearly distinguished with a different color -- much like the warning track on a baseball field -- to make it easy for fencers to be aware of their position on the strip.

Run Back
An extension of 1.5 to 2.0 meters is added to the end of the strip on each side behind the end lines to allow the fencer to cross the rear limits onto an even surface.

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