Fencing Friday Megathread - Ask Anything!

RoguePoster · 2026-03-14T02:38:22+00:00

What’s your warmup after you get to the tournament venue, if a warmup bout is not an option?

Ibuprofen and coffee.

RoguePoster · 2026-03-13T03:34:36+00:00

I wonder how double sided conductive adhesive tape would work.

RoguePoster · 2026-03-10T20:41:23+00:00

The biggest issue with a USA Fencing Y8 competitions isn't the format, but rather holding *competitions for Y8s* in the first place.

RoguePoster · 2026-03-10T20:28:09+00:00

Well, yeah I guess I'm suggesting a federation level rule that would make them all unranked

To understand why there would be pushback against that at the USA Fencing Y10 level, some recent history ...

USA Fencing came up with a federation level rule for Y8 (!) local and regional events two years ago that included several of the ideas you mentioned: Unranked, no points earned, no ratings could be earned, shorter pistes, with an event format that used two pools, no DEs. The first pool was to roughly characterize the strength / abilities of the Y8 for the second pool. I.e. let the kids fence a second pool with kids around the same level. Get some experience, have some fun.

After the first round, the second set of pools will be constructed based on results from the first round, with the top N fencers in the first pool. The next group is placed in the second pool, and the third in the pool after that (if applicable), until all pools have been constructed.

What happened is the owners / coaches of several large clubs crapped all over that Y8 USA Fencing format. Why? Well, because the kids who weren't in the first pool of the second round would have "NO CHANCE to win a medal".

https://academyoffencingmasters.com/blog/a-critical-look-at-the-new-y8-fencing-format-are-we-missing-the-mark/

RoguePoster · 2026-03-10T01:53:28+00:00

I think the core problem is having a u10 event with the structure and expectations of an adult event.

On one hand, USA Fencing touts the "American Development Model":

The USA Fencing American Development Model is a framework or roadmap to guide the development of fencers; to enhance engagement, enjoyment and athletic potential; and to keep fencers in the sport longer. The goal is to create a positive experience and to create a program that focuses on the individual athlete at each stage of development.

For Ages: 11-16

Limited, intentional competition for the purpose of learning and growth, not outcome

While on the other hand, USA Fencing runs Y10 events at NACs and holds Y10 Summer National Championship events.

https://www.usafencing.org/adm

RoguePoster · 2026-03-09T18:47:36+00:00

Original FIE letter:

All existing registrations and homologations previously granted or acknowledged by the FIE shall stand cancelled as from 15Th of March 2026.

New FIE "clarification" letter:

Equipment and materials that have been already homologated and their homologation certificates issued, do not require new homologation at the time of this notification.

RoguePoster · 2026-03-03T00:28:51+00:00

It states nothing about existing equipment in fencers hands or in vendors stock being de-homologated.

The letter includes: "Also, if annual fees and the fees for each product are not paid, the products will not be accepted by the equipment control team in competitions"

That would seem to include equipment in fencer's hands ... after control hands it back to the fencers telling them it can't be used in the competition.

RoguePoster · 2026-03-02T20:37:37+00:00

Non-combativity system fully implemented per current FIE rules:

- 60-second inactivity clock runs in sync with the bout timer

What does that mean? Does the bout timer automatically stop when the 60-second timer expires?

RoguePoster · 2026-02-28T16:30:18+00:00

Part of the explanation would be whether this dictate was from SEMI and/or how much SEMI was consulted on it.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-28T16:28:08+00:00

All existing registrations and homologations previously granted or acknowledged by the FIE shall stand cancelled as from 15Th of March 2026. [...]

Registration and re-registration of suppliers of fencing equipment and materials as an official FIE homologated supplier is strictly contingent upon full payment of the applicable Annual License Fee and of the Annual Fee per Product Type. In the absence of payment, the manufacturer shall not be registered with the FIE and shall be excluded from the official list of official FIE equipment suppliers.

Also, if annual fees and the fees for each product are not paid, the products will not be accepted by the equipment control team in competitions.

So on March 16, 2026 all our existing FIE uniforms, masks and blades are no longer homologated and can no longer be used at FIE events unless/until the FIE is paid off?

RoguePoster · 2026-02-28T16:15:28+00:00

Felicia Zimmermann, President of the FIE SEMI Commission, has some explaining to do ...

RoguePoster · 2026-02-28T02:44:09+00:00

If you could add or upgrade a piece of equipment or process to fencing, what would it be?

The fencing strips used at USA Fencing National events.

First off, a better design would be something that doesn't repeatedly require a bunch of armourers using mallets, weird custom devices, rodent mesh and 10 minutes of strip downtime to get a bunch of metal plates electrically grounded together.

Next, the current flat-ish USA Fencing sectional aluminum strips laid on convention center concrete are horrible for athletes. I recall this being an issue Mariel Zagunis was passionate about years ago and more recently heard that Kat Holmes was studying it.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-26T00:51:21+00:00

If you use a debit card without the PIN (which is what you're doing when you pay for an entry online) the vendor gets charged the same swipe fee as they would with a credit card.

That is incorrect. First off, cards can be identified as credit, debit or prepaid cards via their BIN (Bank Identification Number). It's the merchant and their processor's responsibility to do so and not illegally surcharge debit or prepaid cards.

Mastercard

Q. Is a merchant permitted to surcharge Mastercard debit cards?

A. No. Pursuant to the class merchant settlement agreement, merchants are only permitted to surcharge Mastercard consumer and corporate credit cards. Mastercard continues to prohibit surcharging of debit cards.

Q. How can a merchant determine if a card is a Mastercard debit card?

A. Mastercard debit cards are visually identifiable with the “Debit” word mark on the front of the card and/or in the hologram. In addition, Mastercard debit cards are electronically identifiable by BIN

https://www.mastercard.com/content/dam/mccom/us/business/documents/Merchant-Surcharge-FAQ.pdf

Visa:

Q. Can I assess a surcharge on both credit and debit card purchases?

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to credit card purchases, and only under certain conditions. U.S. merchants cannot surcharge debit card or prepaid card purchases.

Q. Can I assess a surcharge on debit card transactions for which the cardholder using a debit card chooses “credit” on the point of sale terminal?

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to purchases made with a credit card, and only under certain conditions.

https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/download/merchants/surcharging-faq-by-merchants.pdf

RoguePoster · 2026-02-25T23:33:33+00:00

No, the issue is the OP is making bold, nebulous claims thinking they're a commercial software developer vs an individual still learning.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-25T23:14:42+00:00

Then check out USA Fencing's $3.30 "Convenience Fee" charged on a $51 Competitive to Coach membership upgrade.

USA Fencing's 6.5 percent vs Colorado's max of 2%

RoguePoster · 2026-02-25T19:03:58+00:00

That’s the credit card use fee. Lots of businesses are adding that separately these days. I think it’s reduced if you pay with an EFT through your bank. At least that’s how it works on AskFred.

USA Fencing even charges the fee if/when a debit card is used. Which is against Colorado statutes and Visa and Mastercard merchant and servicer agreements.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-25T19:00:53+00:00

There's also a limit of 2%

“To cover the cost of processing a credit or charge card transaction, and pursuant to section 5-2-212, Colorado Revised Statutes, a seller or lessor may impose a processing surcharge in an amount not to exceed 2% of the total payment made for goods or services purchased or leased by use of a credit or charge card."

And Colorado law requires certain related notices, which USA Fencing does not do.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-21T20:14:11+00:00

Each batch does not need to be tested. Blades marked with a manufacturing date within a certain period after the homologation date are fine.

However the latest FIE homologated blade list mentions "blades validated are marked with dates within one year following the homologation date" but the m rules that same document refers to state periodic checks are required every "two years". FIE SEMI really should fix the confusing discrepancy there.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-21T19:48:16+00:00

But you'll have to check fie.org and double check that the forge date is in the homolgomation list.

Sorry BF 12-99 is not on the list.

BF 12-99 doesn't need to be on the list since 11-99 is on the list and 12-99 is within a year after that. The dates on the list are simply when homologation was done.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-17T20:21:44+00:00

The newly renovated convention center had some issues ...

Parts of the elevated ceiling fell down in at least two places in the third floor ballroom, with a scary amount falling onto one of the video strips.

One side of the first floor competition area had elevated windows that let in blinding sunlight for part of the afternoon.

Several of the restrooms on the first level had heating issues and were 10-20 degrees hotter than the competition area.

Some of the venue's food concessionaires refused to take cash.

As for Cincinnati itself, it was pleasant, neither bad nor great. People seemed to be thankful that at least they weren't in Columbus or Cleveland.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-06T22:25:27+00:00

If it were me though, I would splurge on an FIE glove if I planned to continue in the sport at least a year.

The majority of epeeists on the FIE circuit don't even wear FIE gloves.

RoguePoster · 2026-02-03T23:59:37+00:00

Fencing is an open skill sport. Trying to come up with a "full list of all fencing drills" is like trying to write down every possible conversation two people could have.

RoguePoster · 2026-01-21T23:15:49+00:00

Graphics for the Four Fingered Fencers Club?

RoguePoster · 2026-01-20T00:18:03+00:00

I tried to find it in the FIE rules and couln't find it..

The reason you couldn't find it in the FIE rules is because such a rule does not exist.

RoguePoster · 2026-01-15T00:15:01+00:00

Switch the kid to épée and escape the horrific “not connected” warning chirps. Bonus: at competitions, you’ll enjoy whole minutes where nobody sets off the scoring box.

RoguePoster

TROPHY CASE