Fencing Tactics – The Suboptimal Referee

Fencing Tactics – The Suboptimal Referee

Staying a referee in a fencing tournament is a demanding work. It needs encyclopaedic know-how of the principles, an knowing of how all those regulations are currently interpreted nationally and internationally, a extensive grounding in the tactics of the weapon, superior and swift judgment, and endurance below strain. And it must be demanding mainly because great refereeing will make very good fencing. The referees trained and certified at the middle and senior stages by the Usa Fencing’s Fencing Officials Commission are outstanding. Nevertheless, not all referees satisfy this common, with results that can be expensive for the fencer who can not adjust his or her ways to poor overall performance on the strip.

If we are truthful, we can all don’t forget occasions when we had to fence with a referee who was (a) incompetent, (b) selectively utilized the procedures to the gain of teammates, (c) was intimidated by the other fencer or mentor or mum or dad, or (d) was clearly calling the action in favor of his or her mates, staff mates, or pupils. It is effortless to blame the referee. But that is not very productive and does not score touches for you. So what really should our system be when we get that strange very little emotion that anything is improper?

(1) View each bout in your pool that you are not fencing in. Notice the other pool fencers, and look at the referee’s conduct, precisely in the interpretation of the action and the application of the regulations. Is the referee contacting appropriate of way in favor of something that moves, or the precise assault, is the very first mild the winner, etcetera.? Does every single fencer get the similar treatment method? You need to not be amazed heading into your bout.

(2) Remember that being a referee is a tough activity, that the referee is under considerable stress, and that he or she has only a person opportunity to get it suitable on just about every phone. They will be wrong occasionally, even the incredibly finest, while the really greatest are quite, very excellent. A one mistake is not a motive to get upset shrug it off, and remain on prepare. Do not let a one error price tag you your focus.

(3) Seem at your personal fencing initial in your assessment between halt and fence. Why is the referee observing some thing unique than you imagine you are accomplishing? You have an obligation to tell the referee a tale that he or she can recognize: apparent, effectively-shaped parries, smooth assaults that start off with a detectable extension, blades at the accurate angle and correct spot on the blade for a beat or parry, and many others. The most very likely difficulty is that you are not telling your tale.

(4) Is the referee consistent? If so, you need to have to fence the referee. If the referee persistently phone calls a blade that you parry on your bell as the defeat assault, either make positive the remise can’t get by way of with a brute opposition or tac-au-tac parry or end parrying. When the referee proves that he or she is not seeing your action, it is time to straight away adjust what you are doing.

(5) Request politely. You can talk to the referee to reconstruct the action and how he or she noticed it. Do not argue with what the referee suggests process it and use it. Do not count on this will alter the simply call the referee just made, but it may perhaps influence how the up coming 1 gets termed. The referee might just repeat the simply call and the hand signals, or the nice referee may well give you a hint. If you get a hint (“he lunged as you started to move forward, and then you hand came out”), act on it.

The condition is a little bit unique if the referee is not applying the procedures. For illustration, if the referee allows an opponent to transform weapons 5 situations, to locate 1 that functions, with no playing cards awarded (five failed weapons equals one particular Yellow and 4 Red cards), the fencer have to ask politely that the penalty principles be enforced. That will cease all but the most blatant cheating by a dishonest or incompetent referee. Make guaranteed you know the principles much better than the referee does, in particular in regard to what you can enchantment, and that you can cite the paragraph numbers in the current edition of the rule guide.

(6) If the referee is inconsistent in calling the actions or if you see every two light hit likely for the opponent, you have one particular study course of motion. Improve your strategies, manage length and time, and make each individual hit a 1 gentle hit in your favor.

What you do not want to do is come back and notify your coach that you have been robbed. Try to remember, you are dependable for your fencing, and that contains factoring in the high quality and character of the officiating as a central factor in picking out your practices.