RIFAC : Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club

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Fencing is a fast, action sport.

First-time observers often watch the referee to determine points awarded and rationale. Experienced directors and audience members rely less on watching the red and green flashing lights, and more on careful observation of each fencer's actions toward a point.

A match between two fencer's is called a 'bout.' There are two types of bouts fenced at competitions: 'pool' bouts and 'direct elimination' (DE) bouts.

Pool bouts are fenced to 5 points, or until 3 minutes of fencing time have elapsed. DE bouts are generally fenced until 15 touches are scored, or until time has expired. The format for DE bouts is three 3-minute periods with a 1-minute break between periods. However, the bout ends when a fencer earns 15 points, even if it is within the first period. DE bouts for fencers in Youth 12 and Youth 10 events use the 'best-two-out-three 5-touch bout format'; the first fencer to win two 5-touch bouts is the victor. For veteran events, age 40 or older, DE bouts finish when one fencer reaches 10 points.

A fencing tournament is generally divided into two phases: a pool round and DE bouts.

In the pool round, all the fencers entered in the competition are separated into groups called 'pools' of 6 or 7. Within the pool, each fencer faces every other fencer once for one 5-touch bout.

Following the pool round, the results are tabulated and fencers are ranked from 1st place down to the last place fencer. Using this ranking, the athletes are added to the DE table, a ladder that pairs the top fencer against the bottom. Bout by bout, half the field is eliminated each round, until one fencer stands victorious.

During open fencing at RIFAC's Club Nights, fencing bouts are played to 5 points without observing time limits. Club members move from strip to strip, bouting with fencers in all age groups and skill levels.