All base captains and competition referees must pass the rules exam. Prospective captains must pass the exam as a prerequisite to the admission of their squadron.

Need GIFs? Try our Visual Scoring Guide

Need the exact full rules manual? Read it in our reffing section.

THE RULES AT A GLANCE (2023)

The 2023 rules implement Dyad Saber, make Ren Saber more useable, streamline the overall document, and ennumerate all rules for easier reference.

SCORING

Direct contacts (worth 1 to 3 pts)

  • First contact: 1 point

  • Clean or late contact: 2 points

  • Headshot: 2 points

  • Counterattack: 3 points

Indirect contacts

  • Always 1 pt

Other scoring situations

  • Simultaneous: 0 pts

  • Messy/ambiguous exchange: 0 pts

  • Out of bounds: 2 pts

  • Headshot Priority & General Priority: 1 pt

  • Concession: 1 pt

TARGET

  • Anywhere on the fencer’s body, including head, legs, fingers, toes, clothing or armor, and the hilt of their weapon…

  • EXCEPTION: the groin, regardless of gender or whether a cup is worn (is a cardable violation)

ILLEGAL MOVEMENTS & POSITIONS

  • No point-attacks (ie thrusts)

  • No Extended Point Positions (ie point-in-line)

  • Incidental physical contact only

  • Attacking with enough force to break, crack, dent, or kink your blade is a violation.

  • No full sweeps to the knees or below

  • No upward swings to anywhere below the waist

STANDARD FIGHT TIMES

  • Matchpoint 8: 2m0s

  • Matchpoint 10: 2m15s

  • Matchpoint 12: 2m30s

EQUIPMENT

  • Sabers: See image below

  • Adults:

    • Fencing mask or equivalent

    • Lacrosse, hockey, or equivalent gloves

    • Arm and/or elbow guards

    • Lightspeed blade

  • Cadets (age 13-15)

    • All of the above

    • Plus chest & shoulder protection

REN SABER

  • The quillons, as well as the entirety of the guard, are considered inert, and therefore can be used to block attacks.

  • Indirect attacks that land on target over the quillons are considered blocked (usually as a result of the flexibility of the Lightspeed blade) and therefore do not score, are inert, and can be followed up with a counterattack by the defender for 3 points.

DYAD SABER

Please note that Dyad Saber regulations are currently decided at the regional level and may vary depending on the tournament (talk to your regional officer).

  • One primary saber and one parrying saber may be equipped simultaneously.

  • Only the primary saber may be used to attack.

  • The parrying saber may be used to block attacks and beat the opponent’s blade only.

WEAPON REGULATIONS

Please note that Dyad Saber regulations are currently being enforced at the regional level (talk to your regional officer), and Tano Saber is still not currently legal in sanctioned competition.

NOVICE MODIFICATIONS

To ensure that Lightspeed Saber is as accessible as possible, special novice restrictions may be in place for certain tournament levels for at least some portion of the tournament. Novice modifications usually apply to novice and open tournaments. See below:

  • No pommeling— The dominant hand gripping the weapon may not occupy any space greater than 6.5” below the top of the emitter. Two-handed grips are legal and the off-hand may grip below this level. (Your saber will be marked with tape to denote where your limit is).

  • No excessive sweeping— No attack may strike the ground by virtue of its momentum or power. “Skipping attacks” off the ground intended to strike the side of the shoe do not fall under this rule and are legal to execute. Otherwise, tapping the floor, touching the floor as part of a defensive maneuver, or any other non-attack reason to touch the saber to the ground is legal.

  • Attacks should not chamber or “wind up” unnecessarily.

  • Taunting— physical or verbal— is not allowed. This includes excessive screaming and shouting.