Foil Mask Rules for the 2012-2013 Fencing Season (USA)

Foil Mask with Conductive Bib

What is the target area in foil for the upcoming fencing season? Will I need to purchase a mask with the foil bib as target for my events?

At the FIE level the rule is already in place that a portion of the foil bib is now part of the target area. During the upcoming USA Fencing season, which starts on August 1, 2012 that rule will be applied to ALL national, regional, and local level competitions.

Here is our brief guide to Foil: What’s Target? for 2012-2013.

In the 2011-2012 season, USA Fencing started the transition to the international ruling on the expanded target in foil.  All National events which were Team Selection events required the conductive bib for foil fencing. As of August 1, 2012 the ruling expands to cover every foil tournament held under USA Fencing rules.

Here’s our new checklist of the events:

Foil Bib as Target is required in these events

Events where the Foil Mask with Conductive Bib is still Required:

• Foil Bib as Target is required in these events

  Division I North American Cups (NAC)

• Cadet North American Cups (NAC)
• Junior North American Cups (NAC)
• Wheelchair North American Cups (NAC)
• Vet 50 North American Cups (NAC)
• Vet 60 North American Cups (NAC)
• Vet 70 North American Cups (NAC)
• Junior Olympics
• Division I National Championships
• Wheelchair National Championships
• Vet 50/60/70 National Championships

Events where the Foil Mask with Conductive Bib is NOW Required:

• NCAA Foil events in the 2011-2012 Season.
• Any Local (Divisional) event, including JO and National qualification events
• Super Youth Circuit (SYC) events
• Regional Youth Circuit (SYC) events
• Regional Open Circuit (ROC) events
• Division IA NACs or National Championships
• Division II NACs or National Championships
• Division III NACs or National Championships
• Vet Combined NACs
• Vet 40 National Championships
• Y10 / Y12 / Y14 NACs or National Championships
• Any Team Events

While you could use this mask last year in some foil events, it is now strictly an epee (or non-electric practice) mask.

Events at which the Foil Bib as Target is NOT required:

• None