Fencing Draft notes:Protective Equipment

Was 2.8 Wearing protective equipment, now 8 Protective equipment

Intro has been incorporated into 8.1 General requirements

Was

This section describes the protective clothing and other equipment that you must wear for combat. Your equipment must be designed and worn so that there are no gaps over vital body areas, and no more than incidental gaps over other parts of your body. These are the minimum standards for fencing clothing and equipment. You can wear additional equipment, including appropriate period clothing like hoop skirts or gauntlets with stiffened cuffs, but you need to make sure that you are still able to feel and call "good" blows.

Now

This section describes the protective clothing and other equipment that you must wear for combat.

8.1 General requirements

1. Your armour is to be designed and worn so that no gaps form over vital body areas when you assumes any reasonable position, and no more than incidental gaps on other areas.

a. If there is a small gap in coverage for areas required to be covered by abrasion-resistant material, such as a loose seam on a glove, then the item is still considered safe and legal.

b. A "Hold!" should not be called for incidental gapping in abrasion resistant armour, such as a gap between glove and sleeve, or a sock slipping down during a lunge.

2. These are the minimum standards for fencing clothing and equipment. You can wear additional equipment, including appropriate period clothing like hoop skirts, or additional protective equipment such as a chest protector for comfort, but you need to make sure that you are still able to feel and call "good" blows.

Functional change

None

Reason

Explanatory language, and clearer example, making clear that comfort based safety equipment is legal

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Was 2.8.1.1 in General requirements, now 8.2.1 in Drills

Was

Fencing practice sessions can also include drills and other classes that do not involve fighting. During sword or dagger drills with an opponent, you must wear eye protection, such as spectacles, sunglasses, safety glasses or a fencing mask or helm.

Now

During sword or dagger drills with an opponent, you must wear eye protection, such as a fencing mask, helm or safety glasses. Spectacles and sunglasses are not considered eye protection. Eye protection which is not a fencing mask or helm must be rated to at least AS/NZS 1337, and the lens component must be part of the body of the protection (i.e., no separate lenses which can pop out).

Functional change

Spectacles and sunglasses are not considered eye protection. Eye protection must meet AS/NZS standards.

Reason

There is significant literature noting that spectacles, sunglasses and other equivalent eyewear do not provide protection to the wearer. If there is a concern of eye injury, then this provides appropriate protective standards.

For notes

June 2023 - Eye protection which is not a fencing mask or helm must be rated to at least AS/NZS 1337, and the lens component must be integral to the body of the protection (i.e., no separate lenses which can pop out).

Was 2.8.1 in General requirements, now 8.2.2 in Drills

Was

You must wear full face protection for weapons drills using a spear.

Now

You must wear full face protection for weapons drills against an opponent using a spear.

Functional change

You must wear full face protection if you are drilling against an opponent who has a spear, rather than if you are using one yourself

Reason

Facing the spear is the risky part, not using it.

For notes section

June 2023 - You must wear full face protection when your opponent has a spear during drills.

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Was 2.8.1.3, now 8.3

Moved what was section 5.1 in Rules for equipment to be 8.3 in Protective equipment

Reason

Better loaction for it with the other protective equipment information.

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Was a bullet point of 5.1.2 in Rules for equipment, now 8.3.2 in Protective equipment

Was

...Example of rigid material that may comply with the standard are:

• 0.8mm stainless steel or 1mm mild steel
• 1.6mm aluminium, copper or brass
• One layer of hardened heavy leather (225g/8oz; 4mm).

Now

...Examples of rigid material that may comply with the standard are:

• 0.8mm stainless steel or 1mm mild steel
• 1.6mm aluminium, copper or brass
• One layer of hardened heavy leather (8oz; 3.2mm).

Functional change

Heavy leather may be lighter than previously listed

Reason

The handbook currently has two conflicting definitions of heavy leather. This standardises and aligns with Society rules at 3.2mm. 8oz is a measure of thickness of leather, not an imperial weight that needed to be converted to metric.

For notes section

April 2023 - The handbook previously had two contradicting definitions of 8oz heavy leather. We have settled on 3.2mm for 8oz leather to be consistent with Society rules.

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Was 2.8.2.2.a, now 8.4.2.a in Head

Was

Modern fencing masks meet this requirement, but you might need additional padding if the mask's padding degrades as it gets older.

Now

Modern fencing masks meet this requirement, but you might need additional padding if the mask's padding degrades as it gets older. Whether your padding is suitable will be checked by a Marshal during inspections.

Functional change

None

Reason

Clarifies if and when this will be checked and is reiterated in the inspection procedures.

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Was 2.8.2.4.a and b, now 8.4.4 in Head

Was

a. For combat involving rubber band guns, we recommend you use resilient padding or rigid material to protect the back of your head.

b. You must wear rigid material to protect the back your head in Cut and Thrust fencing.

Now

a)removed and b now 8.4.5

Functional change

None, a. was a recommendation

Reason

a. Unnecessary and not in line with risk or Society standards. Note that this is not currently a requirement.

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Was 2.8.3.1-2, now 8.5.1-2

Was

1. You must wear a gorget (collar) made from rigid material to protect your entire neck and throat. This should be backed by resilient padding or penetration-resistant material.

2. You must also protect your cervical vertebrae with rigid material. This might be a combination of a gorget, helm or hood insert.

Now

You must wear a gorget (collar) made from rigid material to protect your entire neck and throat. This should be backed by resilient padding or penetration-resistant material. Figure 2 shows the area which must be protected.

2.8.2 has been removed and replaced by:

Neck protection with a gap of less than 9mm (for example, where the ends of two plates meet) meets this standard, so long as the gap is not within the front or rear 90 degree arc.

Functional change

Clarifies areas that must be covered by rigid material, and what sized gaps may be allowed.

Reason

Updates rules to remain practical and more in line with Society requirements, without reducing safety from existing practice.

The deleted section of this rule has not been enforced since a variation was introduced at least prior to 2008, as the understanding of "cervical verterbrae" differs from what is strictly written. As currently written, gorgets must protect the entire cervical column to the base of the skull, which no known gorgets do so (though gorget combined with rigid back of head protection often does so). This revised rule is equivalent to what fencers in Lochac are currently doing already, and what is accepted international practice. This issue has been raised with SRM on two occasions with no response; I expect because it would require a rapid change, such as what we are proposing here. There is no loss in safety by having a small gap, and Lochac rules are already stricter than Society level rules. Fencing blunts will not be able to penetrate this gap; this clarifies expectations around incidental gaps.

For notes section

June 2023 - Image added to clarify what parts of the neck must be protected by rigid material, and what sized gaps may be allowed.

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Was 2.8.4.2, now 8.6.2 in Torso

Was

Breast protection, such as a plastron or extra padding, is strongly recommended.

Now

Breast protection, such as a plastron or extra padding, is encouraged, but not required.

Functional change

None

Reason

Clarifying and explicitly stating that it's not required.

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8.7.3 in Legs, feet and arms

Insert new rule

3. Everyone on the field, including combatants and non-combatants such as marshals, must wear footwear with a leather sole or equivalent.

1. Period-style footwear is strongly encouraged.

2. Footwear with soles that provide good traction is strongly recommended.

Functional change

Everyone on the field must wear footwear with a leather sole.

Reason

To prevent punctures and resulting infection.

For notes section

June 2023 - Footwear with a leather sole or equivalent (such as modern shoe soles) is required.

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Was 2.8.7.3, now 8.9.3

Was

You take responsibility for your own safety on the field, based on any advice from your doctor or health professional. You can ask a marshal for advice, but you will be the best expert for determining your safety.

Now

You take responsibility for your own safety on the field, based on any advice from your doctor or health professional.

Functional change

None

Reason

Marshals don't have any additional skills that make them good judges of medical requirements

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Added 8.10 Protective identifiers

Captures what was 2.5.3.2 in Rules for Fencers Single combat and melee, and 1.5.5 in Youth activities.