Fencing Draft notes:Inspections
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Changes for Inspections
- Was 3.2 in Rules for marshals, now 12.1 Inspections - General
- Moved be with other inspection information.
- Was 3.2.1, now 12.1.1 in General
- Was
- If you are an authorised Fencing Marshal, you can check equipment to make sure it complies with the rules. Information about fencing equipment is in Chapter 5 - Rules for equipment.
- Now
- If you are an authorised Fencing Marshal, you can check equipment to make sure it complies with the rules. Requirements for fencing equipment are in Protective equipment and Weapons and defensive equipment.
- Reason
- Updated links to updated sections.
- Was 3.2.2, now 12.1.2 in General
- Was
- Your job includes:
- making sure each fencer is wearing all of their protective clothing and equipment, and that it is fitted properly, with no skin visible and only incidental gaps between each item.
- Now
- Your job includes:
- making sure each fencer is wearing all of their protective clothing and equipment, and that it is fitted properly, with only incidental gaps between each item.
- Functional change
- No visible skin is not a requirement as incidental gaps are permitted.
- Reason
- No visible skin is not a requirement as incidental gaps are permitted.
- Was 3.2.4, now 12.1.4
- Was
- Some defensive objects are classified as non-standard. You are responsible for deciding if non-standard equipment complies with the rules and can be used on the field.
- Now
- Some defensive objects are classified as non-standard. The Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is responsible for deciding if non-standard equipment complies with the rules and can be used on the field.
- Functional change
- The Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is the one who can decide on non-standard equipment, rather than just any Fencing Marshal
- Reason
- Prevents marshal hunting to allow an item.
- Was 3.2.5 and 3.2.5.a, now 12.1.5 in General
- Was
- You can rule that a piece of equipment does not meet these rules and cannot be used:
- a. If that happens, the equipment can be changed or repaired; then it must be brought back to you so that you can inspect it again (it cannot be taken to another marshal unless you delegate the issue).
- Now
- You can rule that a piece of equipment does not meet these rules and cannot be used. If that happens, the equipment can be changed or repaired, and then it must be brought back to you so that you can inspect it again. It cannot be taken to another marshal unless you delegate the issue.
- Reason
- Merged into single rule for simplicity.
- Was 3.2.6, now 12.1.6 in General
- Was
- If you are not sure about a piece of equipment, you can seek advice from another marshal or the Marshal-in-Charge.
- Now
- If you are not sure about a piece of equipment, you should seek advice from another marshal or the Marshal-in-Charge.
- Reason
- Marshals really should ask advice if they are unsure.
- Was 6.1.1 Inspecting protective equipment - General, now 12.2.1 Overall inspection
- 6.1.1.1-2 moved to be the first two rules of 12.2.1 Overall inspection, and subsequent rules renumbered
- Reason
- Better fit for rules.
- Was 6.1.1.2, now 12.2.1.2 in Inspecting protective equipment
- Was
- You might have to ask the fencer to touch or manipulate their protective equipment to check that it meets the rules and fits properly. You should avoid touching the fencer when carrying out a COVID-safe inspection (see section 6.4).
- Now
- You might have to ask the fencer to touch or manipulate their protective equipment to check that it meets the rules and fits properly.
- Functional change
- COVID requirements removed
- Reason
- COVID requirements removed.
- For notes section
- January 2024 - COVID requirements for inspections have been removed.
- Was 6.1.2.4, now 12.2.1.6 in Overall inspection
- Was
- Check that the fencer is wearing rigid neck protection.
- Now
- Check that the fencer is wearing rigid neck protection. You must inspect the neck protection on the fencer with the mask off to ensure it sits properly and covers the required areas.
- Functional change
- Neck protection must be inspected with helm off to ensure coverage requirements
- Reason
- General inspection practice is to lift up the hood to see if a gorget is being worn. An incident at Festival had this, without realising that the gorget was too low and not safely protecting the fencer's throat. This change would address this.
- For notes section
- January 2024 - Following an incident where a low gorget was obscured by a hood, neck protection must be inspected with the mask/helm off to ensure that it sits properly and covers the required areas.
- Was 6.1.3.4, now 12.2.2.4
- Was
- Look inside the mask or helm to check that it has no substantial protrusions, and that there is enough padding or a proper suspension to prevent it from hitting the fencer's head.
- Now
- Look inside the mask or helm to check that it has no substantial protrusions, such as sharp wire coming loose, and that there is enough padding or a proper suspension to prevent it from hitting the fencer's head.
- Functional change
- None
- Reason
- Clarification of substantial protrusions
- Was 6.1.4, now 12.2.3.2 in Inspecting gloves
- Was
- Note: Stitches in sewn leather can cause small gaps at the seams. These should be acceptable if there is no sign of the seam coming apart.
- Now
- Note: Stitches in sewn leather can cause small gaps at the seams. These should be acceptable if there is no sign of the seam failing during combat.
- Functional change
- Gloves can have small gaps at the seams
- Reason
- Society rules permit incidental gaps, so it's only really a problem if it's going to fall apart while fighting
- Was a note for 6.2.2, now 12.3.2.1-2 in Inspecting rubber band guns
- Was
- Note: rubber band guns must be inspected in a place that is out of range of any unarmoured participants or spectators. The people conducting the inspection (the marshal and the combatant) must wear full face protection during the inspection.
- Now
- 1. Rubber band guns must be inspected in a place that is out of range of any unarmoured participants or spectators.
- 2. The people conducting the inspection (the marshal and the combatant) must wear full face protection during the inspection.
- Subsequent rules have been renumbered
- Reason
- They are requirements.
- 12.3.2.3 in Insepcting rubber band guns
- Insert new rule
- It is recommended, but not required, that the operator is shot (wearing full protection) by their own weapon – if you are not comfortable being hit by something, maybe you shouldn't be hitting other people with it!
- Subsequent rules renumbered
- Functional change
- None, it's optional.
- Reason
- Formalising common practice.
- Was 3.2.3.1-2 now 12.3.3.1-2 in Inspecting spears
- References relating to metal headed spears and their requirements have been removed.
- For notes
- January 2024 - Metal headed spears were removed from use in Society Fencing in December 2021.
- 12.3.3.1.b in Inspecting spears
- Insert new rule
- A marshal should not use significant force to make a spear head bend; you should not need more pressure than can be comfortably applied by the wrist. If in doubt and where possible, a second marshal should be used to judge the flexibility of the spear head.
- Functional change
- Limit placed on the amount of pressure than can be applied to bend a spear head to test flexibility.
- Reason
- Most objects can be subject to significant tensile strength and many can return to their original shape within 3 seconds. As written, and as evidenced by some newer spear head designs, a marshal can apply a significant tensile load to a spear head (up to and including significant pressure from a hip whole body movement) to make a spear head "pass". This is unacceptable and unsafe. This is a stop-gap solution until a broader Society flex-test can be developed (underway).
- For notes
- January 2024 - You shouldn't need to apply more pressure than can be comfortably applied by the wrist when flex testing spear heads.
- Was 6.3.3, now 12.4.3 in Inspecting defensive objects
- Was
- Check any non-standard offensive parts.
- Now
- Check any non-standard parts. Remember that the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is responsible for approving non-standard defensive objects.
- Functional change
- Non-standard isn't limited to offensive parts. Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is responsible for approving non-standard defensive object.
- Reason
- Non-standard isn't limited to offensive parts, and a reminder that the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is now responsible for approving non-standard defensive objects.
- For notes
- January 2024- A reminder that the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge is now responsible for approving non-standard defensive objects.