Fencing Safety and Equipment

Overview of Equipment Mask Jacket Plasteron/Underarm Protector Chest Protector Glove Knickers/Breeches and Socks Lame’ Foil/Epee/Sabre Electrical Body Cords

The Mask Face Shield Must pass 12kg punch test, equivalent to 117 Newtons of force to a specific point Bib/Neck Protector Rated to protect a minimum of 350 Newtons of force to a specific point Multi-layered Neck Strap Two points of security to back of head Required for practices and tournaments

The Jacket Neck Multiple kinds of material Dual layered Groin Cotton, Nylon – Most common Rated for 350 Newtons of penetrative resistance Dual layered Outer shell Inner shell Neck Fold to prevent weapon sliding up into neck Groin Extends to groin area Must overlap fencing pants

Plasteron/Underarm Protector Covers dominant side of body and upper arm Worn directly under the jacket Dual Layered 350 Newtons of penetrative resistance Multiple styles of both thickness and coverage area

The Chest Protector Made of a hard plastic shell Male and Female variants Required for Women at both youth and adult level Male variant only required for Youth 10 and below Strongly recommended for new fencers of all ages Worn under the Plasteron/Underarm Protector

The Glove Two Variants of Resistance Must be worn OVER jacket sleeve Two Main Parts Glove Cuff Two Variants of Resistance Foil/Epee – 350 Newton Sabre – 800 Newton Must be worn OVER jacket sleeve No hole present at base of cuff

Fencing Pants and Socks Multi-Layered Rated for 350 Newtons of Penetrative Resistance Must extend below the knees Must come up to belly-button Socks must extend to knees No skin showing on legs

The Lame’ Multi-Layered Rated for 350 Newtons of Penetrative Resistance Similar Neck and Groin coverage as the Jacket Worn over Fencing Jacket Connected into scoring apparatus via electrical cables Two varients Foil – Coverage of Torso only. Acts as primary target area for fencers Sabre – Coverage of entire body above the hips. Acts as primary target area for fencers

The Foil, Epee, and Sabre Made from Maranging Steel Two different levels of quality; FIE and Non-FIE Metal designed to be flexible, durable, and conduct electricity Designed to break flat if damaged. No beveling of broken blades Blunted with no sharp edges Button system on point of the foil and epee

The Body Cord Connects fencer’s Foil, Epee, or Sabre into Scoring apparatus Must be worn underneath jacket Weaved through weapon arm and glove Relatively delicate Copper wire inside prone to crimping and breakage if not taken care of properly Two varients Epee – 3 prongs on either end Foil/Sabre – 3 prong on one end, with 2 prong connecting to blade, and crocodile clip connecting to lame’