Tournament - Longsword - Rules |
Hits – Scoring – Judgement |
Registering hits & end of fighting situation
The main referees will always end the fight by whistleblow (or alternatively by calling "stopp!"), if they:
- see an effective hit (see below).
- see a second light strike by the same fighter (2 x advantage).
- detect a situation, which could be a threat for the participant(s) (e.g. loose garment etc.).
- spot a situation, which will presumably lead to an unclear scoring (e.g. deadlocked wrestling, etc.).
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Effective hit = 1 point
An effective hit means to deliver a strike that would end a "real" fight. This could be either the dead of one of the fighters or a severe damage against limbs which would lead to a loss of the particular limb or prevent further combat. Effective hits could be:
- explicit and profound thrust to body or head
- distinct pushed/pulled blow (strong effective hits) against head or torso
- strong, specifically explicit blows against arms or legs ("loss of a limb").
- lever / wrestling / throw
- surrender of one of the participants (by calling "stopp!", tapping out or raising the hand above the head .
- stepping outside of the arena with one or both feet.
- loss of one of the fighter's weapons.
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Advantage
An advantage is a light strike which might lead to an injury of the fighter, but wouldn't inevitably or necessarily stop the fight. The referee indicates an advantage by calling colour and andvantage. This is especially important by strikes against the opponent's hands followed by further action (e.g. Krumphau (crooked- or arc-hew) etc.). The fight will continue and shall not be interrupted by the fighters! Once a fighter scored an advantage, he or she has the chance to score a full point by dealing another light strike or advantage. It the opponent is also able to deal a light strike, the fight will continue until one of the participants can strike another light blow.
Advantages / Light strikes are:
- Zecken (pulling, withdrawing) against body or hands
- very weak effective hits against the head (e.g a light Scheitelhau (parting- or scalp-hew) with the short blade after a weakless doubling etc.)
- light slices against the body / torso without striking out or having a great cutting length (e.g. in a wrestling situation)
- on-handed hits, although the resulting impact is left at the referee's discretion
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Prohibited
At any rate, prohibited attacks will lead to a warning. However, if one of the main referees decides that one of the fighters acted on purpose, he can disqualify the respective fighter and expel him from the tournament.
Prohibited are:
- uncontrolled hard or brutal strikes / attacks with full force! These strikes will be interprated either as negligence or intent aiming to actually injure the opponent
- attacks with the cross-guard
- attacks in which the hilt is used as a blunt weapon (e.g. Donnerschlag/Mordhau etc.)
- attacks in half-sword! Due to the support of the second hand, extremely strong thrusts can occur.
- scored hits that happen when the opponent doesn't hold his weapon in his hand anymore
- hits with the pommel
- attacks which occur after a clear whistleblow / "stopp" or which are performed against an opponent on the ground
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double hits
Will be counted:
- simultaneous (or happening in quick succession) effective hits
- simultaneous hits (either light ones, or a light one and a hard one) when both fighters are in advantage
- simultaneously leaving the arena.
- simultaneous loss of weapons.
Will not be counted:
- when the first hit had made the second one impossible (e.g. a clear stike on the main hand while the opponent's sword is in a forward acceleration)
. first hit wins
- if an advantage resp. light strike is faced with an effective hit.
. effective hit wins
Double hits will be signalised with yellow flags attached to the referee's desk and which are visible for all referees and fighters. In case of a double hit, one of the flags will hang down in front of the desk.
Group stage:
If 3 double hits are scored in one fight, or if a double hit is scored at all when the score is 2:2, the fight will end in a tie. Both fighters will not get a point!
Final round:
After the third double hit, the next effective hit / 2 advantages will count as the final scoring point. The current score is irrelevant.
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Won fights resp. decisions
A participant will win the fight if:
- he or she reaches his maximum of points appointed for the particular lap.
- the opponent is disqualified.
- the opponent turns down the fight
Each fights have a different maximum of points, dependent on the particular round (3 / 4 / 5).
Disqualification and exclusion from tournament
The main referees will issue a caution discretionary if:
- ne of the aforementioned prohibited actions are carried out.
- one breaks the referee's order
- one repeatedly disputes over the orders or decisions of the referees
The following will lead to an immediate disqualification resp. exclusion from tournament:
- 3 issued cautions from the main referees (during the whole tournament).
- a perceivable deliberate and intended threat of the opponent, which is identified by both main referees.
- obviously recognisable attacks on purpose against an opponent lying on the floor, especially when they happen after the whistleblow / "stopp" out of an intentional wish to hurt the opponent or out of rage / revengefulness
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Start and end of contest |
Start:
- The fighters (equipped with a blue and a red sash) are facing each other in wide measure = 2 steps of fighting distance.
- The contest starts with the call of "Fight" or a whistleblow of the first main referee.
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End/Stop:
- calling "Stopp" by one of the referees or a whistleblow.
- one of the contestants interrupts the fight.
- one of the contestants leaves the arena with one or both feet or he/she loses the weapon.
- the achievement of the maximum points per fight
- Above this, in the preliminary rounds, the maximal duration of each fight is 5 minutes, after which the main referee will blow the whistle. Winner is the contestant with points win. In case of a tie, the score is even.
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Arena |
| There will be two square arenas with the size of 8x8m, which will be marked with tape on the floor.
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Referees |
There are 6 referees in each contest: 2 main referees (one of them will serve as a judge) and 4 line referees (2 per fighter)
The judge (recognizable by his stick) will always have the last say in every decision. The second main referee will "mirror" the judge. Both of the main referees will present the contest, measure the time and show the score.
The 4 line referees observe the fightes. Each 2 of them observe their respective fighter and judge if he/she strikes a hit, how the hit is delivered and whether he/she was hit. All line refrees will get bannerets in the same colour as their respective fighter and will use it to show the intensity and effect of a strike (see below): banneret faces upwards = one point, banneret faces to the side = half point, banneret faces downwards = no point.
Acting against the orders of the referees will lead to issuing a caution.
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Course of the Tournament |
Group Stage
The contestants will be diveded into groups in which fighters from the same fencing school / club will be distributed among different groups, if possible.
In the groups, each contestant will fight against the other group members. Each gained fight will be scored with one point in the table.
The ranks of the groups will be sorted as following:
1. points in the table
2. strike to counterstrike ratio
3. lowest number of double hits
4. in case of a tie between groups, there will be fought a fight for 1 point
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Final Round
In the final round, the following points can be achieved:
- from quarter finals on, 4 points per fighter
- in the finals, 5 points per fighter
The final matches will be fought according to ranks of the groups (e.g. 1st of group A against 3rd of group B,...)
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Necessary Equipment |
Required for participation are the following items:
- Fechtfeder (fighting feather, feather sword) or longsword with a flexible blade and rounded and/or spatulated tip, optionally covered with a leather sleeve
- fencing mask (1600N)
- head/back of the head protection (fully covering the head to the side and back)
- throat protector
- gambeson or fencing jacket (to be closed at the side or ovelapping)
- appropriate gloves
- groin protection for men
- elbow and forearm protectors
- shin and knee protectors
Recommended are futhermore:
- hip protectors (e.g. a padded skirt)
- thigh protectors
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Some finals words
We do neither use electronic equipment nor a video scoring system, and we refrain from using it. Therefore, each decision is based on humand perceptions and the evaluation fo the referees. That means, that it is not possible to avoid occasional incorrect decisions or situations which are hard to adjudicate upon.
The main referees are subject ot a high pressure. They always have the final say and have to decide within a few seconds on every situation, even if they are arguable or controversial. However, it is in every one's interest to arrive uninterruptedly at a conclusion to ensure a fluid and interesting tournament.
Generally, we see the pleasure in fencing, sportmanship and the safety of all participants as more important than unconditional realism or quarrel at all costs. Above all, we want to enjoy our common hobby and would like to fight out an exiting and interesting tournament.
Let's have a great tournament – May the best one win!
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