USAFSE study guide
USAFSE · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The USA Fencing Referee Seminar and Exam is the entry path into credentialed fencing officiating in the United States. It is aimed at fencers, parents, coaches, and former competitors who want to referee at local, regional, and national events, and at existing referees who need to renew or upgrade. The USAFSE study guide has 7 sections and about 1,853 words.
01Rules of the Weapon: Foil, Epee, Sabre
Each weapon has a distinct target area, scoring convention, and priority structure. Foil : target is the torso plus the groin (covered by the jacket and lamé); touches score only with the point; the lamé defines valid target; a hit off-target stops the action but scores nothing.
327 words, about 2 min02General Rules and Regulations
General rules govern the bout structure, timing, and conduct. Know: bout length (pool bouts are typically to five touches or three minutes; direct-elimination bouts to fifteen touches over three periods with one-minute breaks), the definition of a touch, and the start/stop commands ("En garde," "Prêts," "Allez").
325 words, about 2 min03Penalties and Cards
The card system has three tiers. Yellow : warning for a first Group 1 offense (e.g., starting early, corps-à-corps, leaving the strip without justification, incorrect equipment at the start).
303 words, about 2 min04Refereeing Mechanics and Protocol
Referee mechanics cover positioning, commands, and the reconstruction of the phrase. The referee positions to see both fencers and the scoring lights, gives the commands, and after "Halte" reconstructs the action: who attacked, whether the attack landed, whether there was a parry, and whether the touch was valid.
248 words, about 1 min05Equipment and Safety
Equipment rules cover the mask, jacket, glove, breeches, and weapon, plus the scoring apparatus. Know: masks must be rated for the weapon and inspected; the lamé must be conductive and correctly fitted; the body cord and mask cord (sabre) must be connected; the epee has a tip with a spring and travel tolerance; the foil has a tip with a spring and a barrel; the sabre has a guard and a conductive cuff.
269 words, about 1 min06Tournament Organization and Conduct
Tournament organization covers seeding, pools, direct elimination, and conduct. Know: pool composition (typically 6-7 fencers), the formula for advancing to DE, and seeding by indicators (victories, then indicator, then touches scored).
181 words, under 1 min07Referee Conduct and Ethics
Referee ethics cover impartiality, consistency, and professionalism. The referee must apply the rules uniformly, avoid conflicts of interest, and refrain from coaching or favoring a fencer.
200 words, about 1 min