USAFSE study plan
USAFSE · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Rules of the weapon (foil, epee, sabre)
Map the foil section of the rules article-by-article into your own outline
Distinguish right-of-way concepts (attack, parry, riposte, point-in-line) and state each in one sentence
Define target area and valid/invalid surface for foil from memory
List the priority calls that decide simultaneous actions versus counter-attacks
Your checkpoint
A one-page foil rules summary written without looking at the rulebook, scored against the rulebook and corrected in red
Rules of the weapon (foil, epee, sabre)
Map the epee section article-by-article into your own outline
Explain the absence of right-of-way and how double touches are scored
Identify target area, floor-touch rules, and full-body validity conditions
Compare foil and epee priority logic side by side in a table
Your checkpoint
A foil-vs-epee comparison table covering target, priority, simultaneous actions, and scoring, with at least 10 rows
Rules of the weapon (foil, epee, sabre) & Penalties and cards
Map the sabre section article-by-article into your own outline
State sabre priority rules for attack, parry, and simultaneous actions
Classify the three card types and match each to its stated consequences
List the most common Group 1 and Group 2 offenses in sabre and foil
Your checkpoint
A card-type reference sheet with at least 15 offense-to-card mappings drawn from the rules text
Rules of the weapon (foil, epee, sabre) & Penalties and cards
Reproduce all three weapon rule sets from memory in condensed form
Apply the correct card to 20 written scenario descriptions across weapons
Distinguish offenses that escalate on repetition from those that do not
Explain how cards affect the score and the fencer's status
Your checkpoint
A timed 25-question self-test on weapon rules and cards, scored with every miss annotated by rule article
General rules and regulations & Refereeing mechanics and protocol
Outline the general regulations covering competition format, pools, and direct elimination
Describe referee positioning, movement, and the sequence of commands for each weapon
State the protocol for starting, halting, and resuming a bout
Explain how to handle a fencer's question and when to call the head referee
Your checkpoint
A written script of the full command-and-signal sequence for one bout in each weapon, checked against the rules
General rules and regulations & Refereeing mechanics and protocol
Explain seeding, bye allocation, and tie-breaking procedures in pools and DE
Describe how to record and report scores and how to correct errors
Practice the verbal calls and hand signals for each weapon aloud
Outline the appeal and protest process step by step
Your checkpoint
A recorded 5-minute mock bout call for one weapon, self-reviewed against a checklist of required commands and signals
Equipment and safety & Tournament organization and conduct
List required equipment checks for mask, glove, jacket, and weapon per weapon type
State safety inspection criteria and what disqualifies equipment
Outline tournament setup: strip layout, scoring apparatus checks, and bout order
Describe the referee's role in equipment failure and injury stoppages
Your checkpoint
A pre-bout equipment and strip safety checklist with at least 12 verifiable items
Referee conduct and ethics & General rules and regulations & Penalties and cards
State the core ethical duties of a referee: impartiality, consistency, and confidentiality
Identify conflicts of interest and the correct response to each
Review all prior deliverables and close every gap flagged in earlier self-tests
Complete a full-length timed practice exam under exam conditions
Your checkpoint
A full timed practice exam score plus a one-page list of remaining weak areas with a remediation note for each
Milestones
Week 2: Can state foil and epee priority and scoring rules from memory with no more than two errors
Week 4: Scores at least 80% on the weapon-rules and cards self-test
Week 6: Delivers a complete, correctly sequenced bout call for all three weapons without notes
Week 8: Scores at least 85% on the full timed practice exam and has a written remediation list