1)            Sabre Gloves

Because of a number of injuries in both Britain and abroad caused by sabre blades, unbroken as well as broken, penetrating the glove, the FIE is making a new specification glove mandatory for its competitions from 1^st September 2013.  This new glove has to provide a minimum protection of 800 Newtons, using the specified testing regime, on all parts of the hand from the wrist forward except the front of the fingers and half the front of the thumb.

The BF Board, on the recommendation of the Safety Committee, has therefore approved the

introduction of these gloves for fencers using full size sabres as follows:-

–       all BF run competitions (senior, junior, cadet, age-group)  – from 1^st September 2014.

–       Universal UK application – from 1^st September 2016.

When both fencers are using size 0, 2 or 3 blades these gloves will be optional. 

See BF Clothing Rules – appended to the revised BF Safety Guidelines.

The Board believes that this represents a proportionate reaction to the accident risk set against the impact on fencers, clubs, schools and activity centres of having to replace sabre gloves earlier than usual.

The Board will keep these dates under review in the light of any future incidents.

There are no plans at present to extend this requirement to foil or épée.

 

2)            Plastrons when fencing with size 0 –3 blades  all 3 weapons or non-electric foil blades.

Presently fencers using these weapons do not need to wear a plastron if they are wearing an 800 Newton jacket.

From 1^st September 2014 this will no longer be approved and this category will be removed from the Clothing Rules.

The reason for this change is because of some reports of the under-arm seams of 800N jackets coming apart, putting at risk this vulnerable area of the body – the area that a plastron is designed to protect. 

So from 1^st September 2014 the minimum level approved for those fencing with size 0–3 blades or with non-electric foil blades will be:

–                either a 350 Newton jacket plus a 350 Newton plastron

–                or a 350 Newton jacket which includes an integrated 350 Newtons plastron.