How to Fence Safely

1. Always wear full protective clothing: mask, jacket, glove and breeches or strong sport trousers. Your glove must overlap your sleeve and your jacket must overlap your breeches/trousers by at least four inches (10 centimetres). Your mask must be fitted with an elastic retaining band. You must always wear a plastron under your jacket and women and girls must wear chest protectors under their jackets.
2. Always keep your sword pointing down when not fencing.
3. Your sword must be free from rust and sharp edges and must not have any bad kinks.
4. There must be no holes in the bib of your mask and no weakness in the mesh. Likewise your jacket, glove and breeches must be free of tears and holes.

   If you have any doubts about the equipment you are using bring it to the attention of one of the coaches.

5. All bouts must be fenced in a courteous manner. Before you fence, salute your opponent and the referee. Remember to salute again at the end of the fight and to shake hands with your opponent and the referee with your non sword hand.
6. During individual lessons full equipment must be worn. Experienced fencers who are accustomed to taking lessons from their coach may at their own discretion take a lesson without a jacket but must wear a plastron. During fighting type lessons full equipment must be worn.
7. All club members must be members of the British Fencing Association and should have read and abide by the BFA guidelines on fencing safely.
8. Keep it safe and enjoy your fencing!