Referee Exam - Epee
Question 1.
How are the shim gauges used to test the epee point? A. Insert the 1.5mm gauge, making sure it will fit; insert the 0.5mm gauge and
depress the point, making sure it registers a touch. B. Insert the 1.5mm gauge, making sure it will fit; insert the 0.5mm gauge and
depress the point, making sure it will not allow the registering of a touch. C. Make sure the 1.5mm gauge does not fit; insert the
0.5mm gauge and depress the point, making sure it will not allow the registering of a touch.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). In epee, the large shim should fit between the tip and the barrel, and insertion of the small shim before depressing the point should not register
a touch on the scoring apparatus. Relevant Rule(s): t.68.3, m.19.4.a-b
Question 2.
May an epee be held by the pommel? A. Yes, always. B. Yes, but only if it is a French grip and not an orthopedic grip C. No.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). A fencer may hold a non-orthopedic/French grip foil by the pommel, provided that the manner of holding does not allow the weapon to be
transformed into a throwing weapon. Relevant Rule(s): t.21.2-4, m.2, m.3, m.4, m.6
Question 3.
What should the referee check about the inside of an epee bell guard? A. The two epee wires must be soldered to the socket; there
must be a security device for the body cord. B. The two epee wires must be contained in a single piece of insulated sheath and
covered by a cushion (padding); there must be a security device for the body cord. C. The two epee wires must be individually
covered with insulated sheaths and covered by a cushion (padding) sufficiently wide to pro-tect the electric wires from the fencer's
fingers; there may be no covering (e.g., tape) on an orthopedic handle that could hide wires or switches; there must be a security
device for the body cord; the connections must be so arranged so that it is impossible for the fencer to break or make contact with the
wires while fencing.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). Every bout the referee needs to look in the guard and under the epee sized guard pad to see that each wire has its own insulation. There is NO
TAPING wires to the guard (clear tape is ok - you need to be able to see the wire) and no taping or insulating the wires together. The referee must inspect
the entirety of the wires down to the bell guard. Ensure that the weapon has a body cord securing device (fastener/ bail) pre-sent and functions. Relevant
Rule(s): m.31.5-7, m.4
Question 4.
What is the maximum bend allowed in the epee blade? A. None, the blade must be perfectly straight. B. Less than 4 centimeters,
located near the center of the blade. C. Less than 1 centimeter, located near the center of the blade.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). The maximum bend allowed is less than one centimeter, located near the center of the blade and in one direction (no s-curves) on the vertical
plane. Relevant Rule(s): m.16.2
Question 5.
How may the epee blade be bent? A. Up or down. B. No bend is allowed. C. Down only.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The maximum bend allowed is less than one centimeter, located near the center of the blade and in one direction (no s-curves) on the vertical
plane. Relevant Rule(s): m.16.2
1/7
, Question 6.
The spring in an epee point must push back a test weight of how many grams? A. 500 ±2 grams B. 750 ±3 grams C. 1000 ±4 grams
ANSWER
Answer: (B). The rules say that the weight "must be lifted by the spring of the point." A referee should not depress a tip and place the weight on it, that does
not test the pressure spring. Relevant Rule(s): m.19.2, m.19.3
Question 7.
The Referee observes a small hole in the conductive strip while the bout is in progress. What should the Referee do? A. Wait until a
normal halt and then have the hole repaired. B. Wait until the bout is complete and then have the hole repaired. C. Call "Halt!" and
have the hole repaired.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). Safety is the highest priority for the fencers. Calling a halt to fix something that is a trip hazard is important. Relevant Rule(s): t.69
Question 8.
Both fencers attack simultaneously, but the light on the scoring machine shows that only Fencer X has been hit. Fencer X
immediately presents their weapon for testing to the referee. While performing the tests, the referee notes that Fencer X's body cord
is unplugged in the back where it connects to the reel cord, and the retention device has broken off. What should the Referee do? A.
Award Fencer Y's touch. B. Annul Fencer Y's touch. Have the retention device repaired or replaced before commencing. C. Plug the
body cord back into the reel and continue the test.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). The referee must check prior to the bout that there is a functioning retaining device for the body cord to the reel. Since the retaining device is
the tournament's responsibility and it was broken or absent, the touch is annulled. Relevant Rule(s): t.68.3f
Question 9.
Fencer X presents a weapon for inspection that has both wires inside the bell twisted together, and insulated in a single sheath of
spaghetti tubing. The Referee should: A. Confiscate the weapon. Fencer X receives a YELLOW CARD. B. Allow the fencer to use the
weapon if it passes shim, weight, and bell guard tests. C. Allow the fencer time to pull the wires out so they may be inspected
properly.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The referee inspects the wires in the guard every bout. Each wire must have its own insulation /spaghetti tubing that is pre-sent from the guard
to the socket. The fencer with the nonconforming weapon is issued a group 1 warning (for the bout). Relevant Rule(s): m.5.2d, m31.7
Question 10.
No preliminary weapons checks have been performed at the competition. In the first bout in a pool, Fencer X presents a weapon with
a French grip that is bent at such an angle so that the end of the handle protrudes 3 cm beyond the bell guard. What should the
Referee do? A. Confiscate the weapon, and have it checked by the experts. If the experts determine the weapon is illegal, Fencer X
receives a YELLOW CARD. B. Confiscate the weapon, and have it checked by the experts. If the experts determine the weapon is
illegal, Fencer X receives a RED CARD. C. Give a visual inspection of the weapon on the strip. If the bend appears to be legal, allow
Fencer X to use weapon.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The referee inspects the wires in the guard every bout. Each wire must have its own insulation/ spaghetti tubing that is present from the guard
to the socket. The fencer with the nonconforming weapon is issued a group 1 warning (for the bout). Relevant Rule(s): m.9.1-2, m.17
2/7
Question 1.
How are the shim gauges used to test the epee point? A. Insert the 1.5mm gauge, making sure it will fit; insert the 0.5mm gauge and
depress the point, making sure it registers a touch. B. Insert the 1.5mm gauge, making sure it will fit; insert the 0.5mm gauge and
depress the point, making sure it will not allow the registering of a touch. C. Make sure the 1.5mm gauge does not fit; insert the
0.5mm gauge and depress the point, making sure it will not allow the registering of a touch.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). In epee, the large shim should fit between the tip and the barrel, and insertion of the small shim before depressing the point should not register
a touch on the scoring apparatus. Relevant Rule(s): t.68.3, m.19.4.a-b
Question 2.
May an epee be held by the pommel? A. Yes, always. B. Yes, but only if it is a French grip and not an orthopedic grip C. No.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). A fencer may hold a non-orthopedic/French grip foil by the pommel, provided that the manner of holding does not allow the weapon to be
transformed into a throwing weapon. Relevant Rule(s): t.21.2-4, m.2, m.3, m.4, m.6
Question 3.
What should the referee check about the inside of an epee bell guard? A. The two epee wires must be soldered to the socket; there
must be a security device for the body cord. B. The two epee wires must be contained in a single piece of insulated sheath and
covered by a cushion (padding); there must be a security device for the body cord. C. The two epee wires must be individually
covered with insulated sheaths and covered by a cushion (padding) sufficiently wide to pro-tect the electric wires from the fencer's
fingers; there may be no covering (e.g., tape) on an orthopedic handle that could hide wires or switches; there must be a security
device for the body cord; the connections must be so arranged so that it is impossible for the fencer to break or make contact with the
wires while fencing.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). Every bout the referee needs to look in the guard and under the epee sized guard pad to see that each wire has its own insulation. There is NO
TAPING wires to the guard (clear tape is ok - you need to be able to see the wire) and no taping or insulating the wires together. The referee must inspect
the entirety of the wires down to the bell guard. Ensure that the weapon has a body cord securing device (fastener/ bail) pre-sent and functions. Relevant
Rule(s): m.31.5-7, m.4
Question 4.
What is the maximum bend allowed in the epee blade? A. None, the blade must be perfectly straight. B. Less than 4 centimeters,
located near the center of the blade. C. Less than 1 centimeter, located near the center of the blade.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). The maximum bend allowed is less than one centimeter, located near the center of the blade and in one direction (no s-curves) on the vertical
plane. Relevant Rule(s): m.16.2
Question 5.
How may the epee blade be bent? A. Up or down. B. No bend is allowed. C. Down only.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The maximum bend allowed is less than one centimeter, located near the center of the blade and in one direction (no s-curves) on the vertical
plane. Relevant Rule(s): m.16.2
1/7
, Question 6.
The spring in an epee point must push back a test weight of how many grams? A. 500 ±2 grams B. 750 ±3 grams C. 1000 ±4 grams
ANSWER
Answer: (B). The rules say that the weight "must be lifted by the spring of the point." A referee should not depress a tip and place the weight on it, that does
not test the pressure spring. Relevant Rule(s): m.19.2, m.19.3
Question 7.
The Referee observes a small hole in the conductive strip while the bout is in progress. What should the Referee do? A. Wait until a
normal halt and then have the hole repaired. B. Wait until the bout is complete and then have the hole repaired. C. Call "Halt!" and
have the hole repaired.
ANSWER
Answer: (C). Safety is the highest priority for the fencers. Calling a halt to fix something that is a trip hazard is important. Relevant Rule(s): t.69
Question 8.
Both fencers attack simultaneously, but the light on the scoring machine shows that only Fencer X has been hit. Fencer X
immediately presents their weapon for testing to the referee. While performing the tests, the referee notes that Fencer X's body cord
is unplugged in the back where it connects to the reel cord, and the retention device has broken off. What should the Referee do? A.
Award Fencer Y's touch. B. Annul Fencer Y's touch. Have the retention device repaired or replaced before commencing. C. Plug the
body cord back into the reel and continue the test.
ANSWER
Answer: (B). The referee must check prior to the bout that there is a functioning retaining device for the body cord to the reel. Since the retaining device is
the tournament's responsibility and it was broken or absent, the touch is annulled. Relevant Rule(s): t.68.3f
Question 9.
Fencer X presents a weapon for inspection that has both wires inside the bell twisted together, and insulated in a single sheath of
spaghetti tubing. The Referee should: A. Confiscate the weapon. Fencer X receives a YELLOW CARD. B. Allow the fencer to use the
weapon if it passes shim, weight, and bell guard tests. C. Allow the fencer time to pull the wires out so they may be inspected
properly.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The referee inspects the wires in the guard every bout. Each wire must have its own insulation /spaghetti tubing that is pre-sent from the guard
to the socket. The fencer with the nonconforming weapon is issued a group 1 warning (for the bout). Relevant Rule(s): m.5.2d, m31.7
Question 10.
No preliminary weapons checks have been performed at the competition. In the first bout in a pool, Fencer X presents a weapon with
a French grip that is bent at such an angle so that the end of the handle protrudes 3 cm beyond the bell guard. What should the
Referee do? A. Confiscate the weapon, and have it checked by the experts. If the experts determine the weapon is illegal, Fencer X
receives a YELLOW CARD. B. Confiscate the weapon, and have it checked by the experts. If the experts determine the weapon is
illegal, Fencer X receives a RED CARD. C. Give a visual inspection of the weapon on the strip. If the bend appears to be legal, allow
Fencer X to use weapon.
ANSWER
Answer: (A). The referee inspects the wires in the guard every bout. Each wire must have its own insulation/ spaghetti tubing that is present from the guard
to the socket. The fencer with the nonconforming weapon is issued a group 1 warning (for the bout). Relevant Rule(s): m.9.1-2, m.17
2/7
