bobb121
Scribe
[ss:Antique Foil]
Posts: 47
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Post by bobb121 on Jun 19, 2006 15:08:53 GMT -6
I am a little confused about this topic. I was told by Kevin O'Neil that if I were to just lift my foot vertically above the line I would be above strip. However, my new coach, Oleksii Ivanof has told me that this is incorrect and would make me off strip. Could someone please clarify this for me please.
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Post by Dan Gorman on Jun 19, 2006 16:55:14 GMT -6
From the rulebook:
I've been told this means that the foot has to pass entirely behind the line whether on the ground or lifted. If you haven't crossed it, you haven't crossed it. By the other interpretation, if the rear foot is an inch beyond the end line and the front foot is lifted to step forward, the fencer has gone off strip. The front foot would be anchored whenever the rear foot leaves the strip which makes no sense -- the fencer has to be able to move.
Dan
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Post by kd5mdk on Jun 19, 2006 21:19:49 GMT -6
The strip is a volume. Thus, lifting your foot off the strip, but still in front of the end line, leaves you on strip. Theoretically, this means that if you were to swing your foot off the side of the strip in the air, you'd be considered off strip, although I doubt most referees would bother calling that.
Thus, the rule is the same, but the application is going to be different, between going off the side of the strip and the end of the strip.
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Post by DavidSierra on Jun 20, 2006 8:25:13 GMT -6
Or to put it in another, less delicate way, if the referee says you're off strip, you're off strip. Don't give him any reason to think you might be off strip and you'll be in a lot better position.
Of course, I'm reminded at this point of the story of a novice referee (who we all know very well, but shall remain nameless) who was refereeing at his very first NAC. Assigned as his observer/evaluator was a prominent member of the FOC, someone who is well known as a strict interpreter of the rules, and a first class referee in her own right and known for making sure up and coming referees are taught properly. After the pool of epee to which he had been assigned was finished, the FOC member took him aside and started talking to him. "Good hand signals," she said. "Great control of the fencers." "Nice inspection protocols." "But how about the off the side of the strip? You didn't call several of those and I'm wondering if you just didn't see it?"
The young referee, not knowing the reputation of this particular FOC member and not familair with her ways, responded nonchalantly, "Oh, I'm a sabre fencer! We don't worry about such things!"
The FOC member paused, and assumed it was intended to be a humorous statement (luckily for the young referee, or this might have been his first and last national refereeing experience), and broke out laughing, "Well, just make sure you watch for it a little more carefully in the future!" And then she walked away.
Later, when replaying this story to his mentors from the Southwest Section, each and every one was amazed and astounded that he was still standing, and in possession of all his limbs!
Of course, the young referee continued on with his refereeing career, and has become one of the stalwarts of the Southwest Section referee corps, and has refereed at a number of national events since then.
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Post by kd5mdk on Jun 20, 2006 10:45:32 GMT -6
Would this be the one who gave the authoratative definition of parry and riposte?
I have wanted to create something about my refereeing that is unique, if not a call (or fashion statement) like Andy Shaw, or clever cards like the floppy disks, so I hope my stamp at Summer Nationals will suffice.
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Post by DavidSierra on Jun 20, 2006 12:21:33 GMT -6
Instead of trying to make something about your refereeing that is unique, you would be better served to try and make your refereeing as bland and impersonal as possible. A good referee does everything the same way, every time, in every circumstance. He fits in quietly into the background. All of the energy flow in a bout should be conducted between the fencers on strip, it should never involve the referee. The referee should refrain from doing anything that would draw attention to himself, and always project the same aura of authoritative, relaxed, neutral and scrupulous competence. Let your actions and manner speak for you. Become known for that, and you'll earn the kind of reputation that you want and can be proud of.
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