Rules
COMPETITION RULES ON MODERN SWORD FIGHTING (PART 2)
version 8.0 (date 10.09.2019)
7. The procedure of registration of participants. Competition Protocol
7.1. Registration of participants of competitions is carried out according to Competition Regulations and is a necessary term of the admission to competitions.
7.2. When registering, the athlete reports the following obligatory data:
7.2.1. surname, name and patronymic
7.2.2. date of birth
7.2.3. name of the club or another social and sports organization, which he represents at these competitions, city( town), FR or country;
7.2.4. a copy of medical certificate of allowance to contact kind of sports, stamped by a doctor or medical institution, or,
7.2.4. a certificate signed by parents/official representatives in the prescribed form, see Appendix No. 29 (for underage athletes), or,
7.2.4. a consent to participate in the competition, signed by an athlete in the prescribed form, see Appendix No. 29
7.3. The Head of the team (a coach or a captain) is obliged to control the passing of Registration by each athlete of his team, as well as to provide a signed Responsible Consent in the prescribed form, see Appendix No. 28.
7.4. If an athlete participates in competitions individually (does not represent any club), he is obliged to provide the signed Responsible Consent, see Appendix No. 28.
7.5. The Competition Protocol is the main document certifying the admission of the athletes to competitions. At the starting stage, it is compiled by the Secretary of the competition on the basis of applications of teams and individual athletes admitted to participate in the competition. Names of athletes, names of clubs, which they represent, names of sports nominations and age categories in which they participate are entered in the Competition Protocol.
7.6. At the end of registration of athletes the Secretary of the competition together with the Chief Referee of the competitions conduct draw and make a schedule (“grid”) of fights, which is recorded in the Competition Protocol.
7.7. During competitions all the data about the results of fights, passing all the stages of competitions are entered in the Competition Protocol and the information about warnings and disqualifications obtained by the participants will be entered by the Secretary of the competition in the Competition Protocol.
7.8. At the end of the competition the Protocol is signed by all members of the Secretariat, the Referee Panel and the Medical Board of the competition, as well as representatives of the Organizing Committee of the competition. The competition is considered to be finally completed only after signing of the Competition Protocol by all specified people.
7.9. After signing, the Competition Protocol is transferred to the order of Organizing Committee of competitions. No later than 7 days after the event, the Organizing Committee is obliged to provide the President of the FMSF with the Final Competition Protocol, which must be published on the FMSF resources.
7.10. The Final Competition Protocol must contain:
– full list of all athletes (full name, club, city, current rank or category, phone, awarded points, coefficient (as the coefficients are all different) and awarded Victory Points (VP),
– chart of results of all fights with points,
– list of winners according to the age and nominations with occupied places, including 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th places,
– list of all referees (name, club, city, phone) with categories,
– list of all clubs with cities (at the Championship of Russia it is necessary to specify also the Federal Region, at the International Tournaments it is obligatory to specify the country).
7.11 The Final Competition Protocol (according to age categories) must be sent to the FMSFR Secretariat (in two types – Excel (editable) and PDF (not editable) to mdavidova@list.ru and smbstat@mail.ru no later than 7 days after the completion, otherwise its results will be canceled).
7.12 Any athlete has the right to withdraw from the competition at will. In this case, he must notify the Chief Secretary of the competition. After that the Chief Referee and Chief Secretary decide if it is necessary to re-draw participants taking into account the retired athletes or about awarding a technical victory to all the participants, who had to fight with the retired athletes in accordance with the schedule of fights with entering corresponding records into the Competition Protocol. If an athlete was withdrawn from the competition, then he cannot recover back.
8. The rights and obligations of participants
8.1. The participants are OBLIGED:
8.1.1. To know the Competition Rules, the Competition Regulations, the program of the event and strictly comply with their requirements.
8.1.2. Strictly obey the commands of the referees, to be disciplined, organized, polite to their rivals and referees.
8.1.3. To keep to the MSF Regulations on participants’ visual appearance at competitions.
8.1.4. To register by the time indicated by the organizers at the Secretariat of the competition.
8.1.5. To go immediately on the call of the Secretary (Moderator) or Senior Referee to the Site. Delays (no more than 1 minute) for valid reasons are allowed only with the permission of the Chief Referee or Senior Referee on the Site.
8.1.6. To report about all injuries received in the course of fights to the Medical Board.
8.1.7. To fight for victory in every battle.
8.1.8. Participants are obliged to keep to the order in a specially organized Zone for equipment, in the locker rooms and on the Site.
8.2. Competitors are NOT ALLOWED:
8.2.1. To start the fight before the command of the Senior Referee on the Site; to continue the fight after the Senior Referee’s stopping command.
8.2.2. In the course of the fight to apply strikes to areas not related to the Impact Zone.
8.2.3. To carry out prohibited technical actions in the process of fighting.
8.2.4. To leave the Site without permission of the Senior Referee.
8.2.5. To remove parts of equipment or to make their replacement before the announcement of results of the fight (except when it is done with the permission of the Senior Referee).
8.2.6. To interfere in Referees’ work, to bicker with them, or to express discontent with refereeing in a sharp form.
8.2.7. To allow obscene language and insults to other competitors, referees, the Secretariat members, Control committees, the Organizing Committee of the competition or the audience.
8.2.8. To use the elements of equipment and / or equipment which do not comply with the Competition Rules and the requirements of the Technical Board of the competition during the fight.
8.2.9. To be in a state of alcoholic or narcotic intoxication at competitions.
8.2.10. To ask the Senior Referee to stop the fight in cases which are not provided by these Rules (see points 20.8).
8.2.11. To simulate accidental injury or injury caused by a violation of the Rules on the part of the rival during the fight. The fact of simulation is set by the Chief Referee and doctors (members of the Medical Board).
8.3. Competitors HAVE the RIGHT:
8.3.1. To have one cornerman during the competition.
8.3.2. To signal the Senior Referee with a raised hand and a special signal (“Referee!”) about the request to stop the fight. An athlete can stop the fight only in cases specially stipulated by these Rules. (see paragraph 20.8.13).
8.3.3. At the end of the fight, after the announcement of its results, to protest the results of the fight in an established order.
9. Cornermen: rights and responsibilities
9.1. Each athlete can have no more than one cornerman. The availability of a special cornerman is not necessary. Any registered competitor or a captain/team leader can act as a cornerman.
9.2. A cornerman is obliged to know the Competition Rules, Tournament Regulations, the program of events, and strictly comply with their requirements.
9.3. A cornerman is obliged to accompany the athlete to the Site, to help him to be equipped. During stops of the fight he can improve athlete’s equipment at his request, to replace defective items of equipment (at the permission of the Chief Referee). After the time allotted for the equipping of athlete (no more than 1 minute), the cornerman must leave the Site.
9.4. A cornerman is obliged to be at borders of the Site from outside when his athlete fights.
9.5. A cornerman is forbidden to interfere in the course of the fight (except for the case specified in paragraph 9.8.), or in Referees’ work, express loudly his discontent with their decisions, to use obscene language, to offend participants, referees, viewers, or Organizers of the Competition. In case of violation the cornerman can be removed from the Site. In case of repeated violation he can be removed from the competition.
Note: the Senior Referee can issue a warning to the athlete for the actions of his cornerman.
9.6. A cornerman is forbidden to be in a condition of alcoholic or narcotic intoxication during Competitions .Violation is immediately punished by removal of the corneman from competitions and award a warning to his athlete.
9.7. Being at borders of the Site during a fight, a cornerman has the right (if it does not interfere the Referees’ work) to support his athlete, to give him councils and instructions.
9.8. Being at borders of the Site during a fight, a cornerman has the right to signal to the Senior Referee with the raised hand and special command (“Referee!”) to stop the fight. The athlete may stop the fight only in cases specifically stipulated by these Rules (see paragraph 20.8.14).
10. Referee Board of the Competitions
10.1. Composition of the Referee Board at the competition:
10.1.1. the Chief Referee of competitions.
10.1.2. Referee teams on the Sites.
Note: the number of referee teams must exceed the number of working Sites, so as to ensure the possibility of changing some referees and referee teams entirely during the competitions.
10.2. Activity of the Referee Board of the competition is accountable only to the Organizing Committee of the competitions.
10.3. Responsibilities of the Chief Referee of the competitions:
10.3.1. Test the knowledge of the Rules by Referees of the competitions.
10.3.2. General coordination and control of the referees’ work.
10.3.3. Evaluation and replacement of referees in the current work to improve the quality of refereeing.
10.3.4. Consideration of the submitted protests from athletes and / or cornermen, captains and representatives of teams.
10.3.5. Appointment of a re-fighting in case of satisfaction of the protest.
10.3.6 .Conducting of the draw and making up a grid of fights with the Secretary of the Competition.
10.3.7. Control of the Competition Protocol.
10.3.8. Carrying out in stipulated cases removal of athletes and / or cornermen from participation in competitions (only with the consent of the Organizing Committee of competitions).
10.3.9. Control of presence and work of representatives of Technical and Medical Boards at Competitions.
10.3.10. Issue of the Protocol with evaluation of each referee’s work at the competition after the competition, and its transmission to the Secretariat of the competition.
10.4. The composition of the Referee team at the Site:
10.4.1. Senior Referee of the Site.
10.4.2. Four Side referees at the corners of the Site from outside. Side referees are divided into pairs. These pairs occupy diagonals and count strikes to the athlete specified by the Senior Referee.
10.4.3. A representative of the Technical Board. The Senior / Side Referee can perform functions of a Technical Board.
10.4.4. A Timekeeper. He is located out of the Site next to the Senior Referee. The Senior Referee can perform functions of a Referee-timekeeper.
10.4.5. Referee-recorder. The Senior Referee can perform functions of a Referee-recorder.
10.5. Responsibilities of the Chief Referee on the Site:
10.5.1. Check athletes’ readiness to fight by means of special commands: ”Is the fighter ready?”. Check the Side Referees readiness, appointment of the working diagonal to the Side Referees, instructions for the Timekeeper.
10.5.2. Giving the command: “Greeting”, then to the beginning of a fight: “Fight!” and stop the fight:” Stop!”.
10.5.3. Tracking strikes, violations of Competition Rules (including prohibited technical actions), falls, “knockdowns” and “knockouts”, as well as the loss of sports weapons and damage to sports equipment, stepping of fighters outside the Site.
10.5.4. Stopping the fight in cases stipulated by the Competition Rules.
10.5.5. Issuing warnings and remarks to athletes, and also the decision on removal of the participant from a fight according to these Rules.
10.5.6. Issuing warnings to the cornerman, as well as the decision to remove the cornerman from the Site in accordance with these Rules.
10.5.7. Appointment of “finishing- off” in case of need (when the score is equal) (see paragraph 17.8)
10.5.8. Announcement of the winner in the fight on the basis of scoring by Side Referees.
Note: In the situation when two Side Referees on the same diagonal do not agree in their calculations, the Senior Referee has the right, guided by the overall impression of the fight, to appoint any score in the interval between two options that have been specified by the Side Referees.
10.5.9. Announcement of the winner of the fight on the basis of the relevant section of the Rules.
10.5.10. Check condition of the Site and the adjacent territory in intervals between fights.
10.6. Responsibilities of the Side Referee:
10.6.1. Keeping scoring in accordance with the athlete’s strikes in different areas of the Impact Zone of the specified fighter.
10.6.2. The technical admission of equipment on the athlete in the fight, check availability of obligatory equipment.
10.6.3. Report to the Senior Referee on the Site about the sum of points gained by athletes.
10.6.4. To express own position when asked by the Senior Referee.
10.6.5. Tracking strikes, violations of Competition Rules (including prohibited technical actions), falls, “knockdowns” and “knockouts”, as well as the loss of sports weapons and damage to sports equipment, step of fighters outside the Site.
10.7. Responsibilities of Timekeepers:
10.7.1. Implementation of control over the basic time and, if necessary, additional time of a fight, and also over the time allocated by the Senior Referee of the Site for coming to the Site and equipping the athlete.
10.7.2. Signaling the end of the fighting time with a special command: “Time!”
10.8. Responsibilities of a Referee-recorder:
10.8.1. Regularly, accurately and carefully, immediately after the announcement by the Senior Referee of the Site, to record the results of the fight, to enter them into the Competition Protocol or to mark the athlete to whom the warnings were issued.
10.8.2. If necessary, approach the referees and specify the results of the fights.
10.8.3. To make up and submit the grid (lists) of fights to Senior Referees of Sites, to accept and in due time to enter data into the Competition Protocol.
Note: A Referee-recorder has the right not to answer questions of separate athletes about their fights results and sequence. However, he must answer the questions of captains of teams/delegations about the grid of fights, if it does not prevent his substantive work.
11. The Secretariat of the competitions
11.1. The Secretarial Board of the competitions:
11.1.1. The Chief Secretary of the competition;
11.1.2. Secretaries-assistants;
Note: the number of secretaries-assistants must be equal or exceed the number of working Sites.
11.1.3. Videographers;
Note: presence of Videographers is obligatory at all MSF competitions, starting from the Federal Region level of the tournament and above. The number of videographers must be equal or exceed the number of working Sites, unless otherwise specified in the Competition Regulations.
11.1.4. A Moderator;
Note: presence of a Moderator is obligatory at all MSF competitions, from the interregional level and above, unless otherwise specified in the Competition Regulations.
11.2. Activities of Secretariat of the competition is only accountable to the Organizing Committee of the competition.
11.3. Responsibilities of the Chief Secretary of competitions:
11.3.1. Registration of competitors in the Competition Protocol.
11.3.2. Verification of compliance of the participant’s data with the preliminary application and these Rules
11.3.3. Keeping the Warnings received by the participants together with the Referee-recorder.
11.3.4. Drawing together with the Chief Referee of the competition, creating a grid of fights and entering it into the Competition Protocol.
11.3.5. Definition of winners according to the results of fights in each subgroup, in each of nominations and age categories at the end of the competition qualifying phase (is produced by the Chief Secretary jointly with the Chief Referee of competitions).
11.4. Responsibilities of secretaries-assistants:
11.4.1. Fixation of information on warnings issued to athletes and disqualifications of participants. Timely transmission of information to the Chief Secretary of the competition for recording into the Competition Protocol.
11.4.2. Assist the Chief Secretary in maintaining the Protocol.
11.4.3. Registration of award documents in accordance with the Competition Protocol.
11.5. Responsibilities of Videographers:
11.5.1. Being during fights at the Sites, in borders of “safety zone”, to provide video filming of each fight from the beginning and up to the announcement of results.
11.5.2. To provide necessary videos of fights at the first request of the Chief Referee of the competition.
11.6. Responsibilities of a Moderator:
11.6.1. To call athletes to the Site, to present them to public.
11.6.2. In advance, before the beginning of each fight, to declare names of athletes who should prepare for the following fight.
11.6.3. Give the necessary comments during the competition.
11.6.4. Announce the results of each fight.
11.6.5. Clearly and timely inform participants of competitions about changes in grid of fights, about course arrangements, breaks and schedule.
12. Technical Board
12.1. The Technical Board consists of several specialists (at least 2), one of whom is the Head of the Technical Board.
12.2. The activities of the Technical Board are only accountable to the Organizing Committee of the competition.
12.3. Responsibilities of the Technical Board members:
12.3.1. Before the beginning of competitions to carry out a starting survey of all sets of sports equipment and arms regarding their compliance to Technical requirements of FMSF competitions and the admission. Also to control the condition of Sites and carrying out of fights.
12.3.2. Carrying out a brief inspection of athletes ‘equipment during competitions.
12.3.3. Providing the Site with weapons and shields in accordance with the requirements of the current nomination
12.3.4. The organization and carrying out of video shooting of all fights on each Site and providing this video at the request of the Chief Referee or the Senior Referee of this Site.
12.4. The Head of the Technical Board, in addition to his responsibilities as a specialist, must coordinate the activities of the Technical Board.
13. Medical Board
13.1. The Medical Board consists of several specialists (at least 2), one of whom is the Head of the Medical Board (Chief physician of the competition). The Chief physician of the competition and his assistants must be qualified sports doctors, traumatic surgeons or surgeons.
Note: in case of a small number of competitors – less than 80 people, the Medical Board may consist of one doctor.
13.2. The activities of the Medical Board are only accountable to the Organizing Committee of the competition.
13.3. Responsibilities of the Medical Board members:
13.3.1. Carrying out a starting medical examination of athletes, if necessary, before the beginning of competition.
13.3.2. The Medical Board makes decisions on the admission/non-admission of an athlete to participation in competitions. The decisive vote belongs to the Chief physician of the competition.
13.3.3. Constant monitoring of athletes’ physical condition during fights and in the intervals between them. Medical examination and first aid, if necessary.
13.3.4. The Head of the Medical Board, in addition to his responsibilities as a specialist, must coordinate the Medical Board activities.
14. Athletes’ form of clothing and visual appearance
14.1. Competitors must be dressed in neat plain sportswear and soft-soled shoes. It is recommended to wear black sweatpants and branded t-shirt of the team or club. It is forbidden to use camouflage clothing, clothing and footwear of military pattern (ankle boots). It is also forbidden to use casual clothing – jeans, shorts and breeches. Mixing of colors of protective equipment on one athlete is not allowed. One athlete should be dressed in equipment of one color completely (for example, black, red or blue). Black pieces to the defense elements are allowed. One of the athletes must have a helmet and a shield in red color, the other one – blue.
14.2. Headbands, head hoops, metal hairpins, jewelry, rings, chains, earrings and the like are prohibited. It is NOT RECOMMENDED to wear glasses (especially if they are not special shockproof) under the helmet. If necessary, contact lenses are recommended.
14.3. It is forbidden to use cosmetics and strong-smelling perfumes.
14.4. At MSF competitions it is permitted to apply own shields with coat of arms of the club or pictures (appropriate FMSF standards in size and weight), if they do not bear bright negative content and do not insult anyone’s dignity.
14.5. Detailed requirements for appearance are set out in the MSF Rules of Ethics. In case of discrepancies and making decisions, the MSF Rules of Sports Ethics are a priority.
15. Parameters of protective equipment
15.1. Protective equipment: the entire set of the competitor’s protective equipment must provide reliable protection of the athlete’s shins and knees, hands, forearms and elbows, body, groin, neck and head.
15.2. The athlete is obliged to go to fights in protective equipment according to the following criteria:
15.2.1. Under 18:
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- A helmet of established sample;
- * Body protection;
- * Protection of a combat arm and elbow (both elbows in triathlon);
- * Groin protection (inguinal bandage);
- * Knee protection.
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15.2.1. Over 18 years old:
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- A helmet of established sample;
- Groin protection (inguinal bandage).
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15.3. Protective inguinal bandage of “female configuration” is recommended for use for girls and women participating in the tournament. Exceptions may be cases where the protection of the body sufficiently covers the lower abdomen and groin.
Note: The decision not to use the inguinal bandage is made by the representative of the Technical Board of the competition.
15.4. Equipment allowed for MSF competitions:
15.4.1. The list of equipment (type and manufacturer) for MSF competitions is established at the beginning of the competition season by the Federation Council.
15.4.2. The Organizing Committee can establish an additional list of equipment (type and manufacturer) in competition in compliance with the Rules.
15.4.3. Allowance of equipment is controlled by the Technical Board of the competition.
15.4.4. The Organizing Committee is obliged to provide equipment for participants free of charge or for a fee. Provision of sports swords and shields is mandatory and free of charge.
- Site
16.1. The venue of competitions in all MSF categories can consist of any number of sites for competitions (further – Sites).
16.2. Sites must be located on a hard, non-slip coating (wooden floor, parquet, laminate, linoleum, carpet, rubber coating etc.).
16.3. Concrete and stone (and similar) coverings must be closed by a soft wrestling covering of type dovetail.
16.4. It is recommended to apply a soft wrestling coating such as dovetail and other types of coverage to ensure safety of athletes.
16.5. The distance between Sites (safety zone) must be 2-3 meters wide. All borders of Sites are designated by a white line not less than 5 cm wide.
16.6. The Site for the competition consists of two zones – Competition area and Safety zone. The Competition area must have dimensions from 4.5×4.5 to 6×6 meters. The Safety zone must be 2-3 meters wider (in all directions) than the Competition zone.
16.7. Two strips about 5 cm wide and 1 m long are used to indicate the places where athletes must start and finish the fight and are applied in the central part of the Competition area at a distance of 1 m from the edge of the Site. Starting positions can be indicated by white lines or a red stripe must be on the right of the Senior Referee of the Site, a blue one – on the left.
16.6. Around the Competition Site a free zone of at least 50 cm (up to spectators, seats, walls, fences or any other obstacles) must be organized.
16.7. The Site surface must have a flat and horizontal surface. The location, characteristics of the Site surface and the surrounding area must not put either in the advantageous or disadvantageous position of any of competitors, especially in relation to the slope and lighting.
16.8. It is recommended to use special racks for weapons for all age categories and shields. One rack is on the right of the Site, another on the left.
16.9. The Organizing Committee of competitions is obliged to organize a special separate zone for equipment where there will be all sets of equipment which are provided by organizers.
17. Impact Zone and scoring system. Criteria of impact effectiveness. Award of victory.
17.1. Impact Zone of permitted attacking actions:
17.1.1. A head;
17.1.2. A neck (except for strikes to the back of the neck and the base of the skull);
17.1.3. A corpus;
17.1.4. Shoulders and forearms;
17.1.6. A pelvis and hips;
17.1.7. Knees and shins;
17.1.8. Hands.
17.2. Prohibited attack actions in the Impact Zone. Prohibited strikes:
17.2.1. A groin;
17.2.1. The base of skull and neck rear;
17.2.1. Ankles and feet.
17.3. Criteria of impact effectiveness. The performance is estimated in total and at the same time:
17.3.1. A strike was accompanied by a shoulder/elbow / wrist swing and / or an investment of force and inertia of the athlete’s body;
17.3.2. A strike was accented and clearly not in the Impact Zone with respect to the plane of the sword;
17.3.3. A strike was extreme toward the tip third of the sports sword blade (the top half of the blade in a two-handed sword). A strike by another part of the sports sword blade (middle, at the guard) does not count;
17.3.4. A strike was dealt with a true “blade” – a part of a sports sword blade, appropriate to the location of the front slashing edge of the weapon (front – from the side of first phalanx of fingers of an athlete’s hand).
Note: Strikes with a “false” blade or dealt “flat”- a part of the sports sword blade, appropriate to a plane weapon (from the side of the first phalanx of the thumb of athlete’s hand or athlete’s rear hand) not counted.
17.3.5. A strike was not reflected by the rival’s protective action (defending with a shield or sword).
Note: a protective action with a shield (including a buckler) is recognized to be successful regardless of the level of impact and measure of touch a shield by a sword. Such a strike does not count.
17.3.6. A strike with a two-handed sword does not count if it is struck by a grip of one hand.
17.4. A strike is classified as productive and still meets the requirements of section 17.3
17.5. Ban of “combat sweeping”:
17.5.1. Productive strikes are the strikes, inflicted in attacking series of no more than 2 consecutive strikes into one zone with observance of common criteria of effectiveness.
Note: the beginning of a new attacking series is additionally determined by change of a step. Change of a step (full step with two feet) is classified as an interval between series, the attack can be continued with fixing results. “Full step” – the feet of both legs change their position. In case of athlete’s performance of a “half-step – only one foot changes its position – the result is not counted.
17.6. For a strike in the rival’s Impact Zone the athlete (who struck) is awarded:
• a strike in a head, neck and body – 2 points;
• a strike in a limb, pressed against the head, neck or body – 2 points;
• a strike in the rest of the Impact Zone – 1 point.
17.7. “Victory on points” is awarded to one of the athletes in the category “Sword and Shield”, “Triathlon (o)”, “Triathlon (д)”, when an athlete before the other one scored the maximum number of points in the discipline or scored more points than his rival in the allotted time (by the end of the time limit).
17.8. Determination of the winner in case of equal score:
17.8.1. In Modern Sword Fighting duels 1 by 1 the draw is impossible neither in a round, nor in a fight. Fights continue until the winner is determined.
17.8.2. In team fights a draw in the round is possible, but not in a fight.
17.8.3. In any MSF nominations 1 by 1 (Shield and Sword (6. 2. 1) and Triathlon (6. 2. 9, 6.2.10) if the score is equal the “finish-off” is announced from the score 10-10.
Note: the term “finish-off” means a fight before the first not a mutual not riposte strike.
17.8.3.1. The victory is awarded to the athlete who struck the first not riposte strike in the Impact Zone with keeping to requirements of efficiency.
Note: the strike is recognized not riposte, if an attacker does not receive the riposte during 1 pace.
Note: Pace is the amount of time required for an athlete to perform one simple movement, or a generalized form of time that determines the advance of the strike. If athletes strike each other at the same time, the Senior Referee makes a decision on whether it was a mutual attack or someone was tactically right.
Note: If under “mutual defeat” the first athlete struck in a head (corpus), and the second one in a limb then the first athlete wins. Otherwise, no points are awarded and the next “finish-off” is declared.
17.8.3.2. The maximum number of assigned “finish-off” in one gathering – 3 (three). After the third “mutual defeat” both athletes are given a Warning (a yellow card). The athlete who has received the second “yellow card”, receives technical defeat with the score 0-10, and the athlete is disqualified from this fight.
17.8.3.3. After the first yellow card, both fighters are assigned an additional “finish-off” with a priority draw.
Note: the priority draw takes place by throwing a coin, the athlete of the Red side (right) is assigned “Heads”, the athlete of the Blue side (left) is assigned “Tails”.
Exception: Finale and fight for the 3d place in nomination passes without draw priority. The number of “finish-off “in this case is not limited. The athlete who received the second “yellow card”, receives a technical defeat with the score 0-10, the athlete is disqualified from this fight.
17.9. A technical victory with a score of 10-0 is awarded to one of the athletes in the following cases:
17.9.1. A rival refused to participate in the fight before the start.
17.9.2. A rival did not appear on call of the Chief Referee on a specified Site at specified time (1 minute).
17.9.3. A rival did not prepare with his equipment for the fight in the specified by the Chief Referee time (1 minute).
Note: in case of breakage/malfunction of any of the equipment elements of one of the athletes (including a sword or a shield) during the fight, preventing the continuation of the fight, the Senior Referee appoints time for its repair or replacement (no more than 1 minute).
17.9.4. A rival is disqualified in the course of the competition
17.9.5. A rival is disqualified in the course of the fight
17.9.6. A rival cannot continue the fight because of the injury
Note: If an athlete is unable to continue the fight because of the injury resulting from a violation of the Rules by his rival, the latter receives a double Warning and is removed from participation in the fight. ‘Technical victory” with a score of 10-0 is awarded to the athlete against whom the Rules were violated.
- Permitted and prohibited fighting techniques
18.1. Permitted fighting techniques are:
18.1.1. Slashing strikes with a sports sword blade in the rival’s Impact Zone;
18.1.2. Protection with a shield, a buckler or a sports sword blade from the rival’s strikes;
18.1.3. Pushes and pressure (impact) on a rival with a shield (its plane), strike with a buckler (its plane) no more than two seconds;
18.1.4. Pushes and pressure (impact) on the rival’s shoulder for more than 2 seconds;
18.1.5. Strikes with the plane of the shield;
18.1.6. Repulsion of a sports sword blade, a shield or the rival’s hands with a plane or an edge of a shield.
18.1.7. Emphasis by an edge of a shield in the rival’s armed hand and / or corpus;
18.1.8. Hook the rival’s shield with a shield;
18.1.9. Hitting the rival’s shield with a shield;
18.1.10. Imposing a shield on the rival’s shield.
18.1.11. Prolonged impact with a shield up to 2 seconds.
18.2. Prohibited methods of fight for the basic MSF disciplines are:
18.2.1. Stabbing (stabs) with a sports sword (except the dueling nominations with sharp weapon);
18.2.2. Strikes into the rival’s not impacted zone;
18.2.3. Attack of a fallen or rising rival;
18.2.4. Attack of the rival who has lost weapon (except team fights);
18.2.5. Attack after the command “Stop” given by the Senior Referee of the Site;
18.2.6. Strikes with the shield edge to the rival’s head and neck, and also in an not impacted zone;
18.2.7. Head blows;
18.2.8. Kicks and hits with knees or hips;
18.2.9. Punches with hands, elbows or shoulders;
18.2.10. Sweeps, throws, grabs and pinches, attacking wrestling technique;
18.2.11. Strikes with the sports sword crosshairs and handle;
18.2.12. Grasps / grabs with hands, feet, head for the corpus, rival’s head and limbs, as well as grasps / grabs with hands, feet, head of the elements of the rival’s equipment (including sports sword and shield);
18.2.13. Repulsion of the rival’s shield or hands with own hands.
18.3. Rules of directions “East Sabre and Shield”, “Shashka and Buckler”, “Team fights Shashka and Buckler”, “Team fights”, “MSF-HARD” and others have the list of the allowed and forbidden strikes which can be found in the relevant documents of Rules on these directions.
- Fines. Warnings. Disqualification.
19.1. Remarks to the athlete are taken out by the Senior Referee during a fight in oral form for the purpose of prevention of violation of the Rules.
19.2. Penalty points are awarded to the athlete in the following cases:
19.2.1. If his feet are not on the Site (1 penalty point);
19.2.2. For falling or touching the surface of the Site with any third fulcrum (1 penalty point). It is allowed to lean on the sports sword, but not shield.
19.2.3. For loss of the sword and/or shield in the course of the fight (1 penalty point).
19.3. Warnings to athletes are issued in the following cases:
19.3.1. A warning is issued to an athlete in case of execution of prohibited technical actions (paragraph 18.2. of these Rules).
19.3.2. A warning is issued to the athlete for violations of these Rules by his cornerman.
19.3.3. A warning is issued to the athlete for passive conducting of the fight.
Note: Passive conduct of the fight is considered to be the athlete’s refusal to make active attacking actions for a long period of time (at least 30 seconds) during the duel.
19.3.4. A warning is issued to the athlete for violation of the Rules in paragraphs 18.2.2, 18.2.6, 18.2.7-18.2.12.
19.3.5. A double warning is issued to the athlete for violation of paragraph 17.9.6 of these Rules, if the athlete against whom the violation was committed, was injured and lost the opportunity to continue the fight.
19.4. Two Remarks turn into a Warning (a “yellow card”).
19.5. Remarks are NOT entered into the Competition Protocol. Warnings are recorded by the Secretary of the competition into the Competition Protocol.
19.5. The first warning is issued orally, the Second warning is issued in the form of a yellow card, the Third warning is issued in the form of a yellow card and leads to subsequent disqualification from the fight with a technical defeat 0-10. Receiving another yellow card in the next fight in this category leads to a subsequent red card with disqualification from the tournament.
Note: the number of warnings is determined by for one day of competitions. The beginning of the next day of competition clears the received warnings.
19.6. An athlete can be removed from participation in competitions (disqualified):
19.6.1. There is a threat to health of the athlete, or the Medical Board recognizes his physical condition unacceptable for participation in fights.
19.6.2. The total number of warnings allowed to be issued to an athlete during the competition is 4 (four). The athlete who received the fourth warning is disqualified from competitions.
- The order of the fight
20.1. Athletes have to appear on the Senior Referee’s call to the Site for carrying out the fight. In case, if an athlete is not ready to participate in the fight for a valid reason, the Senior Referee may give him additional time to prepare (1 minute).
Note: if an athlete is not ready to participate in the fight after the specified time, he is awarded a “Technical defeat”. His rival is considered the winner in the fight with a score of 10-0.
20.2. Each athlete on the Site MUST be accompanied by his cornerman, who helps his athlete to prepare for the fight. After the time allotted for the preparation of the athlete, the cornerman must leave the Site.
20.3. Immediately before the start of the fight, the Side Referees of the Site should conduct a brief inspection of athletes for compliance of their equipment with the Technical requirements of the Competition.
20.4. The fight can start only in the case, if only the Senior Referee and both athletes are on the Site, and all 4 Side Referees are at the borders of the Site from outside, a Timekeeper, an Operator, one cornerman from each athletes and a representative of Medical Board are in the hall.
20.5. The fight can start only if the Referee team and both athletes are ready to carry it out. The Senior Referee must make sure in willingness of the Side Referees, an Operator, a Timekeeper and both athletes to conduct the fight with the help of special commands (“Are referees ready?”, “Is the fighter ready?”).
20.6. The Senior Referee of the Site gives a signal to start by means of a special command (“Fight!”), after the countdown by a Timekeeper begins, scoring strikes and scoring by the Side Referees.
20.7. Stopping the fight can be made only by the Senior Referee’s special command (“Stop!”). After the command “Stop!” any actions of athletes are not counted as effective. The Chief Referee further indicates the validity or non-validity of the action. Any athlete’s attack of his rival after the command “Stop!” is punished by a warning.
20.8. Stopping the fight can be made by the Senior Referee only in the following cases:
20.8.1. After the time limit of the fight for the selected discipline.
20.8.2. After getting of maximum quantity of points by one of the athletes in the chosen discipline.
20.8.3. After applying by one of the athletes a scoring punch, if the fight is conducted according to the scheme “finish-off” (“the fight up to the first strike”).
20.8.4. The fall (both accidental and as a result of active actions of the rival) of one or both athletes.
Note: in case of falling of an athlete, the Senior Referee stops a fight, and then urges the fallen athlete to rise immediately and to continue a duel. The fight can be continued only when both athletes are ready for a duel. The fallen athlete is awarded 1 penalty point with the transfer of points to his rival.
20.8.5. The breakage of equipment by one or both of the athletes, which is the obstacle to continue the fight.
Note: in case of breakage of athlete’s any element of equipment, the Senior Referee stops the fight. The athlete or his cornerman must bring the damaged item of equipment in a good condition, or replace it. The Senior Referee may allocate additional time for this (no more than 1 minute). After the specified time the athlete’s equipment is examined by the member of the Technical Board who is obliged to make the decision on the allowance/not allowance of it to further use in the fight. If an athlete is unable to replace or repair his equipment, then by decision of the Technical Board representative, he is considered a loser. A “Technical victory” in the fight with the score 10-0 is awarded to his rival.
20.8.7. Loss of sporting weapons by one or both athletes.
Note: in case of loss of the weapon by one of athletes, the Senior Referee stops a fight, and then urges the athlete who has lost the weapon to raise the weapon immediately and to continue the fight. The fight can be continued only when both athletes are ready. The athlete, who has lost the weapon, is awarded with 1 penalty point with transfer of a point to the rival.
20.8.8. The appearance of unauthorized people or objects on the Site.
Note: in case of appearance of unauthorized people and/or objects on the Site, the Senior Referee stops the fight. Unauthorized people and / or objects must be removed from the Site, the athletes must take their starting places then the fight must be continued.
20.8.9. Violation of the Rules by one or both of athletes (including passive conduct of the meeting).
Note: in case of violation of the Rules, the Senior Referee stops the fight, and then announces the issuance of appropriate Warnings. If one of the athletes received the 3d Warning during this fight, he must be disqualified, the fight must be stopped. Otherwise, the fight must continue.
20.8.10. Step out the boundary of the Site, or fall of one or both athletes.
Note: in case of going beyond the boundary of the Site of one or both athletes during the fight, the Senior Referee stops the fight. The rivals must take their starting places immediately then the fight should be continued. The athlete who went beyond the boundary of the Site with two feet is awarded 1 penalty point with the transfer of the point to his rival. If both went beyond the boundary of the Site, then penalty points are awarded to both. The same is happening in case the fall (or touching the land by the third point of reliance) of one or both fighters.
20.8.11. Obtaining by one of athletes an “accidental trauma”, ”trauma got in the result of violations the Rules”. Accidental injuries are considered: trauma inflicted by a concentrated strike, inflicted in the athlete’s Impact Zone (without violation the Rules of the competition); trauma caused by the fall or hit the floor of the Site; trauma inflicted by an athlete himself or received regardless of his rival’s action.
Note: if one of athletes receives an “accidental injury” or “injury resulting from a violation of the Rules”, the fight must be stopped. The injured athlete must be examined by the Medical Board member, who must decide on the possibility/impossibility of further participation of the athlete in the fight and in the competition.
20.8.12. A situation on the Site, when one of athletes, according to the Senior Referee, in a result of a missed strike (in case, if strike was dealt within the Rules) lost ability to continue the fight.
20.8.13. A situation on the Site, when both rivals don’t provide each other opportunities for carrying out active actions (clinch).
Note: in case of such a situation, the Senior Referee stops the fight. Athletes must immediately take their starting places, after that the fight must be continued. The Timekeeper is obliged to suspend the countdown of the fight.
20.8.14. At the request of the athlete. Recommended signal to the Senior Referee: armed hand vertically upward, straight posture, lowered shield, voice signal “Referee!” The athlete has the right to ask about a fight stop only in the following cases:
20.8.14.1. if he was injured,
20.8.14.2. if any of the elements of his equipment was damaged or came into a faulty condition, which does not allow him to continue the fight.
20.8.14.3. if he refuses to continue the fight.
20.8.14.4. in other cases, the fact of “unsportsmanlike behavior” and “obtaining an advantage of an unsportsmanlike nature” will be recognized and punished with a Warning.
20.8.15. At the request of a cornerman. Recommended signal to the Senior Referee: hand up, give a voice signal “Referee!” The cornerman has the right to ask to stop the fight only in the following cases:
20.8.15.1. if he noticed a breakage of equipment and / or sports weapon of the athlete or his rival;
20.8.15.2. if he made a decision about the impossibility to continue the fight by his athlete (“throwing the towel”).
20.8.15.3. in other cases, the fact of “unsportsmanlike behavior” and “obtaining an advantage of an unsportsmanlike nature” will be recognized and punished with a Warning.
20.8. After the fight time-limit, the Timekeeper gives a special signal (a command “Time!”, or hit in a gong, or a signal of the Stand of electronic refereeing), and the Senior Referee stops the fight, then there is a meeting of the Referee team and the points counted for both athletes are checked. The Senior Referee may stop / start the “clean time” countdown at his discretion.
20.9. If an athlete according to a grid of competitions has to carry out two fights in a row, the Senior Referee declares a break up to 2 minutes during which the athlete has an opportunity to have a rest and to prepare for carrying out the following fight.
20.10. In case of disputable moments the Senior Referee can address to video of this fight, the Operator is obliged to provide him the required fragment. Based on watching the video, the Senior Referee can make a decision.
20.11. An Operator can only be a member of the Technical Board or the Referee Board.
20.12. An Operator provides the video only to the Senior Referee”; this video cannot be used as a material for filing a protest.
20.13. At the end of the meeting, the Senior Referee must announce the results of the fight.
20.14. A Referee – recorder is obliged accurately and timely, after the announcement of the referees’ decision to submit information on the results of the fight, and the score made during the duel, Warnings or withdrawals to the Secretary of the competitions, who makes an appropriate entry into the Competition Protocol. A Moderator (if any) must further disclose the results of the fight.
- Procedure for filing and consideration of protests
21.1. In case of reasoned disagreement with the decision of the Referee team and the Senior Referee, the team captain or officially (in writing) appointed by the team captain assistant-representative of the athlete, who did not participate in the fight, can make a protest.
21.2. The protest can be submitted only reasoned (extremely specifically: for example, “My ward hit more strikes: 1 strike to the head and 2 strikes to the thigh onto his rival were not counted – it’s 4 points, so the score should be in favor of my fighter”)
21.3. The protest is filed after the end of the fight and the announcement of the final score on the following occasions:
21.3.1. Disagreement with the final score of the fight;
21.3.2. Not reported violations for which according to the Rules are given Warnings during the fight/gathering;
21.3.3. Disagreement with the decision of the Senior Referee to issue Warnings during the fight / gathering.
21.4. The protest is not accepted for the following reasons:
21.4.1. Disagreement with the previous protest, i.e. you cannot apply the protest to the protest
21.4.2. A protest, not relevant to the definition of the results of the fight
21.4.3. A protest to revise the result filed by the winning party.
21.5. A protest submitted on actions/inaction of Organizing Committee, Technical and Medical Boards is considered for the purpose of an assessment of referee practice and cannot serve as the basis of revision of the fight results.
21.6. The procedure for filing a protest:
21.6.1. An athlete (a cornerman, a head of a team) wishing to appeal against the decision of the Referee team has to declare a protest in oral form directly after the end of a fight to the Senior Referee of the Site.
Note: the example of the fight “Triathlon” – a protest is submitted only after the whole fight, and not intermediate gathering, and the announcement of the results by the Senior Referee.
21.6.2. No later than 10 minutes after the oral statement of a protest, the athlete via the captain/head / coach of his club/team / section must in the prescribed writing form appeal to the Chief Referee of the competition.
21.6.3. In the form of a protest the names of athletes, the description of an episode of the disputed score, concrete result and the subject of the protest without fail are reflected.
21.6.4. It is obligatory to provide a video to the protest form, allowing to consider the episode of the protest.
Note: video recording is provided on a tablet, computer, or another video device with a screen size of at least 17 cm (7 inches). Video recording can be presented on SD card for viewing on a computer / laptop.
21.6.5. The Chief Referee, in turn, shall notify the protest to the Chief Secretary of the competitions. The act of filing a protest, its satisfaction/non-satisfaction must be recorded by the Secretary in the Competition Protocol.
Note: the protest forms are kept by the Chief Secretary of the competition. Every athlete has the right to receive such a form upon his / her first request. Each team has the right to submit no more than 3 (three) protests in one day of the competition. An individual athlete (without a team) has the right to file a protest of no more than 1 (one) protest for the competition.
21.7. An athlete making the protest or his cornerman must pay cash deposit. In case of satisfaction of the protest, half of the deposit is refundable. Otherwise, the deposit as a fine for unjustified protest goes to the Organizing Committee.
21.8. The appeal is made by the Chief Referee (the Head of the Protest Commission) together with the Referee team members from 1 up to 4 referees who did not participate in making the decisions protested, with representatives (1 person) of the concerned party, on the basis of video recording of the fight. Consideration of the protest is made with the possible questioning of the parties to obtain detailed information.
Note: the pressure on referees in any form during the pendency of the protest is the basis for the Warning both to representatives of the athlete and the team of the athlete as a whole.
21.9. The decision on satisfaction/dissatisfaction of the protest is made only by the Chief Referee of the competition (the Head of the Protest Commission). In case of satisfaction of a protest the results of a fight are recognized not valid, and the Chief Referee appoints a re-fight from the moment of an event of a protest and the current score.
Explanation: an example – the fight “Triathlon”. Fighter A defeated Fighter B in the “Shield and Sword “round with a score of 10-7. In the “Buckler and Sword” round, Fighter A lost. In the third round he won again. The Senior Referee announced the result of the fight with a victory for Fighter A. Fighter B takes the protest to the event in the third round. Protest is granted by the Chief Referee. The duel of the Fighter A and the Fighter B from the third round (one-handed sword/two-handed sword) is appointed. Fighter B wins in the third round and thus wins on two kinds of weapons in a fight. The Secretary makes the appropriate adjustments in the Tournament Protocol and in the schedule of athletes’ fights.
21.10. The decisions made by the Referee team on the Site during or at the end of a re-fight may also be appealed if during the fight there was a violation of the Rules by the Side referees or the Senior Referee.
- The scheme of the competition.
22.1. In the presence of less than 3 fighters, the nomination is not carried out.
22.2. If there are 3-5 participants in each category, the fights are held according to the system “each vs each”, the winner is determined by the number of victories. In case of equality of victories between two fighters, the priority belongs to a fighter winning in a personal meeting. In case of equality of points, priority is to a fighter with a bigger “goal difference” points.
22.3. If there are 6 or more fighters in the nomination, fights are held in subgroups of 3-4 people, depending on the number of fighters in the system of qualifying rounds. From subgroups with 3 participants 1 best fighter is “deduced” to the next round, from subgroups with 4 participants 2 fighters are ”deduced”. This is followed by fights “shootout” as long as there will be 4 best fighters. In semi-finals (4 fighters) fighting is held according to the system “the first with the second” from different subgroups. So a couple of finalists is determined, who fight for the 1st and the 3d places.
- Individual championship
23.1. In each nomination of the Individual championship the winners who took the 1st, 2nd and 3d places are determined.
23.2. All 4 finalists must be entered into the Protocol, that is, the fighter who took the 4th place, for sure to be recorded in the Final Protocol.
23.3. The scheme of carrying out of the qualifying rounds in competition and the principle of division into subgroups are determined according to Appendix No. 30.
- Team classification
24.1. During the Team classification according to the results of the competition the records of the medals won by the team and awarded points are kept: gold – 3 points, silver – 2 points, bronze – 1 point.
24.2. The team with the most points wins the 1st place then all places are distributed to all teams. Thus, in the Team competition can be 2, 3, 4, 5 – … – 30 or more places, depending on the number of participating teams.
24.3. If two or more teams have the same number of points – both (or more) of these teams occupy the same team place. Even if it’s the First place.
