Method of making a Hit
The foil is a thrusting weapon only. Offensive actions with foil are made with the point. Defensive actions with the foil are made with the blade and the guard only. The valid target area is the body of the opponent; excluding the limbs (arms, legs and head).

The Field of Play
Fencing takes place on a piste between two fencers using the same weapon (Foil, Épée or Sabre). Each fencer is required to wear the appropriate fencing equipment and to fence in a safe and fair manner. During a fencing bout each fencer must stay on the piste and must not turn their back on the opponent (see Offences).

Duration of a Bout
The bout is normally fought until one fencer scores 15 points. In competitions this is done in 3 periods of 3 minutes each with 1 minute breaks. The person who scores 15 or with the highest score at the end of the time is the winner.

Pledge of Honour
Fencers pledge their honour to observe the rules, regulations and the decisions of the judges, to be respectful towards the Referee and to scrupulously obey the Referee's orders and injunctions. Failure to do so will result in some form of penalty (see Rules: Pledge of Honour, Rules: Offences and Penalties).

Fencing Etiquette
The competitors must fence faithfully and strictly according to the rules. In all bouts they must preserve the character of a courteous and frank encounter. All irregular actions (fléche attack which finishes with a collision, jostling the opponent, disorderly fencing, a fall, irregular movements on the piste, hits achieved with undue violence, hits made while falling) are strictly forbidden. Should such an offence occur, any hit scored by the fencer at fault is annulled.

Before beginning the bout the two fencers must perform a fencing salute to their opponent, to the spectators and to the Referee.

After the final hit has been scored, the bout is not ended until the two fencers have saluted each other, the spectators and the Referee. The fencers must remain still while the Referee is making the final hit decision. When the decision is given, they must proceed with the fencer's salute, which is performed by lifting the weapon guard up to the chin, and must shake hands with their opponent, with the unarmed hand.

The fencer, whether on or off the piste must keep their mask on until the Referee calls halt. They may under no circumstances address the referee until the Referee has made a decision. Under no circumstances may fencers remove their clothes on the piste, even to change their bodywire (see Rules: Fencing etiquette).