A hit which is made on a part of the body other than the target (whether directly or as a result of a parry) is not counted as a valid hit, but stops the bout. However, hits which arrive off the target are counted as valid whenever, by reason of an abnormal position, the fencer has substituted this non-valid target for the valid target. The Referee alone must decide whether the hit is valid or not (see Rules: Hits off the Target).

Annulment of a Hit
The Referee will disregard hits made as a result of actions:

• started before the word ‘Play’ or after the word ‘Halt’;

• which are made on any object other than the opponent or their equipment

(see Rules: Annulment of a Hit)

Crossing the limits of the piste
If one of the fencers leaves the piste, only a hit made by the fencer who remains on the piste can be counted, even in the case of a double hit. Also, if a competitor crosses one of the boundaries of the piste with both feet, the bout is halted and everything that has occurred after the boundary has been crossed is invalid, except a hit on the fencer who has crossed the boundary even after he has crossed it provided that this hit is made immediately.

(see Rules: Crossing the Limits of the Piste)