Tests on strips

[rsy]

I was directing at a high school tournament this past weekend and had a problem with foil.

On testing, fencer A gets an off-target when testing on fencer B's lame. I test directly to B's alligator clip and get a colored light. I move the clip and attach it to a different spot on the lame and fencer A now gets a colored light on B's lame. I have him test several more times in different locations, all good. During the bout he has 2-3 off target hits which he claims were on target, but on repeated tests I can't get them to reproduce. On the fourth time I test again on B's lame and get an off-target. I direct B to change his lame. The new lame tests fine, but A still complains that his on-target hits are showing off-target. Repeated testing doesn't reproduce the problem. B's coach then tells me that the armourer has tested B's lame and there is nothing wrong with it. I call the armorer to the strip, but he has no suggestions other than, "let them fence"

I think I had a border line lame on B, a possible dirty barrel on A and an overreacting fencer in A and his coach seeing on-targets that maybe weren't there. Any other suggestions or tests I could have done on the strip to see what was going on?

-r

[bigdawg2121]

You could also have had a cold solder joint in the gator clip....but you failed to follow ref rule 1 "CALL THE TECHNICIAN", unless there's none available your job is to ref, not strip tech.

[KD5MDK]

If the ref can troubleshoot the problem right at the strip and not need the technician (many issues are obvious), it saves a lot of time.

[Allen Evans]

Because of the nature of body cord clips, they tend to tear up the metal threads where the clib is attached to the lame. This eventually results in a lame giving white lights, since there is no continuity from the clip to the rest of the lame. When the clip is moved a few inches to the left or right, it contacts undamaged threads on the lame, and the "non-working" lame works again. Unfortunately, a lot of armourers (unless they are experianced) do not test the clip area when testing the lame, and can return a "valid lame" verdict.

This isn't the only possiblity to explain what happened, but I noticed it hadn't been raised yet.

As for the rest of the white lights, I think you might be safe to go with "over-reacting fencer and coach".

[telkanuru]

If you can't reproduce the problem, he point control is probly not as good as he thinks it is...

[N00bArmorer]

Quick observations.

1. Was the body cord checked? A break in the wire connecting to the clip could manifest itself as connected during stand still tests, but disconnected while moving.

2. I've also seen the same problem with poorly maintain reels in that one of the brushes in the reel does not provide continuous conductivity.

3. Your fencer might not be contacting long enough. New timing requires a longer depression time. I've seen this "problem" exploited where straight attacks on a retreating opponent even on a valid lame area generated an off target light.

[bigdawg2121]

If the ref can troubleshoot the problem right at the strip and not need the technician (many issues are obvious), it saves a lot of time.

True enough, however, I think you'll find the rule of thumb is that if you can't fix it in two actions of your own doing you should call the tech to the strip if for no other reason that referee liability and accountability. I've been forced to fend for myself and fix most of my stuff for almost my whole career so I generally have little problem trouble shooting, doesn't mean I'm in the right for not calling the tech. I was speaking purely from a "proper reffing etiquette and protocol when technicians are available" point of reference.

[remise]

The wire at the clip and/or solder can be at fault. This actually happened to me during practice. I thought my lame had gone dead, so I purchased a newer, more expensive one. The next day I discovered the problem was in my bodycord. I didn't take the new lame back, which turned out to be a good thing, because a month later my cheap lame really did expire.

[fencerbill]

Make use of the white light resulting from a fencer having his weapon/guard in contact with his Lame. This light will remain on while contact remains good.

You can then jiggle the ground clip wire, pull the reel cord, wiggle the floor cord, check the location of the ground clip and look for intermittent problems.

This is also a good quick method to check the green Lame areas on Sabre masks when there have not been equipment checks before the competition.

[rsy]

The wire at the clip and/or solder can be at fault.

I looked at it myself, but it was the first thing the armorer checked when he got to the strip. He used a small knife to see the the connection was still propoerly soldered. BTW the armorer was Ted Li so I assumed he knew what he was doing.

Make use of the white light resulting from a fencer having his weapon/guard in contact with his Lame. This light will remain on while contact remains good.

That is a great idea and it is the kind of thing I was hoping someone would come up with. Thanks.

-r