Crossing the Lateral Strip Boundaries

[Crash55]

I am unsure as to what is supposed to happen when one fencer crosses the
lateral boundary of the strip. What I have been told and seen seems to
disagree with the current rules. This what the current USFA rules say:

(c) Lateral boundaries
t.28 If one of the competitors crosses the lateral boundaries of the strip with
one foot only, he or she is not penalized but the Referee must immedi-ately
call ‘Halt’ and replace the competitors on guard on the strip.
A competitor who crosses one of the lateral boundaries of the strip with
both feet is penalized. When the competitors are replaced on guard, the
opponent of the competitor who has crossed the lateral boundary will
step forward one meter from the position he or she occupied when the
opponent left the strip; the competitor who is penalized must retire in
order to resume the correct fencing distance.
If the exercise of this penalty places a competitor with both feet beyond
the rear limit of the strip, that competitor is considered as having been
touch.
A competitor who crosses one of the boundaries of the strip with both
feet — e.g. when making a flèche — to avoid being touch will be
penalized as specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120.
(d) Leaving the strip accidentally
t.29 A competitor who crosses one of the boundaries of the strip as the
result of an accidental cause (such as a collision or jostling) incurs no
penalty whatever.

However I have been told that this year you are supposed to be given a
friendly warning, then a yellow card, etc. when you go off the side of the strip
with one or more feet. When I fenced in Canada last Nov and Jan that was
how they were calling it. So is the rule book right or is my information right?
I just want to make it gets called correctly at the division tournaments around
here.

Also what constitutes an accidental cause? The rules say jostling or collision,
are the other occurrences that may count?

[Gav]

This seems to be a result of a FIE rules amendment. This is how we interpret over hear in the UK:-

Providing that a fencer keeps one foot on the piste - no penalty.

If the fencer steps of the side of the piste "accidentally". A halt is called. The offending fencer is retreated back one meter. If this result in his backing off the piste a point is awarded to the other competitor. Accidental stepping is generally judged to be a result of jostling or to avoid a potentially dangerous (physical!) situation.

If the fencer steps off the piste to avoid a hit. This is judged to be a deliberate action, as such his opponent is awarded the touch.

I've also been told that if a fencer leaves the piste during a fleche this also an offence and he will be red carded as well! Not too sure about this one - as it seems a bit harsh.

In any case this seems to be one of those rules that is very open to interpretation.

[Crash55]

I just got a reply to the same query in r.s.f and there I was told that what I had been told before was true. Evidently it isn't a rule change but rather with the warning the ref is instructing you not to do that agin. Then when you do it again he can give you a yellow card for disobedience.

Any USFA rated refs, please comment. Whatever I am told here is most likely how it will be called in the Hudson Berkshire Division this year.

[Stryder]

The rulebook hasn't been changed, but the warning system was in effect at the beginning of the 99-00 competitive season.
The word on the street was that at the beginning of the next season, the "freindly warning" part would be done away with. But true to form no official word was printed on the matter so some ref's are warning fencers for stepping off with one foot while others have slipped back to the old way.
Personally I liked this rule. Fencers should stay near the center of the strip for saftey's sake alone. Walking on the tape means you are about 2 feet from the faces of the other members of your pool. Do the math. three foot blade plus two foot arm equals dead scorekeepers.
Also, each time distance is closed the fencer who is poorer at infighting will step back with the rear foot and there is a halt. Let's face it losing a meter is NO penalty.