Rude behavior.....

[Purple Fencer]

Ok. It sounded more like you were proud of issuing black cards, and that sort of "the more cards I give, the tougher and more badass I look" is a scary attitude, and one that unfortunately I have seen before. If that's not you, then good. Although I still don't really see why you would give a second black card. But I suppose it doesn't really make a difference.

Maybe not to a spectator, but to event organizers, division officers, and USFA, any fencer who earns TWO blacks in the same action (for the reasons stated above) is demonstrating themselves to be a threat to the other participants and MUST be controlled...up to and including being banned from competition...especially if he starts causing damage to the venue....someone with THAT much of a LACK of self-controlI certainly don't want in MY venue with a 3 foot metal rod in his hand.

Unacceptable behavior....double black care appropriate/

[dfranke]

How about the fencer who punched his opponent at the conclusion of the bout, any suggestions?

Well, to said opponent, I suppose I'd suggest he keep his mask on the next time he faces said fencer.

[Old Fencer]

I am not a tough guy when refereeing. I think the best officials are those who you don’t remember. I was drawn back to fencing as a referee when saber went electric. As a saber fencer I felt slighted by the officials at that time and left the sport a young and foolish man. My approach to being an official was that I hated everyone equally and therefore the transposed must apply. I did not coach or fence while officiating as I personally felt it could be perceived as a conflict. I was by no stretch of the imagination a top notch official, but I would like to think that I was fair. I refereed on the local high school, collegiate and national level for many years. I had the privilege of being Chief Referee for the ECAC for a few years and came to know our community from the inside out. I am proud of my association with this sport and our athletes. I would like to think that everyone who had ever volunteered their time, energy and/or finances to this sport shares in some small way with the recent success.

[telkanuru]

The follow-ups definitely clarified your original post; I was of the same opinion as epeelion.

There are plenty of situations where legit BCs are given, and the ref could do nothing to avoid them.

However, I've seen many cases of inexperienced referees scaling up the "order of punishments" tree waaaay too fast because they feel their authority threatened. There was a video on the internet that has a guy pulled over for speeding getting tasered by a rookie cop because he kept asking how fast he was going. Same sort of thing. God forbid they give the referees tasers.

There is also a large number of cardable offenses that result from a referee not controlling his/her strip effectively. Even if the calls are correct, if the ref isn't decisive and in control, stuff may just explode, and I find that the fault of the ref rather than the fencer. This is not even mentioning fencers who blow up over piss-poor refereeing.

[oso97]

Once you've given one black, I really feel like you should just let it take effect and move on. Really no need to give a second. If they get physical, call security. Giving them another card certainly isn't going to make them any more reasonable, hehe.

What you may be overlooking is when after a black card, the person in question chooses to take the confrontation to another level. This may necessitate an expulsion penalty moved up to exclusion, or an exclusion from event to the entire tournament.

[epeelion]

True, I had forgotten about the different types of black cards. Point conceded. Would it be two separate cards, or an "upgrade", though?

[OMCEPKEN]

Sorry bout the experience.
Forget about foil, try sabre..that'll get him back into it