Writing on Fencing Pants for Summer National Championships

[InsaneEpeeist]

Hello,
I need to know if I'm allowed to put a reference of a biblical verse under my name on my fencing pants for the Summer National Championships. (Example: Psalm 118:8)

Thanks,

Prudence Reardon

[a517dogg]

i doubt it.

[wflaschka]

If half of what I see on TV is true, the Lord knows your heart, no matter what you write on your pants. You may write Psalm 118, but he'll know you're thinking Psalm 117. Me, I've always found success after sacrificing a bullock (pleasing odors all around).

All kidding aside, this is an interesting question to me... because, really... why not put reference numbers / inspirational stuff on equipment?

The USFA 2002 Rules Revision C, Fencer's Publicity Code Supplement, chapter IV, verse C(b) is pretty clear on the matter. It doesn't allow for much in the way of personal expression.

Fencing clothing and equipment
No advertizing is permitted either on the clothing or the equipment of a fencer (weapon, mask, etc.) nor any other display (badge, name, etc.), other than as authorized above (cf. Chapter IV, section
A [manufacturer's labels]), except on the mask, where the self-adhesive badge of the competition taking place must be worn, if the organizers so require (see below).

Nevertheless, on condition that the fencers precisely observe the regulations relating to electrical material and the equipment of fencers, they must display their name and their nationality, in dark
blue capital letters, on the back of their jacket. The letters must be between 10 cm, maximum, and 8 cm, minimum, high. The width of the letters will vary according to the length of the name.
If a federation and/or a fencer have signed a sponsorship contract with a commercial or other company, the logo of that sponsorship partner, maximum
50 cm2 in size, may be affixed at the top of the sleeve of the non-sword arm of the fencing jacket, on the side of the breeches (left or right) or on the socks. At sabre a logo may not be worn on the
sleeve.

A fencer may not display more than four such logos (which may be identical). The total suface area of all these logos added together must not exceed 200 cm2.

Perhaps some of the more knowledgeable fencers will chime in... but it seems to me if you're sponsored by, say, a church, and that church's logo includes a biblical reference number, then why the hell not?

You'll want to be careful about "sponsorship"... be sure to read all about it in the rulebook PDF file (free on USFA.org website), because it looks pretty strict.

Let me also say that at a fencing tournament, where everybody looks and dresses the same -- it's not the labeling or signage that matters. What will give you strength in all that conformity (and adrenalin, nervousness, edginess) is the inner spark thing.

Edit: PS -- good luck!

[Mo]

I believe that on your back leg you can have your name and the USA Emblem.
You can put a "tasteful" design on the front leg however, using a bible verse may be quite a responsibility. What if you lose your temper or make an a$$ out of yourself?
Better to keep fencing and religion separate.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

The direct answer is no. But it's not just because I'm being a devil's advocate, this goes for anyone putting text on their uniform other than their name or country. This prevents people from putting things on their uniforms like "Fear This", "No Fear", "Truckin' Rules", "I Love N'Sync", "Math is fun", etc.
However, you do see people with patches showing what salle they belong to and or they put little stickers on their masks, like Pokemon. If you chose to, you could write your Scripture reference on the back of your mask's tang or on a patch you put on your sleeve.

[Craig]

All kidding aside, this is an interesting question to me... because, really... why not put reference numbers / inspirational stuff on equipment?

According to another thread, if we allow that then all of us will have flashing neon Bud Light signs on our backs within 18 months.




Serious answer: See 355's above. He has it pretty much on point.

Craig

[veeco]

For those wondering, Psalm 118:8 says:

"[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. "

And yes, I had to look it up.



I thought it would make some reference to fencing, but apparently it doesn't...

[wflaschka]

[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Hmmm... seems dangerous from a sports psychology point of view. There's always that small voice -- the will to fail -- that's whispering plausible excuses to every competitor. One cop-out is like another: "I lost because I had a runny nose." Or, "I lost because the LORD liked the other fencer better, and fore-ordained I would tank my eliminations."

For fencing, I like: "The LORD helps he who helps himself."Lately I've been working with, I like challenges, but that's not in scripture as such. When I'm losing, I use, Oh no you didn't!! when I give away a touch. It's from Wflaschka 3:14.

[InsaneEpeeist]

HaHaHaHa you guys crack me up.. well, I'm impressed that Veeco actually looked in the Bible to find out what the verse was. I have another verse that I really like. Hebrews 4:12. Look that one up and tell everyone what it says

In Christ,

Prudence Reardon

[Dragonfly]

I would have selected:

"Those who live by the sword, die by the sword". That way you could intimidate your opponent and wield "supreme" power at the same time.
-----------------------------------------
I"m an old cowhand,
On the Rio Grande,
I split my rails,
On a neon grail
Oh, you can't beat a fellow
In the old corral,
You can't hit a tiger in the old saw mill
Yippee yi yo ki ya,
Yippe yi yo ki ya


`,-)>>----------*
---------------------
that's an epee

[Wizardly]

Simple solution: just wear a t-shirt or underwear with the biblical reference. I suppose you could even put it on your underarm protector. Draw it on your forehead! If you shave your head, you could draw it anywhere there too. Write it on your leg underneath your socks. I wonder if the rules apply to shoes as well...probably. You can put anything you want on a warmup suit (although there are certain other restrictions). Equipment bags are also good places to write stuff. You can even hang tags off the handles. If you're really looking for display space, you can always show up in a cape; gallant and stylish, not to mention trend-setting. Ooh, and whatever you use to protect your blades (personally I use PVC piping); you can write all over those too.

[Dragonfly]

Wiz:

that wouldn't be nice. I had a fencing partner, [this is true], he was new and actually a very nice person, but something happened to him along the way.....he came to class with about 10 or 15 celtic crosses emblassoned on his jacket. It was sort of interesting, sort of nice, but on the other hand, I respect Christianity and don't want to hit his crosses, so I had to make due with other targets; since he was an epeeist, I had to shoot for his toe or his mask. But if I hit his mask he would cry.

Here's another one:

"Yea though I go into the shadow of the valley of death,
I will fear no evil" - that's for unclassified fencers who have to fence the classified fencers.

[InsaneEpeeist]

LOL Dragonfly:

"Yea though I go into the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil" - that's for unclassified fencers who have to fence the classified fencers."

Yeah that would be me because I'm not ranked. Okay Wizardly I'll put it on my PVC pipe.

Prudence Reardon

[Wizardly]

Just think of drawing your weapon as an unspoken prayer.

[Peach]

Can I write "Nov schmoz ka pop?" on my knickers?

[Mo]

Originally posted by Peach
Can I write "Nov schmoz ka pop?" on my knickers?

I'll bite what does that mean?

[Peach]

Ab-so-lute-ly nothing--a hitchhiking character in the old Popeye comic strip used to carry a sign saying that, and I thought it might be as good as anything else that's been suggested . . . but then I belong in a Home for the Easily Amused.