I have a question about ACL leg braces. I've seen people fencing with them over their fencing knickers.
At one comp. some years ago a referee said I could not wear my brace over my pants - needless to say it doesn't fit under fencing pants. I fenced one bout without it then cut my pants and got the trainer to tape them up over the brace.
Later, I sewed a wedge of white canvas in the cut and put velcro on the bottom to hold the hem together. This made the area around the knee somewhat baggy and maybe as likely to catch the point of a blade (I fence epee).
Are there any rules on these braces? Is it up to the discretion of the ref.? How have others dealt with this situation.
I am not sure exactly what type of brace you are talking about. I have a knee brace I wear to fence and I wear it inside my knickers. Another guy in my club has a similar barce and he also wears it under his knickers. Wearing it outside the knickers I would be afraid soemthing would get caught on it.
It's a big old hard plastic brace. A solid piece around the front of the upper leg, a bar around the front of the shin, two struts down the sides and a joint at the knee. It straps on with velcro. It does not fit under fencing pants without "loosening" them. Most people I've seen with them, wear them over their pants. But, like you say, that doesn't seem totally safe.
A guy at my club wears one like that and has never had any problems at local or national levels with it. He fences foil so don't see how it could be a problem. If you were fencing epee I could see how it could get in the way but don't know of any rule against it.
I have worn that type of brace in the past and I too modified my pants to wear it on the inside. I was worried about a blade getting caught in teh supposrt and breaking. (I do fence epee)
I expect that was your director's concern too.
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