Who thinks fleche should be allowed in High School Fencing

[devilsEPEE]

I think the fleche should be allowed in High School fencing. I mean it's a legal move in FIE book. Why would they want to remove that option from us? Of course I understand the concern over idiots running full speed down the piste but that will warrant a warning, yellow, red, or black card. The reason I'm posting this is because I recently lost a bout because of this I fleched on a an attck and the director stops it after the point and says the point doesn't count. I proceed with a long leaning lunge and the fleche came naturally as I did not want to fall. The director calls halt but the point is for the other person and he says the point stands. I was furious not just because I lost but because I also feel I got cheated as the director was coach of the other team. But besides my sob story the fleche seems to come naturally to me i've done it alot in the past always as i'm scoring a point and i've not been caught that many times. I just want it to be a legal move as it would be a great part of my arsenal.

[MHS Fencer]

My (now former) HS used to fence a couple of schools in Jersey, but we couldn't take it because of the ban on the flesh. Everytime we'd fence them we'd get calls against us for fleshing (even when we weren't). It also isn't any more dangerous of a move when executed correctly. That said, it's probably not going to be executed directly, but fencing is still a heck of a lot safer than most other sports out there. Say, let's ban the forward running play it football because that's basically just guys running into each other trying to knock each other down... sounds dangerous to me...

[devilsEPEE]

THANK YOU!!!! But I must ask you mean it's only in New Jersey that the fleche is banned?

[oiuyt]

It's a NJ HS rule. I remember hearing about another area where they had the same rule (forget which state), so you're not unique, but it's not true for all HS teams.

-B :)

[AndrewH]

Meh, I could care less. Go sabre!

[duel mom]

Which State governing body writes these rules? Do they coach fencing?

[KShan5[PrFC]]

In Massachusetts it is legal. Not in sabre obviously, but in MA they apply the USFA rules, so it makes life easier.

[The0ne]

they ban the flesche in foil in the HS meets??? That's really stupid!!! A lunge can pack just as much power if both people are moving together, they might as well put a ban on hard hits. . . One word, Lamitude!!!!

[MyraTrue]

Should the fleche be banned in foil and epee? The very idea that someone would try boggles my mind. I was not aware that it HAD been in highschool fencing. I guess I'll say I'm lucky I didn't begin fencing until I hit college.

This is an outrage, as far as I'm concerned. Should HS students fleche? Should ANYONE fleche? I figure, when you are able to capably fleche, then you should. Not limited by age, or schooling level etc. I see it that if you can, then do.

Without the fleche, I'd be doomed. Its a mainstay of my epee.

I VERY MUCH sympathize with you. In my opinion, its WRONG to have banned it. Ugh. USFA allows it, so why don't HSs?

[Cerian]

The fleche is banned in highschool fencing in San Francisco, not sure about the rest of the state.

[oiuyt]

I think that SF might be the other location that I mentioned previously hearing about.

-B :)

[Hyperion1250]

I'm going to start this off by saying i don't fleche, it doesn't feel natural to me, etc..... However, i don't think it should be banned, my opponents rarely fleche more than 2 or 3 times: good stop thrusts discourage it. Its just stupid (Thank god illinois goes by normal rules), all they're doing is screwing the fencers.

I can see the rule comittee: While we're at it, why don't we ban lunges, or beats maybe? And i've heard that "Disengage" thing is pretty sinister.....

I"m a HS fencer and the only thing i'd like to see changed(at least this one habit) is directors that will red card someone (5 pt. bout) because he fell down, it obviously wasn't intentional; and the person in question's knee gave out on him but won't even warn someone for bellguarding someone in the face....
-The first bout in question wasn't mine, it was a friend of mine who had that happen. THe second incident did happen to me

[KShan5[PrFC]]

the directing at high school tournaments is shoddy as it is, at least in massachusetts. We had an off target light on(sabre) and I told the ref that it maybe the connection between the socket and body chord. What does she do? Switches the floor chords around so the lights are backwards. I started laughing so hard I had to walk away and have my coach explain to her how to fix it. Turned out the connection was lose between the socket and body chord. So moral of the story is do not expect anything more than a warm body from a director.

[Hyperion1250]

You can usually expect either a good laugh or a total outrage as well....... or you can expect nothing which is often what you get.

[Army Fencer]

Originally posted by Cerian
The fleche is banned in highschool fencing in San Francisco, not sure about the rest of the state.

Not when I fenced in Southern California.

[Hurriranger]

come to australia.... anything goes down here

[MyraTrue]

I find that red card for falling debatable. You can't really question the director for NOT calling something, but last I looked, falling was no longer a cardable offense.

On the other hand, I guess there is the "falling out of control" which I've usually had interpreted to mean "Falling on top of another fencer, so as to be dangerous". But falling itself does nothing more than halt the action.

Do the people who ban things from HS fencing really believe they're doing a favor to their fencers? Fleching is part of the fencing world, and competitively, it is useful. To ban it and then turn these fencers loose is an insult to good fencing. Its a limitation, and it only harms their OWN fencers. Which is sad.

[Army Fencer]

As much as I dislike it, there has to be some sort of reason for the rule. Are they afraid of injuries with the flesche? Are they afraid that they will kill reels?

What's the purpose?

[Fencingrocks41]

damn, i posted a wrong poll... i said no instead of yes....

SORRY

p.s: i use fleche a lot, its one of my favorite attacks!
and i think that if you sting hard, your opponent shouldn't complain about pain, because thats fencing! if the opponent didn't want to get hurd, he shouldn't have done fencing in the first place!!!



Greetz, Carlos

[Stryder]

Fleching is not a wise move.
It works, yes, but so do a lot of stupid things. They work once if you're quick and lucky. They work twice, three times even more if your opponant is dull and his coach never foresaw an opponant doing something so foolish. But if you find that fleching is a habit you can't break immediately, then you have weakened yourself as a fencer.

Perhaps that is why it is banned in certain high school competitions. Bad habits learned early will keep you from achieving later on.

Simple test: How many times do you see The world champion fleche?
The runner up probably did. It's an act of desperation.

Just my opinion.