| Fencing bouts pose a distinct set of tactical | | | | again to win. If time does not remain, at least you |
| problems related to the time remaining in the | | | | will end tied, and have to fence for a deciding |
| bout. If you do not understand the situation and | | | | touch. It may be to your advantage to delay the |
| act accordingly, you risk losing when victory was | | | | final hit if you can until insufficient time remains |
| possible. Some guidelines: | | | | for the opponent to score, giving you a short |
| (1) Always know what the score is. Normally this | | | | breather before fencing the deciding touch, and |
| is announced after each touch, but even then | | | | putting the opponent under increased pressure. |
| some fencers become confused. If you are not | | | | (5) If the score is tied as time starts to wind |
| sure what the referee just said ask politely who | | | | down, follow the advice for when you are behind. |
| had which number of hits. | | | | Now you want to score a solid hit, but in |
| (2) Have a sense of the time remaining. The | | | | conditions that make it unlikely the opponent can |
| referee or timekeeper normally will not announce | | | | score again. Either score at the last possible |
| the time. But you may always ask for the time | | | | moment, or score earlier and use the tactics for |
| remaining when a halt is called. | | | | when you are ahead. |
| (3) If you are ahead and less than one minute | | | | (6) If you are fencing for a deciding touch after |
| remains, make your choices based on the tactical | | | | time has expired, be sure that you understand |
| situation that has gotten you to the lead. If you | | | | the situation. If you have priority, you will win if |
| are scoring well either on attack or from your | | | | the opponent does not score a hit. If you do not |
| defense, continue to set up the tactical situations | | | | have priority, you must score a touch or the |
| you have found successful. If the situation is | | | | opponent will win. In either case, the person who |
| more even, use attacks to keep the opponent | | | | scores a single touch wins. An error now costs |
| off balance and to prevent the development of a | | | | you the bout with no chance of recouping. |
| series of actions that will be likely to hit you. | | | | Prepare carefully and use everything you have |
| These attacks should not be over committed - | | | | learned about the opponent in the bout. Clear |
| you do not want the opponent to be presented | | | | your mind of negative thought and do not allow |
| with an easy opportunity for a riposte or | | | | pressure to exist - let the opponent be the one |
| counterattack. This is not to say that you should | | | | who feels pressure and is defeated by worries |
| not attack when presented with the right | | | | about how to win (if you have priority) or how to |
| circumstances, but rather that you should not feel | | | | avoid losing (if they have priority). |
| pressured to attack continually. Above all, do not | | | | Any of these courses of action require practice, |
| change your tactics to protect your lead, as the | | | | just like any other fencing technique or tactical |
| odds are good you will start getting hit. | | | | combination. You can fence practice bouts that |
| (4) If you are behind and time is getting short, do | | | | simulate being ahead with 30 seconds left, being |
| not feel pressured to attack in every situation. | | | | behind with 30 seconds left, being tied with 30 |
| Obviously a poorly thought out attack may set | | | | seconds left, or fencing the overtime 1 minute |
| you up to be hit, making the tactical situation | | | | with or without priority. Doing so will help you |
| even worse. Prepare carefully, set your best trap, | | | | develop a sense of time without the input of your |
| attack at the right moment from the right | | | | watch, and will sharpen your understanding of |
| distance, and tie the bout. If time remains, do it | | | | what techniques work for you in these situations. |