1. The fencer whose number is called first should place himself on the right of the Referee, except in the case of a bout between a right- and a left-hander, if the left-hander is called first.
  2. The team which has the greater number of right-handed fencers should be placed on the referee’s right. If both teams have the same number of right- and left-handed fencers, the team called first should be placed on the referee’s right.
  3. The Referee places each of the two competitors in such a way that the front foot of each is immediately behind the ‘on-guard’ line.
  4. Competitors are always put on guard, whether at the beginning of the bout or subsequently, in the centre of the width of the piste.
  5. When placed on guard during the bout, the distance between the two competitors must be such that, in the position ‘point in line’, the points of the two blades cannot make contact.
  6. After the scoring of a valid hit the competitors are put on guard in the middle of the piste.
  7. If no hit is awarded they are replaced in the position which they occupied when the bout was interupted.
  8. At the beginning of each period (in a direct elimination bout) and of any additional minute of fencing time, the fencers are placed on guard in the middle of the piste.

    The competitors may not be replaced on guard, at their correct distance, in such a way as to place behind the rear line of the piste a fencer who was in front of that line when the bout was halted. If he already had one foot behind the rear line, he remains in that position.

  9. If a fencer has crossed the lateral boundaries of the piste, with one or both feet, he must be placed on guard at the correct distance even if this means that he is placed behind the rear line and thus causes a hit to be awarded against him. (cf t.35.1, t.146).
  10. Competitors come on guard when the Referee gives the order ‘On guard!’, after which the Referee asks, ‘Are you ready?’. On receiving an affirmative reply, or in the absence of a negative reply, he gives the command for fencing to commence with the word ‘Play!’.
  11. The fencers must come on guard correctly and remain completely still until the command ‘Play!’ is given by the Referee.
  12. At foil and sabre fencers may not come on guard in the ‘in line’