Tough Calls in Épée: Receiving Corps-a-Corps and Awkward Strip Positioning

This call generated some discussion at summer nationals, and luckily we had a lot of FIE refs present!
The key is: do not punish fencers receiving the corps a corps.
I polled 9 FIE refs. 7 said touch is good, the other 2 said the halt should have happened at the corps a corps, but because I didn’t call halt, touch is good.
A few other thoughts that may come to mind:
1. Why no card for Iyoki for turning back? In a lefty righty fight that’s happening at the edge of the strip where FotL goes behind him, it’s kind of hard to riposte any way but that.
2. Why no halt for corps a corps? 2/9 FIE refs I spoke to said that was the moment I should have called halt. When I reviewed this on video, I felt Iyoki’s tip was in position to riposte just before the corps a corps and he had started that action beforehand.
Epee: It’s never as simple as it looks.
#Epee #EpeeFencing #Escrime #Esgrima #Fechten #Scherma #Espada #Fencing

[@romanista77]

Yup, good call.
It’s tough to call halt at that point. Unless you can’t follow the action anymore.
But, as you could follow it, it’s definitely the right call.

[@romanista77]

As a three weapon referee, I’ve often heard people say Sabre is the hardest to call. But, some of the toughest calls I’ve made have been in epee.
The conventions are less known or non-existent. And you can spent huge amounts of time relaxed, then suddenly need to be very focused for a tough call.

[@TheNicagator]

Agree!