NCAA Fencing Rules

The NCAA sets the rules for college fencing; they are to be used in all college championship competitions. NCAA fencing rules set limits on team size, the format of team competition and the rules of competition for the NCAA Fencing Championships.

  1. Participants Per Team.

    • Men's and women's fencing teams are permitted to have nine participants in each weapon's category: Saber, Foil and Epee. Each team is permitted a total of three substitutes.

    Format of Competition

    • The format for NCAA Fencing Championship competitions shall be conducted in three phases. The first phase is Saber and then, simultaneously, Foil and Epee. The total number bouts are 27 for men and 27 for women.

    Duration of Bouts

    • The length of each individual bout is four minutes in team competition. The winner is the person with the most touches. In case of a tie, a one-minute sudden-death bout will take place. If a winner cannot be determined, a coin flip will decide who the individual winner is in team competition.

    Ties between Teams

    • The NCAA fencing rules state that if a tie exists between two or more teams for first place in the NCAA Championship, the winner will be the team that has won the most bout victories. If a tie still exists, a head-to-head competition will determine the winner.

    Substitutions

    • Each team is allowed one substitution per weapon category. Once a participant is selected in a weapon's category, they cannot be selected to participate in another. In case of a serious injury, the committee will allow a substitute fencer who has already participated in one weapon category to take the place of an injured fencer in another.