Wheelchair Fencing etiquettes and salutations: Part 1
Wheelchair fencing, one of the most famous Paralympic sports, is usually liked by the disabled community. The most important fact of the Wheelchair Fencing is that it is complex from able-bodied fencing to a lot of extent. One has to use extra equipment
and extra techniques for this type of the competitions. Its categories make it a bit simple, but it increases the competitiveness.
The scoring apparatus for Wheelchair Fencing is more complex than that of normal fencing because fencers fight by sitting on a wheelchair. So, when a fencer attacks, it could not be judged easily with the apparatus that whether the hit made is valid or not.
Anyhow, the techniques used in the Wheelchair Fencing are almost same as the able-bodied fencing. Very few changes occur in this type of fencing due to the use of wheelchair and mainly due to the physical disability of the fencer. The following are the techniques
being used while playing the Wheelchair Fencing.
The weapon must remain in attacking hand only and a fencer cannot change the hand until the bout ends. Anyhow fencer can change the weapon with authorisation of the referee if the attacking hand or the arm is injured. Fencers in category C, who cannot hold
the weapon, can bind the weapon to the attacking hand. The binding must be have protective gear for the attacking hand.
Before the match starts, both fencers salute each other as per fencing rules. Both shake their swords with each other before the first bout and after the last fight ends.
First command is “On-guard” given by the referee. As there is no wheelchair movement so fencers are always in On-guard position. In Wheelchair Fencing the command “On-guard” means not to come at the on-guard lines but to be ready for fencing. Then referee
asks “Are you ready?” from both. With positive replies, he orders to start fencing with the word “Play” or “Alac”.
If any violation occurs or the bout ends, referee gives a command “Halt” to stop the game. If a fencer stops before the “Halt” command is given and is then hit, the hit-score will be accounted.
If the fencer start before the command “Play” it will be the violation of the rules and referee may give the punishment for it. It is also a violation and can be punished if a fencer lifts his or her feet from wheelchair foot rest. Lifting from seat is also
a violation.
The duration of Wheelchair Fencing is same as able-bodied fencing. The authorised duration for bout is three minutes. The individual match consists of three bouts either of three minutes or five touches. Same in teams, but in team matches one fencer of the
team fences against the each fencers of the opposite team. Bout can be stopped by the referee if any injury or cramp occurs.
If the wheelchair is damaged or caused any error, referee can allow stopping the bout until the wheelchair is repaired or changed. The maximum time allowed is only ten minutes for repairing of exchanged. The referee can allow changing the wheelchair if it
cannot be repaired within ten minutes.
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