In December 2018 the FIE Congress approved changes to the passivity/non combativity rules (FIE Technical Rulebook – t.124) which come into effect on 1st January 2019.

As these are the rules that will be followed when our athletes complete internationally, it is important that these are implemented for UK competitions as soon as practically feasible.

After consulting with Athlete Development Programme coaches (who are preparing the GBR team for upcoming Cadet and Junior Europeans) and BRC competition organisers we can confirm that the following competitions will be using the new passivity rules:

5/1/2019 – Leon Paul BRC Girls Cadet Epee

6/1/2019 – Leon Paul BRC Boys Cadet Epee

6/1/2019 – Fencers Club London BRC Under 17 (Cadet) Foil 

For these BRC competitions BF will assign an advisor who will support the referees and competition organisers with implementing the new rules. A briefing will be provided for all referees at the start of the day:

• Leon Paul Epee BRCs – Steve Higginson, BF Rules Committee Chair and FIE Rules Commission Chair
• Fencers Club London – Alex Beardmore, FIE Foil Referee

Please note that unless any further information has been received from the FIE the rules will be followed as written.

Following feedback from these events, the events being run internationally, any further clarification provided by the FIE and informal consultation with competition organisers, BF will be providing guidance for fencers and implementation guidelines for other competition organisers.

In the meantime if you have questions related to the rule that you would like answered (that are not answered by the FIE rules as written) please forward these to [email protected] with ‘FIE Passivity Rule’ in the subject header. We may not be able to reply individually but we will incorporate the answers into subsequent guidelines.

Please note that all subsequent BRCs, U23 British Championships and the Senior British Championships will be run following the new rules.