Preparing for a NAC Weapon Check
Before most competitions, especially NACs, there is a pre-competition inspection, also known as a a “controle” (French for “inspection”), which does two things: it ascertains that a fencer’s equipment complies with the standards detailed in the “M” section of the rules, and, more importantly, it checks mask safety. Items that pass are marked so referees know they conform to the rules, while items that fail – with the exception of masks – can be repaired. In sum, the role of the controle is to make the competition safe, fair, and efficient.
The pre-competition weapons check, or “Controle,” where fencers get their gear checked before competition.
According to the rules, there is a maximum number of items a fencer can submit for inspection: 2 masks, 2 gloves, 3 body and 3 mask cords, 2 of each lamé item. Note that weapons and chest protectors need NOT be submitted, as their inspection is done by the referee on the strip before each bout or DE encounter.
Prior to submitting equipment for a controle, fencers should make it a habit to check their equipment for safety and functionality before arriving at a tournament.
The only mandated safety check is for masks – everything else is a courtesy check. The mask’s mesh must be able to withstand the 12 kg mask punch test, and the mask’s frame must be intact. In addition, there must be no broken wires, deformed mesh, dents in the mesh or holes in the bib that could catch or hold a point. The binding and bib should be securely attached to the mesh so neither can catch a point. The presence of a safety strap on the back of the mask is mandatory. If the safety strap is elastic, the elastic should be tight enough to keep the strap against the back of the skull. In the case of the Leon Paul X-Change Contour mask – the model lacking a metal tongue – its security strap MUST be attached to the mask before it will be inspected.
Gloves must not have any holes. These may be repaired with glue and stitching, but taping alone over a hole is unacceptable. The security of the Velcro fastening is also checked.
In the case of saber gloves, they must have an intact FIE homologation label and be able to pass the 5-ohm electrical resistance check of the lamé gauntlet. If a manchette (overglove) is used, a FIE homologated glove must accompany it.
Body cords are items that frequently fail at controle due to intermittent breaks in their wires, which most often happen immediately behind the plug that goes into the weapon. Submitted cords DO NOT have to be unbundled, but they MUST have all the previous inspection tags removed before being submitted. The only reason foil and saber body cords might need to be unbundled is if the “A” line (the clip wire) is to be measured. The electrical resistance of each wire should be less than 1 ohm (steady state) while the wire is being flexed. In the case of foil/saber body and mask cords, the alligator clips must be soldered directly onto the wires with the solder joints fully visible, and a security device should be present. Mask cords should be between 30cm and 40cm in length and have either clear or white jacketing. Currently, USA Fencing still permits the use of “curly” mask cords and opaque body cord plugs – internationally they are not permitted.
For all lamé items (saber masks, foil mask bibs, glove gauntlets, manchettes, vests, jackets) the electrical resistance between any two points, including patched areas, should be less than 5 ohms. The areas most commonly affected by oxidation, wear-and-tear, etc. are collars, and, in the case of saber lamés, the forearm and underarm of the armed side. For foil lamés, “bikini cuts” are not allowed.
If a mask fails, it is confiscated for the event and marked as “FAILED.”
When submitting equipment to a NAC controle, fencers should have their equipment ready to be inspected. As fencing bags are not permitted at the controle tables – they constitute a tripping hazard – the equipment to be inspected should be removed from the fencing bag in a safe place. When approaching the controle, all items should be removed from your mask: lamés should be zipped, right-side out; body cords should be bundled with the ends approximately eight inches apart.
As a fencer’s equipment is inspected and passed, it is marked. It is the fencer’s responsibility to know what the “passed” marks are and where they are located on his/her equipment. At most tournaments, if an item fails, that failure is confirmed by a second armorer who retests the suspect item. Any equipment that fails – with the exception of masks – is returned to the fencer so it can be repaired. If a mask fails, it is confiscated for the duration of the tournament and marked as “FAILED” to prevent its future use.
While many pre-competition equipment checks have long lines, having your equipment ready to be inspected helps to shorten the waiting time of the people behind you in the line. The controle process should only be confirmation that your equipment is safe and in good working order.