These Guidelines for all age groups are issued by British
Fencing to ensure that Fencing remains one of the safest sports.
Please study them carefully and always follow them. Almost all
serious fencing injuries are caused by broken blades, so please
pay particular attention to section 2(h). The BFA has decided to
formalise certain minimum safety standards for fencing clothing
in terms of the recently introduced European CEN standards. Some
of these standards are in force already for certain
competitions; they will all be in force from January 1, 2006,
for all fencing, both at competitions and in clubs. Fencers are
therefore strongly advised to renew their equipment between now
and January 1, 2006, with equipment of the new standard. Fencers
should apply these Guidelines to themselves and to anyone with
whom they are fencing. If your opponent's blade is soft, for
example, you are the one that may suffer if it breaks. The BFA
has a policy on child protection. Fencers, coaches or officials
dealing with children