The USA Fencing Board of Directors voted on Dec. 5 to amend the Rules of Competition as it relates to the rule regarding reversing the line of the shoulders in foil competition.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2018, a foil fencer who reverses the line of their shoulders is no longer subject to a Group 1 penalty.

The following segment of § t.18, ¶ 5 and t.120 will be removed from the Rules of Competition following the approval of this change by the Federation Internationale d’Escrime at its Congress in November:

At foil, it is forbidden, during the course of fencing, to advance the shoulder of the nonsword arm in front of the shoulder of the sword arm (cf. t.19). If a competitor does so he is liable to incur the penalties enumerated in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120. Any touches scored by the fencer at fault while committing this offence will be annulled.