Fencing Singapore Referee Structure
18th April 2010
Referee’s Commission Executive Committee
Mr David Chan (Sabre)
Mr Dennis Leong (Epee)
Mr Hoo Jiunn Chyau (Foil)
Ms Bliss Tan (Foil)
Mr Eugene Chua (Foil)
Mr Tan Yuan Zi (Epee)
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Description of Referee Qualification Levels
Referee Grade
Cat D Referee
How to Qualify
1. Attend Basic Referee Course
2. Attend Referee Seminar and Exam
3. Score at least 90% for Theory
Exam
4. Pass Video Exam
5. Pass Practical Grading
Level of Competition
1. All Local Events
Renewal: 3 days of service in a season
Cat C Referee
1. Minimum 5 days of service in a
season
2. Referee minimum 2 Open Event
Quarterfinal/Semifinal
3. Pass High-Level Practical Grading
1. All Local Events
2. Selected
International Events
Renewal: 5 days of service in a season
Cat B Referee
1. Application to Ref Comm to be
sent for FIE exam
2. Pass FIE Cat B Exam
Cat A Referee
1. Possess a FIE Cat B Referee
Licence
2. Assessment by FIE Referee
Commission
1. All Local Events
2. All International
Events
3. All FIE Events
1. All Local Events
2. All International
Events
3. All FIE Events
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Flowchart of the Referee Qualification System
Potential Referee
Basic Refereeing Course
Seminar + Exam (Written + Video)
90% for Written, Video Pass
FAIL
Practical Grading
Cat D Referee
Minimum 5 Days Service per Season,
Minimum 2 Open Event Quarters/Semis
Practical Grading
Cat C Referee
Practical Grading
A report of the Referee’s
performance at a designated test
event
Application to Ref Comm
FIE Exam
FIE Referee
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Key Components
1. Basic Referee Course
- A comprehensive course designed to educate potential Referees on Technical and
Psychological aspects of Refereeing.
- To ensure all refereeing candidates are well-grounded in Fencing Theory as well as
basic refereeing techniques, preparing them for the subsequent Exam.
- A prerequisite to taking the Referee Exam for new candidates.
2. Referee Seminar
- An update on the latest rule changes, as well as case studies of common refereeing
errors.
- Held together with the Referee Exam.
- Attendance is compulsory for Exam eligibility.
3. Referee Exam (Theory)
- An MCQ exam based on the FIE Technical Rulebook.
- Consists of a General Paper and a Weapon-specific paper.
- Candidates will be expected to show an in-depth knowledge of all technical rules.
- Common mistakes will be highlighted to all candidates at the end of each exam.
4. Referee Exam (Video)
- A test of the candidate’s refereeing ability based on video clips of fencing sequences.
- Candidates are expected to show composure, clarity of speech, firmness in decision
making, as well as an accurate reading of the fencing sequence.
- A personalized report card will be provided to the candidate upon request.
5. Practical Grading
- Upon passing the Theory and Video Components, a Referee Candidate will be
considered ‘on probation’.
- When the candidate is on Probation, he will be given 6 months from the date of the
exam to volunteer for one of the following events:
a. National Trials
b. National Cadet/Junior Trials
c. National U-14s
- The candidate’s performance will be evaluated by the attending Ref Comm members
and feedback will be provided.
- If the candidate’s performance is deemed unsatisfactory, the probation period can
be extended and the candidate will have to volunteer again for one of the above
events.
- A second unsuccessful performance will lead to the ‘Probation’ status being revoked
and the candidate will have to undergo the Exam again.
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-
If a candidate does not sign up for any of these events within the 6 month window,
his probation status will be rescinded and he will have to retake the Exam to requalify as a referee.
6. High-level Practical Grading
- Applicable for Cat-D referees only.
- Cat D referees may be selected (or requested) to undergo promotion to Cat C.
- Referees under consideration will be tasked with refereeing a Quarter-final/Semifinal DE bout at National Cadet/Juniors, National Open or Fencing Singapore
Challenge.
- Referee’s performance will be evaluated by the attending Ref Comm members and
feedback will be provided.
7. Renewal
- A yearly review of Referee Activity will be carried out.
- Referee’s with below-par activity will be notified and given 1 year’s probation.
- Referees with zero activity will be removed from the Referee’s Register.
- Valid reasons (eg. Studying overseas) will definitely be accepted.
8. National Fencers
- All National Fencers will also be subject to the same Referee Qualifying procedures.
9. Coaches
- Club Coaches will be required to attend the Referee Seminar and undergo Practical
Grading. They will be excused from the Theory and Video Exams.
- National Coaches will be required to attend the Referee Seminar.
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Referee Code of Conduct
Personal
1. Be punctual and remain contactable for the entirety of your event.
2. No flip-flops, shorts, singlets are to be worn. Preferred attire would be jeans/pants
and polo t-shirt.
Maintaining Order
1. Assist in Crowd Control: Only Fencers are allowed in the restricted area during
Poules, and only Coaches and Fencers are allowed in the restricted area during DE.
2. Do NOT tolerate harassment from any fencer, coach or supporter. Fencers and
coaches must clarify refereeing decisions in a polite manner. Do not hesitate to show
warning cards if the other party becomes aggressive.
3. If for some reason you do not feel confident about refereeing a particular bout,
please raise the issue with the attending Ref Comm member before the
commencement of the bout.
Referee Fee Structure
Payment will be on a per event, per day basis, up to a maximum of 2 events a day. Referees are
expected to commit to the full duration of their assigned event.
Payment Scheme is as follows:
Category
D (Probation)
D
C
B
Payment per Event
$20
$30
$40
$50
Examples:
Cat D Referee for Sabre and Foil = $60 per day ($30 + $30)
Cat C Referee for Epee only = $40 per day
Punctuality and Availability
As payments are now made on a per day basis, we will be extremely strict about punctuality.
1. Referees MUST report to the Referee Commission 15 minutes before the Pools of
their assigned event(s). It is the Referee’s duty to know the timings of his assigned
events.
2. You will be counted as ABSENT if you are more than 30 minutes late.
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3. Referees have to source for their own replacements if they are unable to make it for
a scheduled event. (Replacements have to be qualified!)
4. First Absence in a season will result in an Official Warning.
5. Second Absence in a season will result in expulsion from the Referee Register.
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Dispute Management
1. Team Managers are allowed to highlight to the Referee Commission any concerns
they may have about a particular Referee before the bout has started.
2. NO appeals during bouts will be entertained with regards to the Referee’s
interpretations of a fencing action.
3. However, appeal can be made to the Referee Commission regarding erroneous
application of technical rules (eg. Red Card issued instead of Yellow Card).
4. Harassment of ANY referee is not allowed. The Referee will also be instructed to
issue warning cards if necessary.
5. The Referee Commission will also not entertain any complaints from a participating
fencer/coach/supporter. All complaints are to be channeled through the Club’s Team
Manager.
Complaint Procedures
1. Before the Bout, the Team Manager has the right to request for a change of Referee.
It is at the attending Ref Comm member’s discretion to decide if the reasons
provided are valid.
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Role of Referee Commission Representatives on Event days
Attendance
1. Attendance of Club-submitted as well as Activated Referees must be maintained
(sign in/out).
2. Take note if any of the Referees are unavailable for an extended period of time
during their timeslots.
Assignment of Referees
1. Ensure that there are no conflicts of interest when assigning Referees to DE bouts.
2. If there is no alternative but to select a Referee with a possible conflict of interest,
verbal agreement must first be obtained from both sets of fencers/coaches
3. Ensure that higher level bouts are assigned to Referees of high experience levels. Eg.
Quarter-finals and above should preferably be assigned to a Cat C referee, a national
coach, or a highly experienced club coach/Cat D referee.
On-going Duties
1. Ensure that order is maintained – only authorized fencers/coaches are allowed into
the fencing area.
2. Ensure that there is no harassment of any of the Referees.
3. Manage any valid complaints directed at you through the correct channels.
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