Fencing track
The fencing track (French name according to the official regulations piste , colloquially also called planche in Germany ) is the area on which athletes move in fencing .
The fencing track is between 1.5 m and 2 m wide and 14 m long. The center line marks the middle of the fencing piste. The starting lines are located 2 m from the center line. Here the fencers are set up at the beginning of a round and after each valid hit or after a penalty hit (assigned by the umpire ). The fencing track ends another 5 m from the starting lines. The last two meters are clearly marked. If a fencer crosses the end of his side of the fencing lane with both legs, he receives a penalty hit. Behind the end line there is a 1.5 m to 2 m run which is no longer counted as a fencing piste.
In major tournaments, the semi-final and final battles are fought on an elevated track. The fencing piste is located on a platform up to 50 cm high. Next to the fencing track is a 25 cm wide safety zone.
The fencing piste is made of a conductive material so that hits with the weapon on the ground are not displayed. The most common are sheets made of a copper mesh, which have a weight of approx. 70 kg. There are also sheets made of aluminum and steel which are usually used for fixed hall installations. A more recent development are webs made of a textile fabric with a thin wire mesh running through them and weighing only 20 kg.
If a fencer crosses a sideline with one foot, the opposing fencer wins 1 m of ground. The opponent who has crossed must retreat accordingly. This can lead to the retreating fencer crossing the end of the track. This results in a penalty hit. If a fencer tends to always fence on the edge, the chairman can ask him to fence in the middle of the fencing lane.
