Capture the Point

by LEF member James

Rules: Fencer A and Fencer B start out of distance and contest to score a point as per the rules of Stabby Chicken. When one fencer makes a touch, that fencer has “the Point” and must cross the baseline behind them without being touched to “win” the game, while being pursued by the other fencer. If the other fencer makes a touch on the fencer with the Point, now they have the Point and must cross the baseline behind them, etc. If the fencer with the Point makes it across their baseline, they score a “win”.

The fencer with the Point, who is trying to retreat to their baseline, is called the “retreating fencer.” The fencer who is chasing them to retake the Point is called the “advancing fencer.”

• At all times, both fencers must face their opponent (ie: you cannot turn your back and sprint across your baseline)
• If both fencers make a touch at the same time, the fencer who currently hass the Point retains it.

Skills Tested: Advancing and retreating footwork with proper form, attacking and defending on the move, swapping mindset from attacking to defending and vice versa.

Notes: The advancing fencer (ie: the fencer without the Point) is forced to attack into whatever the retreating fencer with the Point is doing, otherwise they'll lose. The success criterion for the retreating player rewards them for maintaining a good defense.

Even though the advancing player is not being actively targeted by the retreating player, they can't go 'all in' on an attack because then they'll be touched immediately after any successful touch and lose the Point.

Because a fencer has to secure and keep the Point to score, there's no way to 'immediately win'. Sustainable assertiveness, control and pressure are rewarded.

Variants/Extensions:

• Extra Wins: The retreating fencer scores an additional win for each extra touch they make on the advancing fencer, resetting each time possession of the Point swaps.
• Tally: Provide a time limit for the game, say, five minutes, and maintain a tally of “wins” for each fencer. This will prove interesting if the Extra Wins variant is also in play.