5

Right of way in foil or sabre is far simpler than any of us make it out to be. The more you discuss and debate the finer points of right of way, the farther you get from the truth.
Learn the rules of right of way, and that is all. A good fencer will know when he is trying to score, and when he is trying to force an opening that isn't there. That is all the right of way you need learn unless you intend to be a referee.

Point-in-line:
There is a purpose to point-in-line. When an attack starts from far enough out, it can maintain right of way, under certain circumstances for more than the length of the strip.
For this reason the "framers" of right of way created point-in-line. Since then it has gotten way out of hand. Modern fencers sometimes argue that it has precedence over all attacks beyond one step. Others argue that it has no place in todays game whatsoever. They are both wrong, if you want to be a referee then you will need an opinion on this, if you want to be a good fencer, then avoid point in line when it matters. Mistakes will be made when point in line is used. Sometimes the mistake will be yours, sometimes the mistake will be the referee's and rarely your opponent will make a mistake. Most of these mistakes will result in the call going against the point in line.
To foilists: If you intend to comete on todays field, use the point-in-line sparingly and be prepared for your touch to be given away.
To sabrists: The point-in-line is just as valuable as any other attack, but like any other attack, you have to have control of distance before you can score with it. It is more useful as a strategic ploy than as an actual weapon. Put it out, if they bite, attack into prep.

There are some actions that referee's disagree on. Like the strike zone in baseball, right of way can vary slightly depending on which referee you have. These differences will only affect actions that are very close to the line. A wise fencer avoids these actions until he has a feel for the limits of his referee's "strike zone".

If a referee calls something against you that you disagree with he has a reason. His point of view is different and in most cases better than yours is. Trying to change a referee's mind while losing a bout is foolish in the extreme. Win the bout, and he will listen to your ideas with some respect. Lose the bout, and anything you have to say to him will fall on deaf ears.
You must understand his point of view, his reasons for the call he made, if you are to succeed in scoring, winning the bout, or educating the referee.

If you retreat in reaction to preparation, then it isn't preparation, it is an attack. Once you have done this, do not look to the referee to overrule your decision.
If you think your opponent is attacking, and react accordingly, why shouldn't the referee think so too?

Rule #1a from The Book of Mike!: A fencer moving backward in response to a threat has validated that threat and bestowed right of way on his opponent. The fencer moving forward must then be stopped, parried or beaten to the lunge by a full, clear tempo.
(All ties go to the attacker.)

Simultaneous actions:
A point-in-line cannot ever be simultaneous with an attack. The line has no presence until it is established, if it has been established for more that one tempo it has right of way without question. If it has not been established for a full tempo before the attack lands it does not have right of way.

There can be no ties in the case of point in line.

If this cannot be determined the call should be "The action is unclear." Referee's without much confidence use the term "simultaneous" when they don't know what the action is.
Don't be afraid to say "I don't know." If the Ref' doesn't know what the action is, in many cases the action was not properly done. It is the responsibility of the fencers to make actions that are clearly theirs. Otherwise they risk winning or losing the bout at the whim of a Referee.

With regard to coverng target. It is commonly believed that a fencer has an inalienable right to ask for hand judges at any time during any bout. However, rule t.23 States only that the referee has this option "if the Referee notices that one fencer is making use of the non-sword arm or hand, he or she (meaning the Referee) can call for the help of two neutral judges (appointed by the BC) one on each side of the strip, who will watch one fencer each and indicate, by raising their hand when asked by the Referee, if the non-sword arm or hand has been used, or if it has covered valid target."
Murphy's law states that these judges will always card the fencer who had them called to the strip.

"t.73 If the sabre of a fencer judged to have been touched does not conform with artcle 24/4 & 24/6 (insulation of the interior and exterior of the guard, handle and pommel) there will be NO ANNULMENT, even if a touch on the weapon causes a signal to register."