best run fencing clubs

[fluidfencer]

Serious question...

I would like to know which clubs are the best managed. This primarily relates to stand-alone programs that deal with a broad range of ages and classes. For example, I have learned a lot from Northern Colorado Fencers in Boulder, CO and I admire much of what Gene Gettler has done in Atlanta, GA.

I don't want you to respond by saying "I think my club is good". Tell me/us specifics about what you think makes them well-run. Maybe a web link so we can look at what they do . If they don't do something well, it would be good to know that too.

Results of their students might be part of the equation, but that's not really what I am looking for. The two do go hand-in-hand to some degree, but there is more to being well run than that. You also might have an excellent coach that might be a terrible administrator/organizer.

For example, the person who complained about their lousy beginning class in an LA club might have some highly competitive/successful fencers, but based on what was said I have some doubts that it is well run as a club.

Some of you have lots of experience with clubs around the country, so please feel free to nominate several (i.e. Eric).

[fencerontheline]

FAW has a strong pay structure, it's kids get good pretty fast, it has some already-strong fencers and it does a fairly good job of introducing begginers to the sport. It's fairly new- so I can't make an assesment of it in the long term- but as it seems- it's run pretty well.

Brooklyn Fencing has a similiar pay structure, has less strong fencers, but takes very very good care of it's begginers, but again- it's a new club- so I can't say much about the effects of it's management in the long term.

The NYFC runs a very very strong program, with a very good program for intermediate to very high level fencers, but I don't know how much begginer outreach they have..... Not that I blame them for not taking too many new fencers.... they are strapped for space.

Metropolis had a very very strong begginer outreach- but it never helped them to make the transition to competitive fencing, which was a very major flaw. Later on in it's life, it's management deteriorated, selling everything but fencing.... But they made mistakes, and should not be damned for them forever....

Hope I helped you out- I dunno if I answered your questions as in depth as you wanted.

[germanguy]

.....

[The0ne]

the thing that my club does very well, is it has a very strong base of parents who are commited to the club and fencing. We have parents who help run tournaments, set up carpools down to out of state events, they will do everything and anything they can. That helps make for a strong club.

[ShadowHuntr]

Originally Posted by germanguy

What I liked about my club at home (TSF Ditzingen) was the the coach did not have to micromanage and organize everything.

oo ditzingen, a german word. yes! finally i get to use my 3 years of studing german to use.

eh, i got no idea what that word means. =(

[Epee_Pox]

Originally Posted by fencerontheline

The NYFC runs a very very strong program, with a very good program for intermediate to very high level fencers, but I don't know how much begginer outreach they have..... Not that I blame them for not taking too many new fencers.... they are strapped for space.

I understand that NY Fencers Club has a good introductory series for adult beginners -- $100 gets you 5 group lessons with a top coach, for people to see if they like it before joining the club. The focus is on having fun and enjoying the sport, and time is spent mostly on footwork and distance games with basic weapon drills at the end of each class. They alternate between foil and sabre as the weapon every couple of months. After the five introductory lessons, if someone wants to stay with it, they tend to join the club and keep taking beginner classes -- some also take private lessons -- until they're ready to move up to the higher-level classes. The coaches are highly regarded, and of course they do turn out some excellent fencers.

[The0ne]

Of course that's if you are lucky enough to live in NYC, and rich enough to be able to train at the FC a lot. That's like my dream, right there, training full-time in NYC.

[germanguy]

......

[ShadowHuntr]

Originally Posted by germanguy

It is actually the name of a city just outside of Stuttgart.

that was my second guess

[Eva1187]

Things that Northern Colorado Fencers, Boulder CO do well:

The website can be up to the minute current.

If you are involved with the whole summer nationals thing, you know everyone’s travel plans, who is coming in at the same time, who you are rooming with and what you are eating for dinner. You even get picked up at the airport.

Really good support at national competitions for anyone who wants to pay for it but at local competitions gary is always there and you don’t have to pay for that.

Training and lessons are expensive, though gary will work with all levels of fencers and wants everyone to do really well.

The coaches cell phone numbers are listed and don’t seemed annoyed when you call them.

I didn’t start with this club but the people and coaches have been really good to me, and nice in the club.

People from NCF have actually got scholarships to college.

www.ncfencers.org

I am happy

[Eva1187]

41 individual United States National Champions 1988-2004
5 United States National Team Championships 1995-2004
40 United States National Junior & Cadet World Championship, and Pan American Teams 1988-2004
Over 780 United States NATIONAL Competition Finalists (1st-8th Place) 1989-2004

This is off the website but I suppose it is true

[ViewtifulMisho]

Heh. I like that in the post about NYC fencing, Brooklyn Fencing was even mentioned, but not the NYAC. You know, it's one of the only clubs which allows you to come in for FREE and train with some of the best fencers in the country. Just call Chris O'Laughlin, tell him you're interested, and that's it. I guess some people need to pay money in order to think they're getting something good.

[DangerMouse]

Of the clubs I've fenced at, Northwest Fencers Club is by far the most organized and well run. They offered very structured programs for all ages and ability levels and have amazing facilities.

The bad part is the cost, which for the competitive program runs about $250/month. Since I don't actually live in town, I used to get lessons there once every couple weeks, but even that has become prohibitivey expensive.

[MikeHarm]

You should be careful being impressed by a word just because its in another language. Theres a fellow I know of who went to japan and the guy he was studying under kept using a phrase when he was training with the other folks laughing. Figuring if the master was using it it must be something cool he named his martial arts place using it and didn't realize till years later he was running the laughing weasel dojo.

Originally Posted by ShadowHuntr

oo ditzingen, a german word. yes! finally i get to use my 3 years of studing german to use.

eh, i got no idea what that word means. =(

[fencerontheline]

Originally Posted by ViewtifulMisho

Heh. I like that in the post about NYC fencing, Brooklyn Fencing was even mentioned, but not the NYAC. You know, it's one of the only clubs which allows you to come in for FREE and train with some of the best fencers in the country. Just call Chris O'Laughlin, tell him you're interested, and that's it. I guess some people need to pay money in order to think they're getting something good.

I'm sorry that I didn't mention the AC- but I didn't know all that much about how it's run. My apologies.

[Dee EffEll]

Originally Posted by The0ne

Of course that's if you are lucky enough to live in NYC, and rich enough to be able to train at the FC a lot. That's like my dream, right there, training full-time in NYC.

I guess I gotta ask. How loaded to you have to be to fence at FC?

[oiuyt]

Adult annual membership is $575. There's a $300 initiation fee when one first joins. Lessons are extra, rates aren't listed on the website (it says to contact each coach for his/her rates). From what I've heard the membership lists are currently "frozen" (where the degree of freezing appears to depend on how good the applicant is already).

I've never been to the FC or tried to join, so the above may or may not reflect the experience of anyone trying to join. Your mileage may vary. Any other disclaimers you feel free to add here.

Most clubs, especially at the higher levels of training, the costs are much more in the form of lessons and other training rather than from the membership costs. Take a couple of lessons a week and the base membership costs of the club, even an expensive one such as FC, is a small fraction (a fifth or less) of the training costs. Completely independent of money spent on competition and travel costs.

-B :)

[neevel]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Adult annual membership is $575. There's a $300 initiation fee when one first joins. Lessons are extra, rates aren't listed on the website (it says to contact each coach for his/her rates). From what I've heard the membership lists are currently "frozen" (where the degree of freezing appears to depend on how good the applicant is already).

For the first year that works out to $73 per month, and drops to $48 per month thereafter. That's not out of line with what many other clubs around the country with dedicated facilities to support charge (and doesn't seem bad at all when you consider Manhattan real-estate costs). What makes it seem steep is having to pay the whole year up front. Given that they're pretty close to maxed out as to how many people their facilty can accomodate, it does make sense to have a fee structure that weeds out people who won't have some degree of dedication. Finding a larger space that doesn't break the bank is a challenge anywhere, but even more so in NYC.

Brad's right that at any club where the coaches are making at least a partial living off of fencing, lessons and other coaching related fees (such as covering a coach's travel costs to tournaments) will quickly come to outweigh the club membership fees. I run a club which rents space in a decent sized (full basketball court, suspended wood floor) gym four days per week and has a small full-time space in another location. Basic membership is $55 per month. Add one lesson per week, and that brings it up to $95 per month (you can see the price structure here).

-Dave

[The0ne]

It's the lessons that would kill you. . . You're taking lessons with good coaches, but they charge a lot of money down in the NYC area. I remember paying $40 for a 30 minute lesson and stuff like that. . . Thank god for Seingeurs de la Rive Nord!!! Great club up in Montreal, coach is really nice, and good at coaching, best place to go north of boston in my opinion.

[fencerontheline]

I think it's up to 50$ for a 20 minute lesson now... but don't quote me on this... I'm not sure