Fencing demonstrations at schools

[LUDICROUS]

HAve you ever done one/had one done at your school?

We did one today to attract students, and about 40-50 people turned up! heck. Many will leave once they get to the pain part, pussies. The cost of gear also scares them away. sigh.

Your thoughts on fencing demonstrations at schools, and any interesting tales of such you have.

[audiomyst]

My school has absolutely nothing for fencing. Or at least nothing that I've run across. I think there are some fencers scattered around the grades, but that's about it. Its disappointing. We don't have a team, or even a club.

[AndrastVitesse]

my school has a fencing team. We wanted to have an assembly but we couldn't so that leaves...*GASP*... The Talent Show.

[Cipher]

I wish my school had things like this when I was younger. All my school had was the "popular" sports... basketball, football, wrestling, baseball... I think competitive combative sports are great for young people... not so much with the wrestling and martial arts though. Those have the "I can kick your butt" mentality to them that bleeds over outside of the gym.

*sigh* ... and if I only had those extra years of practice, then maybe I could fence worth a damn....

[akaiyuki]

My old high school fencing team does fencing demos for middle schools and the high school. That's how I knew about fencing in the first place! It does attract a lot of people, but most people leave after the first week as they get bored of conditioning and footwork. But those who stay with it makes good fencers!

[Katman]

My fencing club at the university did a demo just this last Wednesday. My university is also a big commuter school where people show little interest in staying on campus longer than they have to.

[leia]

Last year fencing at my school, we had 40 new comers, where only 5 or 6 have now stayed on. I helped do a fencing demonstration to the new grade 8's coming in at the co-curricular information night. That was a fairly big success. We showed them the gear, Another fencer and I also demonstrated a few bouts, told them when we train, what we do, etc etc. It was'nt too bad. Now we will just have a problem come sign on day of having more people then we have gear to start them with.

[Hurriranger]

our school has plenty of gear and a decent amount of people. Gear is all covered, training and school comps are free, such are the luxuries of a private school.

oi leia, u coming to our comps this year? i'm looking foward to poking you.

[The Armourer]

Our club has put on many fencing demonstrations in various schools and apart from a giving a general chat on the history of the sport and having a pair of experienced fencers do a demonstration bout the most popular part is the audience participation. Two newbies (either two pupils or a teacher and pupil) are kitted up and given non-electric foils. The tips of the foils having been prepared with a pin pushed from the back so the sharp point projects a little way out. Both fencers have balloons attached to the fencing tunic and the winner is the one that bursts all the balloons first. The coach presides the bout.

We have also put on demonstrations at school PTA fund-raising events and after the demonstration we have an experienced fencer defend against all-comers (one at a time of course!). A small fee is charged for the opportunity to get kitted-up and hooked to an electrical scoring box. The experienced fencer only parries, not hit, whist the challenger attempts to land a hit. If it’s a big event you need several experienced fencers as its quite tiring!

[audiomyst]

Your schools sound funner than mine . I was thinking of trying to start a club, or team perhaps, but considering we have no gear nor the money to get it might pose a problem. I could always do a fundraiser, but considering we already get one thrown at us nearly every month I think the students would be unwilling to donate.

[fluidfencer]

I've done at least 50 school demonstrations over the last six years. We are working on a school-based program for the city like ones done in other parts of the U.S. But the demonstrations are also just to promote the club, since middle school and elementary school kids will comprise the bulk of new students.

LUDICROUS, what are you thinking?!?!?! Why are you focusing on pain and the cost of gear. That's... ludicrous! Seriously, a demonstration is a SALES opportunity. You focus on the fun and challenge. This goes for everybody... if you are not a good salesperson by nature, please don't do the talking at demonstrations and find someone in the club who is.

We have another demonstration on March 11 that has become a big deal each year, as part of a middle school humanities fair. I bet I see 500 kids that day, letting 6 or so from each group (about 6 groups) give fencing a try. In the U.S., pins and balloons would definitely not be allowed.

Oh, and make sure you have plenty of flyers to hand out. That's what the interested kids will take home to convince their parents to let them take classes.

[AllisonT]

My kids' school (a PK through 8th private) has after-school enrichment programs during the winter and spring terms. I got some Leon-Paul foam foils and offered a class for 3rd grade and up. I had so many kids sign up that I am currently running 2 classes/week. Some kids want to learn fencing, some kids just want to fool around. With the foam foils, everything is safe and they are learning basic footwork, bladework, bouting and sportsmanship. If they want to really get serious, they can sign up for "real" fencing at a local salle. At least there are 20 more kids in the world who know what fencing is!

[Nusy]

We go to a hotel (Corinthia Aquincum) where we demonstrate fencing... When I started fencing, there were similar demonstrations also in our school, but now - nothing.

[LUDICROUS]

I've done at least 50 school demonstrations over the last six years. We are working on a school-based program for the city like ones done in other parts of the U.S. But the demonstrations are also just to promote the club, since middle school and elementary school kids will comprise the bulk of new students.

LUDICROUS, what are you thinking?!?!?! Why are you focusing on pain and the cost of gear. That's... ludicrous! Seriously, a demonstration is a SALES opportunity. You focus on the fun and challenge. This goes for everybody... if you are not a good salesperson by nature, please don't do the talking at demonstrations and find someone in the club who is.

We have another demonstration on March 11 that has become a big deal each year, as part of a middle school humanities fair. I bet I see 500 kids that day, letting 6 or so from each group (about 6 groups) give fencing a try. In the U.S., pins and balloons would definitely not be allowed.

Oh, and make sure you have plenty of flyers to hand out. That's what the interested kids will take home to convince their parents to let them take classes.

Oh no no no! I didnt say any of that, its just my thoughts. Once they realise it hurts at first they will leave, and the cost will scare them away - I didn't say any of that! (indeed, I didnt give the speech)

[fluidfencer]

What do you charge the kids taking classes after school? Although we have plans for a fencing foundation at some point in the future, programs we are running now have to pay for themselves.

There is a bit of a trap there as well. Once you address the financial goals, is the club goal to have a program with foam foils? We got involved with a couple of programs in schools that just didn't seem to translate into students joining the club. IN both cases the students or school bought the equipment, plus they paid our coach a fee, but it still didn't justify the time. We needed a commitment from the school for someone willing to learn how to coach the basics of fencing. Getting kids in a school isn't too hard, but getting a viable program going sure is.

Sometimes the goal is less direct, like doing a demonstration at a nursing home because of the good public relations, and just because it is a nice thing to do. But two classes a week is a big commitment of time.

My kids' school (a PK through 8th private) has after-school enrichment programs during the winter and spring terms. I got some Leon-Paul foam foils and offered a class for 3rd grade and up. I had so many kids sign up that I am currently running 2 classes/week. Some kids want to learn fencing, some kids just want to fool around. With the foam foils, everything is safe and they are learning basic footwork, bladework, bouting and sportsmanship. If they want to really get serious, they can sign up for "real" fencing at a local salle. At least there are 20 more kids in the world who know what fencing is!

[fluidfencer]

*whew* My mistake.

The tricky part is getting them in the door (hence, the discussion on demonstrations). The other key is student retention (no easy way to explain that one). Clubs have a lot of control over both.

Our club has a goal of a certain number of fencers/students before we can expand our floor space. We keep falling short each month, sometimes by just a few fencers. I know exactly what we need to do to get us over the target, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. We do, however, have a few things coming up which should help.

Oh no no no! I didnt say any of that, its just my thoughts. Once they realise it hurts at first they will leave, and the cost will scare them away - I didn't say any of that! (indeed, I didnt give the speech)

[LUDICROUS]

The coaches of my proper fencing club also teach at schools around the area - They use the clubs gear (you know, crappy, dirty, etc). 100$ for the whole year I think the cost is.

[leia]

our school has plenty of gear and a decent amount of people. Gear is all covered, training and school comps are free, such are the luxuries of a private school.

oi leia, u coming to our comps this year? i'm looking foward to poking you.

Would'nt miss them!
(plus if i dont im pretty sure im not allowed to be in state high fencing..)

hm, i dont think any clubs around here try to do demonstrations at local schools...

[haroldbuck]

We used to do a demo at assembly every other year at the middle school associated with the high school where I coached. We'd bring in scoring equipment, do a quick explanation of each weapon and follow it with a demo of each weapon. Then we'd answer questions. We'd also give some info about local fencing clubs and about summer fencing camps, and we'd tell them about the high school team. The way I figured it, if we got kids interested enough to try a camp, then the ones that liked it would probably fence on the team. Over several years, we built the team up from about 12 kids to over 40.

We also did a few demos at basketball games. I think these were less valuable for recruiting, but they helped make people more aware of fencing and probably brought in a few more kids.