Does your club allow shorts for practice?

[El Chucko]

I was going to just ask this question the old-fashioned way, but then I realized it was an opportunity to post my first poll. (How exciting!)

[Fencergrl]

Like a true EPEEist I completely forgot that with other weapons you don't have to where long pants when you fence.

I fence EPEE, my coach is an EPEEist, everyone has to wear long pants or knickers with long socks or they don't fence.

[Ordway]

In my (sabre-only) club, our coach will disapprove if you wear shorts while actually fencing, and (gently) chide the offender. Pretty much everybody wears sweatpants or warm-up pants, except me. I wear shorts while doing footwork and taking a lesson, and pull on knickers afterwards for actual fencing. More comfortable than sweatpants (more flattering to the figure, too.)

I don't wear long socks at practice, though. No need, in sabre.

[airathanas]

I fenced in North Carolina for the last five years, and now I'm fencing in Georgia. Most people in the club would fence in knickers. If I didn't fence in shorts, then I would pass out from heat exhaustion (no air conditioning). I have no quams about fencing in shorts. Other people have told me that I shouldn't wear shorts because then they don't go for my leg, but that's their problem. I assume all risk and responsibilities. And yes, I fence epee. Sure I have some scars, but only cool fencers do!

[fencergal33]

I have to second the opinion of airathanas. NC is HOT!!! Until this season, our club had no AC either. Our coach recommends you don't wear shorts, especially in epee, but for practice, your wardrobe is really up to you. If you want to take the risk of getting stabbed in the leg, so be it. Tournaments are a completely different story though, even the little friendly local ones.

[Mr Epee]

Airathana,

Here are three words - jackass, moron, cheater -

Your assignment is to find new and creative ways to use these three words to describe yourself.

Please use complete sentences, and remember - Be Creative.

[peet]

I know you all know this, but.......

I hope all you folks fencing in shorts aren't doing it at USFA member clubs that expect to rely on the USFA's insurance. Fencing (or taking a lesson) in anything but full fencing gear invalidates all the coverage.

So yeah, you might say "but i really don't plan on sueing the club if i get hurt anyway", but I wouldn't put it past one of those insurance do-wads to refuse coverage to anyone involved in an accident even if they weren't the fencer who wasn't wearing full gear.

Ok, lecture over!
we now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion.....

[Peach]

We are required to wear full fencing gear, including jacket, plastron, fencing trousers (not sweatpants) and long socks.

The rationale is insurance and liability. Frankly, I've seen enough injuries to people wearing shorts that it makes sense to me.

[Katman]

I used to wear shorts while fencing but I stopped. Now I wear the fencing pants and long socks. I figure I might as well dress the same way at practice as I do at tournaments.

I would most certainly go for someone's leg if they were fencing epee with me and wearing shorts. Not just to hurt them though; it's target.

Edit: No, I wouldn't.

[pixie]

At my club you 'can' wear shorts if you want to, but it's kinda frown upon by some members of the club. IMHO, I think that you should wear full length pants or knickers when fencing, but thats just my opinion.

[Mr Epee]

I would most certainly go for someone's leg if they were fencing epee with me and wearing shorts. Not just to hurt them though; it's target.

Excuse you? You would intentionally hit someone with a sword on bear skin just because it's target. Shame on you.

You are as dangerous as you are thoughtless and stupid.

What if the weapon breaks, hotshot? Even if you don't cause a puncture the scratches can be very severe injuries against bare skin.

[Allen Evans]

I know you all know this, but.......

I hope all you folks fencing in shorts aren't doing it at USFA member clubs that expect to rely on the USFA's insurance. Fencing (or taking a lesson) in anything but full fencing gear invalidates all the coverage.

So yeah, you might say "but i really don't plan on sueing the club if i get hurt anyway", but I wouldn't put it past one of those insurance do-wads to refuse coverage to anyone involved in an accident even if they weren't the fencer who wasn't wearing full gear.

It can be worse than that...if your health insurance picks up the tab you incur to go to the hospital, you might have the choice in participating in litigation against your club to recover the expenses or be dropped from your insurance's coverage.

Fencing, taking lessons, drilling, in anything less than full gear is a VERY BAD IDEA.

[Katman]

Excuse you? You would intentionally hit someone with a sword on bear skin just because it's target. Shame on you.

You are as dangerous as you are thoughtless and stupid.

What if the weapon breaks, hotshot? Even if you don't cause a puncture the scratches can be very severe injuries against bare skin.

Alright, fair enough. Statement retracted.

[mrbiggs]

I'm the only epeeist in my club, but when I convince someone else to bout me, we need to wear pants. Otherwise, shorts are OK.

In my old club, shorts were accepted during August, but they were always discouraged, especially during winter.

[Mr Epee]

Alright, fair enough. Statement retracted.

Insult retracted ... carry on. :-)

[Welted 24/7]

Knickers or the closest thing to it. No shorts. I always tell people in my club that if they practice wrong, they're going to fence wrong- that applies to proper preparation for fencing, too.

[oso97]

In my club, if you're going to participate in bouting or take a lesson, you wear knickers and socks. For beginner classes and recreational level drills, sweatpants are okay.

[Cerian]

whatever you want when not bouting. For bouting, pretty much only knickers, with long pants allowed if knickers were forgotten.

[AntonioDelMonte]

everyone at my club is supposed to wear knickers and long socks but i get away with wearing shorts because i have been going to this club since i was 11-12 years old (i'm turning 27 in a little more than a month) and i am a coach there as well as a nationally competitive foilist/sabeur so i get away with a little more than most of the others in the club

[bmcfencer]

I wear shorts (boy shorts, not those stupid girl shorts) or pants in anything but a tournement, because I haven't been able to afford any knickers yet. Yeah, I know, I should find the money, but I really am pretty broke. I don't have a plastron, either , and I only just got around to buying decent shoes. Before I was fencing in old black shoes I took from my mother's closet half a decade ago.