How do you start a club

[c141va]

I don't want to go back over what happened to our coach. My question: is it possible to start a club just for fun with no coach? If so, where can we look where the space would be free or rented for reasonable cost. We asked about starting club at school but we were told there was no extra space. Any help would be great.

[Neinteen]

Of course it would cost, property isn't free . Unless of course you can somehow break a deal with someone.

If you're not so much looking for instruction but rather free-fencing, then it's probably going to be more complicated. For example, if everyone's using it, who would pay for the rental room(s), strips, reels, etc.

Unless you own it and charge people, then you'd have to fiddle with prices to make sure you can cover the rental cost and yet still have people that show up.

Looking for space can be difficult, I'd suggest public buildings, like schools (which you tried), churches, etc. Over the summer, my friends and I are using a church to fence at. Obviously we're supplying the stuff, but it's a place to fence.

[Stewen1]

Of course it would cost, property isn't free . Unless of course you can somehow break a deal with someone.

If you're not so much looking for instruction but rather free-fencing, then it's probably going to be more complicated. For example, if everyone's using it, who would pay for the rental room(s), strips, reels, etc.

Unless you own it and charge people, then you'd have to fiddle with prices to make sure you can cover the rental cost and yet still have people that show up.

Looking for space can be difficult, I'd suggest public buildings, like schools (which you tried), churches, etc. Over the summer, my friends and I are using a church to fence at. Obviously we're supplying the stuff, but it's a place to fence.

move to africa???

[VorpalCat]

Starting a club from scratch can be a huge challenge. If it doesn't work out for you or if you want to add additional nights of fencing, remember that there are several clubs in your general area, including Richmond Fencing Club, Poquoson Fencing Club, Tidewater Fencing Club, and Isle of Wight Fencing Club. Yes, they're all a bit of a drive from Williamsburg but then, there are those here that would be delighted to drive 'just' half an hour to fence multiple times per week.

In the interest of openness, please note that two of the clubs are 'mine' (PFC and IWFC) but my intent is not to undermine your efforts to start your own club. Rather, as anyone who knows me will verify, my ongoing goal is to help as many people in SE VA as possible discover and participate in our sport. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Best of luck to you in whichever route you take!

[Fencergrl]

I don't think opening your own club is a good solution to your problem.

Here is some food for thought:

1) If you don't like being coached by a beginner, how does that really change?
2) Or is your group going to just get together and fence?
3) If so, do you feel this is effective towards becoming better fencers?
4) Will you be able to hold the interest of your whole group with this format?
5) If not how do you deal with paying the rent?

I'm not trying to rain on your parade here. I just don't want to see you stuck with paying rent if you lose the interest of the other participants.

I think a smarter move would be to find a different club. Shop around... find one you like. All clubs have different "vibes" to them.

[telkanuru]

Whatever you do, don't call it "Salute En Guarde Ready Fence Academy".

Yes, it's been done >.<

[trafl926]

Im gonna go ahead and piggy back on this thread: can someone direct me to the forms and all the information I need to register a club with the USFA? Thanks

[VorpalCat]

Im gonna go ahead and piggy back on this thread: can someone direct me to the forms and all the information I need to register a club with the USFA? Thanks

For your clickification: The form itself and the page with that and other useful forms (and just in case the first link doesn't play nicely).

[trafl926]

I owe you a drink!