Equipment for newbies

[LTranter]

Our club policy has always been to have your own equipment. The first day of beginner class you are measured up and by the 3rd class you pay up and are holding your own foil. We have never had complaints of those actually taking the class; they knew what they were getting into. After doing a demo at a college activity fair today, I realized though how many potential fencers we are missing by having the cost of the equipment tacked on the class costs.

If your club has loaner equipment how does this work for you? Can students take it home to practice? A big plus with having your own gear is having it to work with during the week. At what point are they obligated to buy their own gear? I am also thinking about some sort of buy back program for those that don't stay with the class. I'm sure there are many closets in J'ville storing fencing bags with jackets,foils, gloves, and masks. What would be a fair amount to offer someone for their say 6-12 week old used equipment? I don't want to put our nonprofit club in the poor house. our philosophy has always been that the willingness to purchase the gear shows a commitment on behalf the fencer to give the class a fair shot, but I think we are missing a big group of fencers who are just afraid of the inital costs.

thoughts?

L

[remistress]

Hmm. A different idea: have an equipment rental fee. As you presently have no equipment, perhaps you can buy back shortly used equipment and then use the bought back equipment to build up a stash of jackets & weapons. Figure out how long on average each piece should last under reasonable circumstances and then divide up its cost over the useful life of the equipment (straight-line depreciation). This will hopefully lower that barrier to entry that exists in your club (cost being too high for starving college students). It also provides incentive to get your own equipment eventually. Why? Well three different reasons:
1. Communal fencing equipment gets gross.
2. It's nice to have something to bring home and practice with.
3. It can become a "Well all the cool kids have their own equipment" scenario.

If I were you, I wouldn't send people home with club equipment. Besides never seeing said equipment again...all you need is for someone to refer to their equipment as their "weapon" and have it confiscated by an overzealous R.A.

Another idea might be to have an organized equipment drive/fundraiser.

Hope that is helpful!

[whiteandbluefencer]

Besides never seeing said equipment again...all you need is for someone to refer to their equipment as their "weapon" and have it confiscated by an overzealous R.A.

I would never take someone's weapon away...

[thekoby]

My club has equipment that students and new members can borrow until they finish the beginner class. After that we recommend they purchase their own stuff (plus this gives them time to save up). The idea is to let them give fencing a try before investing $100+ in equipment alone...not to mention the added USFA dues if you wish to compete.

As far as R.A.s taking away people's equipment, Ball State has a HUGE problem with this. Fencing equipment is viewed very highly as "weapons". What is interesting is the fact that they are considered more of a weapon than baseball bats, lacross sticks, and kitchen knives. When I was confronted by my RA, I asked him how many mobsters he's seen in movies beat the tar out of someone with a fencing foil. He didn't have an answer so left me alone.

However, I do tell the members that if they take their equipment back to the dorm, be smart about it. Keep it INSIDE the bag at all times and never take it out, even in your room (unless you're washing the jacket). It is more for other people's protection as it is for theirs.

[SJCFU#2]

Even if you switch to the club providing most equipment you might consider requiring beginners to purchase their own glove. They're not that expensive and gloves are one of the most difficult things for a club to keep as loaner gear.

I like the idea of buying back some of that slightly-used equipment as a way of building up the clubs supply of loaner equipment. Another option might be to provide a means of connecting potential sellers of slightly-used equipment (i.e. previous students who have decided fencing wasn't for them) with potential buyers (i.e. new students who need to purchase equipment). It could be something as simple as a bulletin board where people can post listings or something more complex, such as acting as a broker between buyer and seller (in which case you should probably inspect every item prior to sale in order ensure that it is still suitable for use and maybe charge a commission for your services).

[whiteandbluefencer]

As far as R.A.s taking away people's equipment, Ball State has a HUGE problem with this. Fencing equipment is viewed very highly as "weapons". What is interesting is the fact that they are considered more of a weapon than baseball bats, lacross sticks, and kitchen knives. When I was confronted by my RA, I asked him how many mobsters he's seen in movies beat the tar out of someone with a fencing foil. He didn't have an answer so left me alone.

Wow, tell your RA to get in touch with me... things are so much more chill at my college. I'm an RA, and all my fellow RA's think it's so cool that I fence. They would never think to take someone's equipment away!

And I agree... people keep far more dangerous things in their dorm rooms than foils/epees/sabres.

[mesulater]

My RDs told me they were sending the police to my room because of my fencing equipment. I ended up complaining to the University Res Life because the university said I could keep my stuff in my dorm.

Funny thing is that this was the second to to the last weekend at school for the year right before finals. Both of the RDs had known about the stuff ever since I got my room key from them and TOLD them I had fencing equipment in my room.

[LTranter]

Even if you switch to the club providing most equipment you might consider requiring beginners to purchase their own glove. They're not that expensive and gloves are one of the most difficult things for a club to keep as loaner gear.

I like the idea of buying back some of that slightly-used equipment as a way of building up the clubs supply of loaner equipment. Another option might be to provide a means of connecting potential sellers of slightly-used equipment (i.e. previous students who have decided fencing wasn't for them) with potential buyers (i.e. new students who need to purchase equipment). It could be something as simple as a bulletin board where people can post listings or something more complex, such as acting as a broker between buyer and seller (in which case you should probably inspect every item prior to sale in order ensure that it is still suitable for use and maybe charge a commission for your services).

I was actually thinking about a program in which we would buy back the used equipment and resell to other fencers. This equipment in theory would be only 6-12 weeks old. I think even a beginner glove should hold that long. There would be sizing issues with jackets and masks as well. Everything would be pending (especially at first) availability. I like this opposed to renting the gear, because it allows for the gear to go home and be the fencer's responsibility and still shows some commitment to the class.

L

[KD5MDK]

Every club I know of has a closet full of beginner gear they loan out.

[Downtown]

Every club I know of has a closet full of beginner gear they loan out.

That is the way it is the clubs I belong to.

Price of a glove should be included in initial membership. You can get cheap ones.

I don't know how many clubs do this, but at the club where I help out, we have bib liners for the masks we lend out. ( Small pieces of fabric that attach to the inside bib with Velcro.)

Most loaner equipment is nasty, but you want to at least make an effort to have not have kids sharing sweaty stuff.

[Orako]

The way my club is set up is that we have a 60 dollar fee per semester. And thats for the use of the gym and costs of its loners. And then the cost is 40 if you have your own gear. This will still bring money but also encourage them to get a starter kit in the future. I have only been to a few classes and am already going to order my own gear.

[Zilverzmurfen]

If your club has loaner equipment how does this work for you? Can students take it home to practice? A big plus with having your own gear is having it to work with during the week. At what point are they obligated to buy their own gear?

At my club (one of the major clubs in Sweden) we have racks of "loaner" jackets and weapons. They are both maintained by our head coach (washing of jackets and repair of weapons). No fee added for this, but they may use it for their training session only -- not bring home.

We have no stated maximum period of time that our club members may borrow this, though when we see that they are approaching ~1 year of fencing, and they look as if they're going to continue the sport, we try to encourage people to buy their own gear.

In general, those who've taken a serious interest in the sport usually start buying their own equipment, even if only by one piece at a time.

(Though I've seen some people being regulars at the club for years who still seems to think it's ok to continue using loaner masks/gloves/jackets...uuugh. )

[Tyldak]

IMHO, club jackets are gross and difficult to maintain. My club provides beginners with masks, body cords, and weapons (dry and electric). They have to provide their own glove and jacket (and chest protection, if applicable). If a beginner can't pay $35ish for a jacket and $10ish for a glove, he/she has no business trying to get into fencing in the first place (again IMHO). We only do epee, so no need to worry about lames. Masks are sprayed weekly with anti-bacterial fresh smelling stuff and a dozen dry, and half-a-dozen electric weapons are easy enough to maintain.

[swordsen]

We supply beginner equipment. The innate grodienss of a five-15 year old jacket (even when it has been washed) is incentive for people to get their own gear. To say nothing of the masks.......

[Cold-Sabre]

Of the two clubs I've started both here and in Alaska, the best formula that has worked to date is below:

1. Fraternal organizations are great sources of funds especially if you have a non-profit tax number and have at least 40% of your students are in school. **Remember to follow good stewardship by giving regular updates, plaques, awards and recognition to your sponsors, including inviting them to tournaments to pass out medals that you provide** (Doing this landed one of my clubs $500 of funds we didn't ask for) Also, make sure you find out when their annual meetings are so you are sure to get them pictures and letters so they get credit in national standings of their organization for helping the local community.

2. All loaner equipment stays at the club or with the coaches (even my private students only keep what they paid for or have put deposits down on)
3. Deposits, use fees; great sources of money in case someone does bag a piece of gear during the sessions. It can be difficult to determine who took what but if an item comes up missing at the end of class, then the amount can be deducted from the whole class.
4. Gloves are must and not a returned item; working for the CDC for a few years tought me that each person should have their own and not shared with others.
5. eBay and other clubs around the US, each of these are great sources of equipment. I've talked to other clubs in my area and one of the larger ones has offered me some gear to get started but as someone has already suggested, build your own stocks from fees. Some of the equipment vendors have 10 complete sets for $1000 which can easily be funded through events.

*There are a lot of good ideas floating around this thread, also look for a book called, "Guerilla Marketing" which may have some ideas that none of us have posted here.

[TodG]

We just started our club and fortunately don't have to pay for space. We charged a fee for the 'introduction to fencing class' and used that to buy loaner gear. We now charge a monthly fee for insurance and expenses, plus a gear fee to anyone who uses club gear. We've been able to keep thing pretty reasonable, and most people who are continuing with the club plan on buying their own gear.

We also have a policy of 'buy your glove' for anyone taking a class.