Has anyone ever started a club in college

[WTFLindsIsSoCool]

We have TONS of jackets at our club ranging from a children's M to a men's XXXL. A few were donated to us from our local YMCA.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by Firecube2426

Thanks Myriddins, but I need jackets in reserve for future members (who will be in different sizes) so buying jackets for that particular current member isn't really going to help (or maybe). Maybe like Timberwolf noted in his book: 2 50s, 2 54s, 2 58s, and 2 60s.

So in general, I'd like to know more about YOU guys...

If you are running a fencing club at a college, what size jackets do you own and how many? Are there any members complaining because of lack of sizes or quantity?

I guess it gives me a way to compare other schools as to how I should buy jackets.

Here's the thing--- the people who show up for an informational meeting are the likely types you'll see at your school. This year, next year, the year after that. Some schools, when the call goes out for fencing, they only get guys--- and thus much of the smaller gear can be avoided.

I doubt my personal experience of what my college club stocked up on will help you--- we were all women, and so the range of jackets that Timberwolf noted would have been very wrong--- most of our jackets ranged in the 40s, with a couple on either end.

Smith has had an active continuous club since the 90s, and at the beginning of each year, we didn't have quite enough jackets so that everyone who shows up to practice always got a jacket that fit her. By mid to late October, we were more than fine.

We don't know much about your school, either. We're assuming you're in the US, but if you're actually somewhere in Asia, or somehow end up with a huge percentage of Asian fencers, you might not need to worry about super long jackets. If you're at any kind of Tech, your male female ratio will make it almost impossible to find female fencers. If you're drawing from the same pool as Purdue.... you're going to have some tall fencers. Party school? Save room for the beer bellies.

And even if you told us lots about your school, we still can't tell you who will show up.

What if no one shows up? What if 350 people show up? With the former, you don't have to worry about it. With the latter, you may be able to weasel quite a bit of money out of someone.


We're not recommending trying to fit an exact jacket to each person who comes to an info meeting. We're saying look at generalities. Lots of tall people, lots of very small women, women with very large chests (this does actually matter.)........ Way too many variables for us to help you that much with specifics.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

PS: If you told us where you were, we might be able to help you a lot more. Generalities are fine. Like a State. Someone may be able to help you out, tell you who to talk to. Sometimes clubs end up with gear they won't use--- the women's school gets left a 60 foil lame with no identifying information, someone donates foil gear to the epee only club.... etc.

The best and worst part about this sport is that it's very small. Chances are, someone here knows someone near you, if that person exists.

If you want total anonymity, that's fine. Just understand the opportunity cost.

[Greg]

Find a venue for practicing and set up a time - maybe twice a week for a couple of hours. Its best to have a gym with a wood floor. Racquetball courts will also work though they are smaller. Carpeted rooms are not so good.

Ask around for financial support - you never know - you may get some funds from the college. You will need to get some equipment (new or used) up front (gloves and foils, some masks and jackets). You can get by with having people share masks and jackets for a while. But your should have a full set for everyone eventually. If the college will not fund you, maybe you will have to pay for it yourself but consider this an investment otherwise they will drop out. Then charge membership dues - maybe $50 or so a semester to buy more equipment or pay yourself back. Absolute Fencing has club discounts and their beginner range equipment is good and already inexpensive. If you get 15 student to join, about half will quit so don't buy too much equipment at the beginning. You can get by with gloves and foils for a couple of weeks until they start doing paired drills. Start teaching footwork, positions, and other things that does not involve crossed foils. That can take a few weeks and will weed out the people who are not really interested.

As someone else said, you might need a faculty mentor/supervisor for the club. Some colleges require that. You will likely find some professor who fenced at some time so ask them to assist. Register your club with the USFA for $40 since its gets you listed on their web site and makes you look more official.

Make your practices fun! Don't just drill footwork. Play warmup games, have social events, do informal tournaments and give out token prizes. The social atmosphere contributes to keeping the membership as much as the interest in the sport. Remember though that fencing is a niche sport that does not have great appeal. Don't be disappointed if you only get a few people. But stay with it. Be prepared to get a few SCA people, martial arts "experts" and theatre majors. They usually will drop out after a week or so.

[foibles]

Why no hoodies: It is not the thickness of the fabric that protects the fencer. It's the type of fabric and the density of the weave.

Jackets can help some with bruises some, but their true value is seen when a weapon breaks during fencing. The tight weave can stop that weapon from piercing the body of the fencer.

A broken, (potentially) jagged sword point can pierce any number of hoodies and t-shirts easily.

I once witnessed a broken blade go through a fencers thigh. Completely through. (The guy was wearing baseball pants). The fencer whose blade broke said he never felt the hit. (i.e. no resistance).

Anyway, that's the "why" behind everyones advice against using any creative alternative to jackets. Jackets dont stop bruises. They stop unwanted body piercings.

[Timberwolf_CY]

Originally Posted by foibles

Anyway, that's the "why" behind everyones advice against using any creative alternative to jackets. Jackets dont stop bruises. They stop unwanted body piercings.

I think that's my new sig...

Anyway...

Yeah, to address Myrdinn's point, which I neglected when I wrote the book, we do have a full line of female jackets and breast protectors, but I can't recall what sizes because, as I inadvertantly alluded to in the book, our club is mostly male.

I think the advice of having an openning meeting to discuss things and size up potentials is a great idea. Just be sure to advertise a lot to make sure to get the word out and get as many people there as you can.

The potential SCA/martial expert/thespian/etc. is actually a really good topic to discuss, because it is very very possible there are some at your school who will likely check your club out. My policy has always been to try to treat them like any other student, but of course this is almost impossible, because of their demeanor. They will likely try to press themselves on you for a brief period of time, trying to assert dominance and their way of doing things (esp. true of the SCA'ers - the first words out of their collective mouth, as alluded to on the boards, will be "If it were a real blade..." and then they'll try to tell you how to do things). Put up with them as politely as you can, and as soon as they see they cannot control you or the club and do what they want, they will leave and never come back. The SCA'ers at UCM are a pretty nice, relatively competant bunch, but they are slightly/somewhat arrogant, honestly, just like us (that is, me and my club). But we work around each other politely and civily, so we've never had a problem with each other. Just do your best to be civil, and they'll decide what they'll do ultimately on their own: either join you, or leave you, hopefully for the betterment of your club.

I wouldn't go on about SCA and stuff, but many schools and communities I've found have at least a few of them around, or someone pretending to be as serious with a worse attitude (LARPers...*shudder*); in fact, I dare say MOST schools have them in some contingency, but I haven't been to most schools, so I can't say. Anyway, it's prudent to know how to deal with people like them. Finally, I know I've just been doing it horribly, but try your best not to stereotype too much. Just uttering the acronym "SCA" here can get you hanged, but most of them are pretty normal people, who have a hobby that they practice like us, and should be treated as such. Keeping this in mind goes a long way towards diplomacy and good relations. It's just that, as with most of human history, the actions of the few within the overall group are what bring down their reputation.

I'm glad you've found the book useful. If there's anything else you need help with, please don't hesitate to post. I'll try to keep up, but I've been very busy with work and sleep as of late (though the time of this post won't make it seem so with the sleep).

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf_CY

Yeah, to address Myrdinn's point, which I neglected when I wrote the book, we do have a full line of female jackets and breast protectors, but I can't recall what sizes because, as I inadvertantly alluded to in the book, our club is mostly male.

So, there are two major kinds of breast protection in fencing-- "frisbees" and "amazonian breastplates"--- obviously neither of these are technical terms.

Frisbees are probably all poor starting out clubs should provide. They're cheap, fit most, and are fairly standard. There are pockets in women's jackets for them, and they're often nowhere near where one's actual breasts are. Some women are lucky and the pockets do line up. Some people put then in their bras, against skin (really unpleasant during winter), some people wear two sports bras and put them in between, or a bra and a tank top with built in bra.

Amazonian breastplates are highly favored among those who have already spent some money on their own gear, women with larger breasts, women with sensitive breasts, and women who fence pokey weapons who don't like being poked. The benefit of this is that the pockets aren't necessary, and it doesn't ever have to be up against your skin.

I wear a men's jacket. It fits fine. It's possible that not everyone will be able to do that, as the jackets are cut differently. I imagine the larger one's breasts are, the more important a women's jacket might be.

Sizing is different. IIRC, a men's 40 is a women's ... 36 or 38.

[telkanuru]

I've always referred to 'frisbees' as 'battle yarmulke'. Just, you know, FYI.

[amandaa]

It hurts enough being poked with a proper fencing jacket, I can't imagine just a hoodie.

My coach said baseball pants would be fine for a beginner, but after reading that post by mryddin I think I will swing for real pants. D:

People mentioned breast cups (which I support yay) but nobody mentioned athletic cups for guys. The groin is target in foil fencing! And if you accidentally parry five instead of seven or something... well... you know. :P

Edit because I thought of more stuff to say!

My club team at Georgia Southern gets funding based on service hours, maybe your school has something similar?

When the call went out for fencers at the start of the semester, many people who showed up didn't really come back. They didn't understand what they were getting into and thought it was just all fun and stabbing people you know? I say you should wait a bit before getting equipment to see what you really need. Drill the hell out of them on footwork, calisthenics and stretches and see who really wants to fence and who is just thrill-seeking.

[WTFLindsIsSoCool]

The groin is target in foil fencing! And if you accidentally parry five instead of seven or something... well... you know. :P

It's also target in épée. And not to mention, I'm sure someone's gone a little to far...er...south?...when fencing saber...

[emagdnim]

well, everyone else has hit on the real important parts.

The only thing I'd like to add is that you NEED somebody that is willing to do lots of paperwork (not me) I recommend asking for volunteers for "secretary" otherwise you'll probably find yourself behind on paperwork and that can be a real nightmare


btw, what college are you at? if you're close we might be able to help out

[CanisiusFencer]

I am in the process of reactivating the club at my school. The club was active up until last year. The member left was a senior and he failed to recruit anyone for the club. The equipment that was left was not well maintained and will need to be replaced. There are about 30 people who are interested in joining the club but I figure at least half will quit. I have a quote for from Absolute Fencing for about $3600 for all the basic equipment for 15 people which includes: electric foil, jacket, lame, underarm protector, scoring machine, gloves, masks, body cords, electric foil blade, repair kit and parts. This is for 15 people. Which is a really great price. Hopes this helps.

[Firecube2426]

First of all, let's drop the "hoodie" conversation, I'm feeling embarrassed enough

If you want to know what college i'm in, well it's college you never heard of but ok:

Calvin College in Grand Rapids MI. With around 4,000 ppl. M/F ratio 49:51. There are two private fencing clubs nearby also.