Best Fencing Club Websites

[MyrddinsPrecint]

So give us a better example then.

Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club (http://www.rifac.com/) used to have problems with their website, and after poking around a bit, it looks like they're fixed, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone else found some.

I would tweak it... particularly the distracting guy in the upper right... But most of my tweaking is content stuff that perhaps the members of this particular club don't care about (even though I do).

[dharmaqueen]

Thanks.

[sionnach]

Here's my college's fencing club web site. Hasn't been updated for a while though.

Here's a site I was thinking of creating but decided against in the end. I like the design though.

[sionnach]

Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club (http://www.rifac.com/) used to have problems with their website, and after poking around a bit, it looks like they're fixed, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone else found some.

I would tweak it... particularly the distracting guy in the upper right... But most of my tweaking is content stuff that perhaps the members of this particular club don't care about (even though I do).

Well, given that it's made by a web design firm I don't mind critiquing this one. That silly moving fencer has to go, as does the news ticker at the bottom. Don't like the site design overall either, just doesn't work.

[Cerian]

Though it looks to be a bit out of date now, the design of my old club's website is pretty good in my eyes:

http://ssc.xohost.com/index.html

[telkanuru]

RE: MP-

Calling their club "Salute En Guard Ready Fence Academy" was prolly more of a turn off than their website...

[fdad]

The Fencers Club site has improved a lot recently, but there are still some dead links and old information. Depending on how I feel at the time, the photo montage can be annoying or interesting - though that photo of the Mayor moving in to kiss Erinn Smart is kind of creepy.

[magic_moose]

I can manage to live with the awful design, the dead end pages with no navigation bars, etc.

My pet peeve centers around sites that not only have very little information, but what they have is clearly 3 or more years old and out of date.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

RE: MP-

Calling their club "Salute En Guard Ready Fence Academy" was prolly more of a turn off than their website...

I'm so disappointed the website isn't currently up : (

The blog is still up--- http://lynnelhillow.blogspot.com/

Fitness Fencing® promotes happy touches for all to enjoy sweating with a sword.
Fitness Fencing® teaches all people fencing for the excitement and etiquette.
Fitness Fencing® is a never-ending configuration of fitness and fencing.
Fitness Fencing® is a session integrated for all communities and altruistic events.
Fitness Fencing® will achieve fitness success and skills to wield a sword.
Fitness Fencing® encourages opportunities available as an individual.


Fitness Fencing®, a Health and Wellness company and product

[oiuyt]

"Fitness Fencing® community with 2,500 clients and counting..."

If that's even close to an accurate claim, that's an introduction to a significant number of people that might not otherwise be exposed to fencing. Over a three-year span.

Even if not a single competitive fencer or US Fencing member comes out of the program it's probably still beneficial to have such things exist and widening awareness of the sport. It serves a very different target than, for example, PdF, but it might serve its target well and it might help the overall health of the sport.

-B

[MyrddinsPrecint]

"Fitness Fencing® community with 2,500 clients and counting..."

If that's even close to an accurate claim, that's an introduction to a significant number of people that might not otherwise be exposed to fencing. Over a three-year span.

Even if not a single competitive fencer or US Fencing member comes out of the program it's probably still beneficial to have such things exist and widening awareness of the sport. It serves a very different target than, for example, PdF, but it might serve its target well and it might help the overall health of the sport.

-B

Since the website isn't up, I can't comment on it. Several years ago, the website used to indicate her club... had the same goals and direction as the average club. For any various number of reasons, I do not believe that her previous experience would lead her to be good at that, or that she would enjoy it.

Her blog seems to indicate that she's going more towards the aerobics with a sword... thing. That's fine, I guess, but I can't help but compare her endeavors to Guard Up!, the other NE Division Club that offers something unusual. In the past, I've found the Guard Up! promotional material much more clear about the tone and curriculum than the SERFA/Fitness Fencing information. The website being down may indicate that she is editing her information to be more clear, or it might be an indication that other people found the information unclear as well.

If you want more information on why I believe that the 2500 number may be inflated, PM me. I warn you, it will include information about people I dated in high school as well as a treatise about who does and does not live in the South County of Rhode Island (and at what time of year), and the existence of "South County."

[Kramer]

the person in charge really isn't skilled enough to be a coach (and thus often makes some pretty weird claims)...

give a example of weird claims? Being new at coaching, I dont want to do this.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

give a example of weird claims? Being new at coaching, I dont want to do this.

Going particularly weird into the metaphors. Like, the physical chess thing is done a LOT, and may not be the most effective, but at least it's pretty unremarkable. When you start getting into the "having a conversation with a blade" type comments, that's when we start to worry that not only do you name your blades, but you also think they have personalities, and you talk to them because they are your only friends.

[Goldgar]

Going particularly weird into the metaphors. Like, the physical chess thing is done a LOT, and may not be the most effective, but at least it's pretty unremarkable. When you start getting into the "having a conversation with a blade" type comments, that's when we start to worry that not only do you name your blades, but you also think they have personalities, and you talk to them because they are your only friends.

Well now, wait a minute. The "conversation of steel" metaphor has been around for a long, long time.

[oiuyt]

Well now, wait a minute. The "conversation of steel" metaphor has been around for a long, long time.

So have weird people in fencing. ;)

-B

[Goldgar]

So have weird people in fencing.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Well now, wait a minute. The "conversation of steel" metaphor has been around for a long, long time.

And, like "physical chess", there are ways to use it that make you sound like you just didn't feel like coming up with your own metaphor, and there are ways to use it that make you sound like you forgot to take your medication this lifetime. It's just a lot easier to sound crazy using the "conversation" metaphor.

[parryDoh]

So what are you looking for when you visit a club site? When I travel and have time to fit fencing in, this is what I look for...

1. Location
2. Practice/Class/Open Bouting Times
3. Contact Info
4. What makes you a good club
a. Facilities
b. Quality of fencers (# of rated, best results)
c. Quality of coaches (experience, credentials, results)
d. Press
5. Price
a. Dues
b. Lessons
c. Floor fees

That's pretty much it. Anything else?

I redesigned my website somewhat following your outline. Im definately no website designer but tried to put this together for our small club in Indy. Its simple html, but I dont think that is a bad thing, its easy to use.

feed back is welcome =) www.indyfoil.com

[sionnach]

feed back is welcome =) www.indyfoil.com

Don't use frames!

[Superscribe]

I'm so disappointed the website isn't currently up : (

The blog is still up--- http://lynnelhillow.blogspot.com/

I think i understand how TKD athletes feel about Tae Bo and Billy Blanks.

It's not a good feeling.

She's also kinda pricey.