Starting a high school fencing club

[Dr.Epee]

When you and your faculty sponsor meet with the school administration several questions, in addition to the safety issue, will need to be addressed:

1. are there any space requirements?
2. how much will it cost?
3. where will equipment be stored?

Space is a primary issue at many schools, particularly since most sports require special facilities. For fencing, any open space with a flat floor is all that is required. Wide hallways are ideal, particularly if you have a small number of members. At my school the hallways are huge, plus we have several large open areas, one of which, the atrium, has been assigned to us for our practice use exclusively.

Again, since the schools are financially strapped, all costs will have to be the responsibility of the club. In my last posting I mentioned how fencePBT was willing to work with my club which made it easier on the members to buy their equipment. To further help, we divided our equipment list into two parts: those items needed to practice, and those items needed to compete. In the first category are mask, jacket, glove, breast protectors, and plastrons. In the second category are knickers and body cords. The fact that the students purchased their own equipment and helped raise the money to buy the practice foils and epees gives them a sense of pride and ownership in the club.

Regarding storage, the principal at my school is very supportive of the club and had a storage cabinet brought up to my room. The club foils are kept here, and while many of the members bought their own weapons to practice at home, during practice they use only the club foils. Their weapons stay at home avoiding having the student bring it into the building in the morning. All of the members bring their masks, gloves, and jackets to me in the morning on practice days and it spends "quality" time with me until practice starts. This way all weapons and equipment are accounted for at all times. Again, demonstrating safety and accountability is important.

[Steve12077]

To gain support from the adminitration, you really only have to do one thing! Suppy numbers for academic improvment! I ran some test scores on my students a year after we started a very informal fencing club after school. I found that overall grades jumped about 10 points with my fencing students. I also discoved that 10 of my fencing kids acheived academic awards, when before they started fencing they had not recieved any. I laid all of this in front of my principal one morning and she was convinced that fencing helps grades!!! Since then, she had bought me a scoring machine, reels, 20 jackets, 20 masks, 20 protectors, body cords to match, then she encouraged the parents to buy the foils and epee's, (they will be here next week). We, also have build storage units, and wall boards are being built this weekend. In two weeks we are having a car wash, and plan to buy more machines with that money.

[Dr.Epee]

Interesting point regarding the test scores. That can be a useful selling point to get money and space, particularly after you've had a year to track the students.

Given the financial status of many schools (tied to federal education initiatives and state funding) it is unlikely, but not improbable, that a new club getting started will receive any type of funding from the administration. In the mean time the members, coach, and booster club will bear the responsibility for getting funding. My booster club is doing just that. With a group of energetic parents, we've been able to raise over $1,000 for club equipment.

[Dr.Epee]

This past week a newspaper article in my town announced that despite an increase in state funding for high school athletic teams (i.e. football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and baseball) there are fewer students joining and participating in high school athletics. In talking with other faculty members and coaches at my school, I expressed the opinion that in order for a student to have a decent chance of playing on the varsity teams of the above sports (and we can add cheerleading to that list as well), he/she really have to begin playing in the Rec Leagues in elementary school. One of the soccer coaches agreed. As a result, it is difficult for a student without prior training to be able to make the teams.

In contrast, 58 students, none of whom have ever fenced before, joined the fencing club. Many of my students had tried out for other teams and been rejected or had become "burned-out" from playing the sport since elementary school. Fencing offers all students the opportunity to become involved in a new sport without having had to play it for 6-9 years in order to make the team.

Fencing also has the advantage of being a co-ed sport, which enables the schools to form one team and be in compliance with Title I requirements. It also allows for any wheelchair-bound students to participate. These aspects were also presented to the administration when we were seeking approval to form our club.