Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Dr.Epee · 10-05-2003, 06:44 PM

I was able to get a fencing club started at my high school this year. The response from the students was overwhelming, and I currently have 58 members who come to the practices twice a week.

In looking through the archives I noticed several threads that dealt with the problems and issues surrounding the creation of fencing clubs in high schools. I would like to share my experiences with others who are wanting to form a club in their school.

Iwant2bafencer · 10-05-2003, 11:31 PM

Man I wish there was a fencing club at my high school. I would have started one but I don't have the funds, the equipment, and most likely not very much support from the school or the administration. They're mad enough asit is what with all the new clubs that don't do squat. Nice going Dr. Epee, hope it goes well for you.

Tigerlily86 · 10-06-2003, 05:51 PM

I just have one question.....
HOW ON EARTH DID YOU GET A FENCING CLUB STARTED AT A HIGHSCHOOL???

I dont even see the point in trying at my highschool. the administration would probably be totally against it if they let students start clubs like that in the first place but anything helpful you can offer would me much appreciated. There is a group of about 5 or six of us who are semi-considering making an attempt at starting one so anything at all would be great. I dont think theres much chance of it but if you did it maybe theres hope for highschool afterall.
Tootles*waves goodbye*
Tigerlily

lochinvar · 10-06-2003, 06:25 PM

Dr.Epee, please share your observations and experiences.
If not in the public forums, then PM me.

Dr.Epee · 10-07-2003, 05:34 PM

In getting a club started in a high school the first two, and perhaps most critical, steps are 1) sponsorship and 2) safety. It is critical for you to have a faculty member be the club sponsor and/or coach. In Georgia, any certified faculty member is able to sponsor an athletic club or team. I'm not familar with the regulations in other states, but regardless, the first step is to get a faculty member to agree to sponsor the club. Accountability, both in terms of the students' welfare and the management of money, are key issues. The faculty member can also interact more readily with the school administration as well. It is also important to find someone who is willing to sponsor the club for free, at least initially. If the sponsor is not a fencer, he/she can bring on an experienced fencer as a "lay coach" to help with instruction.

Once the sponsor is in place, the next hurdle is convincing the administration of the safety of the sport. An objective presentation of the equipment, equipment safety, detailed training program (or curriculum), along with a plan for the securing of the equipment when not in use is essential.

To be continued . . . .

swordsen · 10-09-2003, 03:16 AM

YOu must be at Peachtree Ridge. I started a club down in Statesboro at hte school I wook at but it is sort of languishing right now while I ma camped out in afghanistn. good luck and I look forward to arraging competions between our groups. (which will be a tad difficult as most of mine do foil but that can be worked)

downunder · 10-09-2003, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tigerlily86
I just have one question.....
HOW ON EARTH DID YOU GET A FENCING CLUB STARTED AT A HIGHSCHOOL???

I dont even see the point in trying at my highschool. the administration would probably be totally against it if they let students start clubs like that in the first place but anything helpful you can offer would me much appreciated. There is a group of about 5 or six of us who are semi-considering making an attempt at starting one so anything at all would be great. I dont think theres much chance of it but if you did it maybe theres hope for highschool afterall.
Tootles*waves goodbye*
Tigerlily

fencing is a school sport at my school, and we are one of the best schools in the state for it (NSW). There is a schools league which attracts over 60 high school teams, in 4 divisions coming from all areas of the state.

it does work

Avril Roddam · 10-09-2003, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by downunder
fencing is a school sport at my school, and we are one of the best schools in the state for it (NSW). There is a schools league which attracts over 60 high school teams, in 4 divisions coming from all areas of the state.

it does work

I want to start one at whatever college I go to next year. one question, how do you get the money for the gear?
Our club doesn't have enough gear, so I couldn't borrow from it.
I'm sick of selling fundraising choc!

swordsen · 10-09-2003, 08:17 AM

If you don't fund raie you won't have money. To get a bunch of start up stuff my school had a tournament where you could make a donation of either money or old equipment instead of entry fees. We got a bunch of outgrown jackets, some foils, a couple of masks, one complete set of electric sabre gear, and a bunch of miscelaneous stuff. (oh year, a couple of masks too) the peopel who did cash donations gave alot more than we could have gotten away with charging for entry fees too.

downunder · 10-09-2003, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Avril Roddam
I want to start one at whatever college I go to next year. one question, how do you get the money for the gear?
Our club doesn't have enough gear, so I couldn't borrow from it.
I'm sick of selling fundraising choc!

i kinda go to... a 'wealthy' private school, with an expensive fencing budget - which is great... and they are happy to keep paying it so long as we bring back trophies.... although our nationals teams performance was sub-par to say the least

chocolates are a great way to fund raise. jeff has a great idea with gloves tho. You can buy gloves off him for $15-20, and then make them complusory to buy, and sell them for $25 or so. Making a fair amount of money on each sale.

Dr.Epee · 10-09-2003, 03:25 PM

Fund raising is essential, but there are ways to do it that are less painful and more productive. We established a $20 club dues fee per member. This was used to pay the USFA Club registration and insurance. From the money left over after paying the club dues, we had 500 "static clinger" window decals with the school logo and mascot made up. It cost us $0.46 per clinger and we're selling them for $2.00. The sale price makes them attractive to the "consumer" (who is tired of chocolate, fruit, and magazine sales) and we make $1.54 profit on each one. The $770 dollars we're making off this fund raiser is helping us to buy additional masks, epee, and foils.

Getting parents involved is also an essential element in forming a club. I previously discussed how important it is to have a faculty member being willing to sponsor/coach the club. It is also important to demonstrate parental/public support. This helps to lend credence to your request to start a club at your school. The parents can also form a boosters club which also helps with fund raising.

Next post I'll decribe the safety concerns and issues.

(hey, I grew up in the Marine Corps and "proceeding in an orderly and proficient manner" was drilled into every fiber of my being!)

Avril Roddam · 10-09-2003, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by downunder
i kinda go to... a 'wealthy' private school, with an expensive fencing budget - which is great... and they are happy to keep paying it so long as we bring back trophies.... although our nationals teams performance was sub-par to say the least

chocolates are a great way to fund raise. jeff has a great idea with gloves tho. You can buy gloves off him for $15-20, and then make them complusory to buy, and sell them for $25 or so. Making a fair amount of money on each sale.

Thanx dave.

Moonitic · 10-09-2003, 10:09 PM

A subject that has become my forte, so to speak. I coach/sponsor the color guard for my former high school. If the athletic director wasn't a grade A horse's behind, I'd talk to him about a fencing club. Anyhoo...

Recently my squad received a $1000 check from the Democratic Club in our town. How did we do it? One of the girls lives next door to one of the members. He asked us to submit a letter detailing our needs & goals, & he presented it to the club. The rest is history. We'll be twirling sabres next year.

As a thank you, we are obligated to perform at their Christmas dinner.

Gain as much information on the different clubs & organizations in your area as possible. Find out about the kids' families, etc. You'd be amazed. Also, talk to local businesses about sponsorship & funding. Make sure to clear all this with the administration, though.

Squall_Leonhart · 10-12-2003, 01:09 PM

My school started one a few weeks ago and the turn out was hilarious. The director expected for about six people to show up and lo' behold! about fifty people! Course, now we're down to about half that size and about half showing up consistently. We have had our "practice" sessions but our liability and waiver forms have yet to be written.
Does anyone have any idea where to get these papers written and what basic rules to have in them aside from "....not responsible for death or injury..." and etc etc.
The parents are scared to death about their darling little boy/girl getting hacked away to pieces by a buttoned weapon. A detente is needed, any tips?
and we don't plan to hire a lawyer to help write the contract either.
Only thing I know about keeping our short attention span at ready is to bait the participants. For instance, getting the advisor and director suited up for a demo, so to speak so they won't get bored.

swordsen · 10-13-2003, 06:55 AM

copy the one the USFA uses and replace it with your groups name.

schlager7 · 10-14-2003, 10:38 AM

I've been away from this board for a few days and was surprised to find this topic. SOme young fencers from our fencing club have started their own club at one of the local high schools.

I've been monitoring their progress since they started their own bulletin board forum at The Underground Web Site of the CLHS Fencing Club .

They've had a number of early problems to confront. I guess the most noticeable is that the school won't let them fence on campus!

I'll forward this thread to them...

Dr.Epee · 10-16-2003, 07:27 PM

An important component of starting a club and receiving the official sanction of the school is to have a meeting with the parents of prospective members regarding the sport. The faculty sponsor can arrange this (once again pointing out that getting someone on the faculty to sponsor the club is crucial). At the meeting have examples of the clothing, weapons, and masks present and explain how they are constructed to provide maximum safety. I did this after having prospective students and their parents attend an organizational meeting. It helped to answer the safety issue for concerned individuals and also demonstrated to the school administration that the club would be run safely.

Dr.Epee · 10-16-2003, 07:37 PM

Getting parental support and involvement is important to starting a fencing club at your school. Parental involvement helps with fund raising, financial accountability, and also demonstrates that there is community support for developing a fencing club/program at your school.

Getting money to start a club is one of the major concerns. Few schools are willing to commit money to a new club. What we did at my school was to have the students buy the basic equipment themselves (jacket, plastron, and glove: many students also chose to purchase their own mask rather than use the "communal" club ones). This enable the club to raise the money necessary to purchase "dry" foils and epees. Fund raisers that we've used quite successfully have been the sale of static cling decals with the school logo on them (they can be made for as little as $0.42 and sold for $2.00 - net profit of $1.58 per sticker). The booster club has been a tremendous asset in getting the fund raisers started.

Dr.Epee · 10-16-2003, 07:47 PM

Another hurdle is getting equipment for the club. Before you have the safety/parental meeting, contact several vendors and get their club discount rates and terms. My club established a good working relationship with fencePBT. They came down and fitted 58 students for their jackets, gloves, and masks.

Ramrod · 10-16-2003, 09:15 PM

That's good service, to come down and fit everyone for their equipment.

Congratulations on such a fantastic turnout.