Common Questions

The following is a brief answer to some common questions you may have about fencing. Please ask if you have any addition questions.

When should I or my child start fencing?

Am I to old to start fencing?

Where can I find more information about Fencing?

I’m already a fencer, where can I find more information?

When should I buy my own equipment?

What equipment should I purchase and from where?

How do I enter a fencing competition?

What are my other competitive opportunities in fencing?

When should I or my child start fencing?
Children should be about ten years of age when starting.

Am I to old to start fencing?
No. You are never to old to start fencing or to come back to the sport. Fencing can be a life long activity.

Where can I find more information about Fencing?
Wikipedia has a good general background on the sport. The governing body of competitive fencing in the United States is the USFA (United States Fencing Association). The USFA also provides a Parents and Spectators Guide. Another site is Fencing.net which features fencing news and stories as well as a discussion forum.

I’m already a fencer, where can I find more information?
There are a couple of publications you should be familiar with as a fencer. They are listed below with links.
Rule Book – Every fencer should be understand the rules which apply to their weapon(s) and conduct expected at tournaments, both by the fencers and officials.
Athletes Handbook – “The Athlete Handbook provides fencers, coaches, administrators, and parents the information pertinent to all aspects of USA Fencing programs.”
Operations Manual – This includes more detailed information regarding competitions from the officials’ perspective.
Referee Handbook - This handbook is published by the Fencers Officials Commission (FOC) and offers an outline on how referees should conduct themselves and what they are looking for at tournaments.

When should I buy my own equipment?
We make every effort to provide equipment to students beginning to fence. Usually students will begin purchasing their own gear a few months after they begin lessons. Initially a fencer should have their own Mask, Jacket, Foil, Plastron (under-arm protector), Glove, and Knickers (fencing pants and socks).

Fencers need to have their own electric equipment before they begin to bout at the club or compete. This includes Electric Foils, Body Cords, and conductive vest (Lame) for Foil and Saber. Fencing rules state that a fencer is required to have at least two working weapons and two working body cords at every competition.

What equipment should I purchase and from where?
There are many fencing vendors to choose from. A list of the most common are available on the links page. Every vendor offers what is called a starter kit. This includes a Mask, Jacket, Foil, Plastron (under-arm protector) and  Glove. Some may offer a carrying bag as part of the package, which is also recommended to have. Women fencers will also need to purchase a chest protector.  Electric fencing equipment does not need to be purchased initially.

There are a couple of considerations when purchasing equipment. When you order for the first time it is best to call the vendor on the phone. They can help you measure and choose the right size. When placing the order be sure to specify which hand you fence with, right or left. This will effect the foil, glove, and jacket you will receive.  Be sure to order a front close jacket. Students will learn to fence with a “french foil,” which refers to the type of grip. You may see a “0-5″ choice for foils as well. This refers to the length with “5″ being the longest. Adults and teenagers should use a 5. Younger students may need a shorter blade.

How do I enter a fencing competition?
Your instructor will let you know when you should start competing and help you select a tournament. A few things must be done before you enter. You should create an account on the askFRED website. This site is a great resource for planning competitions to attend. More information on how to use the site can be found here.

Some competitions will require you to join the USFA (United States Fencing Association). They are the governing body for the sport in the United States. The easiest way to join is through their website at usfencing.org.

A few other things to plan for when preparing for a tournament.

• Check all your weapons to ensure they are working properly at the club before the competition.
• Arrive early to give yourself a chance to stretch and warm-up. Light sparring with a teammate or friend is also a good idea.
• Bring the following items with you, all necessary fencing gear, repair kit, change of cloths, an appropriate lunch and snacks, and a book or other distraction for downtime or non-fencers.
• You should set attainable goals for each competition. Your coach can help you with this.
• Plan to have fun. Competitions are a good way to meet others fencers, many of whom you will see again at other tournaments. They are also a good way to test yourself and find ways to improve your game.

After the competition you should write down your thoughts in a fencing journal. Include progress through the day, what actions worked (against who and why), what actions did not work (against who and why), and anything else note worthy you would like to discuss with your coach.

What are my other competitive opportunities in fencing?
The first competitions you will most likely enter will be local events hosted by other fencing clubs.  These may or may not require a US Fencing Membership. As these are smaller events they will often be single weapon. Divisional and Sectional Tournaments are used as qualifying events for national tournaments. Regional Competitions include the Regional Open Circuit (ROC) and Youth Events. National Events include the Summer Nations, Junior Olympics, and North American Cups (NAC). Many of these events will include separate age and gender categories of all three weapons as well as team events.

The Athlete Handbook contains a more detailed explanation of Fencing events held nationally. Here is an expert from the handbook, and here is a link to the full handbook.

Some other common terminology used in describing a tournament’s format: