Frequently Asked Questions: Kid, Youth & Junior Fencers
| What age is good to begin fencing instruction at Bay State Fencers? | Young fencers should be at least 7 years old or in the second grade. By 7 most boys and girls are ready to respond well to both group and private instruction. We also have appropriately sized equipment and uniforms for them and most importantly they will have fencing partners. |
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My child is interested in learning to fence. What opportunities are available for my child at Bay State Fencers? |
If your child is 7 and in the second grade Kids Fencing is the appropriate program to enroll your child in. This is an ongoing program with rolling enrollment. Kids participate in this program until they are 8 or in the third grade. If your child is 8 to 14 and a beginner enroll them in Youth
Fencing Basics for 8 to 11 years olds or Junior Fencing
Basics for 11 to 15 year olds. These are eight week classes
that introduce the novice fencer to the game, the etiquette,
and the history of the sport. All equipment and uniforms are
provided. |
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My child has already had some fencing instruction. What opportunities are available for my child at Bay State Fencers? |
If your child is 8 to 14, has already had some fencing instruction, and is interested in taking a class at Bay State Fencers enroll them in a Youth Fencing Program in foil, epee, or saber for 8 to 11 year olds or in a Junior Fencing Program in foil, epee or saber for 11 to 14 year olds. These programs are ongoing and
enrollment is rolling. Equipment and uniforms are provided if
your child does not yet own his/her own equipment or uniform. |
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My child is interested in becoming a competitive fencer. What opportunities are available for my child at Bay State Fencers? |
If your child is 10 to 18, has some fencing experience and is interested in competition please speak with us about our Competitive Programs in foil, epee and saber. These programs are ongoing and
enrollment is by permission. Competitive fencers are required
to own their own equipment and uniform. |
| How do I help my fencer select between foil, epee and saber? |
Fencers are introduced to all three weapons in Fencing Basics, though most of the training in this class is in foil. Most fencers 8 to 14 enjoy participating in either our Youth Fencing Program or our Junior Fencing Program in foil, epee or saber for sixteen to twenty four weeks before finally selecting their weapon. Temperament is often a good indicator of which weapon your child will both enjoy and excel at. Kids who enjoy fast paced games and rules often enjoy foil, kids who enjoy games of strategy often enjoy epee, and kids who enjoy activities that require quick bursts of energy often enjoy saber. All of our coaches are experts
in their field and are always happy to guide you. We recommend
that you begin by speaking with your fencer's class coach. |
| How will I know if my child is ready for private lessons? |
We encourage young fencers to take an eight-week age appropriate Fencing Basics class and to participate in a Fencing Program before beginning private lessons. Private lessons give the fencer the opportunity to work one-on-one with their coach to develop skills, to work on technique and strategy and to develop a supportive coach-athlete relationship. Working privately with a coach also allows the fencer to develop as an independent athlete. Most fencers begin by scheduling
one 30-minute private lesson per week with their Coach. |
| How do I select a Coach for my fencer? |
A fencer is paired with a Coach who is strong in the weapon the fencer has selected, who is available to give private lessons at convenient times for the fencer, and who is a good personality match for the fencer. Please feel free to discuss your
child's needs with the Director and he will help facilitate a
strong coach-athlete relationship. |
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What does it mean to have a Coach? What is the proper etiquette for having a Coach? |
Selecting a coach is a big step in a young fencer's athletic life and having a private coach is both a privilege and a responsibility. Coaches are committed to assisting fencers attain their athletic and competitive goals by developing an individualized program of training for each fencer and private lessons are an integral part of most fencer's athletic program. In turn fencers are expected to demonstrate respect for their coach by practicing good etiquette. This includes:
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