Conduct
on and off the strip.
The expectations below apply to every fencer in the club and to the parents who support them. They’re drawn from USA Fencing’s safety and sportsmanship guidance and from the values the club was founded on.
The full set of competition rules is maintained by USA Fencing and published in their rulebook.
What we ask
of every fencer.
These aren’t suggestions. They’re the floor we agree to as a club so the training environment stays serious, safe, and welcoming.
- 01Fence for fun.
- 02Work hard to improve your skills.
- 03Learn sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork.
- 04Know the rules and play by them. Always be a good sport.
- 05Respect yourself, your coach, your fellow athletes, parents, opponents, and officials.
- 06Maintain an active USFA membership. Lapsed membership suspends club membership.
- 07Follow USFA safety rules. Violations are reviewed by the Board and may result in discipline up to termination.
For the
parents in the room.
Fencing is a slow-build sport. The parents who help most are the ones who applaud the effort and let the coaches coach.
- 01Support your child’s desire to fence. Make it fun.
- 02Encourage them to play by the rules. Be a positive role model.
- 03Don’t embarrass your child by yelling at players, coaches, or officials.
- 04Emphasize skill development and practice. De-emphasize competition in lower age groups.
- 05Know and study the rules. Support the officials.
- 06Applaud good effort in both victory and defeat.
- 07Never yell at or physically abuse your child at competition or practice.
- 08Help USA Fencing remove physical and verbal abuse from the sport.
When school’s closed,
we’re closed.
The club follows the West Des Moines community school district’s closings for inclement weather. If schools cancel evening activities, classes are cancelled too.
Weather cancellations and schedule changes are sent by email to active members and posted to the club’s Facebook page and groups.
The official rules
of the sport.
Competition rules, equipment standards, and refereeing conventions are maintained by USA Fencing in a single rulebook updated each season. Members are expected to be familiar with it.