VFA Bulletin
October 2, 2023

1. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reminder: even though the weather will be warm this week, please do not wear shorts for fencing. Wear either reasonably sturdy long pants you can move easily in (sweatpants are ideal, no yoga tights or flimsy windpants) or fencing pants.

Level 2/3 fencers, do you still need to do either of these things? (the answer is yes, several of you do)
-Pay your fall club dues (this is in addition to buying a new punch card when needed)
-Renew your USA Fencing membership?
Please take care of that this week! I hate having to chase you down and nag you.

Punch cards: are honor system, cross them out as you use them, buy a new one ($65) when needed. Put your name on it (much easier to return to you if you drop it). If you come more than once in any given week, only punch it once.

Did you get some new equipment this fall? Put your name on EVERYTHING. Lots of fencing equipment looks alike and your chances of getting it back if left behind or picked up by someone else is much better if your name is on it. Label with permanent marker inside of clothing items, on back of mask, and under pad of weapon.

2. NOTES FOR NEWBIES
I had a great time with the Level 1 classes last week, and look forward to continuing our fencing journey together! Please keep your rented equipment together (preferably in a bag) and double check each week that you are bringing everything with you. I do not carry any extra equipment (except foils, in case one breaks during practice). If you forget something (like your glove) I can not provide you with one.

There are 4 of you who missed the first class (Julie H, Cassi, Gabriel and Rebecca). I will meet with you 20 minutes before this week's class for a quick catch up and you can jump right in.

I encourage all newbies to stay after practice and do some actual fencing with each other. I realize it's a late night, especially for our youngest students, and you don't have to stay all the way until 9. But do try to stay for at least 10 minutes after class. Fencing is a game, and you can only really learn a game by playing it. If you only do drills, you are learning the moves but not the game. People who stay and actually fence have more fun and learn the sport faster. When fencing other people, at least in the first few weeks, I encourage you to not keep score - just experiment and try out the moves you are learning. There is plenty of opportunity to get competitive later.

Speaking of competition, all of our local tournaments are open to spectators free of charge. I invite you to drop in and watch the October or November tournaments. By the time the December tournament rolls around, you may want to give it a try yourself! See #3 and 4 below for more info.

Are you an adult beginner? Thank you to Karen Cutler for sharing this excellent article about the importance of having fun and learning new skills in adulthood:
https://www.leonpaul.com/blog/starting-fencing-as-an-adult/

3. TOURNAMENT SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! ALL ABOUT FENCING IN, AND HELPING OUT WITH, THE CHAMPLAIN CUP LEAGUE (AND WHY YOU SHOULD DO IT)
The Champlain Cup is Vermont's fun and friendly fencing league, with monthly tournaments from October through May, and season-end awards for the best competitors (including a Rookie of the Year award for the best new fencer!). Would you join a tennis club or a recreational softball league, and never play in any games? Tournaments are our games. You might get clobbered at your first few tournaments (I certainly did!) but you will still get to fence a number of bouts, meet members of the broader fencing community (our events are very sociable!), watch and learn from more experienced competitors (many of whom are happy to give you some tips), try out electric equipment (loaners available), and have a lot of fun. So if you have never competed before, or if you recently aged up out of our youth events in to the "big leagues" (teen/adult competitions), I encourage you to go ahead and sign up for the fall tournaments!

All of the Champlain Cup tournaments include "open" events (also called "senior mixed") for foil, epee and sometimes saber. These events are open to all fencers born 2010 or before (i.e. teens and adults). Unrated fencers (including first time competitors) are always welcome to participate in open events, although you should expect to have some bouts against more seasoned competitors. In addition to open events, there is usually some kind of special event. These may include events for less experienced or less skilled fencers (Unrated or E-Under events), events for kids born 2011 or later (Youth events), or events for older athletes (fencers born 1984 or before are called Veterans). In fact this fall, the October tournament will include Unrated events, the November tournament will include Veteran events, and the December tournament will include Youth events. I encourage you to jump in and participate in any of these categories that appeal to you, rather than think "I'll just wait for the next one to come around", as it may be many months before that kind of event is offered again.

Entry fees for Champlain Cup tournaments: $10 registration fee, plus $10 per event. Sign up on AskFRED at least 5 days in advance (so by Monday, Oct 9 for the first one) to avoid a $15 late registration fee (and because early sign ups make life so much easier for we tournament organizers). Payment is at the door (check or exact change, no credit cards or payment apps). There is no penalty if you sign up and find you have to withdraw (after all, we don't want you to come if you are sick).

All Champlain Cup tournaments require USA Fencing membership (now that there are no more noncompetitive memberships, all membership levels are valid).

Please do not sign up for two events that start at the same time or within an an hour of each other (even though AskFRED lets you).

Sign up is via a website called AskFRED (FRED is the Fencing Results and Events Database). New to using it? Instructions for creating an account are here:
http://www.vtfencingalliance.org/old_posts/HowToUseFRED.htm

Tournaments do not just magically happen. It takes a big team of volunteers to organize and run them.
Organizers: Do the tasks needed before and after the tournament occurs (such as booking the venue, and reporting the results to USAF) as well as oversee the smooth running of the tournament.
Meet managers: collecting entry fees, checking US Fencing memberships, and entering data into Fencing Time (our tournament software).
Referees: Open and veteran events are self-reffed, meaning the most experienced competitors ref for each other while also competing. However U/E (beginner oriented) and Youth events require dedicated refs (fencers who are willing to sit out part of the day and serve as refs).
Armorers: Keep our electric scoring systems and club electric equipment running all day (note: armorers do not fix your personal equipment, all fencers need to learn to do this for themselves).

I am delighted that a whole new generation of tournament organizers has stepped up to take charge this season. Last season, we had a group of meet managers who really took it to a new level, and have begun to train others to do the job as well (shout out especially to Deirdre Goldenbogen, Genevieve Gallagher, Michele Wheeler and Nancy Mazur). The Green Mt Division badly needs new refs to develop their skills and start volunteering, especially for foil. You do not need to be a certified ref to volunteer for U and Youth events, but if you are, you get your own registration and first event fee for free. Last season John Colt and Matt Krohn were invaluable as armorers, and I hope will do some training of others this season (including those of you who just want to learn to fix your own equipment-it's the same skill set). With the exception of refs, all of these tasks are perfect for noncombattants (i.e. parent or partner of a fencer). All of our volunteers earn coupons good for entry into a future tournament, for yourself or your favorite fencer. Hopefully we will have some clinics on each of these tasks as the season progresses, but no need to wait - if you are interested in helping just show up and ask the meet manager or armorer to show you what they do.

4. REGISTER NOW FOR FALL TOURNAMENTS
Let the games begin!

Fall Foliage Open and Unrated Tournament
Saturday Oct 14, UVM (indoor tennis courts, Patrick gym building)
Event schedule:
10:30 a.m Open (aka Senior Mixed) Foil
10:30 a.m Unrated mens epee, unrated womens epee (will be combined if fewer than 6 of each gender)
12 p.m Open Saber
2 pm Open (aka Senior Mixed) Epee
2:30 pm Unrated mens foil, unrated womens foil (will be combined if fewer than 6 of each gender)

To register (by 10/9 to avoid late fee!), get directions and see who else is coming:
https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/614bd774-4964-4241-beb2-ff41e20dad90

Registration is also open for the November and December tournaments
Sat Nov 11, Vermont Commons School (S. Burlington), Stick Season Stab - open foil and epee, veterans foil and epee (note: date changed to avoid conflict with vet tournament in MA)
https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/8100f451-3775-4448-9e8e-3f8c248083d9

Sat Dec 2, Vt Commons School (S Burlington), Holiday Open - open foil and epee, youth foil and epee
https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/668c0af9-55ef-4ef1-8b86-bd2123a8b4b4

5. EQUIPMENT NOTES: FENCING PANTS, PLASTRONS AND CHEST PROTECTORS
People often ask me about additional protective gear, beyond what is provided with rental sets, so here is a little guidance.

Plastron (also called underarm protector): this is a covering that goes over your dominant shoulder, side and upper arm, worn under the fencing jacket to provide extra protection on the area hit hardest and most often (and also where there is a seam in the jacket, and hence a possible weak point). It is required for all tournaments, and included with most starter set packages. The VFA has a few available for loan for those entering their first tournaments who have not gotten one yet. I always wear mine! They are the same for righties and lefties (just turn inside out), and cost about $20-30 for a basic (non-FIE) one if purchased separately from your starter set.

Chest protector: this a a plastic plate that covers the chest. Most teen and adult female fencers prefer these over the little pocket protectors included with the sets I rent to women. They give you better coverage and are easier to adjust the positioning (kind of like a big plastic bra). I use one for competition. They are also available in children's and men's designs, so anyone who wants a little extra protection can get one. The chest protector is not a substitute for the plastron - the plastron is required for competition for all fencers, whereas only women need to have some kind of chest protection (either a plate or the little pocket ones). The chest protector is optional for men. A basic chest plate costs about $30, and is good for practice and for all epee competition. For foil competition, the chest plate must be covered in a foam padding (prevents your opponent's electric foil tip from bouncing off without registering). The padding costs about $25 and can always be added later if needed. If you use a chest plate, put it on before you put on your plastron (i.e. the plastron is worn over the chest plate, to help with the tip bouncing issue). Special sale: I have a couple of donated XS children's chest plates I would like to pass on to new owners for a $10 donation to the club. Will fit 9-10 years olds, maybe some smaller 11-12 year olds. If your kid is complaining about hard hits from larger opponents, you might want to pick up one of these. Let me know if you want one.

Note for male fencers: I highly recommend you wear an athletic cup. It is required for competition (although I've never seen anyone check!) and really, if I were a guy, I wouldn't fence without one.

Fencing pants: these offer much better protection than sweatpants or jeans, and are required for competition. The VFA does not supply loaners, as there is such a broad range of body types and fits. You can get a basic (non-FIE) pair for $30-$60. These are knee-length knickers that are worn with knee-high socks (soccer socks work well - the club has some soccer socks with our logo for sale for $10, sizes S-L, out of XL). For maximum comfort, do not wear these over long pants. What I do is wear lycra compression shorts under them so I can change in public, but many people just wear their underwear and change in the bathroom.

FIE vs non-FIE: Protective gear labeled FIE (Federation International d'Escrime) is required for international tournaments (world cup, Olympics) and is more strongly puncture resistant (and generally better quality). It is much more expensive than non-FIE gear. Some experienced fencers prefer it for the extra protection and because it lasts longer, but it is not required if you are only going to compete locally or regionally. Most newer fencers start with the less expensive non-FIE gear, which still offers plenty of safety.

Planning to enter Champlain Cup tournaments this fall and still in the process of acquiring equipment? Begin by buying fencing pants. Also, if you use a plastic chest plate and are planning to compete in foil, buy the stick-on padding here (note: not needed for epee):
https://www.absolutefencinggear.com/uniforms/fie/chest-guard