VFA Bulletin
November 27, 2023

1. SCHEDULE
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We are back this week for two more weeks of fencing before our winter holiday break.
This week (Nov 28-30): All practicies as normally scheduled
Next week (Dec 5-7): Expecting all practices as normally scheduled, but we may find out on Tuesday that basketball has started and is using the Charlotte gym until 7:30. If that happens, we will wait in the hallway and run 7:30-9:30 (but no official time change for now, in case that doesn't happen), and I will send an update if a later practice time is needed on Thursday.

Speaking of updates: in case of winter weather, I will use this email list to notify you of any cancellations or schedule changes. So make sure to check your email (and to whitelist VFA mail from Mailchimp) if the weather is bad.

Reminder: all rented equipment must be turned in by Dec. 8, either at the end of your final fall class, or by bringing it to my house. Michele has a set of used equipment for sale - see #2 below.

Dec 8-Jan 3: winter break
Thurs Jan 4: open fencing in Charlotte for Competitive Squad and any teens or adults with their own equipment who want to join them. Not a class, I will be out of town.
Tues Jan 9: Full schedule returns for winter. Same practice schedule as in the fall, except that Charlotte practices may be pushed back to 7:30-9:30 for the duration of town rec basketball season if needed.

2. REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR WINTER CLASSES
I am now registering Level 1 students for winter classes. Sooner is better than later, both because I may run out of rental equipment or classes may fill up, and because I am traveling Dec 11-27 and again Jan 4-8.
Please spread the word to any friends who may be interested in fencing and have them get in touch with me soon for registration info!

Planning to repeat Level 1 this winter? Please let me know ASAP that you would like me to reserve a place in the class for you. Also please let me know whether or not you will need rental equipment. You do not have to fill in a new registration form.

Planning to participate in Level 2/3 classes this winter? There is no registration process, you don't have to let me know, you can just show up. But you must have your own basic set of equipment (jacket, mask, glove, underarm protector, weapon).

Speaking of which: Michele Wheeler has a used set of equipment available to fit a right-handed larger youth/smaller teen (her best guess, age 12-15, depending on size), including front-zip jacket, medium mask, French grip foil (you can always change to pistol grip), glove, plastron as well as fencing pants and a boy's plastic chest plate (if this is for a teen girl, you might need a different one). $80 for the lot, contact Michele directly by text at 802-655-5600 or email at care.electrolysis@yahoo.com. I am happy to pick up gear from Michele in Charlotte and bring it to Middlebury if someone there wants it.

3. TOURNAMENT THIS SATURDAY-REGISTER BY MIDNIGHT TO AVOID LATE FEE
Holiday Open, Saturday Dec 2, Vermont Commons School, S. Burlington

Youth Events
10 a.m Youth Foil
1:30 p.m Youth Epee (only 1 kid signed up so far, this one is likely to be cancelled)
Youth events are open to all kids born 2011 or later, and are perfect for first-time competitors, including current Level 1 students. Loaner electric equipment will be available. As of today, only 6 VFA kids (plus 3 from other clubs) have signed up (2 from Middlebury, 4 from Charlotte). I would love to see a lot more of you take advantage of this. We offer only 4 or 5 youth events a season, they are a lot of work to put on, and we will offer fewer of them next year if the participation rate remains low.

Open Events
10 a.m Open Epee
1:30 p.m Open Foil
Open (aka senior mixed) events are for all fencers born 2010 or earlier. Unrated and first time competitors are very welcome, as long as you don't mind having some highly skilled fencers among your opponents. As of today, open epee is very close to the cap of 28 fencers. If you signed up for epee and are not going to make it, please take your name off the list. If you didn't sign up but you are interested in competing, please let the tournament organizer (Emily Peden) know so she can add you to the waiting list if there is one. As of today, Open Foil is at 19 fencers, with room for more, so just go ahead and sign up if you are interested.

Entry fee (cash or check only): $20 for one event or $30 for two if registered by midnight tonight (Nov 27). After that, there is a $15 late fee as well. Payment is at the door.

To register:
https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/668c0af9-55ef-4ef1-8b86-bd2123a8b4b4

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
Note: this blog was created for old AskFRED. With the new system, there is an additional step of verifying your email. If you don't do that, it will not create an account for you.

Coming to your first tournament? Things to know:
-Always arrive at least 30 minutes before your posted start time (more if you need to borrow equipment)
-Bring all equipment you own or rent, in addition to the electric equipment that will be loaned to you there. If you don't own fencing pants, make sure to wear sturdy sweatpants (no shorts, tights or flimsy windpants).
-I will be there all day as one of the refs for Youth Foil and to compete in Open Foil. It's okay to ask questions!
-Tournament format: you will begin in a pool of 5-9 fencers (depending how many total there are) and fence everyone in your pool a 5-point bout. The results of the pool round will be used to seed you into a direct elimination (knock out) ladder. In the DE round, you fence a 10 point bout for youth or 15 for senior (teens and adults), with the winner moving up the ladder and the loser being eliminated until one person is left standing. The amount of time this takes can vary widely depending on the size of the pools and number of available strips and refs (and of course, on how well you do!). Youth events typically take the most time because kids need more help getting on and off the strip, equipment issues are common (since everyone is sharing a small number of child-sized electric foils) and there is more hitting the floor (which sets off the machine and stops the action). My best guess is that Youth Foil will end around 2 p.m, but don't hold me to it - it really depends how many kids show up and how things go.
-Bring a water bottle (mandatory - there is no fountain in the VCS gym) and snacks for the day.

4. ARMORY CLINIC
The art of repairing electric equipment is quaintly called "armory" in the fencing world. It is something every fencer needs to learn. There are no repair shops for fencing equipment. Sooner or later even the best equipment breaks. If you do not know how to repair it yourself, you will eventually own an expensive pile of junk. Fortunately, our experienced armorer-in-residence John Colt has graciously volunteered to host an armory clinic at his house, to get you started learning the skills you need to maintain your own equipment. You can attend the clinic with electric weapons and body cords of your own you would like to fix, or just come an observe (even if you don't own electric equipment yet). John has put together a survey to decide the best time to hold the clinic. If you are even vaguely interested (and if you have broken equipment that has you stumped, you had better be!) please fill out John's survey here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzpSk93wYWnPK2_4l-bxPUjLNbCXTwv9IfpPQZ9XmFU0HQBw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0