Salem High School Fencing League

Handbook for Athletes and Parents 2014

Sponsored by Salem Classical Fencing a nonprofit organization 2455 McGilchrist Street SE Salem, Oregon 97302 503-375-9209

Welcome Thanks for your interest in fencing in the Salem High School Fencing League. The league is recognized by several area high schools as a “community based club sport”. Historically, students from these schools have participated in the league: Blanchet Catholic School Homeschool students of Salem North Salem High School South Salem High School Sprague High School West Salem High School This handbook includes the following information: Overview of fencing Organizational structure League fencing Fees Volunteering Expectations of fencers Earning a varsity letter Explanation of Glicko individual rating system Checklist for participation

The following forms should be filled out and returned to complete your registration: Parental Code of Conduct Equipment Check-out Form Participation Agreement and Explanation of Inherent Risks School Sports Pre-Participation Physical Examination Form, including a cover letter for the physician Recording Release Form

Salem High School Fencing League Contact List Nanci Keatley, high school fencing coordinator – [email protected] Jill Summers, executive director and instructor – [email protected] Mary Keatley, assistant instructor – [email protected]

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 3 Overview of fencing

Note: While it is customary for fencers to refer to the tools of their sport as “weapons”, modern sport fencing weapons are no more weapons than are lacrosse sticks, fishing rods, or tennis racquets. They are swords in name only, with no sharp edges or points anywhere upon them. It should also be noted that fencing has a better safety record than all other commonly offered high school varsity sports—combined (statistics available on request). Broadly, fencing is the art and sport of swordplay as it developed in Europe. The origins of fencing trace back to ancient times, but modern sport fencing has its roots in the Renaissance. Today, modern fencing has three disciplines, each of which uses a different weapon: foil, épée, and sabre. The weapons of modern sport fencing were all in use by the very late 19th century as fencing increasingly was practiced as a recreational pursuit instead of as training for a life-threatening duel. As dueling became less socially acceptable (as well as illegal), fencing competitions grew in popularity. While competitive fencing has been featured in every modern Olympiad since the first Olympic Games in 1896, it was not solidly established as a sport until 1913 when the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) was created in order to foster international fencing competitions. Today, the FIE is headquartered in Switzerland and it remains the international governing body for competitive fencing, including in the Olympics. In the United States, there are two national governing bodies for fencing, each with different goals and rules: the U.S. Fencing Association (USFA) and the much smaller American Fencing League (AFL). The USFA is recognized by the FIE and is the pathway to Olympic competition. All USFA competitions are electrically scored with a single referee. The fencing is highly athletic with very fast bladework. It is very difficult for most people, even many fencers, to follow the action. Competitive collegiate (NCAA) fencing in the United States uses USFA rules. Competition in the AFL does not lead to Olympic competition. A human jury composed of four “side judges” and a director visually judges all AFL competitions. The fencing is athletic, but because the action must be perceptible to a human jury (rather than a machine), it is somewhat slower than USFA fencing. This makes AFL fencing an excellent spectator sport. The Salem High School Fencing League uses AFL rules adapted slightly for high school use. Foil Foils, in their most primitive form, were originally developed as training weapons in the early 1600s. They were never designed for combat—solely for training. The modern foil weighs about a pound. It has a flexible blade with a rectangular cross-section. The target area is the torso. Touches must be delivered with the point of the foil to be valid. Foil fencing is “conventional”, meaning that the action is subject to strict rules of right of way as to when one may attack and when one should defend. Violating right of way does not result in a

page 4 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook penalty, but the fencer does so at his or her own peril and the opponent’s touch may be given priority – even if the fencer touched the opponent first. The goal of foil fencing is to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way—without being touched oneself. The Salem High School Fencing League currently focuses on foil. Épée The épée is a 19th-century weapon that was designed for dueling. It was ideal for so-called “first blood duels” where the object was to simply draw blood. The épée weighs about 1½ pounds and has a stiff triangular blade. The target area for épée is the entire body from head to toe. Touches must be delivered with the point to be valid. Épée fencing is “unconventional”, meaning that there are no rules as to when one may attack and when one should defend. Of the three weapons, it is the one closest to actual combat. The goal of épée fencing is to score one touch without being touched oneself. There is virtually no room for error. Sabre The modern sporting sabre was developed in the early 20th century to replace the heavier dueling sabre for use in competition and in the salle (the older design resulted in a heavy- handed and often brutal “sport” that was prone to injury). The sporting sabre weighs about a pound. It has a flexible Y- or I-shaped blade and a wrap-around guard. The target area for sabre is everything above the waist, including the head, arms, and hands. Touches may be delivered in any of three ways: with a thrust using the point, with a cut using the leading edge of the blade, or with a counter-cut using the last one-third of the back edge of the blade. Sabre fencing, like foil, is “conventional”, meaning that it is subject to strict rules as to when one may attack and when one should defend. The combination of conventionality and three different modes of attack make sabre a fast and complex activity. The goal of sabre fencing is, as in foil fencing, to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way—without being touched oneself.

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 5 Welcome Thanks for your interest in fencing in the Salem High School Fencing League. We hope you find this information helpful and informative. Organizational structure The Salem High School Fencing League is an outreach effort of Salem Classical Fencing in cooperation with Salem-Keizer high schools (both public and private) and homeschool families in the Salem area. SCF organizes and conducts fencing meets for the benefit of the student participants. SCF and the league are independent from, and receive no funding, in- kind services, or supervision from the Salem-Keizer School District. Salem Classical Fencing is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded in 2004. The board of directors provides oversight. The executive director manages day-to-day operations. SCF has a part-time teaching staff of five people, and an executive director. Nanci Keatley is the coordinator for the league. Mrs. Keatley has been teaching since 2005. In addition to coordinating the high school fencing league, she also teaches epee and foil classes, and coaches competitive level fencers. Mrs. Keatley is accredited as an instructor (moniteur) of foil and epee by the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association. Additional instruction will be provided by James Ciaramitaro, Mary Keatley, and Jill Summers, who are accredited by the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association. League fencing The fencing season begins with a three day after-school training camp on the week of January 6th. Regular practices start January 13th. Weekly meets begin on January 16th and continue through March 13th. The season concludes with the Salem High School Fencing League Championships (both individual and team) on March 15th, with the best team receiving the Ciaramitaro Sword trophy and having their names engraved on it. Salem High School Fencing League meets are held weekly, with every club meeting every other club once during the season. The season culminates in a championship, with each club’s regular-season performance determining its seeding for the championships. For the 2014 season, all meets take place on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (usually done by about 9:00 p.m.) at Salem Classical Fencing. A schedule available online for your convenience. ALL fencers are required to be at EVERY meet! Practices Four days of “boot camp” will be offered starting Monday, January 6th. The first day will be used to check out equipment and get to know the other students. Tuesday and Wednesday will focus on fencing technique and tactics. For these three days, practices will be from 4:30- 5:30 p.m. Thursday’s practice will be at 7:00 p.m. and will be used as a mock meet so that fencers understand how team and individual meets are run, and also learn how to do the tasks

page 6 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook required of meet hosts. Attendance at three of these is required, and especially encouraged for Monday and Thursday. Fencers are required to attend at least three of the four practices offered between meet days in order to fence in the next meet. The following are options for meeting this requirement: • Regularly scheduled practices are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at SCF from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and run by SCF staff. These begin January 13th. • Group Foil classes (at any level) held at different times depending on level. Fencers on contract can take as many as they like; fencers not on contract may choose ONE. Under special circumstances, fencers may use sparring lab or bouting lab as a practice, but only with prior approval from an instructor. • “Flex” practice run by the fencer’s team at a day and time of their choosing. SCF will make the salle area available for use and a staff member available to serve as a resource on Fridays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.; however, teams are welcome to have their practices elsewhere and at other times. Flex practices are designed to give teams a chance to develop strategies and work on leadership skills outside of normal practices. Team captains, with the help of their adult liaison and teammates, should decide on a mutually acceptable time and place for practices. Liaisons are responsible for taking roll at these practices so that fencers will have the requisite number of practices in order to fence in the next meet. Flex practices do not have to involve fencing directly–past teams have used this time to go running or do cross training, or discuss strategy and theory. It is up to you to determine how to use this time most effectively. Due to space constraints, please do not hold flex practices at the salle at any other time without checking with Jill Summers, SCF’s executive director. Competing teams There are two components to competing in the league: individual events, in which fencers are competing for themselves alone (often against their teammates) and team events. Individual meets consist of ALL fencers broken into equally sized pools without regard to team affiliation. There is no limit to the number of fencers a club can field for the individual event, and schools with only one or two fencers can participate in individuals even if they are unable to field a team. A team meet consists of four teams competing against each other in two team events (each team fences once in an evening). Additionally, one other club will be designated as the “host” for the meet. Schools with fewer than eight fencers are allowed to field only one team for team events. Schools with more than eight can choose to break into two teams (with fencers staying on the same team all year). No school is allowed more than two teams. It is up to each club to determine the method of selection for who represents their school on the competing team each week. The individual foil bouts are conducted using American Fencing League rules (five points or three minutes, whichever comes first). The results of the individual component have no effect on the team portion. They are just a chance for all fencers on the team to get some competitive experience and test themselves. Individual results do affect a fencer’s rating

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 7 within the league, which affects how the fencer is seeded in future individual events and the championship. (See: Explanation of Glicko individual rating system) Team fencing is done using standard team rules for the American Fencing League. In a nutshell, teams of three (with an optional fourth person as a substitute) fence each other, one by one. The score from each bout is cumulative with the other team bouts, but with a maximum team score that is five points multiplied by the number of bouts fenced so far (thus, the third bout in the match would have a maximum team score of 15 points). Each bout lasts until either the maximum team score has been reached or three minutes have passed. The match consists of a total of nine bouts, with maximum final team score of 45 points. Teams are allowed to make a one-time substitution that lasts for the rest of the match. Just as individual ratings do not affect team matches, team matches likewise have no effect on an individual’s rating. However, in order to be eligible to fence in a team match, fencers must compete in (or be present to host at, or excused from) the individual event the week before. Meet Hosts Hosts are responsible for setting up the scoring equipment and supplying the judges and/or scorekeepers for the meet, which allows the competing teams and individuals to focus on their fencing. The host teams are also responsible for cleaning up and putting things away at the end of the meet. If there are not enough fencers to adequately provide coverage of team events, teams with more than four fencers will also supply excess fencers as judges. There will be no hosts designated for individual meets. Fencers who are waiting for their bouts will be drafted in as needed to cover judging, timing, and scorekeeping duties. Hosting teams should arrive at SCF no later than 6:45 p.m. on meet days. Fees Generally Current SCF members who are on a contract that includes at least one class per week (and continue that contract through the season) will pay a $60 fee to participate. Fencers who are not on a contract will pay $120 for the season. (Fencers may sign up for a contract before the beginning of the season if they wish.) The participation fee includes all regular practices, one foil class per week, weekly meets, and the championship tournament. It does NOT include sparring outside of practices or class, and does not include epee or sabre classes. Students who want these services should sign up for a monthly contract. Equipment rental is an additional $20 for the season. A complete set of equipment includes one foil, a jacket, a mask, a pair of knickers, an underarm protector, a chest plate (females only), and an equipment bag. Fencers should provide their own glove. This equipment will be checked out to each fencer on an as-needed basis. Equipment must be returned undamaged at the end of the season. The student’s family is financially responsible for any loss or damage to the equipment beyond ordinary wear and tear. Students are allowed one broken foil blade per season for no charge, assuming the blade was broken from normal use.

page 8 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook Any additional broken blades (or initial blades broken due to improper use) will incur a $25 replacement fee per blade. Reduced fees Low-income fencers may qualify for reduced participation fees. Our criteria are based on those used by Salem-Keizer School District for the athletic participation fees. (As a side note, about 40% of the students in the Salem-Keizer School District qualify for free or reduced price lunches.) There are two degrees of fee reduction. Fencers qualify for a reduced fee of $30 ($15 for members) if: • They live in a household FEDERAL INCOME CHART that receives food stamps For School Year 2011-2012 Household size Yearly Monthly Weekly or TANF; 1 20,665 1,723 398 • They are foster children 2 27,991 2,333 539 (regardless of income); 3 35,317 2,944 680 They are eligible to 4 42,643 3,554 821 • 5 49,969 4,165 961 receive free lunch at 6 57,295 4,775 1,102 school. 7 64,621 5,386 1,243 • They are homeless, 8 79,947 5,996 1,384 runaway, or migrant Each add’l person: +7,326 +611 +141 students. Fencers qualify for reduced fee of $50 ($30 for members) if their household income is below the threshold of the school district’s Federal Income Chart (see chart above). Membership at SCF While many Salem High School Fencing League fencers are also members of SCF, membership at SCF is not a prerequisite for participation in the league. However, fencers who are not members of Salem Classical Fencing will only have access to the salle’s resources during designated practice times. Fencers who are not members are not allowed to come in and spar or take classes outside of those included in the league. Volunteering We welcome parents and other adults who wish to volunteer to help out the league. Volunteer roles include directing (requires that you be a fencer yourself and have proper training), timekeeping, scorekeeping, and setup/teardown. The school district requires that anyone who is involved in such a manner with Salem-Keizer School District students be approved through the district’s volunteer background check process, as must anyone who is volunteering with individual school clubs—e.g. parent liaisons, parent drivers, etc. (but not including those volunteering solely with private/home school clubs). This is a simple two- page form available through SCF. If you think there is even a possibility that you would like to help out, please fill it out. Return this form to SCF, please!

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 9 Expectations of fencers Salem-Keizer School District Policies Although the league is independent of Salem-Keizer School District, we have the same expectations of behavior and academics. These expectations are outlined in school district policies and rules—specifically, JCBC and JCBC-R, which can be found at http://www.salkeiz.k12.or.us/districtcenter/PoliciesandRules/index.html . All fencers are subject to these expectations, regardless of whether they attend Salem- Keizer public schools. Here is a summary:

• Fencers are required to provide copies of their grades to the league, as schools will not release them to us (the district requires us to monitor grades as part of our agreement with them). Homeschool students must provide a note from a parent stating that they are meeting academic standards.

• Fencers must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 to participate. Fencers with a GPA that is below 2.0 at the mid-term grading point or who are failing one or more classes will be required to submit a grade check to the league coordinator to participate in the league until grades improve, regardless of fees paid.

• Misbehavior (including criminal behavior, school suspension, etc.), even that which has nothing to do with the league, may result in suspension from league activities. Two suspensions from fencing participation in one season will result in dismissal from the league for the rest of the season.

• Fencers are barred from participating in league activities while suspended or expelled from school.

• No fencer shall knowingly possess, use, transmit or be under the influence of alcohol, a tobacco product, performance enhancing drugs, inhalants, or controlled substances of any kind (except as prescribed by a medical professional). Any fencer who finds himself/herself in the company of persons who are illegally using, possessing, transmitting, or under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, inhalants, or performance enhancing drugs (i.e. frequenting places, areas, or sites where drugs and/or alcohol are present) is expected to leave within a reasonable period of time. Failure to leave within the reasonable period of time will cause the fencer to be disciplined as if the fencer was in possession of such substance(s). Detailed penalties can be found in the school district policies.

• If a fencer faces disciplinary action that could result in suspension or dismissal from the league, the following due process will be used. The head instructor shall meet with the fencer and inform him/her of the reasons for the disciplinary action. Parents will be notified and the fencer shall have the right to present his/her version of the situation. The parents shall be notified if the disciplinary action will lead to possible removal from the team and the reasons for the action.

page 10 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook Participation Woody Allen is famous for saying, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” There is truth in this as it applies to fencing, in that you cannot become a good fencer (nor can you remain a good fencer if you already think you are one) unless you show up. The league has the following minimum expectations for participation:

• All fencers are required to participate in training camp. Camp begins Monday, January 14th and ends Thursday, January 17th. Camp will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. (Except Thurs.). Attendance will be handled identically to regular weekly practices.

o All fencers are strongly encouraged to attend all four days of camp. In order for fencers to be eligible to compete in their team’s first scheduled meet, they must participate in at least three of the four camp days.

• Fencers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices and to be on time. Practices are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (beginning January 14th) from 4:30-5:30 p.m., and on one day of the fencer’s choosing for a general class.

o In order to compete, you must have participated in at least three practices in the seven days before the meet – i.e. no practice = no competition.

o Fencers who arrive at practice after opening salute will be counted as tardy and will only be credited with participating in one-half of a practice.

o Fencers must be dressed in T-shirt, knickers, knee-high socks, and shoes at opening salute. Fencers without knee-high socks will not be allowed to participate in practice.

o Fencers arriving at practice more than 15 minutes late will be marked absent. • Fencers must attend all meets. o Fencers who are absent without excuse from a meet at which they or their team is either competing or hosting will not be eligible to compete at their next meet including the championships.

o Fencers competing in a team event at a meet are required to have competed or hosted at the individual event the week before.

o Fencers arriving at a meet after the opening salute will begin their first individual bout with a yellow card (warning) in accordance with AFL rules. Fencers who do not present themselves for their first (or subsequent) bouts will be severely penalized in accordance with AFL rules. Due to the disruption caused to the meet schedule by late-arriving fencers, the bout committee will not accept excuses except in very unusual circumstances.

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 11 Acceptable excuses for absence include:

• An illness that prevents the fencer from attending school – no school attendance means no fencing. Furthermore, if you have run a fever greater than 101º F. within the last 24 hours, please stay home. If you appear to be visibly ill, we will send you home in order to protect the health of other fencers and our staff.

• An injury that prevents the fencer from attending school – again, no school attendance means no fencing. If you have an injury that prevents you from fencing but still allows you to go to school, you are expected to come to practice and/or your meet in order to learn, support your teammates, and help out.

• A one-time school event at which the school requires your presence – regularly scheduled practices and rehearsals for other extracurricular activities are not acceptable excuses. Students involved in extracurricular activities that regularly conflict with the league will need to coordinate their schedules carefully.

• A family emergency. • Because fencers who have been suspended from school are barred from participating in league activities, suspension is an acceptable excuse for non-participation so as to not place the fencer in double jeopardy.

• Ineligibility to compete resulting from a fencer simply not showing up for meets and practices is not an acceptable excuse for missing subsequent meets or practices. Additionally, every fencer is permitted one unexcused absence from a practice or a hosting meet, as well as two unexcused tardies for practices and hosting meets. It is up to the fencer to inform us when he or she wishes to use his or her virtual “get out of jail free” cards. These virtual cards cannot be used for lateness at or absence from a competitive meet. We urge fencers to use these virtual cards wisely. Fencing discipline and order Individual fencers—and team captains in particular—are directed to study the rules of the American Fencing League, with special attention to Part II, Chapter 1 (Competitors, Spectators, and Discipline). The rules are available for download at www.americanfencingleague.org (free) or in print for $10.The Salem High School Fencing League uses the AFL rules, substituting the words “Salem Classical Fencing” for “American Fencing League” as appropriate. All fencers should be familiar with the rules. To quote the rules themselves, “The plea of ignorance [of the rules] will not be accepted as an excuse.” Of particular note are the following concepts in the AFL rules:

• Fencers are expected to judge equitably and fairly, without regard to team and personal loyalties.

• As judges, fencers are reminded to be especially cognizant that the jury must not only be fair and unbiased, but it must also at all times have the appearance of being fair and unbiased. It is essential that fencers and spectators have complete confidence in

page 12 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook the integrity of the jury system, as any loss of confidence undermines the entire system. In addition to the AFL rules are the following, which are peculiar to the Salem High School Fencing League:

• Fencers must advocate for themselves in matters of protest or appeal with regard to individual bouts. Fencers may receive advice from an adult or from the team captain, but the decision is ultimately up to the individual.

• The team captain is the only spokesperson for the team in matters of protest or appeal with regard to a team match, as well as for determining the team’s roster. The team captain may receive advice from an adult or from team members, but the decision is ultimately up to the captain. The captain’s authority in no way supercedes the prerogative of an individual fencer to be his or her own advocate in matters of protest or appeal during that fencer’s bouts in a team match.

• At the beginning of each meet, all competing fencers from each team shall salute each other.

• At the beginning of each team match, the fencers of each team will be introduced by name and team affiliation to the audience.

• At the conclusion of each meet, the teams will salute each other and shake hands. • If the score is tied at the end of an individual bout, the USFA coin toss rule will be applied. This means that if no point has been scored after one minute, the winner of the coin toss will win the bout.

• The USFA rule for “Non-combativity/passivity” will be applied to individual meets, including pool bouts. This means that if fencers have made no blade contact after fifteen seconds, or no touches (whether valid or invalid) have been made after one minute, a halt will be called and fencers will have one final minute to score a touch, with a coin toss preceding the fencing in case of a tie at the end of the minute.

Some advice for fencing meets: Arrive early for your meet. If you are late for a meet, understand that you will be penalized. Remember that it is nothing personal: the rules require you to be on time. Immediately seek out a member of the bout committee (typically, Mrs. Keatley or Mr. West) to find out where you will be fencing first or if you have already been excluded for missing your first bout. If you have a few minutes before your first bout, get dressed quickly. If you have time, have your equipment inspected; if not, ask the director to inspect it for you when you get to the strip. With some luck, you will make it to the strip on time. Regardless, you will start the bout with at a Group 1 penalty (yellow card) against you for missing opening salute, and possibly additional Group I penalties (red cards) for not being on the strip when called or not having clothing and equipment conforming.

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 13 If you are supposed to be fencing right then, immediately go to the strip and report to the director. Then get dressed quickly and have the director inspect your equipment. You will start the bout with at least one red card against you – a Group I penalty (yellow card) for missing opening salute, another Group I penalty (now a red card) for clothing and equipment not conforming, and possibly additional Group I penalties (more red cards) for not being on the strip when called. But at least you will have escaped a Group IV penalty (black card; exclusion from the competition). By following this advice, you will probably lose your first bout, as you will have started at least one point behind and you will probably be rattled. But at least you will be able to fence. If you keep your cool and fence well, you might even win the bout, despite the penalties. If you have already missed your first bout, then you will have received a Group IV penalty (black card) for failure to present after three calls at one-minute intervals. This means that you will be excluded from the remainder of that event (individual foil). Because league rules require that you compete in individuals in order to be eligible to compete in the team event, you will not be able to compete in the team event, either. Stick around and support your team, while understanding that your teammates may not be very happy with you – especially if you were supposed to be in the team event. Don’t make matters worse by not showing up at all or by leaving the meet in disgust, as that will result in you being ineligible for the next meet. Learn from your experience and try to make the best of things.

page 14 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook Salem High School Fencing League Suggested Criteria for a Varsity Letter in Fencing

Several high school club liaisons have asked for help setting up a varsity letter program for fencing at their particular schools. Here, then, are the League’s guidelines.

The Salem High School Fencing League is not affiliated with the Salem-Keizer School District or any other school in Salem. Individual schools—not the League—administer varsity letter programs, so these guidelines are purely advisory. Each school can change them to suit the school’s individual needs and policies.

Our guidelines provide three paths to earn a letter: 1. The “Grit and Determination” Path 2. The “Individual Achievement” Path 3. The “Team Achievement” Path

Using these guidelines, dedicated fencers should be able achieve a varsity letter during their high school fencing careers, but it will require effort to achieve this goal—even for the most talented fencer.

1. The “Grit and Determination” Path

Any fencer who completes two full seasons of fencing and participates in at least 25 League practices during each season will earn a varsity letter in fencing.

2. The “Individual Achievement” Path

Any fencer who completes a full season of fencing with an individual rating that is greater than one standard deviation above the median rating for the League (which is approximately the 85th percentile rank—i.e. the fencer needs to be in approximately the top 15% of the League, rating-wise) and participates in at least 25 League practices during the season will earn a varsity letter in fencing.

3. The “Team Achievement” Path

Any fencer who completes a full season of fencing, is a member of the 3- or 4-person team that wins the championships that season, and participates in at least 25 League practices during the season will earn a varsity letter in fencing.

Achieving one or more of these goals after a fencer has already earned a letter will earn the fencer a “bar” that can be added to the fencer’s letterman jacket. A fencer may earn a maximum of one bar per season. A fencer may not earn a bar and a letter in the same season.

The League does not award or supply letters, letterman’s jackets, or bars. Contact your school’s varsity letter coordinator for assistance.

The League will supply attendance records and statistics to determine whether a fencer meets these requirements for a letter. Please contact the League if your school’s criteria will require additional statistics to see if we can provide the desired statistics.

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 15 Checklist for Participation Pre-season checklist for fencers and parents

 Demonstrate basic fencing knowledge and skills to the head coach such that the head coach is satisfied that the student can safely compete in a bout. This requirement can be met by taking individual lessons or group classes at SCF.  Have had a physical examination within the last two years. All fencers shall have received a physical examination from a licensed physician within the previous two years—e.g. on or after January 1, 2012 for the 2014 season. Salem-area physicians should be familiar with the form we use, as it is identical to that used by Salem-Keizer Schools. If the fencer has had a recent physical exam, the fencer’s physician should be able to simply complete the form (as a courtesy) and return it to you. You can then return the form to us. (Due to medical privacy rules, most physicians will not send the form directly to us without specific written authorization from you.)  Complete and sign the Participation Agreement and Explanation of Inherent Risks.  Read and sign the Parental Code of Conduct.  Provide SCF with a copy of the student’s most recent report card or progress report.  Pay the participation fees (make check payable to Salem Classical Fencing).  Mail or deliver all completed forms and fee to Salem Classical Fencing, 2455 McGilchrist Street SE, Salem OR 97302. No participation will be allowed until the needed forms are on file and the participation fee has been paid. Ongoing checklist

 Participate in practices and meets.  Send copies of the fencer’s grade reports (including mid-term reports) to Salem Classical Fencing throughout the season. For most public school students, this should include a report in late January. Remember that the school will not release grades to us—you must provide us with a copy.  Notify Salem Classical Fencing of any disciplinary action taken by the fencer’s school, as well as any action taken by law enforcement.  Have no association with alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, or with people who are illegally involved with these substances or who you know are involved in any illegal activity. Advise Salem Classical Fencing and your school contacts of any changes of address, phone number, or e-mail.

page 16 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook Care and Feeding of Fencing Equipment Fencing gear needs to be kept clean. Clean gear looks better, lasts longer (sweat breaks down clothing fibers), and smells better. Here are some tips for fencers and parents. Jacket, Knickers, and Underarm Protector These items are typically made of either heavy cotton or nylon, except for very expensive equipment made from exotic fibers like Kevlar®. Jackets pick up smudges and grime from sweat and getting hit. Sparkling white knickers seem to turn grey within minutes of putting them on. The underarm protector (UAP) can get particularly foul. It is good practice to launder all three of these items weekly – and don’t wait until the night before a meet, as your gear will probably not have enough time to dry. In general, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions on the tags, and remember the following:

• Nylon does not handle bleach well. • Bleach can be used as needed when washing cotton equipment, however it may cause discoloration of metallic parts, such as buckles, and it will shorten the life of any elastic, such as the croissard (groin strap) or stretch panels.

• Cotton can shrink (sometimes catastrophically) if put in the drier on too high a heat setting. Use the “air” or “low heat” settings to partially dry cotton equipment and then hang it to dry the rest of the way.

• Hang nylon to dry. Sunlight will cause nylon to yellow, so make sure you hang it indoors.

• Wet whites do not mix with anything metallic, including foils, masks, and wire coat hangers. Forgetting this will result in rust stains on your uniform, which are very difficult to get out. Lemon juice is said to remove rust stains, but it may need to soak for some time to get good results (rinse the fabric very thoroughly when done, and attempt only on white material). Gloves Most fencing gloves are made from leather, which cannot be washed. Some gloves are made from synthetic leather and can be washed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Regardless, put your glove over something at the end of the day to help air circulate – a bedpost works well. And resign yourself to the smell of sweaty leather. Masks Above all, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions. Do nothing to jeopardize the integrity of the frame or mesh. Some masks have liners in the bib that can be removed for cleaning, but many do not. In general, a mild soap and water solution is safe for all parts of the mask.

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 17 Make sure that the mask is hung to dry in such a way that water will not collect in a seam or cause the mesh or frame to rust. Visually inspect your mask weekly or after taking an especially hard hit to the mask – particularly in épée. Deep dents should be gently pounded out with either a rubber mallet or a ball-peen hammer. Out-of-place wires in the mesh should be reported to an SCF staff member for inspection and testing before you use the mask again. A mask with broken wires in the mesh – even just one – should be immediately retired and turned into a wall ornament; it is no longer safe for fencing. Socks Many clubs in the league show their school spirit by wearing socks with their school colors – often with one sock of each color. Ask your club liaison or team captain where to get socks so that you match your teammates. Even though the color hides the dirt from fencers wiping their shoes on their calves, socks should be washed after every wearing. Not only will you smell better, the skin of your feet will really appreciate clean socks. Shoes Shoes worn for fencing tend to wear out in ways that other shoes don’t. The back foot will wear heavily in the inside of the ball of the foot, including both the upper and the sole. The front foot will wear heavily on the heel and ball of the foot. If you shoes that you particularly like that are wearing out, a shoe repairer may be able to add some new life. Do-it-yourself repairs can be affected with Shoe Goo (with results varying widely). If you are buying shoes, we recommend either fencing-specific shoes ($50 and up, mail order via fencing equipment suppliers) or all-purpose court (tennis) shoes, such as those used for tennis or squash. Court shoes made with a one-piece sole seem to last longer. Some fencers like to wear wrestling shoes or climbing shoes in order to feel the floor better. If you choose to do this, we suggest the use of good-quality heel cups to absorb some of the shock. We do not advise thin-soled shoes for fencers who are overweight or large-framed. Chest Plates As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Plastic chest plates and their elastic straps should be washed with a soap and water solution from time to time in order to make the elastic last longer (sweat breaks it down). A good rule of thumb is to wash your plate when you clean your mask. T-shirts, Underwear, and Bandanas It may seem obvious, but fencers tend to be pigs: if you wear it next to your skin, wash it before wearing it again. Your family and teammates will thank you, and your skin will be much happier, too.

page 18 revised 12/11/13 Salem High School Fencing League Handbook We strongly recommend that fencers wear a short-sleeved T-shirt. Avoid tank tops, baby doll shirts, and muscle shirts. Your fencing jacket and UAP will be much easier to keep clean if you follow this advice. Fencers using league-supplied jackets are required to wear a shirt with a ¼-length sleeve for this reason. Cotton T-shirts work well, but recently fencers have been reporting positive experiences wearing T-shirts made from technical fabrics such as CoolMax®. We also recommend that male fencers wear briefs instead of boxer shorts. Experience has shown hits to the groin are rarely painful if the fencer is wearing briefs. For both males and females, we recommend that you avoid underwear with bright colors or patterns. More than one fencer has discovered that his or her fondness for little red hearts or leopard-skin prints was clearly visible through fencing knickers – especially nylon knickers. Fencers with long hair, glasses, or a tendency to sweat a lot will probably be more comfortable wearing a bandana or sweat band. SCF sells high-quality Headsweats®, which combine a sweat-wicking bandana with a comfortable terry-cloth sweatband in a wild assortment of colors and patterns. Bag Equipment bags don’t need much maintenance. Keep them looking nice by wiping down the outside as needed to remove dirt and grime. Don’t leave damp fencing gear inside your bag – the gear will stink and eventually mildew. And that means your bag will stink. Don’t put food or drinks in your fencing bag unless it is something completely packaged, like a granola bar or an unopened beverage container. Your bag will last a lot longer if you don’t drag it on the ground. Finally, don’t hand your bag to your parents to schlep around – you’re young and strong, so carry it yourself Weapons Your foil, épée, or sabre needs care, too. All metallic parts of the weapon should be kept free from rust. Fine steel wool (or synthetic substitutes) and a few minutes of elbow grease will usually do the trick. You can extend the life of a blade by using some fine- to medium-grit sandpaper to smooth out large nicks in the blade. Any sharp edges on the weapon, including on the edge of the guard, should be smoothed off immediately upon notice. Inspect the rubber/plastic tip of your foil from time to time (no need to worry about this with épée and sabre). If the metal button of the blade is beginning to poke through the end, put on a new tip before using the foil again. And don’t just toss it in your bag and switch to your spare weapon, as you will probably forget to replace the tip until you are standing in line for armorer’s inspection at your next meet. Many fencers use blade protectors made from vinyl fabric or plastic pipe. Slip these over your blades when you put them in your fencing bag. While they do help protect your blade from abuse in transit, the real purpose is to protect your damp uniform from that rust monster you call a fencing weapon. You can purchase blade protectors from SCF for a couple of bucks (or, make your own!).

Salem High School Fencing League Handbook revised 11/4/2010 page 19