- Arrive early so that you can be dressed, warmed up and ready to start promptly at the start of practice
- Never point your weapon at a nearby, unmasked person. When not bouting, keep the point of your weapon facing downwards.
- Wear all protective equipment (full uniform, including underarm protector and long socks) for lessons, bouting and competitions.
- Maintain and regularly check your equipment for safety.
- Wear proper shoes for fencing (athletic or fencing shoes). Please be sure that shoes are clean when entering the fencing room to avoid dust and moisture buildup which make the floor slippery.
- Store your fencing bag and equipment out of the way of the fencing strips and doorways.
- Stop fencing instantly if you think something is wrong or if your opponent retreats and waves their unarmed hand or gives any sign of wanting to stop. If your weapon breaks, stop fencing immediately.
- Always connect or disconnect to the overhead wires at the ends of the fencing strips.
- Keep proper fencing distance; never turn your back to the opponent. Never stab anyone when they are not facing you.
- Please volunteer to help set up the fencing equipment at the start of practice and put equipment away at the end of practice.
- Report any illness, injury or medical problem immediately to the coach.
- Rough play or dangerous actions are prohibited.
- Do not stand close to the fencing strip at any time, even when refereeing. All referees must be standing to follow the fencing action safely. Referees are responsible for safety of the fencers. Speak loudly when giving the commands “fence” and “halt”.
- Comply with US Olympic Committee policy on banned substances.
- Always be courteous and sportsmanlike. Shouting and unnecessary noise makes it hard for fencers to concentrate and endangers their safety if they cannot hear the referee’s commands.
- Fencers not abiding by these CCFC rules may be subject to expulsion.
- Any CCFC fencer who receives a black card for sportsmanship at a tournament will be asked to leave the fencing club. Remember you represent CCFC when competing.
- Respect for oneself and others is also a major goal of good sportsmanship and discipline. Profanity, racial, religious, or sexually degrading comments and coarse joking will not be tolerated. Persons receiving such comments should report them to the coach immediately.
Private Lesson Policy
- All CCFC club members are encouraged to request to be put on the list of students interested in private lessons.
- Private lessons, approximately 30 minutes long, are by appointment. Lessons may not always be the same day/time each week. Lessons may not be every week depending on demand. Priority for lessons is given to those who have tournaments soon. But a history is maintained and no one will be ignored.
- The appointment day/time will be e-mailed on Sundays for lessons that week. Please reply to the e-mail as soon as possible whether the assigned appointment day and time is OK. If you respond quickly, it may be possible to swap times with another student or schedule another student for the time slot that you are not able to attend.
- Lessons cost $40.00, payable to Chevy Chase Fencing Club LLC at the time of the lesson (cash, check, credit card, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal).
- 24-hour notice is required should a lesson need to be canceled by the student. This allows the possibility of assigning the lesson time to another student. If less than 24-hour notice is given, payment for the lesson is due to the coach (except in emergency).
Travel Coaching Policy
- Coaches often travel to national or regional tournaments to coach CCFC fencers. Coaches may provide a short warm-up lesson and strip coaching.
- All CCFC fencers attending the competition must agree to share the coaches’ expenses:
a. An equal share of the coaches’ hotel lodging expense.
b. An equal share of one-half of the coaches’ travel expense.
c. A $30.00 per event entered coaching fee. - Invoices will be e-mailed to all competitors after the tournament.
Weather Cancellation Policy
- We will not have private lessons, footwork practice, group classes or club bouting should Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) close for the day, dismiss early or cancel evening activities due to weather.
- You can receive MCPS closing announcements online, text, or e-mail. Register online to receive these alerts.
