Sportsmanship Rules for Students

Just as in a martial arts dojo, the traditions governing behavior in a fencing salle d’armes have developed over the centuries. These traditions promote respect for one’s self, one’s opponent, the instructors, the weapons, and the tradition itself, as well as promoting safety. 

• Greet the coaches as you arrive at the club and tell them goodbye as you leave.
• Please address instructors as “coach”, and respond to a coach’s request promptly and respectfully.
• Treat weapons with respect and awareness at all times. Carry your weapon with the point down at all times. It is not a toy. Only point your weapon at another person when they are fully masked and ready to practice or fence.
• Salute your practice partner before and after every encounter. When you fence, salute your opponent, the referee, and the audience before and after every bout, and shake hands after every bout.
• Fencers should bout freely and accept requests to bout with others respectfully. Fencers should try to accept requests to bout as often as they can, regardless of the opponent’s ability. All fencers start somewhere and we are all beginners at some point needing a more advanced fencer to help us improve.
• Fencers should be courteous and share the strips, promote fencing amongst all our members, and give everyone equal time on the strip. Fencers are encouraged to come to the club for open bouting to improve skills, to work on techniques learned during class and private lessons, to build stamina and promote a team mindset with other members. Your fencing can be improved only by fencing! In addition, members attending tournaments represent CFA to the wider fencing community.
• Return masks and weapons to their racks when class is over. Place (not drop!) equipment on the floor during water breaks in class. Hang your jacket neatly on a hanger after each use, and return gloves, plastrons, and chest protectors to their appropriate container. After fencing electric, wrap up your body cord in a neat bundle so they don’t get tangled in the box.
• When we are playing games or having team contests, cheering for your team is encouraged, but name calling and displays of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.
• Food and beverages are never allowed on the fencing floor. Please clean up after yourself on the fencing floor, in the carpeted areas, and in the bathrooms. In a salle d’armes or a dojo, each student is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe environment for learning. We all depend on one another for the maintenance of the salle.