Dominion Fencing Club


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DOMINION FENCING POLICIES

Safety Rules and Member Obligations

Dues and Fees

Cold Weather Policy

Coaching at Tournaments

Proposed Policy for Team Events at Summer Nationals

Dominion Fencing Member obligations and rules
Last updated August 1, 2007.

The membership obligations, rules, and responsibilities are below. This is the identical text on the membership waiver and sign up form. We urge all the members to familiarize themselves with the obligations of membership

Membership at Dominion Fencing is a privilege, not a right, and along with this privilege come certain expectations of behavior on the part of guests, athletes, parents, staff and coaches. Policy on this behavior is outlined below, and is subject to revision by the Board of Directors as it sees fit.

Membership in Dominion Fencing is open to anyone with an interest in promoting or engaging in the art and sport of fencing. Members of Dominion Fencing are to be free of discrimination or harassment by members, staff, or instructors on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Members of Dominion Fencing are obligated to support the club in accordance with policy determined by the Board of Directors, including but not limited to, prompt payment of dues, fulfillment of coordinator activities and teaching duties.

Any fencer who declares affiliation to Dominion Fencing, including those fencers who do not physically reside in the Fairfax Country area or who do not regularly fence at Dominion Fencing's physical location, are bound by this agreement.

Physical well being of the membership is a priority at Dominion Fencing. While it is understood that fencing is a combat sport, and entails a level of risk, members of Dominion Fencing are expected to behave in a manner as outlined in the USFA rules.

All bouts at Dominion Fencing are to be conducted in the spirit of a " . . . courteous encounter . . .". Specifically, each fencer should be free from fear of injury from another fencer in the course of a bout, outside of the physical risks normally associated with the sport. Each fencer is expected to exercise control of his or her actions and demeanor while fencing. Discussions of priority and valid touches are to be resolved quickly and amiably between competitors, and if no agreement is possible, must be thrown out. Non-electrically scored touches are to be acknowledged honestly by each competitor. In refereed bouts, the referee's decision is final. In addition, the following safety rules must be followed at all times:

No practice, lesson, bout, or demonstration can take place without participants in full uniform. This includes covering of the legs, a protective plastron, and a mask free of defects.
No blade should be pointed at anyone not wearing a mask. Do not gesture or "point" with any weapon.
Weapons are to be carried point down at all times.
Inspect your equipment before each use. Do not use masks or jackets with holes or tears.
Stop fencing immediately if a weapon breaks. Every weapon is to have a rubber or electric tip affixed to the end, with the exception of sabers, which must have the FIE approved "curl".
Violent fencing actions are not permitted. Each fencer must control parries and attacks so that whipping or hard hitting actions of the blade does not injure the opponent. Do not cause body contact nor use the unarmed hand against the opponent or the opponent's blade or to "protect" your target.
Do not turn your back to your opponent. Do not walk directly behind on going bouts on the fencing floor.
Report injuries immediately to an instructor, club officer, or building personnel.

Members of Dominion Fencing must not interfere with an ongoing activity to the extent of disrupting either the activity or the instructor. On going programs must be treated with respect by the non-involved members.

Members attending tournaments represent Dominion Fencing to the wider fencing community. Members are bound under Dominion Fencing, USFA, and USOC codes of conduct when fencing in competitions. Any fencer representing Dominion Fencing at competitions who regularly breeches codes of conduct for the USFA or USOC may be subject to discipline within the club.

The Board of Directors, when shown cause, may review the membership privileges of any member(s). Upon a unanimous vote by a quorum of the Board of Directors, the membership privileges of any member(s) may be modified, restricted, or revoked, for any length of time. This vote is not subject to an appeal by the member(s) affected. During any meeting(s) of which this vote may be taken, the affected member(s) have a right to be present and make a statement, including the presentation of any witnesses or evidence bearing on the decision.

If at any time a member's safety or property is threatened by another member, any member of the Board of Directors or the Coaching Staff may remove a club member or visitor immediately from the premises, if, in the opinion of the acting member, such action is necessary to preserve order, safety, or property. Upon this action, the Board of Directors must confirm this decision (and any subsequent penalties) within 10 days of the occurrence.

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Club Fees and Dues
Last updated November 2007

Test text

Club Membership:	$10 a visit
Lesson fee, Old Town Fencing Gang	$5.00 a lesson
Lessons, adult, any weapon:	$20.00 a lesson
Lessons, student, any weapon:	$15.00 a lesson
Tournament coaching fees:	(see below)
Club warm up jacket:	$115 (jacket top only)
Club patch:	$5
Seminars and clinics	Please inquire

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Dominion Fencing's Cold Weather Policy
Last updated August 2007

In the interest of ensuring the safety of our members and coaches, Dominion Fencing will not meet during inclement weather. Club meetings will be canceled when ever Fairfax schools or government are closed that day, or our current meeting location is closed. If schools or government are simply opening late that day, we will be open, but we ask our members to use their best judgment about attending club. If you are not sure if club is opening on a scheduled night, please don't hesitate to contact Allen (202-487-3861) or Jill (703-408-4340) to make sure that the doors will be open. In addition, we will attempt to send an email to all club members.

In good OR bad weather, always use care in driving to club!

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Club Policy On Coaching Support at Tournaments
Last updated: August 2007

Dominion Fencing is dedicated towards the competitive success of our athletes. To that end, Dominion Fencing offers coaching at National Tournaments. We hope that the policies outlined below answer any questions about the role of the coaches of Dominion Fencing at "away" tournaments. Fencers are not required to have coaching at tournaments. This is simply a service available to all fencers (at some additional cost) when it is requested. Coaching is not automatic for a fencer. There must be a prior agreement for a fencer to receive coaching at an event. This may be an on-going relationship agreed upon for the season, or a coach may be requested for one particular competition.

Dominion coaches will coach fencers under the following conditions:

The fencer wants coaching during the event.
There is a coach available for the event the fencer is attending.
The fencer is willing to pay some or all of the costs associated with being coached at the event.

There are occasional National events Dominion coaches attend for reasons outside of coaching duties. They may be refereeing at the event, or they may be working in some other capacity to help assist the tournament organizers. In any tournament in which a coach is working as a referee or on the Bout Committee, that coach will not coach that day. This is a policy by the Fencing Officials Commission (FOC).

There have been many questions about proper compensation for coaches at tournaments. Dominion Fencing has agreed upon a rate for compensation at large National or "away" tournaments. The rates are:

There is no charge for local events. However, often coaches will be refereeing those events and will not be able to coach a fencer for that tournament as previously stated. For the most part, any tournament a coach has to fly to is a "non-local" event. Should there be a time that a National tournament is held close to Virginia, it will be treated as below.
At the start of the season Dominion Fencing will announce which tournaments on the National and Regional Calendar are "Designated Events". At least one coach will attend a Designated Event. US National Championships and the Junior Olympics will always be Designated Events, unless there are circumstances beyond the control of Dominion Fencing or the coaching staff.
For Designated Events coaching rates are determined by the location of the tournament. For tournaments east of the Mississippi River the coaching rate is $75.00 per fencer, per event. For those tournaments west of the Mississippi River, the coaching rate is $125.00 per fencer, per event. In the rare instance that the event is held in a city ON the Mississippi itself, the $100.00 rate holds. For those fencers who are fencing multiple events in one tournament, they may have coaching for as many or as few events as they wish. There will be no additional charges for lodging or airfare. The coaching fee is all that will be required.
For those tournaments which are not Designated Events, but parents or fencers wish to engage a coach for that event, the coaching rates as stated previously hold. In addition, those fencers engaging a coach must reimburse the club for airfare, hotel room, and $20.00 (per coach) a day in meals for each day that coach is traveling or at the event. Coaches will arrange their own travel and always attempt to find the cheapest fare possible. Coaches will stay in the venue hotel. If there are no rooms at the venue hotel or overflow hotel, they will attempt to stay in comparable (or cheaper) lodging. The airfare, hotel room, and per diem for the coach attending the tournament will be evenly split among the fencers involved.
Compensation will be paid directly to Dominion Fencing for the coaches services in either case.

While at the tournament, it is the job of the coach to assist the fencer as much as possible. Keep in mind, however, that at some events there are many students fencing at once. When that is the case, a coach must set priorities. For the fencer who is attending a tournament for their first time, coaching during the opening rounds can be important. The more experienced fencers should not have any difficulty in the seeding pools, and will not need as much attention until later in the event. We will always try to make sure that a coach is available when the fencer needs it the most. Ultimately, that is the coach's decision to make, and we expect fencers and parents to defer to the coaches judgment.

For every tournament a coach will be at the venue from a half an hour before the close of registration for the first event until the last fencer is eliminated that day. Warm-up lessons before the tournament begins are part of the duties as a coach. There is no extra charge for these lessons. In addition, tournaments can stretch over several days, such as in the case of Nationals or the Junior Olympics. In those cases, training lessons can also be given. These lessons are also free, and available any time a coach is not strip coaching, or involved with any other duties at the tournament. Keep in mind some caveats about what a coach can do during a tournament. While it is the coach's job to act in the student's best interest at all times, this does not obligate the coach to inappropriate behavior. For instance:

A tournament is the place where a coach has the least effect on the outcome. Every tournament is won in the six months to a year preceding the competition. It is in this time that the fencer mentally and physically prepares to perform at the top of their ability. If a fencer is not ready to compete at the required level for the tournament they have entered, having a coach at the tournament will do them little good. Please don't expect miracles from a coach, no matter how capable. If you have not been training two to three days a week in the months preceding the event, it is difficult to have a good performance.
Coaches are perfectly willing to fix equipment in a strip-side emergency. However, do not arrive at a tournament with only one working weapon, assuming that a coach will act as an armorer the night before your event, or worse, during the event itself. When you step into a car or taxi to go to the airport for your competition, you should be fully prepared to fence, including 3-4 working weapons, body cords, and uniforms.
Referees make mistakes. As a club we must respect the tremendous demands on their skills, their time, and their patience. It is not the coach's job to punish those referees for those mistakes. It IS the job of a coach to support the fencer if the referee makes an error in the rules, is not officiating in an honest manner, or is clearly not capable of refereeing at the level of fencing that is occurring. Only under those conditions will a coach attempt to intercede with the bout committee or FOC representative on behalf of a fencer. Disputing every judgment call by a referee, or even loudly pointing out the occasional mistake, does neither the fencer nor the club any good. By treating referees with respect, and not interfering in the performance of their jobs, referees tend to listen to coaches when they do make objections.
Coaches do not travel to tournaments to play "policeman", especially with younger fencers. However, a coach will not hesitate to reprimand a fencer on poor behavior. Needless to say, no coach or officer of Dominion Fencing will tolerate illegal behavior by a fencer while at the tournament, venue, or hotel. Coaching services will be withdrawn from any fencer acting in a manner that does not reflect well on the club, coaches, or him or herself as an athlete. If the fencer is a minor, a member of the coaching staff will notify the parents - from the venue if necessary - of any disciplinary action Dominion Fencing must take.

On a final note, Dominion Fencing understands that fencing can be very expensive. Please understand that Dominion Fencing has set rates by carefully considering the needs of the fencers, as well as the sacrifices made by the coaches in use of vacation time and time away from jobs. If you feel you are in need of coaching at a particular event, but cannot afford the rates as listed above, please talk to the coaching staff. We are always willing to be reasonable and will certainly make allowances for circumstances. We hope that this explains our position for the 2007 - 2008 season fully. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the coaches at any time. We look forward to a productive season with all of you!

Proposed Policy for Team Events at the National Championships
Last updated August 1, 2007.

With interest in participation in Team Events at the US Summer Nationals, we hope to set down a few ideas of how any potential teams from Dominion will be selected, and administered. The policy is still open for modification, so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Selection of Dominion Team members:

All team members must be members of the USFA, and eligible to compete in the US Championships, as per the requirements set out in the Athlete Handbook of the USFA.
All team members must be members in good standing of Dominion Fencing.
Teams will consists of three members and an alternate, where possible.
Team members will be selected for the team in order of their fencing ability as determined by: Their placement on the USFA Senior Points list (Rolling), their placement on the USFA Junior Points list (Rolling), their placement on the USFA Cadet Points list (Rolling), their USFA classification, and finally by their placement on the Virginia points list in weapon they are applying for a position in. Fencing in the team qualifying event does not ensure a place on the team that actually competes at Nationals. In the case of any absolute ties, the coaches will have the final decision on team members.
Team members will be announced 30 days before the close of registration for Summer Nationals. At this time, each selected team member must inform the coaching staff of their willingness to fence the team event. If they are unwilling or unable to fence the event, that fencer is passed over the the next eligible fencer.
Every Team must have a Team Captain, either a Dominion coach, or appointed by the coaches.
Team members are responsible for supplying their own equipment to fence team, including uniforms, weapons, warm up jackets, and any other equipment.
Team members must pay their individual entry and registration fee for the National Championships. Dominion Fencing will pay the entry free for any qualifying competitions and for teams entered at Nationals.

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