Team

Competitive Team (2023-2024)

The Riverside competitive Team is by coach invitation only, and is open to Riverside members who are interested in competing.

The Competitive Team has both individual and group goals. The individual goals are to foster competitive development of the fencer, regardless of their current level of competition (local, regional, national, or international). The group goals are to foster a community that can push each other to greater success, and to support each other throughout the inevitable ups and downs that accompany pushing against one's limits. Both goals require commitments to both the process of improvement and to the effort and time exerted toward that process.

Team requirements/prerequisites

• Coach approval;

• Must hold USA Fencing "Access" or "Competitive" membership (or equivalent);

Team expectations

We expect Team members to strive to do the following:

• To develop one's own skills as a fencer through deliberate and consistent practice by:

  • Regularly attending Team practices and meetings;

  • Regularly attending other group classes and/or open fencing sessions for a total of 2 to 4 fencing days per week;

  • Taking at least one weekly private lesson (see more on Lessons, below);

  • Working with coaches to devise competition schedules and goals appropriate for the fencer;

  • Working to assume ownership of one's own growth and development as a fencer;

  • The total time commitment we are asking for is 4.5 hours to 10 hours of weekly practice, spread over 2-4 days. In addition to this, we would expect a fencer to compete.

• To contribute positively to the development and growth of other team and club members by:

  • Fencing sincerely with other members of the club without prejudice or reservation;

  • Actively seeking and giving thoughtful feedback to others during fencing sessions;

• To compete in tournaments outside of the club at the developmental, local, regional, national, and/or international levels;

• To strive to be a self-sufficient competitor by:

  • Acquiring one's own full set of fencing gear (over time; Club gear is always available as backup);

  • Learning to armor and maintain own gear;

  • Learning the rules of the game and how to advocate for oneself in the face of confusion about rules or processes in tournaments.

• To be good ambassadors of Riverside Fencing Club in the greater fencing community.

Notes on private lessons

New in 2023-2024, there will be two types of private lessons:

• "Long" lessons: 30 minutes long, available only to Team members;

• "Short" lessons: 20 minutes long, available to all Riverside members, including Team members.

During Tue open fencing, only long lessons will be available. During Sat open fencing, only short lessons will be available, with priority given to fencers NOT on the Team. Lessons during other times may be short or long.

Fees: $405.00 (individual); $290.00 (family discount applied)

Please note that the membership fees ($65.00 per session) are separate from the Team fees. Membership and Team fees cover all Team practices, Team meetings, Open fencing sessions, and Group Classes attended, as well as 1x weekly long lesson (see note above about lessons). Additional (short) lessons are available at additional cost ($25.00/lesson). 

NB: the Nov-Dec (only 6 weeks) rate is reduced to $350.00 (individual)/$250.00 (family discount applied). 

Families that have two or more fencers enrolled in concurrent classes will pay the full price of the highest cost class; discounted rates will apply to subsequent classes.