Getting ready for your first competition can be exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Here's everything you need to know to make the day go smoothly:

BEFORE THE COMPETITION

- Check with the Club: Let us know before signing up so we can advise if your child is ready to compete.

- Coach Availability: Due to a packed calendar, our coaches can't attend all events. If you'd like a coach to be there to support, sign up for coaching on the link below. (Please note, there is an extra fee for this service.)

- British Fencing Membership & Your Own Equipment: To enter a competition, fencers need a valid British Fencing membership number, and must have their own full set of equipment — unlike our regular classes, competitions don't provide loan kit. Make sure both are sorted well ahead of the event.

- Entries & Travel: Competition entries, travel, and transport to and from the venue are entirely the parent's/guardian's responsibility. The Club doesn't organise entries, group travel, or lifts, and doesn't take or collect children to or from events.

- Arrival Time: Plan to arrive at the venue at least an hour before the competition starts. This will give you time to find the location, complete registration, and warm up.

WHAT TO BRING

- Essential Equipment: At least 2 body wires. A full fencing kit, including indoor sports shoes/fencing shoes, knee-high white socks, fencing breeches, chest protector (required for girls), under jacket, fencing jacket, glove, and mask. Label all equipment with your name to avoid mix-ups.

At least 2 blades (meeting competition standards). Check what size you need for each competition as it varies.

- Snacks & Hydration: Bring plenty of water and 2–3 servings of fruit for energy.

- Plan Ahead: At the competition, blades are tested with a gauge — checking both the tip's travel (how far it can depress) and the pressure needed to register a hit. A blade that fails either test can't be used, so get your blades checked and serviced well before the event, as repairs can take time.

AT THE COMPETITION

- Registration: Register upon arrival; it's required to confirm participation. Pay the entry fee in advance to avoid disqualification.

- Warm-Up: After registration, begin warming up with running, stretching, and footwork (20 minutes recommended). Suit up in your fencing gear and find a practice partner. If there's a free piste available, get some bouts in to sharpen up before your matches start.

- Matches: Fencers are split into small groups called poules, usually of 5–7 people. Within a poule, everyone fences everyone else once — this isn't elimination, so a loss doesn't knock you out.

- Match format and duration vary by age:
Under 10 — Poule: 5 hits, 2 min — Direct Elimination: 10 hits, 3×2 min
Under 12 — Poule: 5 hits, 3 min — Direct Elimination: 10 hits, 3×2 min
Under 14 — Poule: 5 hits, 3 min — Direct Elimination: 12 hits, 3×2 min
Under 17 — Poule: 5 hits, 3 min — Direct Elimination: 15 hits, 3×3 min

Everyone's poule results (wins and hits scored/received) are used to seed the direct elimination bracket afterwards — the better your poule results, the better your position in the bracket, which usually means facing a weaker opponent in the first round.

Events often have an online link to see the results.

DURING THE COMPETITION

- Stay Alert: Fencers should stay near their strip to avoid penalties for being late when called.

- Parent & Coach Rules: Parents and coaches can offer advice before a bout starts, and during the 1-minute break between periods in direct elimination — but not while fencing is actually taking place. Referees can ask coaches/parents to leave if this isn't followed.

- Check Scores: After each match, review the poule sheet to ensure accuracy — you'll usually have a few minutes to flag any mistakes.

- Penalties: A yellow card is a warning with no point awarded. Further penalties become red cards, giving a point to the opponent — this can be immediate for serious breaches. A black card means the fencer is expelled from the tournament, and the result doesn't count toward their ranking.

- Please note: parents/guardians are responsible for their child's welfare, supervision, food and drink, and travel at all times during a competition. Where a Club coach is present, their role is limited to coaching advice and support — not general supervision.

AFTER THE GROUP STAGE

Advancing: All fencers usually advance to the direct elimination phase.

Rankings: The rankings determine match pairings (e.g., 1st-ranked competes against the last-ranked).

Elimination Rounds: Lose once, and you're out. Matches vary by age group as shown above.

AFTER THE COMPETITION

Gather Your Gear: Double-check that all equipment is packed before leaving.

Coach Goodbye: If a coach is present, please say goodbye so we know everyone is safe and accounted for.

WEAPON SIZING GUIDE (This is a general guide, always check with the event organisers)

Under 10 — Size 0
Under 12 — Size 2 (some organisers also allow 0)
Under 14 — Size 2 (some organisers also allow 0)
Under 17 — Size 5 (some organisers also allow 0 or 2)