The Club provides a structured coaching programme for junior members.
All juniors start with a beginners class lasting 6 weeks. The course includes the following topics: safety, footwork, fencing strokes, parries, game situation, sparring and judging.
At the end of the course a theory and practical examination is taken based on the BFA Grade 1 Achievement Award.
Juniors who pass the exam then become full members of the Club and join the Green Group.
The group progresses towards the BFA Grade Achievement Award for a further 6 week course. They are introduced to judging and refereeing and part of the session involves fights for a ladder.
At the end of the course trophies are awarded to those who have taken the top ladder places.
Individuals are then assigned to longer term groups based mainly on their age. Each group has an assigned coach and fence steam or electric foil.
| Group | Weapon |
| Green/Orange | Steam Foil |
| Red/Yellow | Electric Foil |
As the juniors gain experience and skill they have the opportunity to join 2 specialist groups:
| Group | Weapon |
| Purple | Sabre |
| Blue | Epee |
The pattern of the junior session is:
- games to warm up, improve reactions, promote team building
- class work for skill improvement
- challenge ladder for improvement of fighting skills
Juniors are regularly assessed for membership of the senior club. Between the ages of 13 and 16 a member will be promoted to the senior session based on their ability. The major coaching difference between the sessions is that the junior sessions are class based whereas the senior session is based on individual lessons.
The move to the senior club means fencing with people who are older, more skilled and more experienced. To make the transfer as painless as possible, there are Mentors in the Senior club who are assigned to make sure that juniors are welcomed to the senior club and that they enjoy their fencing in a new environment.
Purchasing Equipment
Birthdays and Christmas are ideal opportunities to build up personal fencing equipment.
This is the suggested order in which to purchase:- Plastron
- Glove
- Breeches, socks
- Jacket
- Weapons
- Mask
Equipment may be purchased from the professional coaches or on-line from suppliers. There are not any shops in the area where one can buy equipment unfortunately. The Junior Club Administrator can give advice.
Having purchased the equipment, the next stage is to check it regularly to ensure that it is safe. The club has guidelines when checking its own equipment, you can follow the same procedure.
Finally, a problem with juniors is that they grow out of things so quickly. The club has an equipment exchange where items of equipment can be bought and sold.
© 2011 Bath Sword Club