FAQ
If you are interested in the club but have questions about joining and what is involved, please check the list below for your question. If you have further questions about the club, please contact us.
- Who can join?
- How do I join?
- Do I need any previous fencing experience?
- Do I need equipment?
- What should I wear?
- Are there membership dues?
- What is SWIFA?
- What is USFA?
- What is Askfred?
Who can join?
Swordplay is open to everyone with an interest in fencing. There are no tryouts, and students can join at any time during the year. The sport is co-ed, so both males and females are welcome.
How do I join?
To join, just come to one of our practice sessions. The dates and times for these sessions can be found on the practices page of this Web site, the club bulletin board in the HSS building, or by contacting us.
Do I need any previous fencing experience?
While experienced fencers are certainly welcome, you do not need any fencing experience to join. The club officers teach beginners everything they need to know during club practices.
Do I need equipment?
The club provides all of the necessary fencing equipment: a fencing jacket, a mask, a glove, a blade, and all other protective gear. The only thing you need to bring to practice is you!
What should I wear?
For practices, you should wear comfortable workout clothes. You’ll need to wear some type of athletic pants, such as wind pants or sweat pants. A good pair of tennis shoes is also recommended.
Are there membership dues?
Before the first SWIFA tournament of each semester, the club collects member dues. Dues are $60.00 per semester. This money pays for equipment, tournament registration, and travel expenses. You do not have to pay until you have come to a few practices. You can also work out a payment plan with the treasurer. We understand money can be tight, as we are college students too.
What is SWIFA?
SWIFA is the Southwest Intercollegeate Fencing Association. SWIFA’s member schools host tournaments throughout the school year, two in the Fall and two in the Spring. Tournaments consist of team events in each of the three weapons, with each school fielding one or two teams in each. For more information visit the SWIFA website.
What is USFA?
USFA, the United States Fencing Association, is the recognized national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States. USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981.
USFA is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d’Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913.
USFA hosts tournaments all across the nation, and several of our members travel to the various tournaments hosted throughout our section and beyond. Anyone interested in competing in USFA should contact the President, Vice-president, or visit the USFA website.
What is Askfred?
Askfred.net is the Fencing Results and Tournaments Database. It is the place to go to find out about local USFA tournaments, to see who’s attending, and to register to attend. Askfred also posts the results of previous tournamnets making it easy to track your progress througout the season. For more information visit Askfred.net.