Operating rules
General
There are a number of restrictions that WFC must comply with for fencing to take place indoors. These have been agreed between British Fencing (BF) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS), and also between WFC and Sharley Park Leisure Centre (SPLC). Please note that these restrictions may change at short notice either due to changes coming from BF, DCMS or SPLC, or the way that WFC implements them. We are all on a huge learning curve and will need to adjust things to make everyone's life easier. The restrictions include but are not limited to:
Before booking a ticket please ensure your BF membership is up to date and that you have affiliated to WFC. This will allow us to check your membership status before each session.
There are 18 tickets available for the Wednesday and Friday sessions, which should be more than enough for the current number of active fencers. Tickets can be purchased via the following booking website:
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Arrive before the start of the session and wait outside the sports hall side door. Please observe 2m social distancing outside and inside the venue. You do not need to wear a face mask inside the sports hall but must wear one if you need to use the toilets at the side of the sports hall or need to venture into other parts of the sports centre. Please use the one way system when venturing into other areas of the sports centre.
Don't forget to bring plenty of water since drinking water and drinks machines will not be available in the venue. WFC have been asked by SPLC to limit the use of toilets and changing facilities as much as possible. We therefore suggest you come wearing as much kit as is practical (ie breeches) or you change in the sallle.
When fencing (sparring) you must either wear a face mask under your fencing mask or your fencing mask must be fitted with a mask shield. Mask shields are available from Leon Paul (https://www.leonpaul.com/leon-paul-mask-shield-x-10.html) but an alternative solution is to stick tape (ie gaffer) to the inside or outside of the mask. The shield must be positioned just below your eye-line and cover as much of your mouth and nose as possible.
Find an available space for your kit and get ready to fence. If you need to warm up then either do this outside the venue in the grounds (weather permitting) or inside but keep it short and sweet. Whilst getting ready please listen to the instructions from the Covid-19 Officer or representative.
You will receive an email giving details of the group you are assigned to. Each group will have a maximum of six fencers giving you up to five fights. Unfortunately some sessions will not have full groups and therefore you will have less fights. We will do our best to ensure that when this happens, you will be in a full group the following session.
You MUST not change groups during the session. You will fence everyone in your group once up to a maximum of 15 hits, either 1x15 or 3x5. You are free to use any available piste.
When not fencing you MUST maintain 2m distance from everyone inside or outside your group. Fencers will self referee due to the limited space between pistes.
At the end of the session pack up your kit. Disinfect our hands before leaving. Please be aware that you must vacate the building as soon as requested to allow further cleaning to take place.
Wednesday sessions
For the Wednesday sessions, before making a booking please ensure you have a full set of functioning equipment including spare weapons and body wires, since club kit will not be available during the session. If you would like to loan club equipment for the duration of the restrictions then please contact WFC with your requirements.
Epee Hitmate wireless scoring boxes will be used to minimise the amount of cleaning required when swapping fencers. The Epee Hitmate cleaning instructions are below.
Friday sessions
We have decided in the short term to limit further loaning of equipment to junior fencers. This session will therefore be split into metal fencing and plastic fencing.
If you already have a full set of equipment (personal or club) and are capable of fencing without parental support, then you will fence with metal swords as normal but using the Epee Hitmate wireless scoring boxes.
If you do not have a full set of equipment or need parental help to fence, then you will fence with plastic swords using the Mini Hitmate wireless scoring boxes. This is just as much fun a metal fencing but does not require any special equipment. Please bring a mask (personal or club) and ensure your arms and legs are covered.
We need to limit the number of parents that can attend the session to a bare minimum to meet the density rules. We therefore ask that parents wait outside during the session or are less than 10 minutes from the venue. If you really do need to attend then please contact me to discuss before booking. Please note that there will always be two or more coaches present and on most occasions the Welfare Officer as well.
General cleaning
On entry to and exit from the sports hall, please clean your hands using the hand sanitiser provided. Please do not share personal equipment or chairs. There will be a cleaning stations next to each piste comprising disinfectant spray, hand sanitiser, paper towels and a waste bag..
Epee Hitmate cleaning routine
At the end of the fight, each fencer in turn will approach the cleaning station and perform the following cleaning routine:
The next pair of fencers will then be ready to start.
Mini Hitmate cleaning
At the end of the fight, the fencer will hand the plastic sword to either their parent or one of the helpers who will perform the following cleaning routine:
The next pair of fencers will then be ready to start.
There are a number of restrictions that WFC must comply with for fencing to take place indoors. These have been agreed between British Fencing (BF) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS), and also between WFC and Sharley Park Leisure Centre (SPLC). Please note that these restrictions may change at short notice either due to changes coming from BF, DCMS or SPLC, or the way that WFC implements them. We are all on a huge learning curve and will need to adjust things to make everyone's life easier. The restrictions include but are not limited to:
- Participants booking a place at a session online to meet our track and trace obligations.
- Limiting the number of participants at each session to meet the required social distancing laws.
- Reducing the periods of close contact during a fight by limiting the types of fencing actions.
- Implementing strict hygiene rules.
Before booking a ticket please ensure your BF membership is up to date and that you have affiliated to WFC. This will allow us to check your membership status before each session.
There are 18 tickets available for the Wednesday and Friday sessions, which should be more than enough for the current number of active fencers. Tickets can be purchased via the following booking website:
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Arrive before the start of the session and wait outside the sports hall side door. Please observe 2m social distancing outside and inside the venue. You do not need to wear a face mask inside the sports hall but must wear one if you need to use the toilets at the side of the sports hall or need to venture into other parts of the sports centre. Please use the one way system when venturing into other areas of the sports centre.
Don't forget to bring plenty of water since drinking water and drinks machines will not be available in the venue. WFC have been asked by SPLC to limit the use of toilets and changing facilities as much as possible. We therefore suggest you come wearing as much kit as is practical (ie breeches) or you change in the sallle.
When fencing (sparring) you must either wear a face mask under your fencing mask or your fencing mask must be fitted with a mask shield. Mask shields are available from Leon Paul (https://www.leonpaul.com/leon-paul-mask-shield-x-10.html) but an alternative solution is to stick tape (ie gaffer) to the inside or outside of the mask. The shield must be positioned just below your eye-line and cover as much of your mouth and nose as possible.
Find an available space for your kit and get ready to fence. If you need to warm up then either do this outside the venue in the grounds (weather permitting) or inside but keep it short and sweet. Whilst getting ready please listen to the instructions from the Covid-19 Officer or representative.
You will receive an email giving details of the group you are assigned to. Each group will have a maximum of six fencers giving you up to five fights. Unfortunately some sessions will not have full groups and therefore you will have less fights. We will do our best to ensure that when this happens, you will be in a full group the following session.
You MUST not change groups during the session. You will fence everyone in your group once up to a maximum of 15 hits, either 1x15 or 3x5. You are free to use any available piste.
When not fencing you MUST maintain 2m distance from everyone inside or outside your group. Fencers will self referee due to the limited space between pistes.
At the end of the session pack up your kit. Disinfect our hands before leaving. Please be aware that you must vacate the building as soon as requested to allow further cleaning to take place.
Wednesday sessions
For the Wednesday sessions, before making a booking please ensure you have a full set of functioning equipment including spare weapons and body wires, since club kit will not be available during the session. If you would like to loan club equipment for the duration of the restrictions then please contact WFC with your requirements.
Epee Hitmate wireless scoring boxes will be used to minimise the amount of cleaning required when swapping fencers. The Epee Hitmate cleaning instructions are below.
Friday sessions
We have decided in the short term to limit further loaning of equipment to junior fencers. This session will therefore be split into metal fencing and plastic fencing.
If you already have a full set of equipment (personal or club) and are capable of fencing without parental support, then you will fence with metal swords as normal but using the Epee Hitmate wireless scoring boxes.
If you do not have a full set of equipment or need parental help to fence, then you will fence with plastic swords using the Mini Hitmate wireless scoring boxes. This is just as much fun a metal fencing but does not require any special equipment. Please bring a mask (personal or club) and ensure your arms and legs are covered.
We need to limit the number of parents that can attend the session to a bare minimum to meet the density rules. We therefore ask that parents wait outside during the session or are less than 10 minutes from the venue. If you really do need to attend then please contact me to discuss before booking. Please note that there will always be two or more coaches present and on most occasions the Welfare Officer as well.
General cleaning
On entry to and exit from the sports hall, please clean your hands using the hand sanitiser provided. Please do not share personal equipment or chairs. There will be a cleaning stations next to each piste comprising disinfectant spray, hand sanitiser, paper towels and a waste bag..
Epee Hitmate cleaning routine
At the end of the fight, each fencer in turn will approach the cleaning station and perform the following cleaning routine:
- Remove your fencing glove.
- Clean your hands with the hand sanitiser.
- Remove the sender unit from your pocket and disconnect the body wire.
- Take a paper towel and spray with disinfectant.
- Wipe the sender unit all over with the towel including the on/off button.
- Place the sender unit on the floor.
- Place the paper towel in the waste bag.
- Clean your hands again with the hand sanitiser.
The next pair of fencers will then be ready to start.
Mini Hitmate cleaning
At the end of the fight, the fencer will hand the plastic sword to either their parent or one of the helpers who will perform the following cleaning routine:
- Clean their hands with the hand sanitiser.
- Take a paper towel and spray with disinfectant.
- Wipe the sword unit all over with the towel including the tip switch.
- Place the sword on the floor.
- Place the paper towel in the waste bag.
- Clean their hands again with the hand sanitiser.
The next pair of fencers will then be ready to start.