COVID-19 Information
Update 23rd September: BFA have modified the rule with regard to wearing a face mask/mask shield whilst fencing. Rather than a suggestion it is now mandatory. If you have a condition that makes this not possible but you wish to continue fencing please contact us.
3 Dec 2020 U18’s tier 2 RISK assessment LINK
23 September LFC Risk Assessment LINK
Go to news section on this webpage for more information
Booking will be open from Tuesday through to Friday.
This is an update on where Lewes Fencing Club currently stands on restarting the club at the 3rd September and the advice currently being given by British Fencing and Lewes Leisure centre. Here is an outline of what we have put in place.
General
We will have some equipment available but NOT everything, borrowing equipment needs to be arranged beforehand, we will not have spare equipment on site.
We will be limited to 3 or 4 pistes with greater distances between them. All pistes will be wireless equipment so as to reduce touchpoints, setup and take downtimes.
Sessions may be reduced in time so as to allow for setup, takedown and sanitizing either by us or the leisure centre staff. At this point only electric piste fencing sessions will be available, there will be no children’s club or formal 1 to 1 coaching.
We will endeavour to put at least one coach in a fencing group each week who will give coaching from the sidelines, during a bout with you and possibly informal 1 to 1’s.
We will be accepting PAYG fencers BUT they must complete all the forms as required by normal members.
There will be no term memberships at present, our fees will be £6 per adult and £5 concession for each week, this is a limited offer whilst we adjust to how sessions will work, we reserve the right to change these fees for members and non-members.
By fencing a Lewes Fencing Club you understand your attendance details will be kept for at least 21 days for any Track and Trace requirements.
Before you come.
Make sure you are a BFA member, Membership details can be found on the BFA website if you are a seasoned fencer then you should aim for the Recreational level as a minimum.
Make sure you have completed an online membership form. You will be required to fill out an online health declaration each week (nb you cannot complete this without completing an online membership form) and make payment for the session, these need to be completed by Saturday 23:59 the latest so that we can organise the fencing groups, it cannot be completed before Thursday 00:00 and we request that if there is any change in your health you make sure you do not come to a session.
We will only be able to accommodate 24 fencers, including all coaches.
There will be no refunds. Payment will be done as part of the Health declaration and be paid via Paypal Be aware of the various guidelines laid out by the leisure centre as well as the BFA’s.
If you fence at more than one club during the last 7 days, you must sanitize all the equipment used to prevent transmission between clubs.
Arriving
Social distance with other people arriving to use the leisure centre whether they are club members or not. You should wear a mask.
Adhere to the leisure centre guidelines, this may include sanitizing, temperature checks, waiting in line and following a one-way system.
Please make yourself known to a member of the committee who is responsible for check-in.
Equipment
Where possible you should bring your own equipment, if you need to borrow ‘Soft’ equipment such as Jackets etc this needs to be arranged beforehand and you will be asked to take them home and wash them each week and then use in subsequent weeks. You will be required to return them once the situation has normalised or you decide not to fence anymore. You will be responsible for the kit and any losses will need to be replaced by you.
If you borrow ‘Hard’ equipment such as Swords or Wires you will be required to sanitize them and your hands before and after use, we will provide sanitization equipment.
What you should bring
You should bring your own towel and water bottle, you will not be allowed to fill your bottle from the leisure centres outlets so please bring enough.
Bring a basic first-aid kit for use by you, eg Plasters, anything more severe will be dealt with by the leisure centre staff in line with their COVID policies.
Whilst there will be hand sanitizer at the centre and in the club we request you bring and use regularly your own sanitizer.
Before fencing
Warm-up either individually or part of the club session, please wear a normal face mask whilst doing this and social distance from any partner, any drill work will not be done face to face. Please be aware of your body, if you are overheating or finding it difficult to breathe, stop and recover, seek assistance if required.
Fencing
You will be required to wear a mask at all times whilst not fencing, it is recommended but not required that you also have a face covering during fencing, some people may not find this comfortable we will have a supply of mask liners, as supplied by Leon Paul, these will be available at cost from the club.
Please be aware of your body, if you are overheating or finding it difficult to breathe, stop and recover, seek assistance if required.
You will be asked to fence in groups of no more than 6 (inc coach if you are allocated one), you will not be allowed to move between groups during each session.
Keep socially distanced from other groups at all times. We will arrange groups based on who is scheduled to arrive and try to mix up groups from week to week.
You may fight each person in the group for no more than 15 hits/10 minutes in any one session.
This can be arranged in the group.
If you borrow any hardware for a bout it must be sanitized before use and before it is returned.
If you need to clip in or handle any other equipment that may have been touched by someone else then you should as a minimum remove your glove, touch/adjust equipment, sanitize hand, replace glove. Ideally, you would also sanitize before touching the equipment.
Handshakes are not required.
Fletching/running attacks, corps a corps, deliberate close-quarter actions and any actions that breach the 1m distancing are not permitted.
A spare person in the group should referee, whilst they can do a full referee job their main responsibility is to halt the match if opponents get too close and reset them at the appropriate distance.
You should not shout either as an opponent or a referee unless the situation calls for it.
After the session
Please leave used hardware equipment in the designated pile so it can be sanitized if required.
If you are under 18 please make sure you confirm you leaving with the member of the committee handling attendance on that day.
Please socially distance and leave via the route laid down by the leisure centre.
If you have borrowed soft equipment please take it home and wash it before bringing back for your next session.
If you decided to give up fencing please have your equipment washed and then liaise with the club for its return. Any lost items will need replacing at cost by you.
Welfare
If you feel something is not safe please tell one of the committee members who will look to rectify it. You can talk to us during the session (please be aware when moving around the hall), or after the session via email,
enquiries@lewesfencingclub.org.uk If the issue is specifically welfare, ie child-related or you do not feel comfortable emailing the main email please use welfare@lewesfencingclub.org.uk , this will go directly to our Welfare officer (Anita Barnard).