We start the 2021-2022 season this September with good news- Thursdays are back in Manchester, and Sundays are back in Rochester!  The three month Fall Term at Seacoast begins on Monday, September 13 in Manchester, and Tuesday, September 14 in Rochester. Some beginning and intermediate classes in Manchester will start on Thursday, September 9, so epee fencers can come in on that day as well.

Unfortunately, with the Delta variant hitting the country, the Covid-19 rules will remain in place.

I will have a parent’s meeting at 7:00, on Monday 9/13 in Manchester, and Tuesday 9/14 in Rochester, to go over procedures in the club and answer any questions. The fencer’s meeting is at 7:00 on Wednesday 9/15 in Manchester, and Thursday 9/16 in Rochester..

Please bring the tuition to the first meeting. Cash is accepted, and checks should be payable to Seacoast Fencing Club. Sorry, but we do not accept credit cards.

Fall Tuition (September, October, and November)
Children        $335
Youth            $355
Junior            $375
Adult             $375

Manchester Schedule  

Children                          6:00 to 7:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays
Youths                            6:30 to 7:45 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
Juniors and Adults         7:00 to 9:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Foil and epee is fenced every practice.  However, in Manchester, epee fencers big night is Thursdays, and foil fencers big night is Wednesdays.  Monday is usually an even mix of foil and epee.

 Rochester Schedule

Children                         6:00 to 7:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Youths                           6:30 to 7:45 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Juniors and Adults        7:00 to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
                                      2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sundays

Foil and epee is fenced every practice.  Time will tell which nights will have the best turnout for each weapon.  

Sunday practices in Rochester will have intensive training and coaching for those who want to prepare for regional and national competitions.  All Rochester and Manchester junior and adult fencers are welcome, but the program will focus on developing high level competitors.

Advanced Class will be offered in early October. This is a great way to learn more offensive and defensive techniques for newer youth, junior, and adult fencers).  It will meet once a week for 30 minutes, for nine classes, 7:45 to 8:15 pm.  Manchester on Mondays and Rochester on Thursdays. The class will be taught by the head coach (Chris Pullo). Tuition is $100.

All Seacoast fencers can come to both the Manchester and Rochester locations if they want to pick up an extra day of fencing (with a new mix of fencers). There is no extra charge. 

As always, we are happy to stay an extra half hour if fencers want more time on the strip!

Our intermediate makeup class was scheduled for 2:00 to 3:30 on Sunday, 8/22.  And while Hurricane Henri is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by Sunday at 2:30 when it reaches Rochester, WMUR is predicting 35+ wind gusts and power outages at that time. 

 
So I am cancelling the 8/22 makeup class, and am moving it back to next Sunday, 8/29 at 2:00 pm.  
We can discuss everyone’s availability at the Tuesday class.

Stay home, stay dry, and stay safe.

The club will continue to be open on the same days before : Manchester on Mondays and Wednesdays, Rochester on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Membership includes fencing in both clubs if you like, at no extra charge.

August Term Dues

Children and Youth- Not enough fencers signed up for these programs in August. Summer camps & family vacations took their toll. So these will not be held this month. But they will resume in September. Those who paid for both June & August can either join the juniors and adults at 7:00, or get a $150 credit for the Fall term.

Juniors and Adults- For those who paid $365 for both months, you are all set. For those who are did not, the tuition for August is $215. Training times are 7:00 to 9:00, but you can come in early and stay as late as 9:30. For those who won’t make it to the club very often, you can also pay the daily floor fee of $25.

Beginning and Intermediate classes will be held in the basement in Manchester, and on strips one and two in Rochester.

I hope to see you this month, but if not, I will see you in September.

After spending 12 days in hot, humid Philadelphia (the temperatures reached 100 degrees at times), where I had to wear a breath mask while coaching at the National Championships for hours, I can sympathize with those who really don’t want to wear face coverings at the club. But I have lived my life striving to never create a situation where someone could get harmed by something I did, or did not do that I should have.

For that reason, while the Governor has dropped all the Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place from June 2020 to June 2021, private businesses can take thoughtful steps to protect those people with whom we are in contact. The delta variant of Covid-19 is more dangerous and more contagious than the previous virus, and it is triggering a surge of cases that is striking the unvaccinated.  We will maintain all the procedures that have been in place since we reopened Seacoast Fencing Club in June 2020.

Click on the Covid-19 tab at the top right of this page for those procedures.

It has been a struggle to see fencing in the Olympics on network TV, even after one of the USA fencers, Lee Kiefer in women’s foil, won a gold medal. But I did find a way to see the bronze and gold medal bouts, both individual and team, on the internet. We have been able to get the NBC Sports app on our FireTV. So there should be a way for everyone to watch some excellent fencing. They do not show all the touches, but it has a very good selection of the best actions.

By the way, it seems footwork is critical for the winners. Hmmm…. where have I heard that before?

I look forward to seeing many of you in August, and the rest of you in September.