• Fencing is one of only 4 Olympic sports to be included in all modern Olympic games.  It is an incredibly fast, athletic, and strategic game.  Only a bullet is faster than the tip of a foil in all of sport.  It has also been compared to playing chess at 100 mph.

•  We are developing an All School Club to bring fencing to the Fargo-Moorhead community.  Fencing is a great sport for kids (and adults) in that it is both an individual and team sport.  The speed and strategic nature of the sport develops focus and mental agility as well as physical athleticism.  The team aspect develops comradery and inclusiveness.  The individual nature of competition develops self reliance, composure under pressure, patience and self confidence. Fencing appeals to established athletes AND to students who otherwise wouldn't participate is sports. Finally because of the dual strategic and athletic aspects to the game, the most athletic or tallest or shortest doesn't necessarily have an advantage.  Each fencer develops their own strategy to fit their attributes. 

• The All School Club - FMFC would compete in the MN division of the United States Fencing Assoc. (USFA - governing body for fencing in the US).  ND does not have its own division.  MN has a high school league (MNHSFL) which holds tournaments and inter-school matches.  In addition, there are competition opportunities locally (MSUM and ND clubs) and in Winnipeg, SD, and IA which are all similar distances from Fargo (2.5-3.5 hr drive).  Dedicated fencers could also compete in divisional, regional, and national level tournaments.

• The Fargo-Moorhead Fencing Club is an all volunteer non-profit organization.  Our coaches are required to be certified by the United States Fencing Coaches Assoc. (USFCA) and be active members of the USFA.  Each coach has liability insurance through the USFA.  Coaching is overseen by Fencing Master Alvarez.  The Fargo community is very fortunate to have a fencing master willing to volunteer his time to develop this exciting sport in our area.

• The first thing most parents ask is "is it safe?".  Fencing is one of the safest sports that you can compete in. The most common injuries in fencing reflect those of other sports – ligament sprains and muscle strains account for over half of the injuries. (http://exra.org/FencingChptr.htm). The protective gear is specifically designed to protect against broken blades making injuries from blades rare.  Insurance companies agree! When comparing insurance rates for “Accident MedicalCoverage” for sports teams and leagues, the insurance premiums for fencing are the least expensive – cheaper than for volleyball and basketball.

• In addition to coaching, the FMFC will provide all the gear necessary for students to participate up to competition level.  That way there is not a large expenditure on gear for students wanting to try out the sport.  

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