CODE of CONDUCT and POLICIES

The Lightning Fencing Club is open to anyone with an interest in promoting or engaging in the sport of fencing. However, participation at the Lightning Fencing Club is a privilege, not a right. Along with this privilege comes certain expectations of behavior by the club’s members & their parents, guests, coaches and volunteers, in accordance with this Code of Conduct & policies.

• No Discrimination. All participants, parents & guests of the Lightning Fencing Club are to treat all other participants, parents, guests & coaches at all times and in all respects in a manner free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Payments. Participants are expected to promptly pay when due, all membership fees, lesson fees, competition fees, travel costs, equipment costs and any other amounts owed to the club &/or its coaches. All required forms must be fully completed and submitted as a package.

• Physical Safety. Physical safety is one of the highest priorities of the Lightning Fencing Club. All participants are expected to exercise control of their actions and demeanor while fencing or otherwise participating at the club. All participants are expected to exercise good judgment as to the degree of force used in fencing, which must be appropriate to the age, size and experience level of their opponents.

• Sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship is another of the club’s highest priorities. All fencing is to be conducted in a respectful and courteous manner regardless of whether it takes place during open bouting, at a competition or during a class. All participants are expected to salute their opponent and the referee before and after each bout, and to shake hands with their opponent after each bout, in a sportsmanlike manner.

• Scoring/Referees. In non-refereed bouts, discussions of priority and valid hits are to be resolved quickly and amicably between the participants, or thrown out. In non-electric bouting, the fencers are expected to acknowledge hits against them. In refereed bouts, the decision belongs solely to the referee and that decision is final. Fencers, parents, guests & coaches are expected to treat all referees with respect, regardless of the outcome of any particular call or bout.

• Equipment. All participants are expected to keep any equipment owned by them in a safe condition, and are responsible for the suitability and condition of that equipment. All participants using club equipment are expected to not use any equipment that appears damaged or unsafe and to give any such equipment to an Armourer or Coach. All experienced fencers or participants continuing beyond introductory classes are expected to purchase their own equipment.

• Club Activities. All classes and programs at the club must be treated with respect by non-involved participants, parents or guests. Participants, parents & guests must not interrupt or disrupt any activity at the club or its coaches.

• Competition Conduct. Members attending competitions represent the Lightning Fencing Club to the wider fencing community. Members are bound by these Rules, and by the MFA & CFF codes of conduct regardless of whether it is a local, regional, national or international competition. Any fencer representing the Lightning Fencing Club who breeches these Rules or the MFA & CFF codes of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action by the club’s Executive Committee.

• Ejection. If at any time a participant or guest threatens the safety of the other participants, guests, or coaches, any member of the club’s coaching staff may immediately remove the threatening participant or guest from the premises. The Executive Committee will promptly determine the duration that such removal will remain in effect and any other penalties.

• REVOCATION OF PRIVILEGES. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVOKE THE MEMBERSHIP OR PRIVILEGES OF ANY PERSON WHO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FINDS HAS VIOLATED ANY OF THESE RULES.

Our younger fencers are the future of the Lightning Fencing Club. To that end, when it is appropriate, we urge parents to send their children to out-of-province competitions. The Lightning Fencing Club expects that younger fencers on fencing trips are not simply having a vacation at their parent's expense. This means that the fencer should be preparing to fence hard and well while away from home. Before entering an out-of-province competition, a fencer should have entered most of the local competitions appropriate for their skill level and age. We discourage fencers who have not properly trained for the level of competition found at local competitions from fencing out-of-province. We cannot prevent fencers from entering any competition that they choose. However, a fencer who enters an event or events against the wishes of a coach, must do so in the anticipation of not getting the full support of the Lightning Fencing Club coaching staff while at the event. For those athletes traveling as part of a Lightning Fencing Club group, the following rules apply:

• We expect our athletes to understand that they are representing the Lightning Fencing Club at all times when training, competing & traveling. During this time we expect them to behave appropriately, and treat not only their teammates and coaches with respect, but all others that they encounter during travel, such as flight attendants, hotel & restaurant staff, fellow competitors and their coaches, referees, and competition officials.
• Since competitions often occur during the school year, we urge our fencers to bring homework to do while traveling or at the hotel.

• Do not make jokes about guns, bombs, drugs, weapons, or other such items when traveling as you could face problems with security personnel (i.e. at airports). There exists the very real chance of detainment and/or prosecution for what might appear to be a "harmless" comment.

• Under-age fencers (i.e. under 18 yrs of age), unaccompanied by a parent must stay on hotel or venue property at all times. They cannot leave the venue or hotel property without a coach or adult team member. Older fencers are expected to ask permission to leave the hotel or venue from a coach before doing so.

• We expect fencers to treat all employees and guests of the hotel with respect. We expect them to refrain from damage or theft of hotel property, including towels and "souvenirs".

• Follow all curfews set by the coaches. This will vary depending on which events are being fenced the next day, and what the start times are. Fencers who are not in their rooms by curfew may be withdrawn from any events and sent immediately home.

• Club members, when traveling, often eat as a large group. Many restaurants charge an automatic gratuity for large groups as part of the meal. Even if this charge is not added onto the bill, we will tip 15% because of the extra work involved in serving such a large group. Make sure that your child has enough money to cover this added expense. We do try to make arrangements to eat as inexpensively as possible, but it is often difficult to control expenses on the road.

• At all times when traveling, competing or training, you represent the Lightning Fencing Club. Any behavior that negatively affects the reputation of the club (i.e. under age drinking, horseplay at the venue or hotel, disrespect to officials, competitors, or coaches) may result in the fencer being withdrawn from any events and sent home as soon as possible. The parent will be billed for any of these additional expenses due to the behavior of their child. Any fencer who suffers this punishment will be on probation for participation in further Lightning Fencing Club trips.

• The Lightning Fencing Club has a zero tolerance policy with regards to the use of any drugs that are not prescribed by a physician and underage (according to the province/state in which the activity takes place) consumption of alcoholic beverages. Fencers, coaches, chaperones, drivers & other staff who are of legal drinking age (according to the province/state in which the activity takes place) are also expected to refrain from consuming alcohol when traveling as part of a Lightning Fencing Club group. Anyone found to be in violation of this policy will be immediately sent home at the parent's expense and may be banned from participating in any future Lightning Fencing Club trips.

We do not feel that this Code of Conduct & travel policy are unreasonable, and we urge all parents to review them with their children, especially before sending them on Lightning Fencing Club trips.

It is Lightning Fencing Club policy to not provide refunds of membership fees after the first class of any introductory program or first training session of any other club program. Exceptions may be made in case of injuries or illness that may prevent a member from continuing in a program, in which case the refund will be prorated.

Transfers of MFA membership from the Lightning Fencing Club to any other Manitoba club will not normally be permitted during a fencing season, unless such a transfer is deemed to be in the best interest of both the member in question & the Lightning Fencing Club, as decided by the Executive Committee. If a transfer of membership is permitted, at the discretion of the Executive Committee of the Lightning Fencing Club, the member will forfeit all membership fees paid to the Lightning Fencing Club, and his/her gaining club will be required to compensate the Lightning Fencing Club an amount equivalent to the membership fees paid to the MFA on behalf of that member.