Fall 2024 Price Changes

As part of our periodic review of our expenses, to help cover rising staff and facility costs, effective September 2024 there will be an increase to our prices for classes, open fencing, and lessons. We realize that fencing is a significant investment for our customers, and we try to keep our prices under control. We feel our new pricing reflects the value of our programs, our facility, and our coaching staff.

Monthly Classes

  • Beginning class, 1st month: $200
  • Regular class (twice a week): $240/month
  • Regular class (once a week): $150/month
  • Competitive class (3 days per week): $300/month
  • Family member discount: $25 off each enrollment (group classes only)

Open Fencing

  • Open fencing, RCFC member: $100/month
  • Open fencing drop-in: $20/night

Travel Coaching

  • Strip coaching at national/regional tournaments: $120 per fencer per event

Private Lessons

  • Drop-in lesson: $50
  • 4-lesson card: $180
  • 8-lesson card: $350
  • 20-lesson package: $800

For our current private lesson students, we’re offering one card/package renewal per family at the old price. If you have a current, partially used lesson card, we will add one renewal at the old price for you. If you have a current, unused lesson card, it will remain at the old price, and the next renewal will be at the new price.

New Insurance Requirement (August 2023)

For next season, USA Fencing is changing the structure of club memberships and insurance. Unfortunately, we will no longer be able to use our current third-party insurance coverage. In order to use the insurance provided to USA Fencing Member Clubs, there will be an additional requirement for our fencers.

Starting August 1st, all fencers at RCFC (except some beginners) must be individual members of USA Fencing at some level. The lowest level of membership will be the Access membership, which will be $29/year next season.

If you have been fencing for at least 2 months and plan to fence after August 1st, please sign up for a membership at https://member.usafencing.org/. Note that if you sign up now, before July 1st, you can get a substantial discount by getting the Non-Competitive membership for $15. Your membership will be automatically upgraded to the Access level and extended through next season (July 31, 2024).

Once your membership signup is completed, you can add your membership number to your profile in our membership system, Zen Planner. After logging in to the membership portal (https://raincityfencing.sites.zenplanner.com/), you can click My Profile->My Family->(fencer’s name)->Edit Profile to add the number.

Competitive fencers who already have a membership, please remember to renew it by August 1st. We would appreciate if you can enter your membership number into Zen Planner as well.

Note, each fencer in your household needs their own membership. It’s not required for parents who don’t fence themselves.

For beginning fencers, USA Fencing allows a trial period of three months before the individual membership is required. This covers our summer camps and/or beginning classes. All that is required is an additional waiver form which you can sign on paper or electronically. After three months of fencing, you’ll need to sign up for the individual membership.

On the plus side, the Access membership also makes you eligible for local competition. When you decide it’s time to try a local tournament, no additional membership upgrade is required.

Please let us know if you have any questions, or trouble with the membership signup. We appreciate your cooperation!

Rain City Fencing Center
Membership Services

March NAC – Class Schedule Changes

Next weekend is the March North American Cup (NAC) in Fort Worth, TX. We’re sending a team of 28 youth and cadet fencers to this national event! Because several of our coaches will be going to support the team, a few classes will be affected:

  • There will be no Continuing Kids Foil class on Thursday, March 2nd. Students are welcome to come on any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday for a make-up session.
  • The March session of Beginning Kids Foil will begin on Tuesday the 7th.
  • There will be no Kids Open Fencing session on Friday, March 3rd.
  • There will be no Beginning Junior Foil class on Monday, March 6th. Class will resume on Wednesday the 8th.
  • Also on Monday, March 6th: There will be no Intermediate/Competitive “B” Kids class at 4:30. Students may come to the Competitive “A” Kids class at 5:30 instead.
  • The Beginning/Continuing Kids Epee class will be combined with the Continuing Kids Foil class on Monday the 6th.
  • The Continuing Adult Foil class will be combined with the Intermediate Adults at 7:30 on Monday the 6th.

We’re looking forward to a great tournament. Go Team RCFC!

Competitive Class Schedule Update

Due to the size of our Competitive Junior Foil class, starting in October we are dividing the class into two groups based on our Competition Levels. We recommend that all Level 1 and 2 juniors (who have not fenced in a regional tournament yet) switch to our Competitive Junior B class, Monday/Wednesday 6:30-8:00. This will still be a 90-minute class with time for structured bouting as well as exercises. Level 4 and 5 fencers (SYC and national level) should stay on Tuesday/Thursday. Level 3 fencers (regional) may choose either class. The class still includes access to open fencing Monday through Thursday evenings.

On a temporary basis, the Competitive Junior B class will be combined with the existing Intermediate Junior class. Starting in November, we will add a different timeslot for junior fencers who wish to remain non-competitive.

We understand that rearranging schedules can be difficult. We will work with all of our fencers to adjust lesson schedules to the new class times as necessary.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Thank you for your patience as we work out new ways to build our competitive team. Go Team RCFC!

Temporary Practice at Highland Community Center

From August 22nd through September 11th, we’re getting our floors completely refinished. While we’re closed, we are renting temporary practice space at Highland Community Center. Practice sessions will be every Monday and Thursday except Labor Day, 5:30-7:30 PM.

Coach Greg will lead a short warmup and footwork practice, then there will be open fencing time. We will have three strips with machines, plus additional practice space. Since space is limited, please reserve a spot through our online calendar. There is a $10 drop-in fee to help cover the cost of renting the community center.

Coach Greg will be giving lessons; Coach Spencer will be available for lessons on some of the days. Contact your coach about lesson availability. Lesson priority will be for students preparing for the North Texas Roundup SYC and the Veteran World Championships.

Click here for directions to the community center.

See the map below for allowed parking locations. We recommend carpooling if possible since parking is limited. Monday practices will be in the gymnasium; Thursdays will be in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Fall 2022 Price Changes

As part of our periodic review of our expenses, to help cover rising staff and facility costs, effective September 2022 there will be a modest increase to our prices for classes and open fencing. The new prices are as follows.

Monthly classes

  • Beginning class, 1st month: $180
  • Regular class (twice a week): $200/month
  • Regular class (once a week): $130/month
  • Competitive class (twice a week): $250/month
  • Family member discount: $20 off each enrollment (group classes only)

Open fencing

  • Open fencing, RCFC member: $90/month
  • Open fencing, other club member: $60/month

September Schedule

Because we are having our floors refinished this summer, the September session will begin the week of September 12th. Prices for September will be discounted accordingly:

  • Beginning, Continuing, Intermediate classes (once or twice a week): $30 discount
  • Competitive class: $50 discount
  • Open fencing: $20 discount

Face Masks Optional Starting March 12th

Following the recent updates to CDC guidelines, as well as Washington State and King County recommendations, there will be some changes to our COVID policies this month.

Effective March 1st, 2022, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result is no longer required to enter RCFC. We do still strongly encourage all of our fencers and their families to get fully vaccinated.

Starting March 12th, 2022, face coverings will be optional for all students, staff, and spectators. You are still welcome to wear a face mask if you want to.

The exception to the mask-optional policy is at tournaments. USA Fencing still has a nationwide mandate for tournaments at all levels — all fencers, spectators, coaches, and officials must wear face masks at all times. If USA Fencing decides to alter this policy, we will update tournament websites accordingly.

We will still require proof of vaccination or negative COVID test at large regional tournaments. Check the tournament website for details.

We look forward to seeing your smiling faces soon!

COVID-19 Mitigation Policy Updates

Last updated December 22, 2021

RCFC is open for all of our usual in-person activities. There are currently no capacity limits for classes or open fencing.

We have updated our protocols which are designed to minimize the risk of exposure for students, parents, and coaches. We continually evaluate these protocols for feasibility and effectiveness, and adjust them as necessary.

Note that while we will attempt to minimize risks as much as possible, there is no way that risk can be completely eliminated. Members of high-risk populations should still stay home. Clients will be required to sign a waiver agreeing to our COVID-19 mitigation policies. An email containing a link to a brief safety reminder video will be sent prior to each lesson (WA state requirement).

Surfaces and Objects

Based on newly available data, including a recent study on surface transmission via sports equipment, we have scaled back some of our surface and equipment policies.

  • All of our staff wear appropriate PPE including face coverings at all times. There is a transparent barrier at the front desk to help minimize risk of transmission.
  • We strongly recommend that customers pay their bills online through our membership system. In person, our credit card terminal supports contactless payments such as tap-and-go and Apple Pay. When paying in person with a credit card, signatures are not required.
  • Doors to the main restrooms are propped open to avoid contact with door handles.
  • All students should bring water bottles with them. Please put your name on your water bottle! At our water fountains, there is no drinking by mouth, only filling water bottles.
  • During open fencing, scoring machines should be turned on and off with the tip of the weapon if possible.
  • We have installed no-touch soap dispensers and faucets in all restrooms.
  • The weight room is limited to 1 person at a time. Sanitizing equipment before and after use is required, using the sanitizing spray provided.
  • Props for games (balls, pool noodles, etc.) and club electric equipment (foils, lames, body cords) are quarantined after use until the following day.

Distancing

  • Students should check in at the front desk, and avoid congregating closely while waiting for their class or lesson.
  • If possible, parents and other non-fencers should wait in their vehicle or leave after checking in their child and come back at the end of class. Otherwise, parents should wait upstairs. If possible, only one non-fencer should accompany a minor fencer into the club.
  • Enter through the front doors only. When possible, exit through the double doors between the two gyms.
  • After saluting: no handshakes, high-fives, or elbow bumps.

Hygiene and Screening

  • All standard CDC recommendations (hand washing, control coughs and sneezes, stay home if any symptoms, etc.) are in place.
  • Fencers and parents should self-monitor symptoms and check their temperature before they leave home. We will conduct a no-contact temperature check of everyone who enters the club. Anyone with any COVID-like symptoms or a temperature over 100 will not be allowed in the club.
  • Parents should check their child in at the front desk.
  • Students should wash their hands on arrival. They may do so in the restrooms or using the kitchen sink upstairs.
  • Hand sanitizer, tissues, and trash cans are available throughout the facility.
  • Students should come for class a few minutes earlier than usual to avoid backups in the restrooms.
  • All employees are screened for symptoms daily.
  • Cloth or surgical masks are required for everyone while in the building. This includes underneath the fencing mask.

Fencing Equipment

  • Fencers who have their own gear should bring it, use it, take it home every day, and wash/disinfect it after each use.
  • Fencers who have their own gear should not borrow any club gear.
  • We strongly recommend that students purchase their own gear, or at least their own glove and mask, after their two months of classes. We will do our best to maintain our retail inventory at appropriate levels.
  • Retail uniforms which are worn to check for size and not purchased will be kept out of active inventory for at least 24 hours.
  • For students who do not have their own gear, each student will be allocated their own set of club gear, which will remain at the club. All club gear is labeled with index numbers, which will be recorded for each student. We will place each student’s set of gear in a separate plastic storage bin where they can access it before class and return it afterwards. Each student only wears one particular set of gear, and each piece of gear is only worn by one student.
  • Club gear will be washed/sanitized every other week, then put back out into bins.

Vaccination

  • All of our staff are full vaccinated.
  • Per King County mandate, all fencers age 12 or older, plus all spectators and family who will be in the building more than a few minutes, must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test on entry. We record that our staff have verified vaccination status in our membership system.
  • We strongly recommend that all of our fencers get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.

Vaccination/Test Requirement Starts November 6th

On October 25th, King County established a vaccination mandate for “certain businesses such as gyms and fitness facilities”. We have not heard back from them as to whether RCFC is subject to this mandate. However, we have decided that the prudent course is to follow it regardless.

Starting Saturday, November 6th, we will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result for all fencers 12 and older, as well as anyone else over 12 who will stay on site more than a few minutes.

You may email a photo of your vaccination card to membership@raincityfencing.com, or show it at the front desk next time you check in. We will record the vaccination confirmation in our membership system. (We will not save any images of vaccination cards.) We will accept proof of at least the first dose as sufficient.

If you already verified vaccination status for our RJCC/ROC tournament in September or the RYC in October, we have that recorded, so you do not need to send it again. If not, you may submit this information before next week if you like.

Anyone 12 or older who is not vaccinated will need to show a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours. The King County mandate does not allow us to accept self-administered rapid test results.

This requirement does not apply to anyone who is only in the building briefly (picking up, dropping off, or making a quick equipment purchase). It also does not apply to anyone under 12 at this time. However, we do strongly recommend that all of our students get vaccinated, now that the vaccine has been approved for younger kids.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this new policy.