Fencing is emerging as the next big youth sport, driven by safety, inclusivity, and Olympic success. Learn why clubs should care and how to prepare with better scheduling and communication tools.

For many years, youth sports have often been reduced to the common sports of soccer, basketball, baseball and football. Parents signed up their children, coaches populated their “rosters” and the process continued onward without too much change.Then… Enters the new kid on the block that looks nothing like ball sports: fencing. Traditionally thought of as either an elite or niche endeavor; fencing has begun to make its way into youth programs in a seemingly normal, meaningful way and is arguably poised to be the next best thing.

The rise in popularity of fencing is interesting because this increase does not appear to be based on popularity itself alone. Instead, it is a mixture of concerned parents, kids’ desire for individuality and the overall experience which promises both athleticism and intellectual development. The current demand for fencing creates an important opportunity for clubs to get ahead of this trend before the sport develops a following akin to soccer practice on a Saturday morning.

What Makes Fencing so Attractive to Young People?

Fencing carries a natural appeal, an inherent mystique. The image of athletes meeting the swords on a strip, with a cinematic connection, brings instant curiosity. At a deeper level, it is the ability to couple the physical movement with mental strategy. Parents will describe fencing as “physical chess,” a sport in which speed and reflexes matter. In fact, in which the competitor will often win who can outsmart, as opposed to outrun, the opponent.

For young athletes not having the advantage of height or weight in other sports, fencing accommodates a breadth of athletes regardless of body shape or size. Whether tall or short, strong or agile, there is a fencing style each child can engage in that takes advantage of physical attributes. The inclusivity of fencing opens up a greater talent pool and allows the child to feel less discouragement due to body size or type. Moreover, safety is an important aspect of fencing around the current generation of parents and children. Parents are more conservative than ever regarding concussions and long-term injury considerations. Fencing is safer than it appears both due to a strict set of regulations, provided all necessary protective gear, and injury rates are statistically lower than football, soccer, and basketball.

For kids themselves, fencing offers something equally, if not, something more important: uniqueness. There is something exhilarating about doing something different than their peers, something that seems cool, memorable, and new. While their friends are doing laps on the soccer field, the young fencer is learning how to parry and riposte; all while sounding far more enjoyable at the dinner table.

The Growth in Numbers

The increase in fencing is not merely anecdotal. Over the last decade, registrations in youth U.S. Fencing programs have grown fairly consistently. Notably large jumps in registrations have occurred in cities with strong college fencing programs, where parents see a link between youth activity and a potential future of academic and athletic possibilities. Olympic visibility has also had a quantifiable effect. American athletes, such as Lee Kiefer, with her historic gold in women’s foil and Mariel Zagunis, a two time Olympic champion in sabre, have offered a presence for young fencers to look up to and follow on the largest stage in sport.

Moreover, national and regional federations have made diversity a focus and initiated action to bring fencing to schools and communities who might have previously thought of fencing as an inaccessible sport related through private school. The sport is letting go of “elitist” stigma and allowing for a broader demographic of kids to consider playing the sport who may never have previously considered it.

Why Clubs Should Care:

Here is the hard truth: most clubs are still treating fencing and the fencing family as too niche and special to take it seriously. And that’s the reason why clubs should take advantage of the current moment. Those that adopt fencing early will benefit both from increased interest as a result of growth, but also low competition. Where soccer fields are oversaturated with programs, fencing still feels new and new and rare so fencing clubs have a clear differentiator.

Retention is another benefit that might not be taken into consideration. Kids who go through fencing programs often stay for longer periods of time. The combination of individual progression, discipline and competitions keep the kids engaged. For parents, fencing hits all the marks they are demanding from youth sports these days – safety, discipline, inclusion and some sort of intellectual challenge. When clubs add fencing to their roster of offerings, they are not only recognizing their reach, but they are also aligning with what the modern sports family is looking for.

Ways for Clubs to Get Ahead

The opportunity is obvious, but whether a fencing program is successful or flops depends on implementation. Clubs need to take some important steps ahead of time to remain ahead of the curve. First, investing in qualified coaches is an absolute must. Parents are going to want to know their kids are learning from people who are qualified to understand the technical side of the sport and the safety side of the sport. Partners that have certified instructors, or fencing federations, can provide credibility.

Second, clubs should not wait until they can have a full-blown program. Just a few one-off introductory classes can get the ball rolling and generate some excitement for families seeking a fencing community. Host open-house events where kids can try on gear, practice a few techniques, and then get supervised free fencing. Fencing has a very visual market advantage, but clubs have to do the activities to show it.

Third, and perhaps the most important element is organizing practices, clinics and, most importantly, tournaments can become logistical messes if not organized well. This is where something like Waresport becomes indispensable. Rather than relying on spreadsheets and random group texts, a club admin can socialize everything into one place. Waresport provides fencing tournament scheduling, automated communications to parents, attendance tracking, and payment systems into one simple dashboard. This takes away the burden of the administration and allows coaches to focus on teaching rather than figuring out the logistics.

One other strong angle for clubs is the academic connection. Parents increasingly look at fencing as not only a sport but as enrichment. The focus, discipline, and mental agility required to do well in fencing are complementary, academic skills that make fencing a sport that “looks good” on a college admission application; while building lifelong habits of discipline. Schools should overtly discuss this connection and market fencing as both a physical as well as an intellectual investment in a child’s future.

Lastly, community building is crucial. The traditions of respect and sportsmanship are ingrained into fencing. For example, two athletes salute each other before their bout. 

The Conclusion

The increase in interest in fencing has demonstrated a larger trend in youth sport toward more inclusivity, creativity, and safety. Families want additional opportunities, youth participants want new challenges, and fencing is able to do both.  The real question is not if the number of participants in fencing will continue to rise, but rather how quickly it can grow, and whether clubs will be ready to meet the need.

Clubs who take action sooner rather than later have the opportunity to distinguish themselves as leaders in a sport not only pulling in youth athletes but also changing the perception around youth sport culture for parents and kids alike. By utilizing Waresport and enabling smart scheduling, communication, and management, clubs can walk away from nonexistent headaches of logistics and get back to the most important thing – helping athletes learn, grow and thrive.

Because in the next iteration of youth sport, the blade may cut faster than the ball.

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