Our Commitment to You and Your Child’s Experience
At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, we’ve helped thousands of children start—and stick with—fencing successfully. Based on over a decade of experience, we’ve developed programs designed to help every child not only learn the sport, but feel a deep sense of belonging, joy, and progress.
Here are the 6 Keys to Starting a New Activity and Thriving, drawn from what we’ve seen consistently work for kids ages 6–12:
What Students Need FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS in a new activity
1. Connection and Bond with Coaches
Children thrive when they feel seen, supported, and encouraged by the adults guiding them. Strong relationships with coaches build trust, confidence, and a sense of safety—making students more open to learning and trying new things. At TMFC, we ensure each child connects with multiple coaches so they feel supported by the entire team, not just one individual.
2. Friendships and a Sense of Fun
Social connection is one of the biggest drivers of long-term participation. When students build friendships with peers and genuinely enjoy being part of the group, they look forward to each class—not just for fencing, but for the people. Fun fosters engagement, and laughter makes learning easier.
3. Enjoyment of the Activity Itself
If a child doesn't enjoy the activity, progress alone won’t be enough to keep them coming. They need to feel energized by the experience—whether it's mastering new skills, playing fencing games, or simply being active in a supportive space. Our classes are designed to be structured but fun, keeping kids both focused and smiling.
4. A Sense of Progress and Success
Kids want to feel like they’re getting better. They thrive on seeing their own growth, whether it’s learning a new skill, scoring a touch, or getting praise from a coach. Programs should offer structure and clear milestones so students feel a sense of accomplishment that motivates them to keep going.
5. Positive Role Models to Look Up To
Younger fencers benefit tremendously from seeing older students and accomplished athletes they can aspire to emulate. At TMFC, our coaches include Olympians, and we actively foster mentoring moments with older students so every child can see what’s possible and imagine their own future in the sport.
6. A Vision for the Future and Clear Goals
Once students are immersed and engaged, they begin to dream bigger—setting goals, entering competitions, or imagining college fencing. Giving students a path forward keeps them motivated and helps them understand that each class is a step toward something meaningful.
How Our Program Is Designed to Support These Key Elements
At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, every part of our Youth and Musketeers program has been built with these six needs in mind. We don’t leave a child’s success to chance—we engineer it through thoughtful structure, staffing, and scheduling.
Here’s how we bring each element to life in our program:
A child’s success starts with a strong sense of connection. That’s why we work intentionally to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and part of something special from day one.
This includes:
Getting to know our friendly office staff
Connecting with multiple coaches, not just one
Arriving at the club to see many familiar, smiling faces who know their name
To support your child’s sense of belonging, we recommend:
Attending at least two classes per week for consistency and connection
Starting with class pull-out private lessons from different coaches, built into our Bronze and Silver programs, to help them build skills and get to know the team
Allowing time for adjustment—growth happens with patience and repetition
Our process to make this happen:
How We Guide Students from First Steps to Lifelong Fencers
A Positive First Experience
We’ve designed our Youth and Musketeers Starter Program with one clear goal: to help your child feel confident, connected, and excited to be part of our fencing community.
That’s why we put so much care into the early experience, especially the trial lesson.
The trial lesson—a one-on-one session where your child gets personalized attention in a relaxed setting. This gives them a chance to try fencing in a fun, low-pressure environment while we get to know them and understand how best to support their journey.
This one-on-one session isn’t just about introducing fencing—it’s a chance for us to really get to know your child:
How they respond to new situations
What excites or challenges them
What kind of support will help them thrive
What if My Child Starts in the Summer? (Without a Trial)
Many students begin their fencing journey through our Summer Youth Day Camps, and we’ve thoughtfully designed the camp structure to create the same kind of positive, supported first experience—even without a formal trial lesson.
Here’s how:
Low Coach-to-Student Ratios: Our camps are staffed with multiple experienced coaches and counselors, ensuring every child gets individualized attention and support throughout the day.
Day 1 Orientation and Warm-Up Games: We start each week by helping kids get familiar with the space, meet the staff, and participate in fun, icebreaker-style games that reduce anxiety and build early connections.
Positive Reinforcement from the Start: We focus on helping each child feel successful and included right away—celebrating effort, enthusiasm, and small wins to build early confidence.
Structured Progressions: Students are introduced to fencing step-by-step, with activities that are engaging and developmentally appropriate. They don’t need any prior experience to feel like they belong.
By the end of the week, most campers feel not only comfortable, but excited to continue their fencing journey—whether through our year-round programs or doing additional weeks of camp.
2. Getting right into the routineS OF THE CLUB
For students who complete their trial lesson, the next step is the Musketeers/Youth Starter Pack:
4 group classes, where they begin learning footwork, basic skills, and routines alongside other new fencers
4 class pull-out lessons, built into the days they attend the group class, so they can bond with coaches, receive individualized instruction, and build comfort quickly
This mimics the season long programs we run so students will get comfortable in how those classes and lessons run.
This structure allows children to gradually ease into the sport while becoming familiar with the environment, making friends, and feeling like part of the community. Some kids feel comfortable right away; others may need all four sessions to fully settle in—and that’s completely normal.
We strongly encourage families to complete all four weeks before evaluating fit. It’s common for children to feel nervous after the first or second class, but that often shifts quickly as familiarity, trust, and confidence grow. And, to share any feedback with us about how the child is feeling as they go through these first 4 group class sessions.
By the end of the starter program, nearly 100% of our students feel comfortable in class, and many are eager to continue their fencing journey with us.
3. After the Starter Program: Setting Your Child Up for Long-Term Success
If your child is excited to continue after completing the Starter Program, the next step is consistency. We strongly recommend attending at least twice per week to build momentum and reinforce everything they’ve begun to learn.
When students attend more regularly, they:
Build deeper friendships
Progress more quickly in their skills
Feel more connected to coaches and teammates
And begin to see fencing as their sport
While we do offer a 1x/week Bronze Program—knowing that some families have very full schedules—attending only once per week can slow your child’s development. Missing just one class due to a vacation, school trip, or illness means they might only attend three times a month. That limited exposure makes it harder to stay engaged, build relationships, and feel confident.
We encourage families to upgrade to our 2x/week Silver Program as soon as they are able. Our data consistently shows that students who begin with twice-weekly attendance not only progress faster—they also stay in the sport longer and go further competitively than those who start with just once per week.
4. The Long-Term Journey:
TMFC as a Second Home AND FENCING AS A LIFE-LONG PASSIOn
For students who get comfortable and fall in love with fencing, Tim Morehouse Fencing Club often becomes a second home. They arrive early to do homework, chat with coaches and friends, and settle into a routine that becomes a meaningful part of their lives. Our coaches know the students and their families well, and that connection grows as students begin traveling and competing with their teammates and mentors. Many students stay with us through school changes, life transitions, and across the years—from age 8 all the way through 18 and into college fencing programs. This is the journey we love to see: kids growing up in our community, building lifelong friendships, and developing confidence, resilience, and character through the sport. It’s more than fencing—it’s becoming part of a family.
The more consistent the routine, the more confident and motivated your child will feel—and the more they’ll enjoy their fencing journey.
Some other things we want to share…
What Parents Need to Feel Confident
We know a child’s experience is only part of the equation. Here’s what we focus on delivering for parents:
A Safe, Caring Environment
You should feel confident that your child is in good hands with a team that genuinely cares about them.Clear Communication & Support
We believe in collaboration. You’ll always have someone to talk to about your child’s progress and experience.Joy You Can See
One of the best signs a child is thriving? They come home excited, talk about class, and ask when they get to go back.A Pathway for the Future
Whether your child is in it for fun or dreams of competition, we’ll help guide the journey. Our club has helped students grow from their first lesson all the way to world championships and college fencing teams.
How Long Does It Take for Kids to Feel Comfortable in a New Activity?
We know that starting a new activity can be both exciting and a little overwhelming for children, especially those between the ages of 6 to 11. Some kids may feel comfortable right away, while others need a few classes to adjust—and that’s totally normal.
Based on over 10 years of experience developing some of the top youth fencers in the country, we’ve designed our programs not just for skill development, but to support long-term engagement, character growth, and leadership—both on and off the strip. Our structure is intentional, and the volume and consistency we recommend are essential to helping your child get the most out of their fencing journey.
Typical Comfort Timeline:
Classes 1–2: Kids may be shy, unsure, or prefer to observe.
Classes 3–5: They begin to feel more comfortable, recognize classmates, and engage more in activities.
Classes 6–8: Most kids are now confident, building friendships, and fully participating with enthusiasm.