High School Fencing

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Fencing at the high school level has varied in popularity. Fencing was once part of many schools' physical education curriculum, and many schools had clubs and would compete in inter-school tournaments. In the second half of the 20th century, fencing gradually faded from physical education curricula in the United States. This has been attributed to worries about teaching children to use weapons or that it teaches violence and requires expensive equipment^{[citation needed]} as well as its association with nerdiness or preppiness (i.e. the incorrect perception that it is not a sport).

However, youth fencing has remained a club sport at some schools, and the last several years have seen an increase in fencing clubs and tournaments at the high school level. The United States Fencing Association has encouraged this through the Regional Youth Circuit program^[1]. High school fencing season is generally in winter.^[2] High school competitive fencing has grown significantly in the state of New Jersey, one of the few states where it remains a varsity sport.

In many European countries fencing is growing more popular each year. In Scotland many new competitions have arisen to get these new fencers into fencing at higher levels, such as the Leon Paul Youth Development series where fencers fit in as much fencing as possible against as many of those in their age and weapon group to gain experience.