YOUTH FENCING PROGRAMS | AGES 6–15
Youth Fencing Programs
From a child’s first fencing experience to serious competitive saber training, FAB provides a development pathway built around age, skills, readiness, and individual progress.
Young fencers can begin by building strong fundamentals in Fabbies or Youth Beginner and, when ready, progress toward more intensive Competitive Saber training.
Every child develops differently. FAB helps families choose the right starting point and determine the appropriate next step as skills, confidence, commitment, and goals evolve.
THE FAB YOUTH PATHWAY
Choose Your Program
FAB’s youth programs are designed for different stages of development. Age helps identify the appropriate starting point, but experience, skills, maturity, and coach guidance also matter.
Fabbies
Ages 6–9
Build the Foundation
An age-appropriate introduction to saber fencing for younger children.
Fabbies uses movement, fencing fundamentals, games, drills, and supervised practice to help young students develop coordination, focus, confidence, blade familiarity, and positive training habits.
For many FAB students, this is where the foundation for future competitive fencing begins.
BEST FOR
- Young first-time fencers ages 6–9
Current tuition: $250 per term EXPLORE FABBIES
Youth Beginner
Ages 9–14
Learn the Fundamentals
Youth Beginner gives kids and early teens new to fencing a structured path into the sport.
Students learn saber footwork, blade skills, distance, timing, coordination, introductory tactics, and practice bouting while building the foundation needed for continued development.
This is also the primary starting point for many students who discover fencing after the Fabbies age range.
BEST FOR
- New and developing fencers ages 9–14
Current tuition: $230 per term EXPLORE YOUTH BEGINNER
Competitive Saber
Ages 9–15
Train to Compete
Competitive Saber is FAB’s intensive development program for young fencers who are ready to move beyond foundational training.
Students train through structured group practice, individual coaching, advanced footwork and bladework, tactical development, regular bouting, and tournament preparation.
Placement is based on readiness and coach evaluation, not simply age or how early a child began fencing.
BEST FOR
- Fencers ready for intensive training and competition
Program Terms
The Fabbies Class is offered in separate instructional terms (US Fencing Membership Required). The total tuition amount stated at registration will be charged at the start of each term in which the fencer is enrolled. This tuition will continue to be billed for each subsequent term until a cancellation is requested in advance.
2026–2027 Fabbies Terms — Wednesdays at 3:45 PM
Term 1: Sep 9 – Oct 28, 2026
Term 2: Nov 4 – Dec 23, 2026
Term 3: Dec 30, 2026 – Feb 17, 2027
Term 4: Feb 24 – Apr 14, 2027
Term 5: Apr 21 – Jun 9, 2027
2026–2027 Fabbies Terms — Sundays at 10:00 AM
Term 1: Sep 13 – Nov 1, 2026
Term 2: Nov 8 – Dec 27, 2026
Term 3: Jan 3 – Feb 21, 2027
Term 4: Feb 28 – Apr 25, 2027*
Term 5: May 2 – Jun 20, 2027
Each Fabbies term includes 8 classes. *No class on Easter Sunday, March 28; Term 4 is extended one week to provide all eight instructional sessions.
A Fencer who enrolls after a term has begun will be charged the full term tuition. The Fencer or the Fencer’s parent or legal guardian may request supplemental classes or other appropriate Academy activities on different available days to make up the instructional hours missed because of the late enrollment.
START WITH YOUR CHILD
Which Youth Program Is Right for My Child?
Choose the situation that best describes where your child is today.
Start with Fabbies.
Fabbies introduces younger children to fencing through age-appropriate movement, saber fundamentals, coordination, games, and supervised practice.
It gives children time to build the physical and learning foundation that can support more advanced training later.
Start with Youth Beginner.
Children do not need to have started fencing at age six to develop into strong or competitive fencers.
Youth Beginner provides older beginners with structured instruction in the fundamentals they need to develop—footwork, blade control, distance, timing, strategy, and bouting.
Explore Competitive Saber.
The Competitive Class is appropriate when a fencer has developed the foundation, focus, motivation, and consistency needed for intensive training and tournament preparation.
A coach evaluation helps determine whether Competitive Saber is the appropriate next step.
THREE STAGES | ONE DEVELOPMENT PATH
Compare Your Options
The three programs serve different purposes, but they are connected by a common goal: helping each child develop at the level that is appropriate now while keeping the door open to future progress.
Fabbies
- Level: Beginner
- Ages: 6–9
- Primary goal: Foundation building
- Current schedule: Once per week
- Current tuition: $250/term
- Focus includes: Movement, Coordination, Basic saber skills, Focus and listening, Supervised practice, Confidence, and sportsmanship
Youth Beginner
- Level: Beginner / Developing
- Ages: 9–14
- Primary goal: Fencing fundamentals
- Current schedule: Once per week
- Current tuition: $230/term
- Focus includes: Footwork, Bladework, Distance and timing, Coordination, Introductory strategy, Practice bouting
Competitive Saber
- Level: Competitive Development
- Ages: 9–15
- Primary goal: Training and competition
- Current schedule: Five days per week
- Private coaching: Two lessons per week
- Current tuition: $700/month (Ultimate) | $500/month (Core)
- Focus includes: Advanced saber technique, Intensive footwork Tactics and strategy, Regular bouting, Individual coaching, Tournament preparation
MORE THAN LEARNING TECHNIQUE
What Young Fencers Develop at FAB
Fencing combines physical movement, technical skill, decision-making, and personal development.
The complexity increases as students progress, but the fundamental areas of development remain connected.
Movement & Coordination
Build balance, agility, body awareness, footwork, and increasingly effective control of movement on the fencing strip.
Fencing Technique
Progress from basic saber handling and introductory actions toward stronger blade control, attacks, defensive actions, combinations, and technical execution.
Focus & Decision-Making
Learn to watch, react, anticipate, solve problems, and make decisions while another fencer is trying to do the same.
Confidence
Develop confidence by learning new skills, practicing against other students, responding to challenges, and seeing progress through consistent effort.
Discipline & Resilience
Learn that improvement requires repetition, listening, correction, patience, and the ability to continue learning after mistakes or losses.
Sportsmanship & Community
Practice with teammates, respect opponents and coaches, support other fencers, and become part of the FAB fencing community.
FROM FIRST STEPS TO COMPETITION
A Youth Pathway Built Around Development
Begin your journey from a curious newcomer to a confident competitor. Our structured pathways are designed to challenge, inspire, and elevate fencers of all ages.
01 / Discover
Experience Fencing
For many children ages 6–9, that first stage is Fabbies.
Students discover saber fencing while developing movement, coordination, focus, confidence, and comfort using fencing equipment.
Children who discover fencing later can begin directly in the age-appropriate Youth Beginner program.
02 / Build
Develop Strong Fundamentals
Students develop more consistent footwork, blade control, distance, timing, coordination, rules, and practice bouting.
For younger students, these foundations can develop progressively through Fabbies.
For children who arrive at FAB at ages 9–14, Youth Beginner provides a direct route to building those same essential fundamentals.
03 / Prepare
Demonstrate Competitive Readiness
As the fencer develops, coaches look beyond age alone.
Readiness for more intensive training can include:
- Technical fundamentals
- Movement and distance control
- Focus during training
- Ability to respond to coaching
- Consistency Interest in competition
- Motivation and maturity
Some students develop more quickly than others. There is no requirement to have followed one specific route before being considered.
04 / Compete
Enter Competitive Development
When appropriate, the athlete progresses into Competitive Saber.
Training becomes more intensive and includes multiple weekly practices, private instruction, tactical development, regular bouting, and preparation for tournament fencing. Current Competitive Class registration requires coach approval.
ELITE ATHLETIC EDUCATION
Coaches Who See the Fencer Behind the Program
The right youth program is not determined by a birthday alone.
Children mature differently, learn at different speeds, and arrive at FAB with different backgrounds and goals. The role of FAB’s coaching team is to help each fencer develop strong fundamentals while identifying when greater challenge is appropriate.
FAB’s youth and competitive training is supported by experienced coaches including Head Coach Vitaliy Nazarenko and Coach Serhiy Shaposhnykov, whose backgrounds include extensive fencing instruction, competitive athlete development, and international coaching experience.
That allows FAB to offer something important to families: continuity.
A child can begin by learning how to move and hold a saber, continue building technical and tactical skills, and—if interest and readiness develop—train within the same academy toward competitive fencing.
Not every child needs to become a competitor.
But every child should have the opportunity to discover how far they want to go.
Beginner-Friendly • Saber Development • Individual Progression • Competitive Pathway • Experienced Coaching
- State-of-the-Art Strips & Electronic Scoring Systems
- Tailored Pathways for Recreation or National-Level Competition
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions families commonly have when choosing a FAB youth program.
What age can children start fencing at FAB?
Children can begin at FAB at approximately age 6 through the Fabbies program.
FAB’s current youth pathway includes Fabbies for ages 6–9, Youth Beginner for ages 9–14, and Competitive Saber for ages 9–15.
Should my 9-year-old choose Fabbies or Youth Beginner?
Age nine is an overlap point between the programs.
The appropriate class can depend on the individual child’s maturity, previous experience, physical development, and existing fencing foundation.
If you are unsure, contact FAB before registering so the coaching team can recommend the appropriate placement.
My child is 10, 12, or 14 and has never fenced. Is it too late to start?
Youth Beginner is specifically designed to give older children and young teens a structured introduction to fencing.
A student does not need to have started in Fabbies to eventually develop toward Competitive Saber.
Is Fabbies the preferred competitive pathway?
Fabbies gives children ages 6–9 an opportunity to develop fencing fundamentals, coordination, movement, training habits, and confidence over several years.
In FAB’s experience, this can create a particularly strong foundation for later competitive training.
However, it is not a prerequisite for becoming a competitive fencer.
Students arriving later can develop through Youth Beginner and progress according to their individual readiness.
Can a beginner ages 9–14 join Competitive Saber directly?
Competitive placement is based on coach evaluation.
Most new fencers benefit from first building fundamentals through Youth Beginner. In some cases, a student’s prior athletic or fencing experience, development, learning pace, or existing skills may support a different recommendation.
FAB evaluates the individual rather than automatically excluding a student based on where or when they began.
How does my child move from Youth Beginner to Competitive Saber?
There is no automatic promotion after a specific number of terms.
Coaches consider the fencer’s technique, movement, distance, focus, training habits, tactical development, motivation, and readiness for a more intensive commitment.
The current Competitive Class requires coach approval.
Does my child need previous experience for Fabbies or Youth Beginner?
No.
Both programs are designed as beginner pathways.
FAB’s introductory material states that beginner youth students learn footwork, bladework, coordination and agility skills, drills, and practice fencing, with beginner equipment provided.
Is fencing equipment provided?
FAB provides protective and electric fencing equipment for beginner introduction so families do not need to purchase a complete set before their child starts.
Competitive fencers generally transition toward their own equipment as their training and tournament participation increase.
Is USA Fencing membership required?
FAB currently requires USA Fencing membership for participation, with the appropriate membership level depending on the activity and whether the fencer competes.
Does my child have to compete?
No.
Fencing can be valuable as a recreational sport and developmental activity even if a child does not pursue competition.
The Competitive Saber pathway is available for students whose interests, development, and commitment move in that direction.
How intense is Competitive Saber?
The current Competitive Class is significantly more intensive than the beginner programs.
FAB currently lists five training days per week and one or two private lessons per week, and requires coach approval for placement.
What if I still do not know which program to choose?
Contact FAB before submitting payment.
The coaching team can help determine whether Fabbies, Youth Beginner, or a Competitive Evaluation is the appropriate next step.
Not Sure Which Program to Choose?
Whether you are a beginner looking for a new sport or an advanced fencer aiming for national competitions, we have a tailored program for you. Let our world-class coaches guide your journey.
