Equipment provided for those enrolled in the novice program includes a mask, glove, fencing jacket and a foil. On their own part, novices are required to wear court or some other type of athletic shoes suitable for use on a gymnasium floor; boots and street shoes cannot be worn. In addition, legs must be covered to the ankles by trousers or sweat pants that are free of any holes.
Memberships are often purchased by those who fence regularly at a fencing school. Those who don't care to hold memberships or participate often are otherwise required to pay a "floor fee" if they wish to use the facilities. Additionally, those who wish to take fencing lessons pay a separate fee for each lesson. To help new students learn quickly and at minimal cost, the recreation centers offer a "novice program" for those who have had no prior fencing experience.
Registration in the novice program covers equipment, floor fees and lessons (see each location for the amount of the fee). Novices enter at the first tier, or “Novice Level I" and are given ten consecutive weeks of individual lessons, each of which lasts a minimum of 15 minutes, and use of the floor for practicing with each other what they have learned. As the end of the ten week period approaches novices are generally experienced enough to know whether they find fencing enjoyable enough to continue. At level II the complexity of the lessons increases and additional techniques are learned over another ten week period. As they complete the second tier they may register again to continue for ten more consecutive weeks at “Novice Level III.”
Graduates of the 30 week program should be skilled enough not only to take fencing lessons, but under the supervision of the fencing master may also be sufficiently skilled to cross blades in earnest with their fellow fencers and enjoy the thrill of thrust and parry. At this point they leave the novice program to become “advanced fencers.” As advanced fencers, they pay the recreation center's floor fee each evening they come to fence. Individual lessons may be taken for an additional fee.