Pool Noodle Fencing Pools with Student Directors

A pool noodle fencing competition organized like real tournaments: pools of five where everyone fences everyone, with a director and a scorer from within the group. Students work on self-control, fair play, and running a competition.

How to play

1. Make 5 groups of 5, each with a 10 x 1.5 m strip marked in tape and a pool score sheet (2 min).
2. Teach the director's calls: 'En garde!', 'Ready?', 'Fence!' to start and 'Halt!' to stop; only the director awards touches (3 min).
3. Each bout goes to 3 touches or 90 seconds; while two fence, one directs, one keeps score, and the fifth rests; roles rotate after each bout (18 min).
4. Record wins and touches scored and received on the sheet; after all 10 bouts, the group works out its standings (3 min).
5. Wrap-up: each director describes a tough call and how they handled it (2 min).

Rules

• Only the torso counts; a touch to the head is voided and earns a warning.
• If both fencers hit at the same time, no one scores.
• Stepping off the strip with both feet stops the bout and fencers reset at center.
• Salute with the noodle before and after every bout and accept the director's call.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: fence seated against a seated opponent and serve as lead director.
• Autism: provide a card with the sequence of calls and roles and give notice before each role change.
• Fitness level: shorten bouts to 60 seconds.

Learning goals

• Compete with self-control and respect for calls.
• Direct and score a bout using the basic rules.
• Run a round-robin competition.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pool noodles: 10
• tape: 2
• score sheets: 5
• pens: 5

Teacher tip

Direct the first bout in each group yourself as a model. Remind students to hit with the tip, not whip the noodle; a sweeping hit doesn't count.

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