Studio Policies & Code of Conduct

ARRIVAL, CHECK-IN & TRAINING AREAS

• All students must sign in and pay before entering the training space.

• Students may enter the training area no more than 10 minutes before their scheduled class.

• Minors must be signed in and out by a parent or guardian.

• Training areas are for students and coaches only. Parents, friends, and family members should remain in the lobby unless invited into the training area by a staff member.

• Please be mindful when walking through the studio while another class is in progress.

SHOES, CLOTHING & PERSONAL BELONGINGS

• No outdoor shoes are permitted on the training floor. Please change shoes in the office or locker area before training. Students may also clean the bottoms of their shoes before entering the training area.

• Appropriate athletic attire is required. Fencers must wear sweatpants/athletic pants or fencing knickers while training.

• Swordplay LA is not responsible for personal belongings or equipment left in the studio overnight.

STUDENT GEAR & STORAGE

To help keep walkways and training areas clear, please use the appropriate storage areas during classes:

• Fencing Students: Fencers may store their gear and personal belongings in the bag room.

• Weeknight HEMA & Wrestling Students: Gear and personal belongings may be stored on the brown shelves located in the back of the studio near the sprung floor.

• Stunt Classes & Open Floor: During stunt classes and designated open floor hours, students may store their gear in the area that is most convenient, provided it does not block walkways, exits, or active training areas.

• Please keep belongings organized and contained to the appropriate storage areas whenever possible.

• The bag room should only be used for gear storage. No changing or loitering is permitted in this area.

• Swordplay LA is not responsible for equipment or personal belongings left unattended or overnight.

• If a personal item was left overnight, please check our lost and found.

SAFETY & EQUIPMENT

• Students must wear all required and appropriate safety equipment before participating in program activities.

• Pointed weapons must remain pointed toward the floor unless otherwise instructed by a coach.

• Aluminum stunt weapons may only be used against other appropriate aluminum weapons during fight choreography.

• HEMA sparring must be done with all appropriate safety gear. Swordplay LA is not responsible for any malfunctions of personal gear and students accept responsibility for their equipment.

• Students under 18 may not enter the stunt area, wrestling ring, or weapons rack area without coach supervision.

• Students under 16 may not use the fitness area without coach supervision.

• Please return all weights, weapons, training equipment, and other studio equipment to their proper locations after use.

• Used loaner equipment must be properly cleaned and returned after training.

STUDIO ETIQUETTE

• Treat coaches, staff, students, parents, and guests with respect.

• No filming during regular classes or private lessons unless permission has been given by Swordplay LA staff.

• Food is not permitted indoors.

• Only water and zero-sugar beverages are permitted on or near the training floor.

• Students are expected to follow coach instructions and conduct themselves in a manner that keeps the training environment safe and respectful.

RESPECT, INCLUSION & PERSONAL BELIEFS

Swordplay LA welcomes students from a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, religions, and beliefs. Students are not required to share the same personal, religious, or political views in order to train together.

Students are expected to treat one another with respect. Harassment, bullying, threats, intimidation, discriminatory treatment, or targeted mistreatment of another student or staff member is not permitted.

Personal conduct outside Swordplay LA may become a studio matter when it involves threats, harassment, targeted conduct toward members of the Swordplay LA community, or materially affects the safety or operation of the studio.

LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION

Swordplay LA expects students, coaches, and staff to communicate in a manner that supports a respectful, welcoming, and professional training environment.

• Language that is threatening, harassing, discriminatory, sexually inappropriate, or intentionally demeaning toward another person is not permitted.

• Slurs or derogatory language directed at a person or group based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, or other protected characteristic are not permitted.

• Swearing or mature language should be kept appropriate to the class, age group, and environment, particularly when minors are present.

• Jokes, teasing, and friendly banter are part of many training environments, but students should stop when someone communicates that a comment or subject is making them uncomfortable.

• Coaches and staff are expected to model appropriate communication and keep their personal, political, and religious beliefs separate from instruction. Teaching should remain focused on the curriculum, skills, safety, and content of the class.

PERSONAL BOUNDARIES

Swordplay LA programs involve physical activity, partner exercises, and, in some programs, controlled physical contact. Students are expected to respect the physical and personal boundaries of other students and staff.

• Physical contact should be appropriate to the activity being taught and follow the direction of the coach.

• Unwanted touching, sexual comments or advances, threatening behavior, intimidation, or harassment are not permitted.

• Students should respect another person's request to stop a conversation, interaction, or non-training-related physical contact.

• Students should communicate with their coach if they are uncomfortable with a drill, partner interaction, or situation.

• Training partners are expected to communicate with one another and respect reasonable boundaries while maintaining the requirements of the activity being practiced.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION & REPORTING CONCERNS

Disagreements can happen in any training community. Students are expected to handle conflicts respectfully and without disrupting classes or creating an unsafe or hostile training environment.

If a student has a concern involving another student, coach, staff member, or situation at Swordplay LA, they should bring the concern privately to Swordplay LA management. Parents or guardians may bring concerns forward on behalf of a minor student.

Students should not use public confrontations, threats, harassment, retaliation, or disruptive behavior to resolve conflicts.

Swordplay LA will review concerns brought to management and determine what action, if any, is appropriate based on the circumstances. Students are expected to cooperate respectfully with that process.

Retaliation against a student for raising a good-faith safety, harassment, discrimination, or conduct concern is not permitted.

PARKING & DROP-OFF

Please park on the street or in the parking lot located at Isabel and Mariposa.

Students who need to be dropped off directly at the studio entrance may do so, but please keep to the right side of our lot and avoid blocking access for other businesses.

CODE OF CONDUCT & ENFORCEMENT

Swordplay LA is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, inclusive, and positive training environment.

Students who disrespect or harass others, intentionally damage studio property, disregard safety rules, misuse weapons or equipment, or engage in unsafe or seriously disruptive behavior may be asked to leave the studio without a refund.

Depending on the circumstances, Swordplay LA may issue a warning, restrict participation in certain activities, require a parent or guardian meeting for a minor, suspend participation, or terminate a student's ability to participate in Swordplay LA programs.

Swordplay LA reserves the right to deny or discontinue service when necessary to protect the safety, operation, and environment of the studio, consistent with applicable law.

Please also review our Membership Terms & Conditions for policies regarding memberships, billing, cancellations, and other membership-related matters.