PRIVACY POLICY

Columbus International Fencing Academy (CBUSIFA) Legal Disclaimer

This website and all information contained herein are provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind. Fencing is an athletic activity that carries inherent risks of physical injury; participation in CBUSIFA classes, programs, and events requires signed liability waivers and acknowledgment of risk. Members and visitors assume all responsibility for personal injury, property damage, or loss arising from participation in fencing activities or use of CBUSIFA facilities. All content on this website is the property of CBUSIFA and is protected by copyright laws. CBUSIFA reserves the right to modify or restrict access to this website at any time without notice. By accessing this website, you agree to comply with all applicable laws and these terms.

Columbus International Fencing Academy Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 16, 2026
Last Updated: January 16, 2026

1. Introduction

Columbus International Fencing Academy ("CBUSIFA," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your information.

2. Information We Collect

A. Membership and Registration Information:
When you register for classes or membership, we collect your name, date of birth, email address, phone number, mailing address, emergency contact information, and payment information (processed securely by third-party payment processors).

B. Health and Medical Information:
To ensure safety during fencing activities, we collect information about allergies, medical conditions, injuries, medications, and physician contact details as required on liability waivers and enrollment forms.

C. USA Fencing Registration Data:
All members must complete USA Fencing registration before participating. USA Fencing collects membership information, age verification, and club affiliation data.

D. Communication Data:
When you contact us via email, phone, or our website, we retain copies of your inquiries and our responses.

E. Coaching and Progress Records:
We maintain records of your skill level, class attendance, technical progress, competition results, and coach notes to provide personalized instruction.

F. Website Usage Data:
When you visit our website, we automatically collect information about your device (IP address, browser type, operating system), pages visited, time spent on pages, and links clicked using cookies.

G. Parent/Guardian Information:
For members under 18, we collect parent or guardian contact information, consent forms, and liability waivers.

3. How We Use Your Information

Service Delivery: To enroll you in classes, schedule sessions, process payments, and deliver fencing programs.
Communication: To respond to inquiries, send class updates, schedule changes, and program announcements.
Safety and Liability: To maintain health and medical records, manage liability waivers, respond to emergencies, and ensure participant safety.
USA Fencing Compliance: To register members with USA Fencing and comply with national governing body requirements.
Program Improvement: To analyze class attendance patterns, evaluate coaching effectiveness, and enhance our curriculum.
Competition Registration: To register members for fencing competitions and communicate meet information.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers: With payment processors (Wix, credit card processors), website hosting platforms, and booking/scheduling systems that assist in running CBUSIFA.
USA Fencing: With USA Fencing for membership registration, club affiliation, competition entry, and national rankings.
Coaching and Administrative Staff: With coaches, instructors, and administrative personnel on a need-to-know basis to provide services and ensure safety.
Parents and Legal Guardians: For members under 18, we communicate with parents or guardians regarding enrollment, attendance, progress, and safety.
Emergency Responders and Insurance: In the event of injury or incident, we may share medical and waiver information with emergency responders, insurance companies, or legal counsel.
Law Enforcement and Legal Compliance: When required by law, court order, or valid government request.

5. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach involving personal information, CBUSIFA will notify affected individuals within 45 days of discovery, as required by Ohio law (Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.19). If more than 1,000 Ohio residents are affected, we will also notify nationwide consumer reporting agencies.

6. Data Retention

Active Members: Information is retained during membership and for seven (7) years thereafter for liability and legal purposes.
Website Visitors: Cookies and analytics data are retained for up to two (2) years.
Payment Information: Payment data is retained by third-party processors according to their policies; CBUSIFA does not store full credit card numbers.
Medical Records: Health information is retained for seven (7) years for liability defense.

7. Security of Your Information

CBUSIFA takes reasonable measures to protect your personal information:

Encryption: Payment transactions are encrypted using SSL/TLS technology.
Secure Systems: Our website and databases are protected by firewalls and access controls.
Limited Access: Personal information is accessible only to authorized personnel.

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. You acknowledge the inherent risks of electronic communication.

8. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

CBUSIFA collects information from children under 13 with verifiable parental consent as required by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Parents or guardians must complete consent forms and liability waivers before a child under 18 may participate.

Parents have the right to:

Review their child's personal information
Request deletion of their child's information (subject to legal retention requirements)
Refuse further collection of their child's information

9. Your Rights

Marketing Communications: You may opt out of promotional emails by clicking "Unsubscribe" in any email or contacting us directly.

Cookies: You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

Access and Correction: You may request access to your personal information and request corrections by contacting us.

Deletion: You may request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements (e.g., seven-year liability retention).

10. Liability Waivers and Assumption of Risk

Participation in fencing activities involves inherent risks of physical injury. By enrolling in CBUSIFA classes and programs, you and your parent/guardian (if applicable) sign liability waivers acknowledging these risks and releasing CBUSIFA from liability. Information collected on liability waivers is retained as required by law for insurance and legal defense purposes.

Ohio law requires parental consent and acknowledgment of risks for minors participating in athletic activities, including concussion awareness (Ohio Department of Health Concussion Information Sheet) and sudden cardiac arrest awareness (Lindsay's Law).

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and social media platforms. This Privacy Policy applies only to CBUSIFA's website. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites.

12. Policy Updates

CBUSIFA may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services following such notification constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Columbus International Fencing Academy
Address: 1160 Steelwood Rd., Columbus, OH 43230
Email: cbusifa2024@gmail.com
Phone: (614) 329-6721
Website: www.cbusifa.com

We will respond to all inquiries within thirty (30) business days.