| |
So, your kid wants to
fence...
For many
parents this is the point where you say, "Oh my God! My kid wants to
play with swords! What do I do now?"
Here are
some points to calm your nerves:
-
Fencing is among the safest sports that your child could choose to
participate in.
Studies
have shown that injury rates are far lower per capita than in any of
the standard high school variety sports such as soccer, volleyball,
baseball, basketball or football and when an injury does occur, it
is likely to be something fairly minor in the category of a
contusion, strain or a sprain.
-
Fencing teaches respect for others, independence, self reliance,
self discipline, self confidence, quick thinking, problem solving, honesty and fair play. These are all skills that
will serve your child well wherever their future takes them.
-
Fencing is a life long sport. Once your child learns to fence, they
will be able to continue throughout their life. It is a fantastic
form of exercise for both body and mind as well as an entry into a
community where they are likely to find kindred souls and lifelong
friendships.
OK, feel any better now? If so, keep reading...
Your first step is to find the right fit for your child in the areas of
coaching, club and a fee structure you find affordable. Depending upon
where you live, your choices in these regards may be limited but they
are important aspects for your consideration.
Once you
have found the correct fit in a club and coach, it's time to start
looking for the correct fit in fencing equipment. If your club provides
equipment, it is a good idea to stick with it until you are fairly
certain that fencing isn't just a passing fancy for your child. This
should be somewhere in the range of a month or two and once you've
passed this "point of no return", you'll need to start with the basics.
See our equipment overview for further
information on the uniform. Having well fitted, comfortable, personal
equipment can make the difference between your child loving or hating
the sport so be sure to consult someone "in the know" about sizing and
quality before ordering.
The
next stage: Competition
After
your child has a few months of practice under their belt, they will
probably want to discover what it is like to participate in a fencing
tournament. The important things to consider when thinking about
entering a first tournament are attitude, expectations and whether or
not a given tournament is suited for the skill level of your child.
-
Attitude - Politeness and respect for others, on and off the
strip are an integral part of fencing. Any fencer who is rude or
disrespectful will not advance very far in competition regardless
of their other fencing skills. Personal responsibility is
another area where attitude is important. For example: Although
directors do sometimes make mistakes, blaming a loss on one or two
bad calls by a director isn't going to get your child very far in
the long run. A better attitude would be having a resolve to work
harder in practice so that next time, the score won't be close
enough for one or two touches to make any difference in the outcome
of the bout.
-
Expectations - While it does sometimes occur, as a rule a fencer doesn't win a gold medal in their first competition. In fact, many
fencers never finish first in a tournament. It is important
for your child to realize that fencing is about the ongoing learning
process and that a loss is a learning opportunity rather than
a defeat. Realistic expectations for a first competition might be as
simple as scoring a couple of touches on each opponent. Your child's
coach should be able to help you set reasonable expectations for the
tournament experience for both you and your child.
-
Tournament Type - It is important to match the tournaments your child enters to their fencing skill level. Although they may gain
some valuable experience from fencing opponents who are much more
advanced, it probably wouldn't be much fun for your child if they
lose every bout five or fifteen to zero. Many local tournaments have
"novice" events that would be appropriate for fencers who haven't
been fencing for very long. Your child's coach should be able to
help with advice about choosing the appropriate tournaments and
events for your child to enter.
From the parent's
perspective
As a parent, the most important thing you can bring to a tournament is your
support. The form this takes can be wide ranging but will certainly
include things like: helping carry your child's extra equipment to the
strip for their next bout, cheering when they have scored a good touch,
helping them stay focused on the task at hand and the list goes on...
What your support does not include is scolding your child for not
winning a touch or a bout, arguing with the director or other tournament
officials, arguing with the parents or coach of another fencer or,
something more subtle like trying to handle everything for your
child and not allowing them to do anything except get on the strip and
fence.
It is
important for parents to remember that it is improper etiquette to
advise or coach your child while the actual fencing is in progress. Wait
until the director gives the command to "Halt" before offering
encouragement. Some good suggestions you can offer your child between
touches include:
-
“Have
a Plan”
-
"Focus and Concentrate"
-
"Keep Moving"
-
"Do that again"
-
"Do something different"
-
"New Plan"
-
"Slow Down"
-
"Take your time"
You can ask your child ahead of time what phrases they want to hear when you are
cheering them on.
Wrapping it up...
Fencing
in general and competing in fencing tournaments can be a great
experience and can offer some fantastic life lessons if approached with
a positive and loving mind-set. If you and your child always treat each
practice, bout and tournament as a learning experience, you can both
have a lot of fun and you can enjoy watching your child grow both
physically and emotionally as they progress up through the various
levels of fencing skill.
There are
many great resources for parents that explain fencing, competition
protocols, rules and etc... Here are a few:
|
|
USFA
Askfred.net
Fencing.net Forums
Fencing Videos
