It can be really helpful to a fencer to have someone in their corner during a competition. We've all seen boxers and MMA fighters, either in real matches or in movies. They go to their corner and their coach helps keep their head in the game and reminds them of things they know but aren't thinking of, or maybe gives them insights about their opponent that they aren't thinking of on their own.
Ideally, at a
big tournament, your coach will be with you. This is a lot easier to have
happen at local tournaments. But, schedules running classes and tournaments
might not allow your coach to go to events with you, or your coach might be
working the event. For events involving travel, it may be up to the fencers to
cover the costs of the coaches traveling to the event and the fee for the
coaches' time at the event. If an event is far away and few of your team mates
are going, the costs for this can be prohibitive.
We put this
email together for our fencers and their families so parents could have some
basic strip coaching advice. Getting specific advice for your athlete from
their coach before going to a big event may be worth it if your athlete will
respond well to a parent giving that advice. Team mates can help each other if
they're at the same event, so this is a good article for athletes to review
too.
The first
segment is stuff athletes need to do in order to check in and warm up at an
event. The second segment is about how to help coach your athlete at an event
if the coach isn't there.
Things your fencer may not think of, of which you can remind
them:
*Remember the fencer needs to check themselves in, and they
will also need to take equipment to the armorers to be checked. Parents should
be able to do the equipment check for the fencer if necessary. Vendors will be
on site to sell gear if anything fails or breaks.
1. Warm up with your routine from practice, strip runs, a couple sabre sprints,
stretching and some foot work practice. Grab 1 or 2 warm up bouts.
2. Drink a little water between pool bouts, even if not
particularly thirsty.
3. Sit down and rest a bit when not fencing, when you're on deck, stand up,
move around and stretch a little so you're warmed back up before your bout is
called
4. You get three minutes between pool bouts, the clock for
that begins when the final touch is awarded in your last pool bout. They can
ask you to hook up before the three minutes is over because the time should
expire when they first say "Fence!" for the new bout, not before you
hook up. If asked to fence before your three minutes is up you can request to
be given your three minutes.
5. Between DE bouts, you have 10 minutes, it works the same
way as the time between pool bouts.
6. Spare cords and weapons need to be with them when they go
to their pool or their DE strip
7. Watch the other fencers in the pool to preplan your
approach. If you have the opportunity to watch your next DE opponent do the
same.
Basic Strip Coaching
*Youth athletes often get frustrated when parents try to give
sport specific coaching if the parent doesn't also do the sport...but there are
still useful things you can say to help them out.
1. Remind them to stay calm and in control
2. If they're well ahead, tell them they're doing well, to
keep up their same plan, but be ready to adjust if their opponent adjusts
3. If it's close in either direction, tell them they're doing
well, they can win, just to stay focused, make good choices, and watch for
their opponent to adjust
4. If they're far behind, remind them that the bout isn't
over, they can still adjust and come back, and whatever happens if they do
their best and don't give up they've done well
5. They should drink some water on the break while you talk
to them. Drinking water, and providing encouragement, keeping them calm are the
main things
6. "watch your distance" if they're either missing
because they're too close or too far, or getting counter attacked
7. "keep your balance" if they seem out of balance,
or moving erratically
The big thing is making them feel encouraged, and keeping
them calm enough to feel ok, but still focused and aggressive enough to stay in
the bout.
Some kids won't respond well even to just reminders to be
calm, or encouragement, even if they respond well to that normally, it might
not be what they want during a competition. If they seem frustrated by it, just
give them their space.
*Only one person should call things out to the fencer during
the bout if anyone is doing so. It can be overwhelming having multiple voices
calling at you. During the break in the DEs only one person is allowed to
approach. Everyone can cheer for them and shout encouraging things though.