Music

[Max]

Is it legal to sneak a small FM stereo or a MP3 player (which I normally hate) into the mask to listen to during a match? Or would it cause problems? I actually did it once and nobody noticed. It makes it easier to play when I can listen to music.

[greenchick]

Is it legal to sneak a small FM stereo or a MP3 player (which I normally hate) into the mask to listen to during a match?

As of this Sunday, no -- one of the new rule changes outlaws wearing electronic communications devices on the strip. Admittedly, it's meant to keep you from being coached illegally rather than to keep you from listening to music, but still, you're better off keeping the tunes for your warmup time.

(edited because "yes" is not the same thing as "no")

[D'Artag-NOT]

Max,

You might want to try some sort of meditative technique that will enable you to play music in your head, if it helps you. (I saw a similar situation in a movie on TV about a sandlot baseball team in the Chicago housing projects. The pitcher who depended on music to help him get his rhythm had to learn to hear it in his head after he was forbidden to use his headphones.)

[fixxmyweapon]

hardball! with that little kid who listened to notorious b.i.g's "big pappa". whata kute movie....anyway, i totally know what you mean. music helps me fence much better but for bouts i keep one song in my head that even when i sing it it still get my adreniline going.

[Elemental]

Just don't let the yourself fall into the rythm of the the music too much. It can cause you to get locked into that tempo.

I learned this the hard way.

[prototoast]

As of this Sunday, no -- one of the new rule changes outlaws wearing electronic communications devices on the strip. Admittedly, it's meant to keep you from being coached illegally rather than to keep you from listening to music, but still, you're better off keeping the tunes for your warmup time.

(edited because "yes" is not the same thing as "no")

While a radio would be a communications device, an mp3 player might not be. As long as it was in an earpiece, I don't imagine anyone would care/complain, but if it was loud enough for others to hear, they'd probably get angry.

[greenchick]

While a radio would be a communications device, an mp3 player might not be.

True enough, but it's definitely in the "not worth the card" category, as far as I'm concerned.

[prototoast]

True enough, but it's definitely in the "not worth the card" category, as far as I'm concerned.

I think that can be agreed upon by all.

[CsmaCD]

I've been out of the sport for a while (~10 years), but what exactly is anybody going to complain about with the MP3 player in the bag? My phone may be wireless, but my head isn't.

The rule looks like it's designed to prevent wireless coaching during a bout. As long as you're not wearing it on the strip, nobody else can hear your tunes, and you show up for your bouts on time, I wouldn't think that anybody would care.

Or am I about to be red-carded?

[Max]

I can see a petition Coming on.... lol. Go up to random Fuggles (Non-fencers) and ask them to sign it. And remind them, if they don't, you have a really big sword. But seriously, if I talked to my coach and any opposing coaches, ie, tournaments, It should be fine. Plus, For practice, which is basically all I fence anyway. (I mean, It would be unfair to the rest of the fencing public if I partook in matches...) Right?

[Iwant2bafencer]

I would think no during comps. Mainly, (this is from a ref's point of view) because it could get in the way of the bout. You could miss a call or something of the sort while you're listening. I dunno though, never fenced competative. For practice I'm sure if your trainer and/or coach clears it then I'd say go for it. I love music when I work out.

[Twinkletoes]

For me, there are suble audio clues that provide valuable information
when fencing a live opponent. ie: an "appel" foot feint before his lunge or even the "froissement" sound/pitch of the blade.

I think these help me read the guy just a bit better.


That's just me.I can apreciate the psychological boost that your
fencing tunes bring to your game if you do have a headset on
during a bout, but I would reserve that set-up for solo practice.

Marc

[MikeHarm]

Re the no music rule, I've always thought that neurophones had a lot of potential for getting around goofy rules about where you can listen to music. The interesting thing about Neurophones is you don't have to have it on your ear where folks can see it to listen to them you just need skin contact so you can even hear stuff if you're deaf with 'em. I could see if you made some modifications you could make one that you could slip under your outfit so noone could tell you had the tunes going. Without an earpiece there would be nothing to attract attention I think.

[Max]

neurophone?

[D'Artag-NOT]

Fuggles (Non-fencers)

Love it!!!!

[dunastor]

I've been out of the sport for a while (~10 years), but what exactly is anybody going to complain about with the MP3 player in the bag? My phone may be wireless, but my head isn't.

The rule looks like it's designed to prevent wireless coaching during a bout. As long as you're not wearing it on the strip, nobody else can hear your tunes, and you show up for your bouts on time, I wouldn't think that anybody would care.

Or am I about to be red-carded?

The thread starter was talking about the mp3 player inside his mask during a bout. This would create a problem with the rule about communication devices. One could in theory make an mp3 at home with valuable tactical info and then play it during the bout.

What you do between bouts doesn't concern any referee.

[dunastor]

neurophone?

www.neurophone.com

I have to say, I'm a little skeptical about it. Besides that, I don't think it has anything to do with listening to radio or mp3 as we were talking about in this thread.