Fencing team competition

[Victor]

So you wanna get three or four people together through the season to participate in (appropriately enough) team competition. Problem is, you're in a small market and can't find an extra warm body with any skill to fill the last slot. What are your options?

I figure it's just a matter of the "anchor" being good enough to win the last run of points (to 45) regardless of who his teammates are. If he's undefeatable, well, who cares how well they fence?

Seriously, though, are there any creative membership shuffling tactics to get around that problem?

And while we're on the subject...
Is there any other strategy to team competitions than having the strongest fencer in the last slot?

[Junkie]

You cant strictly run a team competition when you have less then 3 people though if your nice to dt they amy allow you to default the rounds when ur a fencer short, ie always start the second last fight with your oponents having 35. I was once told that unless you ahve one fencer loads better than the rest that if you have a left handed fencer you should put them on last as they r the most likely to utterly dominate a fight.

[edew]

The main strategy is to get three strong fencers. Having one strong fencer is generally not enough.

[fluidfencer]

Eric,

We are hosting team events as part of a tournament in September. The Southeast doesn't have the concentration of fencers to make lots of strong teams. In order to prevent the the advantage of using an anchor, is it reason to randomize the order, or is that too Big Brother?

Not for this team event, but in the future could we do something like specify the content of the teams: at least one woman and/or must contain one AorB one CorD and one unrated fencer... or other sorts of rules to make the teams more balanced?

We are excited about the team events, which will all be held on one day (Sunday). Our thought is that team events can build a lot of excitement in the name of friendly competition.

Originally Posted by edew

The main strategy is to get three strong fencers. Having one strong fencer is generally not enough.

[keith]

sorry to butt in;

one other option is to use the individual event to handicap teams - assuming that the team event is after the individual.

I have fenced in some team events, many moons ago, where the composition was controlled by experience as you suggest. It works well provided people want the fun as much as the medals.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Have a strong start to the bout, and a decent finish. If the start is strong, it damages their morale and really hurts their fighting spirit. In the middle is where you can afford to be passive with a weak fencer. In the end is where you need to gun it, but you shouldnt have to do much, since you have the advantage cause of the early game preparations you made with the strong fencer.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by Victor

And while we're on the subject...
Is there any other strategy to team competitions than having the strongest fencer in the last slot?

When you have your weak fencer against their strong fencer, often it is best to have your guy try to waste time, not engage and have as few exchanges as possible. And the reverse is true, get your strong guy to work extra hard to score more points vs their weak guy.

[sabreur]

It completely depends on the weapon.

Strictly from observation, it appears that In epee, if you can get an early lead, your opponent will be at a serious disadvantage for the rest of the match.

In sabre, it would really depend on the delta between the different team members.

Foil, I'm clueless...

MR

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by edew

The main strategy is to get three strong fencers. Having one strong fencer is generally not enough.

Unless it's a local or sectional event and your anchor is Mariel Zagunis, Soren Thompson, or Dan Kellner...heh

I heard of one sabre team event in SoCal a few years back (before I got into the sport) where one team was down 20 points going into the last bout. The anchor for the team that was beehind was German Zilbershtein (sp?)....German won the bout and the match!!

[MyraTrue]

If I remember correctly, there isn't a huge differenced who is 2nd and 3rd fencer. However, I believe the layout is best when the ancor fences last, and the least experienced fencer fences first (against THEIR ancor). It helps minimize the number of points or leads lost immediately.

I guess I haven't thought about it much recently, and its easier with the sheet in hand.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

... one team was down 20 points going into the last bout. The anchor for the team that was behind ... won the bout and the match!

As was noted earlier, of course it's better to have a team comprised of competent competitors. But failing that, as suggested in Purple's message, the backup plan is for the anchor to be a super-man who can win no matter how far his team has fallen behind.

The realist/survivalist in me says that's because you can't rely on anyone except yourself.