Coaching expenses at Nationals

[E-fencer]

Just trying to get a sense of how different clubs are handling their coach's expenses/fees at Nationals and what your expectations are.

1) What is your coach providing at Nationals- i.e. warm-ups, lessons, strip coaching, etc?

2) How much are you paying for their participation at the Summer Nationals?

[Peach]

My coach provides lessons and strip coaching at national events. He also generally travels with and shepherds a crew of youth and junior fencers, reserving rooms at a less-expensive lodging and renting a van, and encourages parents to help him with the load. He has a schedule of fees posted at the club and depending on what event it is and how much travel he has to undertake, it's usually something like $100.

Sometimes I barely use him at tournaments and other times he provides considerable counsel, lessons, and coaching, but it's an expensive and wearing proposition for him to go to these things and coaching isn't his hobby, it's his full time job.

[135711]

coaching at the nationals, you must be kidding, does this happen? i can't believe it, best coaching i ever received "go on the line cathy and stand there", "wait for the man to say fence and fence" "you've comp leted one round sit down"
now stand up and go there" this is real coaching, this is real fencing.

[Driving The Dead]

When I go to compitions out here in L.A., I'll see my coach once in a while. He comes to watch all of us. (His Pupils) His reason is to see what we would need work at and give specific pointers. And how he could help improve our fencing during the compition and later at our next lesson. When ever there is two or even five of us there, he would make it a point to try and coach even cheer for every single one of us at the side when we are fencing. Be it at a pool or DE match. Except when two of us (students of his) bout, then he stands aside and watches while he chews his finger nails. What's great about him is the fact that he comes out on his free time to support us. As far as Nationals I not sure what he charges or if even does. He just might appear just to do what he does best. Give support and be there when needed.

[Zelda]

My coach back in Brissy, doesnt charge for that sort of thing. Though he doesnt come to national comps with us he expects a phone call with the results ASAP.

[Catlady]

Our coach usually comes to do some strip-side coaching and to watch. From what I understand--not having gone to any out-of-state competitions I don't know first hand--he's pretty hands on. At an NAC a while ago, one of my club mates assumed the coach was busy so she warmed up by herself and didn't ask him to come over and watch her bout. After the bout he was disappointed that she didn't ask for his help. I do realize of course that we got extremely lucky in attracting the coach we did to our club--if you're reading this, thanks Sergei,you're the greatest. I know in some cases, if two people from the same club are competing at the same time--not against each other--the coach has to make a choice of who to go with. Around my club, it tends to be the better student who gets the coach. I know I'm one of the lesser students, and it doesn't bother me. Others may not feel the same.
As for paying for the coach to go to competitions, usually the people who are going to attend all contribute to his expenses. I'm not sure how much, but it's essentially hotel, food, and plane tickets (if they're flying, sometimes if the comp. is within easy driving distance, people car pool).
In the case of Summer Nats. this year, I believe the s.o.p.--everyone contributes to the coach's expenses--is in effect. In addition, I know that he's planning on doing some directing as well to offset the cost. Then of course, I believe both of his children will be competing so he'd want to be there for their bouts anyway.