Names on lames

[Westley]

I'm waiting for someone to write "HeHateMe" on his Lame.

[telkanuru]

I am still overly amused by the local sabre fencer with the last name of "Hacking". It's a match made in heaven.

[mrbiggs]

I'm waiting for a Candian fencer named "Nice"

[TooLoftheDeviL]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

I'm waiting for a Candian fencer named "Nice"

One of our foilists was from Canada, named Han. It always amused us, the Han Can.

But along those lines, I still wanna see someone from Australia with the last name "Badd"

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

I am still overly amused by the local sabre fencer with the last name of "Hacking". It's a match made in heaven.

At the New Mexico Open, the Air Force Academy fencers descended en masse. The epeeists all had sewn-on patches on the backs of their jackets, showing last name, then "Air Force" below it, then "USA" below that. Which probably gets no end of teasing for the fellow whose name is French. ( "But when did the French Air Force defect to the USA?" )

[Soldier]

He didn't get teased much, considering how well he fenced.

Doesn't matter now anyway; now he's 2nd Lt. French.

[mifencer]

Originally Posted by Insipiens

One guy in the UK had his name and then GBH instead of GBR on the back.

This may not make sense to Americans depending on whether you have the crime Grievous Bodily Harm

GBH - is a date rape drug.

Originally Posted by mrbigss

I've seen a guy fencer forced to tuck his ponytail into the collar of his lamé, because it didn't conduct and the other fencer complained.

The FOC is really making a push to get any hair off of the lame.

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I always that is was embarrassing to have USA if you suck. It's not like you're going to go to a WC. Or even if you do progress, more likely than not, you will need new equipment. But then again, I did get chastised for not having USA my lame when I went for WC.

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For intimidation of new equipment (true story): saber fencer A walks about to saber fencer B before the bout starts.
"new guard?", says A
"yup.", B replies.
WHACK! A makes a rather large scuff on the guard.
"not anymore" retorts A
-I don't remember who won, but everyone had a laugh.

[OneBadFencer]

OK, so here is the thing with that...I think you have to REALLY be pretty damned good to justify that. I am still waaaaaaaat to new to the sport to justify that. Besides, I like the anonymity when I get my *** kicked fourteen ways from sunday (or would that be fifteen?????).

[ls14evar]

I dont get the deal with thinking the newer fencers shouldnt get their names on their jackets/lames(and colored lames for the matter). Names help the director identify people. It helps other fencers find you. (Like when they are calling you to a strip and you dont hear, someone may tap you and say, hey you're up.) If you have any pretensions to do competitions I think you really should get your name printed no matter how good you are. I dont have mine printed yet. But that's only because I wasnt sure on my size with the first jacket I ordered.

Edit- If you want to talk pretensious, talk about the n00b who shows up for begginer classes in full FIE kit. Even then, what does it matter. Most people who care are just jealous they couldnt afford it right off.

[Haze]

There is a uk fencer called Ramjam Funkyboogaloo-Smythe, a bit long and silly to have on the back of your jacket methinks. (he changed his name as I understand, if he'd been born with that name then . Im serious btw, google it you'll see. He runs or partly runs www.battling.com where I bought my foam sabres from)

Its a weird and wonderful world out there kiddies

[Haze]

incidentally mum thought it mite be fun to buy some of the £2.99 young kiddy soft foam sabres for use at our cub-scout pack, I think they would enjoy it but dont want them going off and "fencing" / swordfighting with other more solid and dangerous things...??? But kinda also think the ones who would do that would do anyway regardless, not sur

Originally Posted by Haze

There is a uk fencer called Ramjam Funkyboogaloo-Smythe, a bit long and silly to have on the back of your jacket methinks. (he changed his name as I understand, if he'd been born with that name then . Im serious btw, google it you'll see. He runs or partly runs www.battling.com where I bought my foam sabres from)

Its a weird and wonderful world out there kiddies

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

I've seen a guy fencer forced to tuck his ponytail into the collar of his lamé, because it didn't conduct and the other fencer complained.

On the second day of the Nationals (immediately prior to the Y-10 WF) the foil referees were reminded that they need to firmly enforce the covering target area rule. Especially because the girls at that age group haven't had enough experience in the national level, they usually are not aware that letting their hair fall on the lame is a cardable offense.

Apprentice referees looking to learn and upgrade ratings were "punished" in subtle ways when they failed to enforce this rule. At any given time in a bout, if you were able to notice either of the fencers with her hair down and touching the lame, then the referee on strip was held accountable for allowing that to take place.

The advice from the FOC did in fact work wonders for the referees who did pay attention. When the fencers are checking in at the beginning of the pool, remind the fencers about keeping their hair up. Then first time someone comes on guard indicating readiness to fence, and the referee notices hair falling onto the lame, out with the card. For the remainder of the pool, everyone figured out a way to keep the hair up.

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by ls14evar

I dont get the deal with thinking the newer fencers shouldnt get their names on their jackets/lames(and colored lames for the matter). Names help the director identify people. It helps other fencers find you. (Like when they are calling you to a strip and you dont hear, someone may tap you and say, hey you're up.)...............

Not only is it helpful to have your name on the jacket/lame/knickers, but it's required that you do. Presenting yourself ready to fence with no name on falls under the non-conforming clothing.

As for keeping things smooth, being easily identified certainly helps. Granted, it's ultimately the referee's responsiblity to make sure the score is kept accurately and tallyed for the correct fencer. At the same time, it's also the fencer's responsibility to make sure the proper score is recorded. However, in a fast paced environment where referees seem to be on a race with each other -- or to be fair they're constantly honing their craft to shave off few seconds every bout, which do add up.

I've noticed more than a few times that in a high level competition pool the referee doesn't call out the fencers (or their numbers) AT ALL. By the time the referee awards the last touch, walks over to the table, picks up the scoresheet, records the score, puts down the clipboard, grabs the test weight and looks up, both fencers are already hooked up with their weapons ready for test. Having checked how many fencers are in their pool, and with a bout-order table at hand, those fencers already know when it's their turn to fence and which side they should hook up to. This happened to me the first time I refereed a Div 1a event. I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient the fencers were in terms of smooth operation of the pool as well as their extremely concise communication with me during the bout.

Ideally, that's the goal every fencer and referee should strive for in terms of operating a pool. But there is a plenty of room for confusion and error until they reach that level of proficiency. And anything that contributes keeping things accurate is a big plus. Not a pleasant thing when at the end of the pool after everyone's signed off on their score, it's discovered that the score for a bout might have been reversed. But the referee and one of the affected fencers truly don't remember the outcome of that bout. Easily avoidable if the fencers had their names visible.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by Mo

If you fence in a world event like Louisville, you need your name on your lame with the country and the little symbol thingie on your knickers.

"little symbol thingie" (aka country colors) is only required in senior world cups, not an event like Louisville (junior world cup), no?

-B :)

[DJ Apostrophe]

according to the usfa site ( http://www.usfencing.org/Misc/FIEColors.asp ) you are correct Brad.

-w

[mifencer]

I think it's good to have the names on their stuff, just the country designation is a little much. I believe you NEED to have your name for any level of National competition.

Originally Posted by ls14evar

I dont get the deal with thinking the newer fencers shouldnt get their names on their jackets/lames(and colored lames for the matter). Names help the director identify people. It helps other fencers find you.

[foildad]

I think it's pathetic when sub-elite fencers put "USA" beneath their name. Just to out-pathetic them I think I'll have Bob Marx stencil "EARTH" or "MILKY WAY" on my lame.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by foildad

I think it's pathetic when sub-elite fencers put "USA" beneath their name. Just to out-pathetic them I think I'll have Bob Marx stencil "EARTH" or "MILKY WAY" on my lame.

I think it just looks a little nicer to have the country as well as the name, so I have both, even though I'm not going to be fencing in an international event any time soon.

[Araznal]

Never did the USA thing on my lame because I never went to an international event (hope to change that is a year or two). I just got a new lame (old one just had my name), but since I haven't gone to any NACs, there's no need to put my name on it. There's no option for "had my name, but not right now." Therefore, well, you know...

edit: I agree that putting USA on your lame without going to international competition is pretty bad... especially if I can kick their butt .

[epeeisky]

Originally Posted by mifencer

GBH - is a date rape drug.


The FOC is really making a push to get any hair off of the lame.

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I always that is was embarrassing to have USA if you suck. It's not like you're going to go to a WC. Or even if you do progress, more likely than not, you will need new equipment. But then again, I did get chastised for not having USA my lame when I went for WC.

----------
For intimidation of new equipment (true story): saber fencer A walks about to saber fencer B before the bout starts.
"new guard?", says A
"yup.", B replies.
WHACK! A makes a rather large scuff on the guard.
"not anymore" retorts A
-I don't remember who won, but everyone had a laugh.

No, GHB is the date rape drug.