coaching

[fencing fish]

what do you guys think makes a good coach. What is your approx age (cadet/junior/senior) and at what level do you fence at regional/national/international. When you were younger what did you like. What do you hope for as you get stronger, better and older?

[ledgerto]

I love my coach. He is patient yet firm. He tells me when I do well and admonishes me when I do poorly. He is always encouraging. I especially like the evil glint he gets in his eye when he runs us through the foot work. What can I say? I'm sick.

------------------
Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

[Peach]

My coach is egotistical, dramatic, wears obnoxious clothes, and for the first year I took lessons from him I didn't understand what the heck he was talking about. He has a great attitude towards his athletes and he has helped make me nationally competitive even though sabre is not his weapon at all. He was my daughter's "third parent" when she was a youth fencer. He's nuts in a very successful way. It's kind of like having a weird relative you're very fond of.

[MHS Fencer]

As of now, I have two coaches. One of them is just a great guy in general, has been around fencing forever, but specializes in saber, so he's just good for general tactics etc. My other coach is a foil coach with a masters rating. He also gives good advice, but he's best with lessons. Even though I'm an epeeist I find that his lessons are exactly what I need (a lot of opposition, along with a stress on balance). What makes a good coach is somebody who can give you advice during a tournament, who you can go out and drink with afterwards (if you're of age), who can give a damn good lesson, and who knows what he's doing and gets you to know what you're doing. I'm lucky, because between my two coaches I have that. As per my level I am a newly earned B01 Epeeist who is just about to age out of Cadet. I couldn't imagine abandoning either of my coaches any time in the foreseeable future, although I am considering adding lessons from another one.

-Ian

[This message has been edited by MHS Fencer (edited 04-05-2001).]

[Zelda]

Ok, I'm a regional/national level fencer adn as far as I'm concerned my coach is perfect. He has an idea of what motivates me, makes me think and works me hard. We set goals and he prods me into achieveing them. I think someone you can have fun with is important. We laugh alot in my lessons. mainly at my absolute lack of balance and finesse but sometimes just at life. the bugger is just as I'm getting good I'm leaving. Oh well will just have to find a decent coach in London. Does anyone know of any?

[mango fever]

peach: i knew we had something in common!
I too feel fondly toward my weird and wonderful teachah -

[thebigriddle]

From my experience, someone who is going to challenge you and make you think. Someone a little pushy.

[Moonitic]

Hmm...a good coach?

First of all, a qualified one. This discussion came up once upon a time on the boards. Doesn't matter how old or accomplished a fencer you are. Quality is important.

Second, a love of the game. For some, it may go without saying. But let's face it, some people shouldn't be where they are. They just weren't meant to do it & it shows. With that love of the game, they should love teaching others to love the game too.

Third, leadership. See the first point.

There is so much more I could say on the subject. All of my coaches (I've had 5 total) throughout the 7 years I've been fencing (a couple of them retired...bummer!) have been wonderful. They've all contributed something truly unique to my learning experience.

I'm a senior fencer on the regional level. My new coach (since the other one is committed to his students at the University) is a Maestro. What do I like about him? He encourages me, he pushes me, I trust him (because he KNOWS what he's talking about), he obviously LOVES what he's doing, & he's "just right."

It's so much fun to hear a Maestro tell you in Russian, "Good!"

[Zelda]

Ok, once again I have thought about this a bit more and have come to this conclusion....
A good coach is one who is on your wave length, can prod the right "buttons" to motivate you and knows just how to get that "little bit more" out of you. And in my case can cope with my "bum funk" moods.

[Shadow Fencer]

What makes a good coach?

Just a few thoughts in no particular order:
1. Someone I respect
2. Someone who has knowledge and experience in what he/she is coaching and has "been there and done that"
3. A sense of humor
4. Respect for the coachee
5. Someone who will work with the coachee to develop mutually agreed upon goals and objectives.

And, my present coach has the above traits!

What is my age? I'm in the category of Veteran.

What did I like when I was younger? Well, that was a long time ago, in my college fencing days, and although I received lessons from a Hungarian Maestro, I don't think I had enough experience to make a judgment about what made a good coach. I just went along with the routine, but I do know that I use to get "bopped" on the mask (gently- but the guys got it harder) when I would miss my riposte after the parry during a lesson!

What do I hope for as I get stronger, better and older?
I hope to improve my parries (close the line!!) increase complexities of attacks and climb the rating ladder! I also hope I don't drive my hubby crazy because I am so obsessed with fencing now. Makes me wonder why I stopped, but in reality, I've returned to this wild and crazy sport in the right time of my life now!

------------------
I live to fence and fence to live!!

[This message has been edited by Shadow Fencer (edited 04-22-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Shadow Fencer (edited 04-22-2001).]

[Zelda]

Shadow, your Bop on the head comment made me think of the touch on the arm with foil that is my lesson dismissal.

[Shadow Fencer]

Zelda,
I've finally (I think) re-programmed myself not to expect a bop on the head during a lesson!
The first time I had a lesson with my coach and my riposte missed, I just stood in suspense of getting "bopped". My coach asked me what the matter was, and when I told him I was expecting to get bopped on the head, he lifted his mask, smiled and with his unarmed hand, pointed to his chest and said the riposte should land somewhere around here!




------------------
I live to fence and fence to live!!

[thebigriddle]

From my experience of 15 years and 10 coaches. Four of those years teaching the sport, developing a club with little or no equipment. The club was not even around at least since 92, or at least from the records I have found. I started it back up in 97. I also restarted the fencing class and developing an intermediate course and have plans for an advance course and possibly other course for the UNIVERSITY. Now we have lots of equipment such a scoring machine, lots of lames, and electric equipment. Being very competitive for 6 of those years. My last year was spent competing for the University of Detroit, Maesto Rabinovich. As well have been a medic in the army, co- patiented a wheel chair for parapelygic fencers and having a degree in physiology and biochemistry I guess I would say that a good knowledge of the game. Every coach is different and will have different opinion. I have been studying William Gauglers book for about the past year the History of Fencing. And if you read it, you will find out that there are many methods of fencing as well as teaching the sport. I have learned a while back the modern method, I learned this from Maestro Yuri Rabinovich. This is a very fast game using lots of footwork and developing attacks using breaks in tempo. I still take time to get lessons as well as watch lessons. I even have watch lessons on tape, as well watch competition to study the various action that are currently imployed. I also started to study Kendo and Iaido. This gives me insight as well as perspective on different ideas and concepts. Fencing, actually an swordplay is a cultural concept. Fencing, in the modern sense is sport with prescribed rules. As the game developed worries about getting cut and killed for that matter disappeared. The hardest question to ask as a coach where do I begin. I asked one of peers at the University, who has been coaching gymnastics for a long time this very question. He said that is tough one to answer. I have used my class as gounds for experimenting with different teaching methods. I feel that my student leave with a good working know of fencing and a foundation. I also ask for lots of feedback. I try to make the class fun as well, so I break it with games such as dodge ball, stealing the bacon. This also good for developing reflexes. The most difficult aspect at Eastern on teaching is that it is working college. The students work alot, and go to school full time. This doesn't leave a lot of time for recreational actives. But let me get back on point, coaching has to come from both ends. I have fencer Will that I have been coaching for about 8 months. He is 16, he has been to some local tournaments. He want to learn how to fence for the pentathlon. I have got lots of credit from the people at the Olympic training center for my work with him. He goes to Colorado to train with the pentathlon coaches. This is every few months. He is an awesome kid, great athlete. That helps in teaching someone, if the kid has potential. I guess there is no real rule, find someone who you feel that you are learning from. As a friend of mine Tae Kwan Do said if the guy wants to learn while standing on their head then let them. As I wanted to say I learned that one of the finest gymnastic coach know nothing about gymnastics. I also hearded that one of the gymnastic coaches at a gymnastics academy, around 200 gymnist was originally a football coach.

[This message has been edited by thebigriddle (edited 04-23-2001).]