need input

[Cutter]

Okay, here is the deal...I am a sabre fencer for past 4 years and coach for past 1 year. Just got approached by Maestro to switch weapons and coach foil. Said he would teach me personnally for the switch over. Not sure about this. I am kind of looked at as the "low end" coach at our club (only teach 1 day a week) and don't feel much recognision for my contributions. Changing to foil coach would put me in a different position. But, I love fencing sabre and don't know if foil is my thing to fence. Couple of options here:

1. Say no, and keep coaching, training and competing in sabre.

2. Coach Foil and train/compete sabre

3. Make the full switch and coach, train and compete foil.

What are the thoughts out there on this. Your input is appreciated.

[Sciurus Rex]

Do what you feel like doing most. It's about as simple as that. No one here will be able to give you any special insight as to how your mind and heart work.

But if that's not a good enough answer, try this one on instead:
Make the switch and teach foil. Just do it. Trust me.

... Now then, what was your immediate emotional response to that direction? Did you agree with it right away, or did it sound like a really stupid idea that you'd never consider? Your own reaction is your best gauge.

[Peach]

Scirius stole the words out of my mouth--my solution is to flip a coin. If I look at it and my first impulse is to flip again, I know what my real decision is.

Seriously, though, I'm a sabre fencer coaching foil in my little after-school club because that's my coach's program, but I'm thinking of switching the kids over to sabre next year. I'm not a foil fencer, I don't think like a foil fencer, and they all want to fence sabre because it's obvious that's what I think is the best even though I don't say so.

But then I'm a "hobby" coach--I don't do it as a living, I do it because I want to, so I might as well coach the way I want to.

[HilandDoug]

Is there a problem doing both? If you are there only one day, could you split your time between weapons? If you REALLY don't want to do it, then don't! Your heart wouldn't be in it, and that may show to your students.

[135711]

okay you asked for an opinion. why does he want you to drop saber? you've only fenced it 4 years, are you still young? can you still fence strongly? if you said yes to all these questions, then i would continue to fence saber and agree to coach foil in addition. the right of way rules are still there, the only basic difference would be the cut, which you wouldn't have to teach so you'd retain that. there are people who can teach all three weapons very nicely, but they might not be interested in competition. why not give it a try for a year if it doesn't interfere with your competition plans and see how it goes?

[edew]

Cutter, seems like they need some additional presence in foil, and since you're coaching, they thought you might be interested in providing that presence. No disrespect for your sabre abilities, but I'm sensing that Maestro is trying vigorously to promote foil at your club, and an additional leader will help validate that move. Also, you probably speak better English than he does and that can help with new fencers.

Lastly, as some others commented, no reason why you can't coach foil and fence sabre. Indeed, I think doing so will prevent you from getting the coaching syndrome when you fence sabre.

(Coaching syndrome is the affliction that gets too many coaches to allow themselves to be hit when fencing competitively: they get used to letting their fencers hit them that after a while, when they fence competitively, they instinctively let their opponents hit them.)

[swordsen]

re: coach's syndrome.....
God don't I know that well......

[Inquartata]

Yeah, as long as it doesn't interfere with your fencing sabre, it's always good to be able to coach other weapons. Versatility is a thing devoutly to be wish'd ( although, it is foil, brrr! ).

OTOH, if it were me and he asked me to stop fencing sabre in favor of foil I'd be strongly tempted to punch him in the snoot...

[D'Artagnan1673]

Epee goooooooddddddd
Foil baaaaaddddddddd

[latenight]

What am I, the only guy who fences foil around here anymore?

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[Craig]

Nah, foil is my main weapon. I'll play sabre, but it's obvious that I'm playing since I tick off the sabre fencers with my "foil tricks" every now and then...

[D'Artagnan1673]

As long as foil is fenced in its current mannor, I will stick to epee. That's just my opinion.

[latenight]

Craig:

I play sabre too, but then again, you know who my coach is, so you probably knew that!

D'Art: Too much standing around in Epee for me. Saw your letter in American Fencing, by the way.

[D'Artagnan1673]

WHATT!!! They posted my letter?

Hehehe!!! Geeze, I never got this past issue so I had no clue!

[D'Artagnan1673]

Well, how bad was my letter? You really had to remember the letter I was writing in responce to to have a feel for why I was saying what I was saying.

Is my style so unusual that you knew it was mine?

[latenight]

It was well written and I agreed with some of your points.

I knew it was you becasue they printed your club name and it seemed to have a classical slant.

When you posted your first name, it just had to be....

[D'Artagnan1673]

LOL!!!! There aren't too many people like me around, are there?

I tried to be as honest and unbiased as possible in what I wrote.... at least I think I did. I wrote the so many months ago I really don't remember much of what I wrote.

[latenight]

P.M me your address, and I'll send you my copy. I've read it ( It don't take too long ;-) ) so I'm just going to pitch it anyway.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Okay, sent. Thanks!

I finally found the document by making an exhausting search on my hard drive. I can see areas where I would have worded things differently. Oh well, such is hindsite.

[Cutter]

Thanks for all your input on this. Eric, you are right about what you said, we are short on foil coaches right now and Tomek is wanting to build that part of the club. At no time did he say I should quit competing in sabre we are just full on sabre coaches and lean on foil. It was only my concern that, as said, I have only been fencing for 4 years and I was afraid that coaching foil would effect my sabre fencing. I also have that "coaches condition" when I fence so maybe it would actually be an inprovement. My only other issue is that it was suggested by other students that because of my age (not a spring chicken anymore, more like fall) that foil is a bit easier on the body. They mean't no disrespect but I have been struggling with so many injuries lately and maybe changing to a less physical weapon would help.

I am just at a complete loss here as to what to do from a logical standpoint.

I think I will go ahead with the proposal to coach in foil, keep focus on competition on sabre for now. But who knows, maybe foil will spark my fire once I get started.

<small>[ 07-09-2002, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: Cutter ]</small>