One Coach or Two?

[roxiered]

What is everyone's philosophy on training twice weekly for a younger fencer (Y10 & Y12)? I hear many people say to stick with one coach and train with him exclusively. Then there are others that say it is not a bad idea to get a different perspective from another coach? What are the upsides and downsides? The coaches would be from the same club just different nights. Any thoughts?

[VELISARIOS]

At the begining you must listen and do what said your coach. When you have expirience then you must see and others coach training.

[kalivor]

Different coaches say the same thing in different ways, different things in the same ways, often like to see things done a bit differently and almost always will stress different things about any given action.

For a beginner (particularly a young one), having consistency is very important: One coach only, or if more than one, than coaches that work together closely and agree on what they're telling beginner fencers.

For more advanced fencers, multiple perspectives and different styles of feedback can sometimes be helpful.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Talk to the child in question. When I was 9, I loved ballet once a week-- I couldn't deal with ballet twice a week. And since at the time, apparently I was coordinated (something that is sadly no longer the case), I was pushed really firmly into practicing twice a week-- and then quit.

Most kids actually do have a good idea of what's fun and what's not. If they can't get enough of fencing, THEN ask their coach.

And how does the child get along with their coach in the first place? If they really like their coach, but are kind of scared or skeptical of the other coach, right now might not be the best time to up the coaching staff.


Two coaches can be fine. depending on the coaches, depending on the kid, depending on the club. They key to figuring out if it's actually a good idea probably doesn't rely on the opinions of us random people, but on good communication with those involved...............

[FeatherBlade]

I agree with what was said, Kalivor put it up nicely.
I think that having different coaches right from the beginning can lead to confusion and then the student might end up not doing well with either one.

[needle]

Talk to both coaches. Do they recommend training with both from the start? Do they have other beginning fencers that they trained this way? If your child is to start with just one of them and later (after 6 months or a year) train with both, which of them should your child start with?

The above applies to individual lessons. If you were in fact asking about whether it makes sense to attend group practice twice a week, go for it - as many times a week as you can.

[hpfencing]

Originally Posted by kalivor

Different coaches say the same thing in different ways, different things in the same ways, often like to see things done a bit differently and almost always will stress different things about any given action.

For a beginner (particularly a young one), having consistency is very important: One coach only, or if more than one, than coaches that work together closely and agree on what they're telling beginner fencers.

For more advanced fencers, multiple perspectives and different styles of feedback can sometimes be helpful.

100% true....

Before looking at getting other coaching talk to the coach, tell them why you want the additional coaching and traiing. Many times I have noticed that coaches can get upset that a student is training elsewhere.....

As a coach I encourage my fencers to fence at other clubs and to talk with and work with other coaches and fencers when-ever they get a chance.

[chefencer]

We go twice a week, but he only has "class" once a week. What he does on the second day is up to him - bouting/sparring, drills, tag or just hanging out... whatever keeps it fun for him.