Fencing for Kids

[dsteel]

I have a seven year old who started fencing (sabre) about 7 months ago, all due to his love of starwars.

I understand what you are going through, it is very expensive and if I am going to spend the money on private and group lessons, not to mention tournaments and gear, he better really want to fence.

Our deal is simple he must practice at least 1/2 every nite, whether it be just lunges or one of his fencing DVD's, and we then have one or two practice matches. He is a very disciplined kid (due to starting Karate at 4 yrs of age) so he likes the structure.

Why practice so much, it is simple he wants to win. Some kids have that drive at an early age. The more he wins the more he like to fence. In the six months he has developed a lot faster than most of the kids he fences with and other that are older and have been fencing for a lot longer.

My point in writing this is because most people have written in don't live through your kids, he will get burned out.. I am sure there is a little of me living through him, but I have freinds that were top level competative athletes and the one thing they told me is they wish their parents were more involved and gave them what is necessary to "take it to the next level" the worst thing is if your kid has tallent is to not give it your all, even at seven.

So here is my two cents for what it is worth, If one kid wants to practice give him everything he needs to practice correctly, if other does not find them another sport.

[Fencergrl]

With all due respect, I disagree. Even if a kid is driven to succeed you have to be careful about how much he practices. Take a look at some of the threads on injures. All sports are hard on bodies, growing young bodies and older ones alike, fencing is no exception.

Growing up around athletes, I saw too many talented athletes lose their chance to turn pro/ reach an elite level because of injuries due to over training/ incorrect training for their age.

Seven is really, really young. His little body has a lot of growing to do.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I have a seven year old who started fencing (sabre) about 7 months ago, all due to his love of starwars.

I understand what you are going through, it is very expensive and if I am going to spend the money on private and group lessons, not to mention tournaments and gear, he better really want to fence.

Our deal is simple he must practice at least 1/2 every nite, whether it be just lunges or one of his fencing DVD's, and we then have one or two practice matches. He is a very disciplined kid (due to starting Karate at 4 yrs of age) so he likes the structure.

Why practice so much, it is simple he wants to win. Some kids have that drive at an early age. The more he wins the more he like to fence. In the six months he has developed a lot faster than most of the kids he fences with and other that are older and have been fencing for a lot longer.

My point in writing this is because most people have written in don't live through your kids, he will get burned out.. I am sure there is a little of me living through him, but I have freinds that were top level competative athletes and the one thing they told me is they wish their parents were more involved and gave them what is necessary to "take it to the next level" the worst thing is if your kid has tallent is to not give it your all, even at seven.

So here is my two cents for what it is worth, If one kid wants to practice give him everything he needs to practice correctly, if other does not find them another sport.

Talk to a coach who specializes in taking youth athletes to the next level. It will help your son immensely, as well as minimizing the chance of injuries.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

And btw, not a fencing coach.

They suck at preventing injuries.

[Rick Thompson]

And btw, not a fencing coach.

They suck at preventing injuries.

Why you say dat?

It is true that many fencing coaches do not have a comprehensive physical education background. But there are those that do, pay attention to their students, and/or recommend seeing a trainer when appropriate.

[Fencergrl]

DFP is a teen that has had a number of injuries. Could/ should his coach have prevented them? Who knows???

I still think that a 7 year old is still too young for any serious training.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

The answer, is no.

My first coach had really no education in athletic training or injury prevention.

I had no idea how to prevent injuries, why I shouldnt train so hard, how to strength train appropriately, ect.

This is a pretty common situation among fencing coaches, or really any amateur coach in minority sports.

And now I pay the price for training very hard with very little guidance as to how to protect my body.

[Five Rings]

My first coach had really no education in athletic training or injury prevention.

I had no idea how to prevent injuries, why I shouldnt train so hard, how to strength train appropriately, ect.

I had the same experience. Coach made us train with no warm up or warm down periods, and intensive period of lunging on concrete floors without any advice on shoe cushioning, etc. Have some foot and knee problems now - nothing debilitating but really annoying. Only when my fencing partner went to med school did we figure out how to restructure exercises to actually minimize injury and to maximize training. One of the reasons why I started this thread - don't want my kids to go through same process.