Please take the Fencing.Net Survey

[Craig]

Please help me in my continuing efforts to track Fencing.Net's performance and identify areas for improvement by taking the Fencing.Net Survey.

Take the Survey

A summary of survey results will be posted once the survey completes (it usually takes about a month to get enough responses.)

Thank you,
Craig

[oiuyt]

1. How often do you visit fencing.net?

And "Daily" is the most frequent option? Craig, Craig, Craig... Don't you know us at all?

-B

[mgriff]

. . . and then there are those of us who don't fence at all but attend lots of tournaments because we are officials.

Mary

[tehcow]

I filled it all in, went through all the questions and then closed it while realising I hadn't clicked the final 'submit survey' button.

[Interrupter]

Hey Mary - is it you? I used to fence with you I think - it's me aunt cathy.
I took the survey and it was pretty good, I am thinking of getting back into fencing again, but I'm timing it for another year - getting back to running and also I just stopped smoking again.

[Zilverzmurfen]

15. How likely are you to return to Fencing.Net?

Hehehe...

[Inquartata]

Right, as if we ever leave...

But you know, question #16 should really have a multiple-choice option. Therefore ( and you had to know this was coming), the poll...is...you-know-what!

[Craig]

Right, as if we ever leave...

But you know, question #16 should really have a multiple-choice option. Therefore ( and you had to know this was coming), the poll...is...you-know-what!

It can only be flawed if the results do not provide actionable data.

I did a spot check of the results so far on Friday and the basic results were tracking about the same as in prior surveys (so no huge changes to the fencing population) and there were some great comments and suggestions in there on areas to work on for fencing.net.

Craig

[Inquartata]

It can only be flawed if the results do not provide actionable data.

Bah! That's a pretty low bar to set.

areas to work on for fencing.net.

I can't imagine what those might be. The site strikes me as pretty close to perfect as it is.

[oiuyt]

(so no huge changes to the fencing population)

Or at least no huge changes to the population of people that answer surveys about fencing.net on fencing.net. Not sure those are necessarily equivalent groups.

-B

[Craig]

Or at least no huge changes to the population of people that answer surveys about fencing.net on fencing.net. Not sure those are necessarily equivalent groups.

-B

Just like those that take any survey from any organization.

[HDG]

So are you considering starting a magazine?

[Craig]

So are you considering starting a magazine?

It was kicked around for a while but not at this point. The USFA is making the right moves thus far, but asking the question does help to identify what other content would do well on this site given what the magazine and USFA in general are focusing on.

Craig

[Interrupter]

I like your web site just fine and the forum is interesting. As far as the USFA goes - they could add a little bit more to their magazine. Make it a little more hefty read. I like what they do now, but I would like to see more it could use an additional 50 pages, but that would mean a whole new approach. When you launch a magazine it needs more professional staffing not just for the sport of fencing but related articles. News about the international fencing scene - fencing action shots - and the build up to the olympics - then full coverage after the olympics. Advertising makes the whole thing tick.

Another Sports Magazine to look at for layout and content
Surf magazines do a fantastic job - they always have great photos of incredible surf - the boards that are used - the latest surfing contests - who is winning around the world - all of it is very nicely done - professional and over 100 pages each month. Maybe Fencing need to revamp it's outlook and freshen up a bit.

[Interrupter]

Craig I just took a browse through your site in terms of reading articles and it is very well written. USFA should really use your stories - I was shocked about the story wherein one of usa' s fencers was not able to compete due to burecratic messups. At his level it is just another horror story, -

I can't imagine letting someone travel all that distance - like to another country - and then tell him that he can't fence. I would have put him in. I can't justify the usfa's stance on this. They need to put some nice women in charge of things, then I noticed too that a top usa fencer couldn't make it due to a work schedule, which completely supports my suggestions that our country needs to work out plans to support our top athletes.

Just as an aside, some of our friends in chess have the same kinds of difficulties with united states chess federation; USCF they're very unsupportive. Even as Bobby Fisher went bananas, the uscf backed off support while other countries would have supported him all the way. It's not quite the same as 'government' support - because it comes back directly from the top organizations in the country.