Per Mo's request a new thread..

[Rick Shellhouse]

Ok...I am assuming most here have been around for awhile....

When as a "new" fencing parent if there had been a "parents introduction" course about what would be required as a fencing parent what topics would you have liked to see covered and why?

Things such as ...

Travel and International Travel with your fencer? i.e. Flying with fencing gear..things you should take with you..etc
Rules those pesky rules?
Navigating USFA paperwork?
How to precheck your fencers gear?
On the strip. When to stand up for your fencer?

So chime in with things you wish someone would have explained to you because it would have made things alot easier.


Then I figure people can chime in and we can create a Parents Handbook pdf and get Craig to make it a sticky...if nto then I will throw it up on the fencing wiki...

Rick

[mlr2fence]

If you are starting with beginning beginners then it has to include explanations of the 3 weapons, SAFETY, cost, equipment needed, when to start competing, overview of how classes are structured and generalities of what fencer should be learning (i.e. footwork/actions eventually will be different depending on the weapon), websites for vendors and info(USFA, fencing.net, etc) and how parents can help/hinder their fencer.

When moving on to competing then its how to find out/register for tournaments, what 'close of registration' means, structure of the tourney--pools, DEs(and its variations for youth, vet, repecharge, etc) including explanation of events/eligibility, ratings, RYC vs divisional vs sectional vs NAC, equipment needed and how to check it. Especially important is what to expect of the coach--that they won't be there full time holding little Johnny's hand esp if there are other students. Have food, drinks available. How parents should behave stripside and how they can help/hinder their fencer.

After a few tourneys under their belt they should pretty well know the ropes or at the least, how to seek out the answers to questions.

[Allen Evans]

This webpage was the result of a clinic held at the DC Fencers club, and was written by Mary Anne Walker. The entries on this page covered most -- if not all -- of the questions the parents asked.

Most of the parents attending thought the use of a open forum for discussion and asking questions to be very useful.

AE

[pacer]

When I was a "new" fencer's parent, the biggest issue I had was learning what tournaments my child should participate in. We had a coach who did not provide much guidance and it took me a long time to learn. No one very explained juniors and cadets, and there were few RYC's at the time. It would have been very helpful if someone would have pointed me in the right direction. ( other parents during lessons were usually too busy or did not know themselves.)

[4qtrs]

I would suggest adding a section on 'how to earn a rating' and how National points are earned and what they mean (including auto-quals).

[bbugiii]

I would have information on Nationals - basics on qualifiying paths etc and some guides on given different age groups how reasonable it is to expect to qualify since this varies greatly depending on age. I would put links to good lists that already exist like the armory sticky list... there is porbably a list of what to take to tournamnets as well but I have not seen it. Some guidelines on what to expect from your coach at tournament and potential fees for this would be smart as well. If they have found this site they are already ahead of the game in many ways!

[Phincer]

This webpage was the result of a clinic held at the DC Fencers club, and was written by Mary Anne Walker. The entries on this page covered most -- if not all -- of the questions the parents asked.

Most of the parents attending thought the use of a open forum for discussion and asking questions to be very useful.

AE

This is the BEST site-so complete. And very parent friendly. Start writing the manual from here and you can't go wrong.

All of the other posts were excellent suggestions as well!

After I read the USFA site as a newbie parent, I felt like I was being admonished to back away from anything that had to do with my child and fencing-just stay out of the way until called for and hand over the credit card. The plus side of this site was that it got me asking more questions.

Fortunately, we had a coach who encouraged parents to get involved in all aspects of fencing-and to try it out ourselves. We learned to direct, run tournaments, fix and maintain weapons. He sent us to websites, recommended books, etc.

After four years of many local tournaments, NACs, Summer Nationals-we are still learning!

Maybe travel is one thing you need to educate them about. IF their child adores this sport and wants to further themselves they may need to travel.

If they show promise, start them traveling early with the thought that it is not their results that matter, it's the experience. They learn to do homework on the plane, eat food that is different, sleep in a strange bed-and then wake up and fence in the a.m. When their skills are fully developed-the big venue/travel stuff will be old hat. That's the best advice I got as a new parent.

Top five things I wish I'd known about travel:

5. Flying- nonstop to the tournament, so you are assured your bags arrive with you. Also, arrive EARLY at the airport. Another trick to making sure the bags go with you.
4. Take out a frequent flyer points Credit card-should have been doing that from the beginning...we've earned three tickets in the year we've had ours. Cha-ching!
3. Sign up for every hotel points card there is. Cha-ching deux.
2. Powdered Gatorade in quart size packets + 1 Nalgene bottle = big savings. Also packing anything non-perishable (power bars,etc) in the bag.

And the number one thing I wish I'd done/known earlier....
ORGANIZATION-keeping the tournament arrangements in some sort of filing system so that if you decide at the last minute to not go somewhere, you won't find out that your credit card was charged for not showing up at the hotel...you'll know where you are staying...waivers signed and ready to go...car rentals...just pull the packet and go. Wish I had started that YEARS ago!

[bbugiii]

"And the number one thing I wish I'd done/known earlier....
ORGANIZATION-keeping the tournament arrangements in some sort of filing system so that if you decide at the last minute to not go somewhere, you won't find out that your credit card was charged for not showing up at the hotel...you'll know where you are staying...waivers signed and ready to go...car rentals...just pull the packet and go. Wish I had started that YEARS ago!"[/FONT]

On this - I keep a supply of the plastic folders that close with velcro on hand and label them by city. As we prepare to go to a tournament I go for the folder from our last visit there... since the venues are often the same I have a head start on hotel selection, notes about restaurants, maps , etc. This has saved us time more than once. The FIRST thing that goes in the folder for each new trip is a copy of the tournament registration (and fax confirmation if national event).

[sleepyweasle]

"And the number one thing I wish I'd done/known earlier....
ORGANIZATION-keeping the tournament arrangements in some sort of filing system so that if you decide at the last minute to not go somewhere, you won't find out that your credit card was charged for not showing up at the hotel...you'll know where you are staying...waivers signed and ready to go...car rentals...just pull the packet and go. Wish I had started that YEARS ago!"[/FONT]

On this - I keep a supply of the plastic folders that close with velcro on hand and label them by city. As we prepare to go to a tournament I go for the folder from our last visit there... since the venues are often the same I have a head start on hotel selection, notes about restaurants, maps , etc. This has saved us time more than once. The FIRST thing that goes in the folder for each new trip is a copy of the tournament registration (and fax confirmation if national event).

Boy you guys are organized!!! We just throw everything into our school calander (a PAPER calander) under the appropriate month!

I do keep track of our flight info & hotel info in a folder in my email but I erase stuff after it happens.

[Phincer]

"And the number one thing I wish I'd done/known earlier....
ORGANIZATION-keeping the tournament arrangements in some sort of filing system so that if you decide at the last minute to not go somewhere, you won't find out that your credit card was charged for not showing up at the hotel...you'll know where you are staying...waivers signed and ready to go...car rentals...just pull the packet and go. Wish I had started that YEARS ago!"[/FONT]

On this - I keep a supply of the plastic folders that close with velcro on hand and label them by city. As we prepare to go to a tournament I go for the folder from our last visit there... since the venues are often the same I have a head start on hotel selection, notes about restaurants, maps , etc. This has saved us time more than once. The FIRST thing that goes in the folder for each new trip is a copy of the tournament registration (and fax confirmation if national event).

Mine is a 12 pocket accordian folder-which I've labeled by month, starting in August...each tournament's info is paper clipped together-if it is a local/state tournament, I'll print off the Fred info page, the waiver, maps, hotels, etc. The NACs get all that plus the faxed confimation, airline tickets, car rental, etc.

I really like the idea of keeping past tournament info in a folder by city-great idea!!!!

The Summer Nationals gets its own large envelope (9X12)-because we're there for so long, I include any research I've done about area attractions, etc. I also include where the local hospital is, grocery stores, Starbucks, -everything close to the hotel that I might need.

[sleepyweasle]

One of the best travel tips for kids who have to do homework while away is to buy second-hand copies of all their text books. This way you can cut out and bring any chapters that are necessary for the kid's homework without having to lug along 50 lbs of text books. That and bring an internet cable with you when you travel in case there is no wireless internet available.

(see hilarous anecdote re: my husband attempting to purchase an internet cable in a Godollo, Hungry - let's just say that Hungarian is not his first language )

[tbryan]

(see hilarous anecdote re: my husband attempting to purchase an internet cable in a Godollo, Hungry - let's just say that Hungarian is not his first language )

Just so long as his phrasebook didn't translate "I'd like to buy an ethernet cable" as "A légpárnás hajóm tele van angolnákkal."

Or did he just lead off with "I will not buy this record: it is scratched"?

Sorry. Couldn't resist...

[sleepyweasle]

his hovercraft was full of eels...