Mom needs to vent

[rdg]

Too bad about the mis-communications with the coach.

Here is what happened to me and my youngest daughter (she as about 16 at the time).

I was living away from home on a job M-F, and started fencing to fill my free time, and became an enthusist. My youngest daughter was still at home and came out to visit and seemed to enjoy a fencing summer camp. Then she started fencing at home, probably to be with me in spirit. Being rather endulgent, as an away parents can be, I bought the whole FIE kit:

2 FIE foils.
2 FIE epees.
1 Very nice lame that matches her hair
1 FIE mask
1 800 newton left handed jacket and pants, special ordered so the pocket was on the "wrong" side, etc.

She went to one tournment, with me - way too early in her fencing career - and DFL'ed.... No biggy for most of us, but I could tell she felt bad. She continued to go to the private lessons, but the coach began to complain / observe that all she did was talk and distract the other fencers.

Once I came back and started fencing at her club, I noticed the same. In fact many times I had to tell her to dress out. Once I made her actually fence, rather than be a groupy - bang! She quit. Loudly and in public I might add.

In any case, I have scrapped out most of the equipment, for my own, and she really likes the clothes from some reason. Also she made me leave intact her favorite epee. So she now has a very nice FIE Halloween costume .... or something like that.

The moral of the story is beginning equipment is appropriate for beginers for this very reason. Not everyone was born to fence.

Maybe she will take it up again in college. She has the outfit, just in case.

Sam

[Fencergrl]

Sam,

Can I be your new daughter?

[Pescados666]

perhaps thinktheyarebees should work at Arby's and leave coaching to people who actually can.

And have them lower the kids self-esteem for them buying from the childrens menu?!

On subject, the begginers kit sounds like it was just right, except for the glove... I'd have a friend or someone call the coach and describe Nick and ask the coach what he thinks he should get, just to see.

[freerider258]

true true
the beginners kit was the way to go. The most important thing is their work ethic, if they want to fence. The equipment only one piece to their fencing career. Their physicality and mindset is what makes them a good fencer. I don't think beginners equip should hinder any skill for right now. You invest as much time/money in fencing, and they do in fencing. If they want it, they should earn it.

[fencerbill]

It is semantics but I would rather say ïf they "deserve it". Should they have to be successful or just be interested and diligent?

[freerider258]

It is semantics but I would rather say ïf they "deserve it". Should they have to be successful or just be interested and diligent?

Well, by good fencer, I mean always seeking to improve, having a good vision of your success. They have to be both successful and diligent. You can't really say, "Oh, sorry you didn't get first place, I guess you will never get that new sword." Success here is slow but steady improvement, and this comes with diligent and hard work. You can tell if your kid deserves new equipment or not. At this age it's basically if he/she has a burning desire to fence, or just kinda goes with the flow...