-
Fencing Expert
Array 
I don't dispute your claim, Brad. For the most part, mixing or separating won't make much of a difference. The only issue is whether having it mixed or separated will bring in more fencers. On the other hand, holding a mixed plus women's (or men's) will cause some conflicts.
The Bay Cup now includes a veteran women's epee series because there are enough projected veteran women's epee fencers (maxing at around 16). So we now have a mixed + women's in the veteran series. Obviously, they will be scheduled so that they do not conflict.
-
Senior Member
Array 
 Originally Posted by oiuyt  I just spot-checked a bunch of your RR results from last season. I think just getting people to compete in both tournaments won't be sufficient.
A C3 requires 24 D-or-better fencers. The RR's I looked at seemd to top out in the mid-teens. Just boosting the warm-body counts isn't enough for what you want.
-B Agreed, but it is IMHO a situation where if we had the numbers who came out, we would have the ratings to make a C3. For example in the RR this weekend (which everyone should come to cause it's at my new club and I am dying to show it off) we have 9D's preregistered, with another 3 or 4 I expect to sign up. Add in the rather large amount of C rated fencers in the division (this weekend is a U foil Saturday and a D foil Sunday) and we have the needed ratings, but never the numbers.
One of the reasons I tend to hear is something along the lines of "Well, I can't beat X to get the one C the event gives out so why bother". So if there were more ratings on the hook I think we would get more fencers. Of course we need more of the lower rated fencers to come out chasing those ratings to make them a reality. Hence the problem...
Sorry for the quasi thread jack by the way! Just another lost soul saved by the (hit) First Church of EPEE!
Bona Na Croin. "Neither Collar nor Crown"
-
Curmudgeon Emeritus
Array 
Originally Posted by CvilleFencer One of the reasons I tend to hear is something along the lines of "Well, I can't beat X to get the one C the event gives out so why bother". Trying to wrap my mind around the perplexing concept of wanting to fence ONLY to get a rating, I come up with the following counterarguments:
"Because someone weaker may take out X before you get to her/him". I have seen this happen in more tournaments than I can count. Fencing is not transitive, and just because A can beat B but not X this does not mean that B cannot beat X. You can just hope for some good path karma.
"Because X may not show up." Also seen THIS happen innumerable times.
"Because X may get sick or injured and have to withdraw, or at least be off his/her game". I have benefitted from this at least once.
"Because the referee may have an easier time seeing your game than X's".
This is without even getting into the "X may have a bad day/You may have a good day/Both at once" angle... Use the Shift key, people! Keyboard manufacturers everywhere are ineffably saddened when you ignore what they made just for you!
-
Senior Member
Array 
Originally Posted by Inquartata "Because the referee may have an easier time seeing your game than X's". ya' know, fencing that "other" weapon solves this problem, mr. inqy, 
-
Senior Member
Array
Originally Posted by Fencergrl Okay... we have a different system here, and I only compete against other women (which makes it hard because I usually practice with men), so I might be missing something here.... i still get amused telling them how things are done in the states and seeing their respone..
-
I appreciate your ideas. Here in Colorado we tend to max out at 25 entrants in single event, so the idea of 30 fencers in an event is a dream. Those larger events include folks who come in from Wyoming and Kansas. We are going to try to have more opportunities this year and see what happens. Last season many tournaments topped out at 16 or 17 fencers with the women fencers usually concentrated ( but not always) in the lower half. When women only unrated events were run, we were lucky to get 6 for an E1 event. At our C and under, we got 5 women foilists.
-
How does tournament participation track club membership? Does the proportion of women attending tournaments match or exceed the proportion of women to men in the clubs?
-
Feline Groovy
Array 
-
Senior Member
Array
Just another lost soul saved by the (hit) First Church of EPEE!
Bona Na Croin. "Neither Collar nor Crown"
-
Just a quick comment about the Amazon Open, since I think Cville brought it up... (specifically the Womens Sabre, since that's what I know)
You have to know your population. Who would you expect to be fencing that weapon in your area, and who do you know who regularly makes long(ish) drive from other areas to events? Then, you advertise/plead/bribe/cajole/threaten repeatedly over the course of a several month time period to get those people to come. You talk to parents, you talk to coaches, you mention other people who are coming, you make veiled references to nifty prizes, etc.
And yes, I know bribes and threats go counter to the idea that fencers should fence events 'cause they *want* to, or 'cause they recognize that they need to do so for growth, etc., but often it doesn't work like that. It's especially difficult for the kids who travel for RYCs and NACs in the midst of SATs and other extra curriculars and (god forbid) actual school work to give up an afternoon for a small local. So you do what you have to do in order to get people there, and then they have fun, and come back of their own volition next time, and they bring other people.
 See the LBI thread for a similar comment by edew..
-
Feline Groovy
Array
Originally Posted by CvilleFencer Bah, its the brawl and its in our spiffy new space! Nothing could be more important than that! Now load up your band of blood fisted pirates and come for some pillaging in the quaint colonial burg of Cville! As usual, cool swords for prizes...
Seriously, I hope you can make it up. We would love to see you guys and show you the space. A couple or three of us are heading your way to wave the banner high and strike terror into those afraid of banners! And yes, I'm still dithering.
Btw, they're bringing water balloons with them. 
-
Posting Hound
Array 
Originally Posted by glowstix i still get amused telling them how things are done in the states and seeing their respone.. You gotta admit those yanks are odd ones... I never seen so much yammering about ratings in my life... Isn't it generally women fencing women, men against men everywhere else??? The whole issue over fencing for a rating changes everything.
BTW... V'Cat the water balloon fencing looks like loads of fun! Beer, it's whats for dinner! ~ a young snowboarding Canadian
The meek don't want it! ~ sticker on a rock band's guitar
-
Originally Posted by Inquartata Trying to wrap my mind around the perplexing concept of wanting to fence ONLY to get a rating, I come up with the following counterarguments:
"Because someone weaker may take out X before you get to her/him". I have seen this happen in more tournaments than I can count. Fencing is not transitive, and just because A can beat B but not X this does not mean that B cannot beat X. You can just hope for some good path karma.
"Because X may not show up." Also seen THIS happen innumerable times.
"Because X may get sick or injured and have to withdraw, or at least be off his/her game". I have benefitted from this at least once.
"Because the referee may have an easier time seeing your game than X's".
This is without even getting into the "X may have a bad day/You may have a good day/Both at once" angle... You have implied but not explicitly stated:
"Because it's *fun*!"
And you missed:
"Because I might get to fence X and learn from the experience and become a better fencer."
gary hayenga
-
Feline Groovy
Array
Originally Posted by Fencergrl BTW... V'Cat the water balloon fencing looks like loads of fun! It was even more fun than I thought it would be! Looks like we've got a new summer tradition out here.
Similar Threads -
By jbenjamin in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 28
Last Post: 06-18-2007, 05:10 PM -
By Gogsnik in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 21
Last Post: 08-03-2005, 03:51 PM -
By kix_jgn in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 5
Last Post: 01-12-2004, 12:11 AM -
By schlager7 in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 40
Last Post: 07-30-2003, 05:40 AM -
By I see dead people in forum Discussion Archive
Replies: 10
Last Post: 02-07-2002, 05:48 AM 
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
Forum Rules |
) my tournament philosophy of, 'If you've learned something about yourself and/or about your fencing, it was a good day regardless of wins and losses.' If I ever heard one of them give the above reason for skipping an event, well, their clubmates would probably talk with him/her even before I had a chance to. 