Games

[Fencergrl]

I thought it would be interesting for coaches to share games that our popular with their students and help build skills or can be used as warm-ups.

[Fencergrl]

Name: Toe Pirates or Pirate Ships
Skill: Hand-eye co-ordination, strategy, paying attention to your surroundings.
Age Group: 8-12 year olds (I have only tried it with them).
Object of Game: To touch the toe of the other team with the tip of your blade before they get yours or cause you to "drown" by stepping outside the line.
Type of Game: A good "filler" game. It's quick, you can do several rounds in a short time and it keeps the kids really engaged. Experienced and beginners are able to participate.

Divide the kids in two teams. Each group gets a narrow rectangular area (on some floors it's oval because I tape an extension cord to the floor). There is always space/ water between the ships. Each rectangle/ oval is a "pirate ship". Step over the line any direction and you drown and you're dead.

The object of the game is to try and tag the other ship's pirate's toes with your blade buy poking them (you can give different target areas.... arms etc...). Once you tag their toe, they are dead and must leave their boat (the more dramatic children will do long winded death scenes).

Ganging up on one person etc... is allowed. Sometimes if I don't have enough plastic/ foam swords I have the extra kids sit out until someone dies, then they take their place. Or if I have uneven numbers... the first "dead pirate" gets replaced.

Kids have come up with ways to cheat like not standing up (thus hiding their toes) so they must have both feet in their ship. Or slashing along trying to hit all the toes in one sweep.... so they must poke. I incorporated a back line (for the back of the ship) because kids would just back up out of harms way.

Often, I rotate through the class picking different "Pirate Captains" and have them choose their crew. Other times I pick their crews.

It's great fun... the kids tell me the plastic swords hurt more than metal sabres. The foam weapons are nice because they don't need jackets and masks on. I bought 20 for this reason, as I teach a number of classes with kids this age. I also bought some mats that don't slide and can be roll up when not in use, making set-up a breeze.

[FifiLaStabbe]

name: Zombie Hunt
skill: Strategy, control
object: To touch and not be touched until you are the last one standing

This game is somewhat like a mock battle. Fencers fight individually, using the whole room, but alliances can be made. Whenever a fencer is touched, he/she is out until the fencer who touched them is themself touched. The victor is the last one left standing. After a while, the fencers will realize one must keep track of who has killed whom. This game can go on for hours depending on how many fencers there are.
A simpler variation is to have all the fencers fight (individually or in teams) and be simply out of the game when they are touched, making the battle element even more realistic.

[epee rocks]

Well im not a coach but my club does some games I think ill share here.

For one, we do a relay as a warmup. The coach picks two "captains" which are normally the fastest 2 kids, and then they take turns picking kids. We then race to a certain point and back and first team to finishes wins. It works well since were all highly competitive.


On the strip, one of our coaches likes to give us "scenarios". These are things like fencer A and fencer B are in sudden death and fencer A has pirority. Fencer A is put with one foot off the end of the strip and fencer B must attack to win. There are several other things we do (like one ahead by 2, etc) but that should give you a general idea.

[Rick Thompson]

FencerGrl,

This is actually the subject of my thesis for my Master's certification for the US Fencing Coaches Association. Shortly (the date keeps slipping) I'll submit that and it'll be available on the USFCA website (a new one to come online in January), along with other thesis papers from other Master candidates.

I've also given several presentations on using games as warm-up and skill progression tools at coaching clinics. I don't know where you're located, but we could work out a clinic & presentation if you want....

In the meantime, I'll post some games here, and would be happy to trade games with others. I can email the document I use at presentations, which contains a bunch of them....

Here's a progression of games, used to build up reactions, integrate footwork with focus and help beginners deal with the complexities of bouting.

========================================

Based on the old "Hand-slap" game - In the traditional game, two people stand facing each other, hands touching with one person's palms up and the other's palms down. The person with their hands on the bottom tries to flip one or both hands over and slap the other's hand(s) (hit the top of the other's hand with their palm). When the slapper misses, the roles reverse.

Line the group up in facing pairs. It works best if they're all lined up on a center line, so that supervision is easy. Rotate partners frequently.

Variation A) Facing each other, each person has one hand palm down and one hand palm up. Either person can initiate an attempt to slap with the hand that is palm-up. When one person misses, the position of the hands reverses.

Variation B) Two fencers face each other in en-guard and use only their weapon hands. One has their hand on top (palm down) and the other on the bottom (palm up).

Variation C) Add footwork. The fencer with their hand on the bottom controls the distance by moving forward and back with advances & retreats. (don't allow any other footwork - safety doesn't allow it.) They can attempt to slap the other's hand at any time. Again, if the attempt to slap misses, the role of agressor changes along with the control of footwork. The defender must attempt to follow distance and keep their hands in contact.

Variation D) This time, the person with their hand on top (the person attempting to avoid being slapped) controls the footwork. The fencer with their hand on the bottom may attempt to slap at any time. All other aspects remain the same.

Discussion: The basic game works on reaction speed. Almost everyone has played this game.

Variation A introduces a new level of complexity, since each person must simultaneously be on the offensive and defensive.

Variation B moves the game into a fencing context, by placing the players in on-guard, and using only the weapon hand.

Variation C introduces the complexity of the defender having to react both to the changes in distance and the aggressive action. It is disadvantageous for the agressor to use footwork that's too fast, so they will generally accomodate someone with slower footwork as a normal part of the game.

Variation D adds even more complexity, since each player must react agressively and defensively at the same time, with both distance and hand actions.

Safety Issues: The coach/instructor *must* keep an eye on this game to ensure that no one is hitting too hard. If this is found, the coach may either caution the overzealous player, have everyone wear gloves for the game or discontinue it entirely.

=====================================

[Fencergrl]

Name: Glove Game
Skill: Strategy, changing from offense to defense quickly.
Age Group: All, very good game for beginners.
Object of Game: To score a point for your team by either tagging the other team member or snatching the glove and making it back to your team without being tagged.
Type of Game: Good warm-up game. Also a good "filler" game.

I divide up the class in either 2 or 4 teams. I like each team to have 4-7 members per team. Lets assume the class has 28 kids. So there's 4 teams of 7. Each team goes to each quadrant of the gym and lines up with their backs to the wall, facing a the opposite team.

I assign numbers from 1-7 to each member. If one team is short a member, somebody gets 2 numbers... such as 1 & 7. I put a single glove on the floor between each pair of teams (2 gloves required for 4 teams, 1 glove for two teams).

I stand in the centre of the gym. When I shout out a number... say number 1, the kids assigned that number run towards the glove. You must either snatch the glove and make it back to your team or tag the person on the other team once they have touched the glove.

Rules:
~ You can't throw it back to your team. You must carry it back.
~ Once you have touched the glove (even accidentally) you can be tagged.
~ You can feign. If you get tagged, it doesn't count as you haven't made contact.

Variation: If I call more than one number... say number 2 & 3. Both people can work together to snatch the glove or tag the other team.

Rules:
~ You can't throw it back to your team. You can throw it to the person who's number was called with you.
~ You must tag the person who has the glove.
~ If the glove lands on the ground, anyone can take it.

At first, people are hesitant, or forget to run when their number is called, but very quickly you start seeing some interesting strategies being employed. Especially when more than one person has been called.

This game requires people to react to opportunities quickly and switch from defensive to offensive strategies. I find this game is enjoyed by all age groups.

[Fencergrl]

Name: Banana Splits
Skill: Stretching and balance
Age Group: All
Object of Game: To keep your balance and either out-stretch your opponent or be better than them at "Rock-Paper-Scissors"
Type of Game: A sneaky fun way to get kids to stretch.

1) Have the kids pair up.
2) Each kid faces each other. They stand as if they're on a tightrope. Front toe touches their partner's front toe. Back foot's toe is pressed against the heel of their front foot.
3) As they balance themselves they do Rock-Paper-Scissors.
4) The winner takes their front foot and places it behind their back foot. This creates a space. The loser slides his front foot forward (so now theirs a little space between his legs).
5) Repeat steps 3 & 4.... Whoever wins, always gets to move their front foot directly behind their back foot. The loser always has to slide their front foot forward to try and close the gap.

The game continues as the space gets wider and wider until someone loses their balance or cannot stretch any further. At that point they switch legs and go again and/or switch partners....

Loads of fun and the kids don't mind stretching.

[Rick Thompson]

FencerGrl,

I have found that the "Glove Game" is an excellent starter game for the first or second class, as it "breaks the ice" for the class. It's one of the variations on the classic "Steal the Bacon" game (of which there are many).

I find, however, that it lacks full involvement of the entire class. That is, most of the people are standing idle while two or four of the class is in action. Here's a variation that keeps everyone moving.

Using the same 'rules of engagement' (safety lines, tagging, etc), have the class divide up into groups of three. One person acts as the "referee", and the other two as competitors. The referee stands on the center line, and the competitors on their starting line. The ref calls "Go" and the competitors race forward and contend for the glove.

Since the referee is holding the glove up (about chest high), it also makes it easy to require the competitors to use fencing footwork, since they don't have to lean down to get the glove from the floor.

Rotate within the group after 5 points have been scored (amazingly like a fencing bout!).

This variation keeps the whole class moving or, in the case of the referees, intimately involved. It frees the coach to move amongst the students correcting, encouraging and watching for safety issues.
================================================

[hscoach]

Two groups facing each other with space between them, nobody is to enter space between. Everyone is holding a glove and stand on guard. When coach says "go" start throwing gloves across to the other side. You can only throw one glove at a time and you must lunge while throwing the glove. On the stop command the team with the most gloves on their side loses, or if you let a glove leave your hand after the stop command your team loses. Losers usually have to do a few pushups.
*Make sure the gloves are marked so they eventual return to the rightful owner. A whistle or flick of the lights is easier than yelling "stop".

[Rick Thompson]

HSCoach's "Glove Throw"
======================

This is a great warm-up game - with few rules and it keeps everyone moving!

Variations on HSCoach's version:

Gloves are easy to use because of their abundance (everybody has at least one!). However, they sometimes have a 'frisbee' effect, and can soar out into unexpected and out of boundary areas. Badminton birdies are great - they have an effective flight range of about 20-30 feet and go where they're aimed. Small sections of pool noodles are also great, though they don't have the same range. Don't use balls because they just don't stop....

Another variation is to do the game with only two people. We call this "Three Glove Monty" after the old shyster card game. Line three gloves/birdies/whatever up on a center line. Each person tries to get all three on the other person's side of the line at once. Can pick up only one birdie at a time and no kicking them. This is an INTENSE work out. Rotate players frequently.

[Lady Riposter]

We've been playing a fun game at club we call the color game.

We assign different actions to different colors. We've been playing with just the following:
Green - advance
Red - retreat
Orange - en guarde
Blue - lunge

The instructor starts by just calling out colors, then as they get into the game, the other instructors start making conversation, about the bright blue sky they saw today, the orange car. The kids have to pay attention because they never know when a color is going to come up in conversation instead of just the list of colors.

[Tomas N]

Rick,

I look forward to seeing your thesis. Has it been posted yet? Maybe you can post a video with instruction and examples of all of the games.

Tomas

[Rick Thompson]

<sigh> Not finished yet. Real life intrudes....

A video of some of the games is being consifered, but it's a LOT of trouble.

Beyond the thesis, I'm seriously considering a larger and more in-depth book, with accompanying video for some of the games. Nothing exists like this currently....

[Medinilla]

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Name: Glove Game
Skill: Strategy, changing from offense to defense quickly.
Age Group: All, very good game for beginners.
Object of Game: To score a point for your team by either tagging the other team member or snatching the glove and making it back to your team without being tagged.
Type of Game: Good warm-up game. Also a good "filler" game.

I divide up the class in either 2 or 4 teams. I like each team to have 4-7 members per team. Lets assume the class has 28 kids. So there's 4 teams of 7. Each team goes to each quadrant of the gym and lines up with their backs to the wall, facing a the opposite team.

I assign numbers from 1-7 to each member. If one team is short a member, somebody gets 2 numbers... such as 1 & 7. I put a single glove on the floor between each pair of teams (2 gloves required for 4 teams, 1 glove for two teams).

I stand in the centre of the gym. When I shout out a number... say number 1, the kids assigned that number run towards the glove. You must either snatch the glove and make it back to your team or tag the person on the other team once they have touched the glove.

Rules:
~ You can't throw it back to your team. You must carry it back.
~ Once you have touched the glove (even accidentally) you can be tagged.
~ You can feign. If you get tagged, it doesn't count as you haven't made contact.

Variation: If I call more than one number... say number 2 & 3. Both people can work together to snatch the glove or tag the other team.

Rules:
~ You can't throw it back to your team. You can throw it to the person who's number was called with you.
~ You must tag the person who has the glove.
~ If the glove lands on the ground, anyone can take it.

At first, people are hesitant, or forget to run when their number is called, but very quickly you start seeing some interesting strategies being employed. Especially when more than one person has been called.

This game requires people to react to opportunities quickly and switch from defensive to offensive strategies. I find this game is enjoyed by all age groups.

this one, i find most helpful.
I normally do it, at the beginning of the lesson with a new group, and then a make the more experience fencers join in, so the new one see, that is not only about power, and physical fitness, its a combination, of physical conditions and mental work.
It also helps me, to see, the strengths and weaknesses, and the characteristics of each student...
I have find out that the way they play this game, is the way the fence

[jychuah]

Originally Posted by FifiLaStabbe

name: Zombie Hunt
skill: Strategy, control
object: To touch and not be touched until you are the last one standing

i do a similar one called "28 fencers later." one fencer starts out as a zombie, everyone else is human. anyone who dies goes becomes a zombie and goes to a "graveyard" zone, and every 30 seconds all zombies are released from the graveyard. (meaning the zombie population just grows and never shrinks.) there's another zone designated the "shopping mall" or "fortress" that can accommodate one human. that one human is immune to being touched by zombies, but may be killed by other humans. the goal is to be the last human standing.

other group combat games:

capture the flag - standard capture the flag, but if you are touched you don't get captured, you just go back to your team's starting zone. every 30 seconds, every fencer who died gets released from their base. if a flag carrier is touched, the flag automatically gets returned to the base.

four square - set up a four square area. four fencers must keep one foot in their box. two on two combat where the partners change every 30 seconds in "real time." first, the top two adjacent squares are partners versus the bottom two. then the left half versus the right half. then the diagonals versus each other. you may not attack your current partner. if you and your current partner are the last ones left standing, you both get a point. play multiple rounds of this to accrue points, then the individual fencer with the highest number of points wins. that means that you could potentially screw yourself over by eliminating your future partner, or screw your current partner over by allowing him to die so that when the partner change happens, your future partner and you will be the only ones standing and you win the round automatically.

generals - this one's complicated - a programmed one-on-one bouting game that teaches fencers to either fence defensively or go for quick offense. two teams which we call north and south - each time has a designated "general" and everyone else is a "soldier." generals can take up to 5 touches total, across any bouts they fence while soldiers can only take 1 touch on any bout they fence. three or more strips are set up - the end strips are home strips for the generals, who do not move from their strip. soldiers start in the middle strips, which we call the battlefield. soldiers who die must return to the battlefield to fence. the goal of the game is to for the foot soldiers to kill the other general while defending their own. if you win a one touch bout in the battlefield against an opposing soldier, you can either attack the opposing general or defend your general. soldiers attack the opposing general by getting in a queue to fence them (soldiers can still only take one touch before having to return to the battlefield). soldiers defend their general by allowing the general to "tap out" after a halt in a bout. a soldier who defends must continue to defend their general until they are taken out. this game goes a lot faster if you just fence it dry, but you can also modify how many hits the generals can take. (what can i say, i used to play a lot of WoW PvP.)

[thekoby]

This was passed on to me by my former coach:

Name: "Tennis Ball"
Skill: Hand-eye, distance, footwork, point control
Object: Toss the tennis ball back and forth while doing footwork drills

Here's how it works. You'll need lots of tennis balls if you have a large group. Divide everybody into pairs and give each pair a ball. Seperate the fencers at proper distance (or a little bit closer if you wish). Have the fencers follow pre-determined footwork drills while tossing the tennis ball back and forth from each other.

Here is where it starts working on the different skills: The fencers are not allowed to lean forward to try to catch the ball, they must stand en garde and may only catch the ball by extending their arm or by leaving it in the en garde position (hand-eye). The fencer tossing the ball may only do so from the en garde position, forcing them to toss by using their wrist and fingers (point control). If they maintain the correct distance and proper footwork, they should have no problem tossing and catching the ball.

VARIATION:

A simple variation to this game can be used as a warm-up to footwork drills. Again, pair up the fencers, but have them stand at a greater distance apart and make sure you have enough room side-to-side as the fencers will be moving SIDEWAYS (best to do this one group at a time in a large area like a gym).

How the fencers move: The fencers move by doing a "sideways gallop", which is basically stepping out with one foot, then bringing the other in so their heels touch, then jumping out with the other foot again, and so on until they reach the finish line.

Tossing the ball: The ball is again to be tossed back and forth from fencer to fencer, but this time instead of straight to the opposite fencer, it is bounced on the floor ONCE. I recomend having the tossing fencer try not to deviate from the en garde position of the arm while tossing the ball, but this can become tricky since they are not used to moving sideways. The one catching the ball may only catch it with one hand (it does not matter which one), but may not stop moving his or her feet or lean to try and catch the ball.


If you want a better explination of the rules, feel free to shoot me an email and I'll try to do a better job explaining them....it's a lot easier to show somebody how to do this game type (maybe I'll post some videos of my club doing them on the website after the summer).