Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Mo · 10-19-2002, 01:16 PM

If a kid is good enough to win older age groups, IE a 14 and Under winning Cadet and Junior, do they still have the right to fence 14??
I think HELL YES they do because they are raising the bar but was recently told it displayed bad sportsmanship.
What do you guys think??

JEC · 10-19-2002, 04:26 PM

Perhaps, it depends on the kid. In general, I would say that it is a YES for the youth NAC's and Summer Nationals. I seen that situation several times; my son has been on the shorter side of the stick, but otherwise, how is he going to find out how much he needs to learn?

Peach · 10-19-2002, 05:32 PM

I think you always have to decide what matters to you. It might be argued that someone who belongs to the 14-and-under category, but doesn't bother to fence it, is being a snob.

Just to illustrate (and to turn the age-category thing on its head), I know people who are over 40 who won't fence in the veteran events because they are still capable of doing well in the Opens. A friend even said to me (the year before she actually did start doing over-40s, mind you), "The problem is, I know I should win it, but what if I don't?"

Well, as it turns out, she didn't win it <g>. Those veteran (and those U-14) events can be tough.

Tell the carping people that the under-14 fencer does her own age group because she needs the strong competition.

KShan5[PrFC] · 10-19-2002, 11:41 PM

Why the hell not???? If they are good enough, let em win, in the long run colleges will impressed, or so I assume with Y-14 natyional champ. If it helps the kid in any way, let him/her do it. Make the others get better.

Inquartata · 10-19-2002, 11:52 PM

It smacks just a bit of sour grapes. He/she is too good to be fencing here, keeping me from MY well-deserved victory. I have to admit the same sort of unworthy thoughts have entered my own head from time to time, but until they start further subdividing age events by rating as they do the senior events there's really nothing for it. And think if the idea were to gain sway everywhere? "Oh, she won the Gold Medal in the last Olympic Games, she shouldn't be able to try out any more!"

Peach · 10-20-2002, 12:08 AM

Speaking of which:

A couple of our top-rated women's sabre fencers are in their late 30s and have said with friendly malice to me that they are gonna be in the veterans soon, with the implication that I will lose fast when they do. I just smiled graciously, said, "Oh, isn't that nice! You MUST do it. But of course, you won't be in MY age category because I just aged out of the 40s last year."

There are SOME consolations to getting older.

Mo · 10-20-2002, 01:21 AM

A national championship is a national championship too!! If someone can win it, it should be theirs.
I think the age restrictions for being too young can affect a child quite profoundly so if they cannot do things they can do because they are too young, then they sure as heck SHOULD get to do what they are honestly qualified for even if they are good.
Poo!!!

135711 · 10-20-2002, 07:00 PM

Personally, I believe children should fence with other children, because as an adult I have great difficulty striking small children. It really goes against nature. Kids go all out, they want to win and their parents want them to win, but strangly, most adults don't want to hurt small kids. Very much the way very elite male adult fences don't want to hurt their female counterparts. Hmmmm, let me rethink that. They do, so therefore, let the games begin, and all for one and one for al.

Psi Shadowdark · 10-20-2002, 07:45 PM

thats true in many ways, a club mate of mine fences epee and he loses against smaller young kids cuz he don;t want to hurt them

Fencing Mom · 10-20-2002, 08:01 PM

Let the kid decide.

dreadfoil · 10-20-2002, 08:54 PM

peach: why 'friendly malice' maybe she was just looking forward to being able to fence with you as you've been fencing for a while.

Hey la! attention.....I just found my ancestors on the internet, they're all Italian artists and muscians, they even knew the pope-a, one did frecos. I'm so, what can I say, proud of them, viva! viva Italy, Viva the green, red and white.

Peach · 10-20-2002, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dreadfoil
peach: why 'friendly malice' maybe she was just looking forward to being able to fence with you as you've been fencing for a while.

Um . . . get real

. You weren't there to see her meaningful grin. She's a lovely person who has fenced longer than I have, been on world teams, and can clean my clock, wipe the floor with me, and beat me with both hands tied behind her back. She has fenced me many a time at national events, believe me, and I've lost every time.

But it was FRIENDLY, which I appreciated. And I really do hope she'll do the veterans.

And I'm also very glad I'm officially in the 50-59 bracket, not the 40-49 bracket.

Mo · 10-21-2002, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peach
Um . . . get real .
But it was FRIENDLY, which I appreciated. And I really do hope she'll do the veterans. And I'm also very glad I'm officially in the 50-59 bracket, not the 40-49 bracket.

Does this person have the initials of CB??