Yet Another Cup Thread

[Gav]

Thanks for your comments Rockstar.

However lets not go down that all road of arguing rules and whether everyone should wear a cup or not. I'm pretty sure we're all tired of that old chestnut.

If it were made mandatory I would love to see the ref check.

Are you wearing your box?
Yes.
2 secs. Just need to test.

Tock. Tock.

Ok. Weight and guages now...

Especially if the ref was female.

[Fencergrl]

Doesn't the ref just have the guys knock on their crotch area? I tend to not be too shy so I wouldn't have any problem with it. However, I could see some women feeling uncomfortable by it or not seeing the necessity, therefore enforcing it.

Let's be honest here, I think most woman are about as empathic about crotch hits as men are about our menstrual cramps. We really don't know how it feels we're just being polite. At times it's even crossed my mind that guys are just being dramatic... yeah we really can't relate.

Based on how many guys have commented that they don't like wearing them, I would probably skip the check unless I was required to. My logic would be that if guys don't find them necessary, I don't.

Chest protectors however... I would enforce. I KNOW that hurts and can cause serious damage, and it's a common target. I know it's a double standard, but if you don't have personal experience to go on... you just use your best judgement based on what you've been told.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

If it were made mandatory I would love to see the ref check.

Are you wearing your box?
Yes.
2 secs. Just need to test.

Tock. Tock.

Ok. Weight and guages now...

Especially if the ref was female.

Jon Moss(FOC) tells a story of how when he was in high school, all the boys were required to line up with an epee in hand-- holding the tip near their eyes, bell near their nads, and someone would pick up the bell until it was parallel to the floor and then drop it. Now, I don't have the bits, but cup or no, that sounds uncomfortable.

[Empty Wallet]

As a cricketing nation, many of us have worn boxes/cups a under our flannels. Sharing is not good.

Our federation suggests that some males may prefer to wear them, but there is no check or even recommendation to do so.

Breast protectors, as required under FIE rules, are required at even club level for training, no arguments. Most boys also wear a chest protector, but these seem to disappear as they reach puberty and grow.

[Rockstar44]

Thank you for the new and interesting information that has never been shared here before.

Well, since this is the first time the subject has ever come up....

[Gav]

Doesn't the ref just have the guys knock on their crotch area? I tend to not be too shy so I wouldn't have any problem with it. However, I could see some women feeling uncomfortable by it or not seeing the necessity, therefore enforcing it.

If a ref asked me to "knock on my crotch area" a couple of things might occur: I might fall about laughing or I might have to shout WOOF! ...

Based on how many guys have commented that they don't like wearing them, I would probably skip the check unless I was required to. My logic would be that if guys don't find them necessary, I don't.

This is entirely logical! I like sounding like Spock.

Chest protectors however... I would enforce. I KNOW that hurts and can cause serious damage, and it's a common target. I know it's a double standard, but if you don't have personal experience to go on... you just use your best judgement based on what you've been told.

That's because you are supposed to and there are very good reasons why. I don't think that the comparisons between crotch protection and breast protection are all that apt.

[Lady Quindecim]

Thanks, actually for bringing this up. I have thought about it in the past even before it ever came up in class.
Little boy, asked about it (after going over the target area for foil) and I said that the goal was to not get touched.
I know that is not a good answer, but from a liability standpoint, I was worried about it. I did say that, like the chest protectors, some boys wear them or do not, but like the plastron, it is required for competitions and training (Yes, I know that was an untruth) but that we were not going to wory about it in class. A few boys that already had them started wearing them to class. Some mothers have expressed concern, but a 12 year old boy is not going to talk about it much with a teenage girl.

[foibles]

Vaguely relevent link

[Fencergrl]

Thanks, actually for bringing this up. I have thought about it in the past even before it ever came up in class.
Little boy, asked about it (after going over the target area for foil) and I said that the goal was to not get touched.

Yeah reminds me of the day I was introducing sabre fencing to a class of 8 & 9 year old boys.

As I was showing the sabre lames and explaining that when they hit the silver area the red or green light turns on.

One boy asked what happens when they hit the white portion of the lame.

I hold up the lame so the boys can see the only portion that is white is the crotch area and respond "Well, if you hit in the white part your opponent turns red or green, so don't hit there."
Room full of giggles....

[Fencergrl]

That's because you are supposed to and there are very good reasons why. I don't think that the comparisons between crotch protection and breast protection are all that apt.

According to some, wearing a cup is also in the rules. Just because women are more sensible about protecting tender parts....

Seriously... The comparison is apt and it isn't. The most painful place to hit on my body would be my breasts, on yours it would be crotch. The pain can be reduced/ eliminated by wearing protection there.

However, where the comparison breaks down is that the chest is a common area to strike while the crotch, is less so.

[Lady Quindecim]

It is safe to say that I have been hit in the chest protector more than I have the mask... but I would not want to fence without my mask either. It's all about the risk and consequences. The likelihood of there being a serious problem in an introductory demo class thingie for not wearing a cup is pretty slim and I think that.... (Oh, I was going to make a bad pun, but remembered that this is a family forum.)

[InFerrumVeritas]

I had the parents of a couple of young boys in the youth class at my club ask me if I wore a cup. I said yes, and I wouldn't fence without it. I was hit there once rather badly early on in my career and decided that it simply wasn't worth the risk. They asked their coach and he said that he doesn't because he's never hit there.

I guess the thing is, sure, I'm only very rarely hit in the crotch. However, when it has happened, it hurt like hell and I had to go see a doctor because of the inflammation caused to that region. I decided that I had gotten off easy (there were no problems), but didn't want to take the risk again. It is very rare that I am hit there, especially hit there hard enough to cause any problems. But, every time I fence someone who, for some reason, ends up doing so I am very relieved when I hear the thud of them hitting the cup.

As far as it cutting down on your mobility or some other nonsense, they make cups with flexible siding, and fencing footwork doesn't move in a way where it is an issue anyway.

Really, for a few dollars and the little bit of time it takes to get used to wearing it if you haven't had to for another sport, it's not a big deal.

[DavidX]

I thought it was mandatory and especially important the way the female refs would check it before the bout and after every point.

They were always very thorough I guess because they wanted to make extra sure it was an FIE approved cup.

(Seemed odd that they asked to check it later while I was changing in the locker room but I didn't want a red card so..)

[larkascending]

Nobody in my club at school wears one- I asked a few people about it and they said it was uncomfortable and interfered with their footwork. I don't really understand- could they possibly be more uncomfortable than this looks?

[Lady Quindecim]

I _almost_ clicked the link without looking where it pointed.
Mercy.... I just don't think I can handle YouTube today. (Curses, my evil nemisis!)

[Fencergrl]

I don't really understand- could they possibly be more uncomfortable than this looks?

I can't help but laugh that they felt it necessary to show slow motion replays from all angles.