"Late Blooming" Vet Fencer ( Retention rate.)

[Empty Wallet]

I took up fencing following the kids.

Important to me was a coach who would treat me as an adult learner -- I want to know why, not just get praise. I want to be told up front if I am ding things wrong or "getting ahead of myself".

I want coaching that recognises that there are physical limitations of the more mature body. Footwork and fitness drills for 20 y/o are not appropriate for professor types (nor is the gung ho drill seargent approach that some take on).

As a professor and department chair, I have external demands. As a parent I have taxi driving duties. These mean I cannot dedicate the amount of time or mental energy that youngsters may.

In the club I want to be treated like an adult, but I want to be able to have social interaction with the range of other fencers.
Fencing against a range of ability levels is important -- even if I can't keep up with some of the young ones. Having others of the same age range and speed is really helpful.

We are lucky to have an inter-club veterans fencing group in our region. Lots of support for each other in fencing, and a lot of discussion about issue that are common because of age range.

For someone running a club -- consider the drills, footwork and fitness challenges, feedback styles and content, social support, challenge and pace.

Can you keep all the potential vets? Of course not.

[Ken Mondschein]

Interesting question. The following are lessons drawn from my personal experience as a 30-something fencer/teacher of older fencers:

• There are really several types of adult beginners: Those who have been competitive athletes their entire lives and want to try something new; those who, though perhaps very fit, aren't as competitive; and those who were couch potatoes until they walked in your door, and may be there because of their kids or a romantic idea of swordplay. One size does not fit all.
• Some older fencers (not just vets, but, face it, anyone over 21 or so) can be pressed into assistant-coach roles. Even if their fencing skills are nil, they may have, say, physical training expertise. Likewise, anyone can lead footwork. This invests them in a club that is otherwise them and a bunch of kids.
• If you have only one older fencer, try to cajole a parent or other adult into joining. Being the only adult and having to train with the peewee set can be frustrating and humiliating.
• If possible, have an adults-only (18 or 21+) class
• Work with older fencers personally a little every class
• Be tolerant of their physical limits; tell them aside that if the class does 20 reps of something, it's OK for them to do 10. DON'T let them do plyometrics unless they're really, really fit. Be VERY careful of their joints and preexisting injuries. Think more overall fitness. Adults, particularly adults with busy lives, can not train like teenagers; in many ways, they're more like the smaller kids, with less endurance and more delicate joints.
• As other people have pointed out, older beginners want to know why, not just how. Explain things theoretically. Give them books.
• Don't push them into US Fencing competitions; a normal 39-year-old vs. a 17-year-old is as unfair as a 15-year-old vs. a 10-year old or a 40-year-old beginner vs a 49-year-old who has been fencing for 25 years. Do get a local rec league set up—say, 30-and-over. (Face it, the definition of "veteran" is somewhat arbitrary.)
• Some will require that you give them small bouting lessons rather than insisting that they bout; getting pounded into the ground by kids half your age does nothing for morale
• Contrary to what Mr. Evans said, I find that classical pedagogy works better with (some) older people than with kids; they're more patient and have more tolerance for correction and repetition. Those who were seriously committed competitive athletes are used to repetition and, indeed, love it.
• Don't start them on modern foil. Start them on épée. Modern foil's tactical use of right-of-way is way too complicated. Classical foil also works, but there are vanishingly few people who teach classical-style foil, and it's not like you're going to compete with it.

This discussion also shows how much fencing has changed in the past few decades. In the past, it really was suitable for all ages; today, it really is a young person's sport.

I also think the physical issue is why a lot of older beginners find the SCA or classical-historical world.