Developing Referees

>
>I think you have pointed out a crucial factor here: the speed, or the
>perception of speed.
>
>I remember my first couple of years of fencing. I'd watch a bout at a
>competition, and I'd look at one of the fencers and think "Damn, that
>guy is fast! I'll never be able to keep up with that!" Then my turn
>would come and suddenly the same guy seemed slow as molasses---because
>fencing alters your perception of time, I think.
>
>Nonfencers lack this ability to "slow down time" while refereeing, I
>believe. Thus it looks bewilderingly fast to them, no matter how well
>they know the rules and even the subtleties of things like ROW and
>preparations and the like...
>
>
Just wanted to re-iterate... I've been fencing, myself, for 2 years. It
doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. It's a skill that you either
have or don't have. I don't ...

Debbie B.

fencer91162@aol.com (Fencer91162) wrote in
news:20030712172506.29038.00000412@mb-m28.aol.com:

> Just wanted to re-iterate... I've been fencing, myself, for 2
> years. It doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. It's a
> skill that you either have or don't have. I don't ...

Ahh, have some confidence in yourself. It takes TIME and PRACTICE to
get the hang of seeing actions and understanding them (whether you're
fencing or refereeing). Two years isn't all that much in terms of time
-- some people do pick it up more quickly than others, but that
doesn't mean you won't start eventually (it took me a long time to
start seeing actions).

Also, it's important to note that it's the *combination* of time and
practice that really helps - just spectating, or just fencing, will to
some degree build up your awareness of what's going on, but nothing is
quite like actually being in the referee's spot and directing the
bout. If you actually force yourself to call *something* (right or
wrong!) you will eventually start discovering ways to figure out what
really happened (especially if the fencers help you out).

I'm a firm believer that in any club/practice situation, inexperienced
referees should be *made* (well, strongly encouraged/arm-twisted to
referee at times. The easiest way to do this is, when you're doing a
round-robin or king-of-the-hill bouting session, that the next person
to fence is the one who referees. Period. Of course, the more
experienced fencers have to put up with some bad calls, but so what?
It's *practice*, and in the long run everyone benefits from having
more people who can referee.

Personally, I've found refereeing to give me a better grasp of fencing
actions, which I can then apply to my own fencing. I'd definitely
encourage you to "just do it", and I bet you'll find that even if you
aren't a "natural" you certainly will be able to manage!

--Holly

Holly E. Ordway wrote:

> I'm a firm believer that in any club/practice situation, inexperienced
> referees should be *made* (well, strongly encouraged/arm-twisted to
> referee at times. The easiest way to do this is, when you're doing a
> round-robin or king-of-the-hill bouting session, that the next person
> to fence is the one who referees. Period. Of course, the more
> experienced fencers have to put up with some bad calls, but so what?
> It's *practice*, and in the long run everyone benefits from having
> more people who can referee.

We always do this. If you don't referee then you can't fence. You
don't have to be good, you just have to try. And the more you try the
better you get, usually.

If you end up refereeing a pair who are far beyond your skill then
either the fencers themselves will help you out, or you can ask someone
else who is better to help you out, but you still have to make *your*
call first.

gary hayenga

"Holly E. Ordway" <OUTordwayWITHTHIS@comcast.net> wrote


> It takes TIME and PRACTICE to
> get the hang of seeing actions and understanding them (whether you're
> fencing or refereeing). Two years isn't all that much in terms of time
> -- some people do pick it up more quickly than others, but that
> doesn't mean you won't start eventually (it took me a long time to
> start seeing actions).
>
> Also, it's important to note that it's the *combination* of time and
> practice that really helps - just spectating, or just fencing, will to
> some degree build up your awareness of what's going on, but nothing is
> quite like actually being in the referee's spot and directing the
> bout. If you actually force yourself to call *something* (right or
> wrong!) you will eventually start discovering ways to figure out what
> really happened (especially if the fencers help you out).
>
> I'm a firm believer that in any club/practice situation, inexperienced
> referees should be *made* (well, strongly encouraged/arm-twisted to
> referee at times. The easiest way to do this is, when you're doing a
> round-robin or king-of-the-hill bouting session, that the next person
> to fence is the one who referees. Period. Of course, the more
> experienced fencers have to put up with some bad calls, but so what?
> It's *practice*, and in the long run everyone benefits from having
> more people who can referee.
>
> Personally, I've found refereeing to give me a better grasp of fencing
> actions, which I can then apply to my own fencing. I'd definitely
> encourage you to "just do it", and I bet you'll find that even if you
> aren't a "natural" you certainly will be able to manage!
>
> --Holly

An excellent explication, and I couldn't agree more.

Although I still maintain that a person who has never fenced will
never make a really first class referee, because they have not had
their speed perception honed by fencing.

In article <3F10A294.9040309@speakeasy.org>, gary hayenga <vandg@speakeasy.org>
writes:

>If you end up refereeing a pair who are far beyond your skill then
>either the fencers themselves will help you out, or you can ask someone
>else who is better to help you out, but you still have to make *your*
>call first.
>
>gary hayenga

This is a tried and true training technique:
In the club, People should also remember that, "Hey, relax, it's just the
club!"