National Results vs. International Results

[westcoastsabre]

Why is it that our nation's best fencer in each weapon place better on the international level then they do nationally. i.e. Keeth Smart's 9th place finish at nationals or his 6th place finish at one of the NACs. Or, Sada Jaconson's OUTSTANDING performance on the international level, while she placed 5th, 2nd, and 1st at this year's Div 1 Nac's. Why is it that their international results don't match their domestic ones.

[Peach]

A couple of reasons.

1. Because those events don't matter as much. A good athlete trains so that he or she can peak for the ones that matter, and puts more intensity into those ones as well.

2. Because those events are at the wrong time or place for an athlete whose focus is on international results. Ask yourself how often an NAC or Nationals came right after or right before an international event.

3. Because their opponents in US competition often know them better than their opponents in international competition, and know what to do with them. Keeth Smart is just one of the many good fencers at Fencers Club, for instance. One reason he has done so well in international competition this year was that his foreign opponents couldn't figure him out.

[nahouw]

Adding to Peach's response are:

4) International fencing is different than National fencing

5) International directing is different than National directing

6) On any given day, any competitor who is "on" and is having a really, really good day can beat anyone -- especially true in a Men's Épée World Cup -- where anybody in the top 64 can win it.

[Mo]

Originally posted by nahouw
Adding to Peach's response are:

4) International fencing is different than National fencing

5) International directing is different than National directing

Can you elaborate on #4 and #5??
I've heard that before but would love to have an idea why.

[veeco]

For one thing, you are not fencing in your country.

There may be announces in a different language, jet-lag, and the added pressure to perform well in an important event. All these make it a different event. Some people may deal better with these than others. When these factors are removed those that don't have these problems when fencing internationally may loose an edge.

Then there is the fact that fencers in international events generally come from different countries, with different fencing styles. It may be easier for some to adapt to those changes. In the US most people fence the same way because they have been trained by the same kind of coaches, so there is less chance of having to adapt. Fencing in a national event after fencing in an international one means that you may not approach the tournament in the right frame of mind and therefore you would not perform as well.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

How do the international directors differ from directors seen at the NACs?

We see directors from overseas at many of NACs. Are there others hidden in an FIE closet somewhere that call actions and tempos substantially different from US tournaments? And if so, what are those differences?

[Peach]

It's not as simple as that. When strong US fencers are fencing in the United States, they are the top dogs. The referees know them. They know the referees. Realistically, they have a reputation and it is up to their opponents to overcome that reputation with the director--I am not necessarily talking about deliberate bias, but about the way that prior knowledge influences perception.

When those same fencers are abroad, even if they are encountering some of the same referees, they are not the top dogs. I was watching that video about Herby Raynaud and Akhi Spencer-El, is it "Choice of Weapons"? and was struck by the way that these confident men became the underdogs when they were in a world competition.

Also, the referees are not the same ones. We do send some highly qualified referees abroad--but there are a large number we never see who are just as qualified--and they have never seen us.

Therefore one of the things you have to do when you (or your son or daughter) is beginning world-level competition is the same thing you undoubtedly had to do when you entered your first NAC--devote some time to learning about the new situation and also devote some time to becoming known.