Son's first college club exprience

I have written before, about my son going to a college with a club- no team.
No coach

His first practice was last night.

He felt it was very disorganized. No lines for the strips and they didn't
want to use the scoring machine- too much hassle-

Here are my questions-

What are the exact dimensions for the strip?

What is the best material to put down lines (on a tile floor)?

Is there a standard thoughts (Schedule) for practice?

Should he let his blade do the talking or should he tell them his
qualifications.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

One of the examples that he gave me of difference in opinions of how a
practice should be run- a new fencer came to the first meeting- they started
her on epee's not foil- they felt foil is too complicated- He line of
thought - you start with foil- foil teaches you to think, to plan to begin
to develop strategy. If anyone has any thoughts or plans, I will forward
them to him- his second practice is Wednesday.
thanks

"C-Sports" <csports@epconline.com> wrote


> What are the exact dimensions for the strip?

Go to www.usfencing.org, click on "Info for Fencers", then
"Documents", then "USFA Rule Book". Scroll down the resulting PDF to
"Field of Play".


> What is the best material to put down lines (on a tile floor)?

Probably masking tape is your best bet if it can't be permanent.
There's a blue variety which peels up more easily than common masking
tape, but it's fairly expensive. If all else fails, small objects can
be placed on the floor as guides to where on-guard lines are.


> Is there a standard thoughts (Schedule) for practice?

At least two and if possible three days a week for real progress, but
as far as days, nights, weekends and times that's up to your club...



> Should he let his blade do the talking or should he tell them his
> qualifications.

Again up to him, personally I'd go the former route.




> He line of
> thought - you start with foil- foil teaches you to think, to plan to begin
> to develop strategy.

This is a very common view with, IMO, not one shred of real validity.
"The basics" can be aquired as easily with sabre or epee in hand as
with a foil. A student with a preference for a specific weapon should
be allowed, nay encouraged, to start in that weapon. Those with none
can be started in the weapon with which the coach or teacher is most
comfortable giving lessons
( usually that works out to foil anyway, as foilists predominate and
thus most coaches teach foil the most, but you see my point ).

In article <4tadnXwXQtamx9aiXTWJhQ@accessus.net>, "C-Sports"
<csports@epconline.com> writes:

>Here are my questions-
>
>What are the exact dimensions for the strip?
1.5 - 2.0 meters wide by 14 meters long, not including run-off at both ends

>What is the best material to put down lines (on a tile floor)?
We have used gynasium floor-marking tape, available through an athletics
supplier. As an alternative, they may want to use 3M painter's masking tape
(the BLUE stuff), as it can be removed easily. Stay away from electrical tape
and regular masking tape. They should check to see if they can leave the floor
marked between practices if possible, as that will save a lot of time

>Is there a standard thoughts (Schedule) for practice?
My coach uses the following routine for group practice:

Footwork - 20-30 minutes. These should include individual drills AND partner
drills to emphasize both movement and maintaining good distance

Bladework - 20-30 minutes. Blade drills are done both stationary and then the
repeating the same action with movement (see footwork). These should be done
correctly, emphasizing correct body and hand position during the action, rather
than at bouting tempo. As their skills develop, speed will come over time.

Games/Restricted bouting and/or open bouting - remainder of practice. "Games"
should use actions practiced during the lesson. I would advise open bouting
only after the group has developed a core group of skills.

>Should he let his blade do the talking or should he tell them his
>qualifications.
Both. Tell them, and then show them to convince any doubting Thomases in the
group. He doesn't need to be pushy about it, but if he comes to pracitce with
his own gear, they probably already suspect he might know more than they do :>;

>Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

I started in foil so I guess I agree with you about foil actions providing a
foundation, but ultimately it doesn't matter. Perhaps it's a problem with club
shared equipment, and they don't have enough working foils, or lames? If your
son has any armory skills, he might want to offer to help them fix and/or
maintain equipment. (Warning - make sure he is showing OTHER people how to fix
equipment too, so that he doesn't become the defacto armorer :>) ).

Good luck!

"C-Sports" <csports@epconline.com> wrote


> What are the exact dimensions for the strip?

Go to www.usfencing.org, click on "Info for Fencers", then
"Documents", then "USFA Rule Book". Scroll down the resulting PDF to
"Field of Play".


> What is the best material to put down lines (on a tile floor)?

Probably masking tape is your best bet if it can't be permanent.
There's a blue variety which peels up more easily than common masking
tape, but it's fairly expensive. If all else fails, small objects can
be placed on the floor as guides to where on-guard lines are.


> Is there a standard thoughts (Schedule) for practice?

At least two and if possible three days a week for real progress, but
as far as days, nights, weekends and times that's up to your club...



> Should he let his blade do the talking or should he tell them his
> qualifications.

Again up to him, personally I'd go the former route.




> He line of
> thought - you start with foil- foil teaches you to think, to plan to begin
> to develop strategy.

This is a very common view with, IMO, not one shred of real validity.
"The basics" can be aquired as easily with sabre or epee in hand as
with a foil. A student with a preference for a specific weapon should
be allowed, nay encouraged, to start in that weapon. Those with none
can be started in the weapon with which the coach or teacher is most
comfortable giving lessons
( usually that works out to foil anyway, as foilists predominate and
thus most coaches teach foil the most, but you see my point ).

In article <4tadnXwXQtamx9aiXTWJhQ@accessus.net>, "C-Sports"
<csports@epconline.com> writes:

>Here are my questions-
>
>What are the exact dimensions for the strip?
1.5 - 2.0 meters wide by 14 meters long, not including run-off at both ends

>What is the best material to put down lines (on a tile floor)?
We have used gynasium floor-marking tape, available through an athletics
supplier. As an alternative, they may want to use 3M painter's masking tape
(the BLUE stuff), as it can be removed easily. Stay away from electrical tape
and regular masking tape. They should check to see if they can leave the floor
marked between practices if possible, as that will save a lot of time

>Is there a standard thoughts (Schedule) for practice?
My coach uses the following routine for group practice:

Footwork - 20-30 minutes. These should include individual drills AND partner
drills to emphasize both movement and maintaining good distance

Bladework - 20-30 minutes. Blade drills are done both stationary and then the
repeating the same action with movement (see footwork). These should be done
correctly, emphasizing correct body and hand position during the action, rather
than at bouting tempo. As their skills develop, speed will come over time.

Games/Restricted bouting and/or open bouting - remainder of practice. "Games"
should use actions practiced during the lesson. I would advise open bouting
only after the group has developed a core group of skills.

>Should he let his blade do the talking or should he tell them his
>qualifications.
Both. Tell them, and then show them to convince any doubting Thomases in the
group. He doesn't need to be pushy about it, but if he comes to pracitce with
his own gear, they probably already suspect he might know more than they do :>;

>Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

I started in foil so I guess I agree with you about foil actions providing a
foundation, but ultimately it doesn't matter. Perhaps it's a problem with club
shared equipment, and they don't have enough working foils, or lames? If your
son has any armory skills, he might want to offer to help them fix and/or
maintain equipment. (Warning - make sure he is showing OTHER people how to fix
equipment too, so that he doesn't become the defacto armorer :>) ).

Good luck!