Help: Time between pools and DEs?

[Victor]

It's taken me forever to finally realize (accept?) that part of the bigger game of fencing, the competitive environment itself, is that we must deal with a long, long wait between seeding pools and direct elimination bouts. I think I've been to two big tourneys in the last four years in which I had to wait less than 90 minutes from my last five-touch bout to my first 15-touch DE.

The killer part of the wait (for me) is not knowing how friggin' long the delay is going to be. There's no way to predict or adequately gauge how well-organized the event is. The problem scales up quickly with the number of competitors. ... For example, say after pools you're seeded 2nd (or 127th!) in a 130-person tourney. If they're taking the 15-touch bouts in order down the DE 'tree', you're going to be the last bout in that first round. Assuming you win, you've got to wait until the end of the next 32-bout series to fence again. That's worst-case, of course; I know that the wait between rounds is just as bad for everyone else, regardless of when the DEs actually start for anyone.

So how do you handle the wait? How do you keep warm, focused and slightly aloof between bouts so that you're not wastefully spinning out your energy with anxiety OR you're not cooling down too much and losing interest altogether?

I'd like to hear from some mid-level fencers on the way up. Because I've observed that a lot of elite-level competitors have perfected their game preps to such a degree over time that they can barely remember the struggles they faced anymore, or they're 'natural' competitors who don't put much conscious thought into it anyway.

(My fantasy solution: Leave the building between bouts and have someone page me a few minutes before I'm supposed to fence. ... Aint gonna happen, but I like the idea just the same.)

[Tireur]

catch some sleep

[Zelda]

A book and my discman. Or food. Generally I dont really talk....but sometimes I can be prevalved upon to score a bout or two. I also recheck all my weapons for weights and make sure I have not misplaced anything.

[neevel]

Well, wearing my armorer hat, I'd say that taking care of any gear that went down in the pools, and checking that all your other weapons are passing weight & shims and working smoothly is a good use for some of that time. It will ensure that your equipment is one thing that will not distract you from fencing.

Beyond that, it's going to be different for everyone. Some people do best by maintaining some level of focus all through the wait. Others can keep themselves relaxed by chatting during the wait, listening to music, or catching a quick nap. Taking in a proper amount of fluids and 'grazing' on appropriate foods is a good idea. If you have a bye through the first round of the tableaux, an obvious thing to do is to go watch the bouts of fencers you may be coming up against. Keep track of the progress so you know who your opponent will be. Go support teammates or friends who are fencing their bouts. You might also pay some attention to fencers you're likely to encounter after your first bout (but be careful not to start thinking ahead too much and take the first bout for granted). If you know who your referee is going to be, you may want to watch them and see how they're calling actions. As it gets close to your first bout, it's time to start doing whatever physical and mental warm-up exercises you need to do, and maybe get a preparatory session with your coach (if present).

-Dave

[pkt]

Originally posted by Victor
...

The killer part of the wait (for me) is not knowing how friggin' long the delay is going to be. There's no way to predict or adequately gauge how well-organized the event is. The problem scales up quickly with the number of competitors. ...

I'd like to hear from some mid-level fencers on the way up. Because I've observed that a lot of elite-level competitors have perfected their game preps to such a degree over time that they can barely remember the struggles they faced anymore, or they're 'natural' competitors who don't put much conscious thought into it anyway.

I agree with Tireur:
Catch come ZZZs. esp. if I had to travel eastward...
But then nowadays, I end up watching other refs ref...

If you watch enough westerns or samurai movies, you'll notice that they try to sleep between fight.

Just like Clint Eastwood's "man with no name" said, "If there's going to be shooting, I got to catch up with my sleep." or something like that.

If you're one of those people who can't fall asleep easiy - poor saps - learn to relax or meditate. Just don't get too wasteful of your energy.

Originally posted by Victor
...

(My fantasy solution: Leave the building between bouts and have someone page me a few minutes before I'm supposed to fence. ... Aint gonna happen, but I like the idea just the same.)

Wouldn't that be nice!?

I think if one's been in the shoes of the organisers, or one innot so good physical shape, one'd learn to appreciate the time-out.

PK

[Hyperion1250]

How to pick up chicks: Viking style
1. Grab female in question by the legs
2. Throw over shoulder
3. Continue Pillaging

Really though, i just chill. Get some food maybe, or talk with some friends. Fixing equipment is also a must....

[qatet]

Eat, drink, armor, etc. My main struggle has been learning to stock up on energy for the DEs.
I used to have trouble sitting. I would go check how other teammates had done, or cheer them on in their next bouts, or run to make sure that my team was supplied with everything, that everyone was eating, drinking, etc. My junior year in college I tried to stop doing that. Finally I learned to knit, which forced me to sit between pools and DEs. If there's some relatively brainless activity that you can pick up and put down easily, I vote for taking that up. Knitting, I can watch other folks fence, I can watch how the refs call stuff, and I would be annoyed to have to pick my stuff up and move, so I simply don't.
Mind you, now I seem to get drafted to ref, to help with strips that are funky, to help with BC, so now I'm back to trying to find ways to stockpile energy. The more things change. . .

[swordsen]

Eat and drink. Not heavily, but eat and drink. Cover up, relax, watch the fencing, nap a bit if you feel the need. (but be sure to wake up well before you restart) Be sure to check all of your weapons, etc. Now, don't wait for the last minute. Make sure you get some warm up in before you tink they are going to start. don't wait till they post the strips. Unless you are pretty sure you are going to be one of the last bouts)

[fence1848]

Well, one thing you should NOT do (and anyone who has tried can probably vouch for this) is to go up to the bout commitee table and ask them how long it will be until DE's start. You will most likely be THWACKED upside the head.

But, that was not your question. As you mentioned, there is now way of telling how long it will be, so you might as well come up with something to do in the meantime. I would suggest resting/eating/drinking for a few minutes, then ask someone if they want to spar to stay warmed up. Fence a 5 touch bout, then relax, then maybe ask someone else.

However, if the DE tableau has been posted and you know who your oponent is, I would highly suggest NOT warming up with someone in your quarter of the bracket. You really don't want to give a potential opponent too much time to figure out your game.

Just a few thoughts on the subject.

[Inquartata]

Originally posted by pkt

If you watch enough westerns or samurai movies, you'll notice that they try to sleep between fight.

Just like Clint Eastwood's "man with no name" said, "If there's going to be shooting, I got to catch up with my sleep." or something like that.

You do realize that these are FICTIONAL characters, right? Those techniques were invented by writers who have probably never had the problem themselves....

Myself, I tend to wander about, thinking, keeping warm but not really exerting myself, and when the opportunity presents itself grousing about the long wait to anyone who will listen. ( Usually, they are doing the same thing. ) Only if the break bids fair to be VERY long, ie hours, will I eat anything. Sleep is right out.

[Tireur]

Only if the break bids fair to be VERY long, ie hours, will I eat anything. Sleep is right out.

I guess for some, the tension is just too great.

[Inquartata]

Nah. I just have trouble sleeping anywhere there's a lot of light and noise, unless I'm completely exhausted.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I end up just watching my friends fence, eating a little, and staying loose. Only once have I slept, but that was cuz I was dead tired and was the #2 seed, thus I didn't fence for a good 45 minutes.

[Tireur]

Nah. I just have trouble sleeping anywhere there's a lot of light and noise, unless I'm completely exhausted.

That's what towels are for, putting over your head. At least that's what they told me.................

Only once have I slept, but that was cuz I was dead tired and was the #2 seed, thus I didn't fence for a good 45 minutes.

Exactly, take it when you can get it. Back before DEs were the thing and we fenced pools all the way, if you were in the final, you had been at it for 19 hours or more.

[pkt]

Originally posted by Hyperion1250
How to pick up chicks: Viking style
...

I remember back in the 70s and 80s, when the Vikings and the Steelers were in the Super Bowl
[BTW, the CFL - the Cdn version of the ULTIMATE game's been around a lot longer than the US version. The 2004 playing for the Grey Cup in Ottawa will be the 94th year... http://www.cfl.ca/CFLGreyCup/home.html
- That should get some reaction...]
The two team management had diametrically diff't approach to quarantining the players:
The VIKINGS would quarantine their players one or two weeks before the Super Bowl.
The Steelers would let the players lead their normal life.

Guess which team won more often over the other.

PK

[The0ne]

I put on the warm-ups, fix equipment, and then basically stay moving, just walking around watching bouts, etc. In tournaments, I'm so ready to go that just standing still doesn't work. And I eat a Balance Bar.

[Tireur]

And I eat a Balance Bar.

Vomit! Give me a cheeseburger and a jumbo Coke....

[whtouche]

Usually during the break, Ill talk to friends and watch fencing if there's any going on. Any fencing. If there's no sabre going on Ill watch foil and epee. The ideal situation is watching fencing while talking to friends. Im usually not very hungry, but will eat something right after pools to give myself time to metabolize it, just because I know if I don't eat anything Ill probably be feeling it later. Also try to rehydrate. I can't sleep or read or anything during tournaments, fencing doesn't make it tired in that way. If you got ample sleep the night before there shouldn't be a reason you need to sleep between pools and DEs, tho this could be a personal preference and have never really been able to take naps in the middle of the day.

[telkanuru]

Ah, the memory of that 32 person DE that took 4 hours to finish is flooding back... Sleep is definitely good, especially when aided by a CD player, ear plugs, or somesuch implement of auditory impediment. For eating, I always found that MinuteMaid lemonade is a nifty thing to have between bouts, and it's readily available at the local club for my consumption (I admit it, the latter influenced the former), but I assume tastes differ from person to person. Just something to keep the energy up. Also, when I know I'm 2 DEs (or so) away from fencing, I warm back up by doing a bit of footwork and perhaps some minibouts with a teammate, as I would if I was waiting for pools.

[neevel]

Originally posted by Tireur
That's what towels are for, putting over your head. At least that's what they told me.................

But that's just for dealing with Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Trall.