support staff

[anotheranon]

Was talking to long-time fencing bud A. at practice last week. He and I started competing at about the same time (3ish years ago) and he just got his first medal and was just tickled about it!

He told me that the big difference for him this time was that a mutual friend of ours, C., went with him to provide logistics/moral support: keeping track of water and snacks, and strip-coaching when needed. For him, not having to worry about things outside the bout at hand helped him concentrate on his fencing.

I get that - I really do. Badger has said "half of success is being there", but "being there" can eat a lot of brainpower: getting all of your equipment together/in working order, getting accurate directions to the competition site, procuring/remembering snacks and drinks, etc.

I think this is one area where young fencers have a slight advantage over adult fencers who are often going it alone. If they're under 16 their parents have to drive them, so they wind up having someone on hand to perform a lot of this support work. I've met a couple of really spectacular parents who understand the scoresheet (PDF) well enough to keep track of it as well as the logistics above, as well as provide a pat on the back/cheer of encouragement when needed.

For Nationals I've only qualified for one event, so I've offered to be a "gofer" in these capacities for my clubmates who are doing multiple events. Don't know if anyone will take me up on it, but I've seen how having help can take the load off.

Comments

Support Staff

[(Anonymous)]

For my first couple of competitions, when I started up again about 5 years ago, my goals were simple: show up early, with all my equipment, at the right place. Early because I needed to breathe deeply and get used to the venue in order to NOT PANIC. Results were beside the point. Now that I have gotten more comfortable, and more ambitious, it is more complicated. I am fine with the logistics--I actually find the mundane acts of packing, keeping track of equipment, keeping score--very grounding and comforting. What helps me (though it embarrasses me to admit it, even to myself) is a cheering section. All my best results, I ruefully observe, have occured when someone is "in my corner" making encouraging noises and yelling generically helpful things (when appropriate) like "don't rush!" and "tickle bite!" (it's a badger thing). My coach disapproves--he feels everyone should be self-sufficient. But I don't really believe people exist as individuals--we are all part of some group, some larger system. In this context, part of a club, a fencing family. And I do better when my family is there to support me.

--Badger

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

FYI, I'm finally starting Monday night. The local club prez e-mailed me & said they couldn't get a beginner class going until July, but if I wanted to join they could try to "work me into the mob". So, I'm going to the intermediate class Monday and the prevot is going to work with me one-on-one on some basic drills while the president leads the rest of the class.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yay for you! Do let me know how it goes - you're jumping in in the middle!

Re: Support Staff

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I can see where the cheering might help - sometimes it's just nice to hear and feeling happy on the strip really helps performance :)

I like a bit of strip coaching, because it's nice to offload strategic processing and stay in the zone because my switch back and forth from game to analysis is still slow. I genuinely don't know what to make of cheering when it's aimed at me - it feels like pressure to perform though I know it's not supposed to.

If you need a cheering section @ Nationals, let me know (see above) - I'll even grab water :)

Re: Support Staff

[(Anonymous)]

There are not many people who can actually strip coach me (my college coach, Harutunian, is one) but I love it when someone comes out during the DE breaks, hands me water, and pretends to talk very intensely, gesturing expressively and pointing at my opponent while quietly talking utter nonsense. Lynnette and I do this for each other occasionally. ("Now I am going to SWEEP my arm up--you nod seriously and look menacingly at your opponent.")

Re: Support Staff

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Lemme know if I can ever help you out in this capacity - I'm really good at arm sweeps!