Being a referee is one of the very important ways that a young fencer can learn to master the sport. It’s a fantastic way for young fencers to take on some additional responsibilities and for them to learn more about the sport of fencing. The level of knowledge and understanding that a young fencer gets from refereeing is on a much deeper level than what they’ll get just by fencing!
Calling the rules vs. being called
Young fencers who start refereeing learn to see the game differently. Suddenly it’s not just them against a singular opponent – it’s much more of them seeing the bout of the two fencers as they work against one another. More than anything, refereeing a fencing match gives young fencers perspective. When you’re in a fencing match, especially as a young person, you’re so focused on winning that you can’t see the whole of what’s happening on the strip. A referee, on the other hand, has a much wider perspective than just seeing this one aspect of the strip. This completely changes how a fencer understands fencing!
Fencing is a sport of the mind, much much more than it is a sport of the body. We learn early on in fencing to control our minds so that we can control our bodies more effectively on the strip. It’s something that fencing coaches talk about, something that elite fencers focus on.