Every season, I watch the same movie play out. A young fencer of eight or nine years old wins a few local tournaments, maybe even places at a regional. This child’s parents are ecstatic while the other parents notice and predict that that kid is going to be something...
A few weeks ago, USA Fencing published something that I've been waiting for — fencing safety in numbers. This is real data on fencing safety, Not anecdotal evidence, not comparisons to other sports based on small studies, but a comprehensive analysis of more than...
We've talked a lot about how important it is for our children to have real joy in their sport. That results come and go, but joy is the main factor driving those results. Many parents I've talked to nod their heads in understanding, but frankly it's hard to really...
When I watch the Winter Olympics, I can't disconnect myself from my role of a sports parent. While the Olympic Games is the highest possible scene in sports, a pinnacle of sport achievement for selected few, the work, the drama, the emotions, high or low, the triumphs...
Like many Olympic fans around the world, we watched with held breath hoping to see the breakthrough performance of the Quad God Ilia Malinin. We literally stood up when he stepped on the ice, waiting for his ascent to the Olympic top with his final routine. The first...
In the previous post, I gave an overview of the international fencing competition structure. Now let's dive into the first category: Cadet (Under 17) and review Cadet International fencing competitions. If your fencer has been doing well nationally - maybe medaling at...
You've probably heard terms thrown around at your club or at national fencing tournaments, such as NACs or Summer Nationals: "World Cups," "Grand Prix," "Zonals," or "Cadet World Cup." Maybe your fencer has started asking about international fencing competitions, or...
I’ve written a lot about consistency, showing up and the power of the weekly rhythm in fencing training, including reviewing Andre Agassi's memoir Open from that angle. Agassi dedicates hundreds of pages to this same theme—he showed up to practice, day after day,...
In the last week, three families independently approached me for advice about school truancy letters regarding their children. What triggered them was that each family received a threatening letter from their respective schools about their children's unexcused...
In the past, during December, I used to think about a post I'd publish on New Year's Eve or January 1st. While being quite good posts, mostly these were New Year Resolutions posts - the standard fare about goals, commitments, transformation. But knowing my own habits,...
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