Fall is upon us and the world is winding down. That means that summer sports are also starting to wind down, as the rain starts and the temperature dips a bit. Kids who have been active all summer have started to dig into their schoolwork and to think about putting...
What a strange word "knickers" we use in the US for fencing pants, right? For British fencers, for example, "knickers" means female underpants. But in North America it's almost synonym of nobility! To be honest, looking at the dirty fencing knickers of my kids, with...
One of the most confusing areas each year is the qualification path for different age groups of fencers. That’s not because of a deficit on your part - it’s because the rules are constantly changing. You barely have a chance to get yourself familiar with last year’s...
Part of AFM’s ongoing series "Misconceptions About Fencing" We think of fighting as a boy kind of thing. Boys fight, girls talk, right? It’s a misconception that seems to just hang on no matter how times change. But fencing isn’t just for boys! Girls get all of the...
Fencing is really more than just a sport - it’s a passion! Why do we love it so much? Here are 15 serious reasons to love fencing: 1. The history The rich history of fencing is something that is a wonderful draw to the sport. Swordfighting has been around for...
One question that we get asked constantly is about the role that fencing plays in helping kids get into college or to succeed in college. Every parent thinks constantly about their kid’s future, right? We certainly do. For most of us that means focusing on how we can...
A question that’s not unusual for us to hear, especially from families who are relatively new to fencing, is this one: “Is my child a fencing genius?” People want to know RIGHT NOW whether their child is a fencing prodigy, or even just naturally gifted at fencing,...
One of the things that we see all of the time at competitions is Gatorade. It’s literally everywhere! Even during Summer Nationals this drink was in high demand, with signs all over. High profile athletes drink it, and it sure has some high and mighty scientific...
So often we find it difficult to even find the words to say to help our children to feel good about themselves, especially those high achievers who put so much effort into everything that they do and who you find yourself being proud of so much of the time. Parents...
Summer is fast coming to a close, and soon both the school year and the start of the fencing season will be upon us! That makes now a great time to put into place some practices that will help your family and your young fencer to keep balance in life, reducing stress...
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