Come and try. WARNING: it could be a lifelong commitment
I don't know if this is a problem in other clubs or sports but there seems to be a definite challenge in managing the transition between fencing beginner and fencing regular at my club. We do quite well in getting 10-12 people along for a beginner's course over six weeks and they seem to enjoy it but then after the course is done 95% of them never come back, which is frustrating. As a mid-level coach at the club one of my jobs is to work with fencers of an intermediate level and encourage their continued participation in the sport but if not many stay to intermediate level then it's a bit tricky! So I wonder if we could do better and here's my reasoning:
Beginner's course: is this the wrong title? Are we giving the impression that once you've done it you're a fencer? Shouldn't we be terming it an introductory course? This would make more sense to me and the course should give the impression that there are years of learning and development that can be undertaken subsequently. In Karate you are aware that a black belt (or even the next belt) is not coming soon, that there will have to be significant study and practice before they are achieved and also that this is the natural order of things. I think that sometimes modern sports are guilty of bowing to the 'quick dip/smorgasbord/tapas/mezze' culture in which people want a brief experience of the activity and then tick it off. Well, guess what? Some things can't be mastered or experienced in twelve weeks. In fact fencing can't really begin to be understood in that time. You have to manage the basic moves instinctively before you can understand the complicated ones and then you can start thinking about strategy. And that's another few years worth of work.......
Which weapon? Here's a conundrum for any club; how to introduce the weapons and in which order....... Maybe clubs should have a 'mask of sorting' a la Harry Potter which tells the budding fencer which weapon they should pursue..... Traditionally fencers tend to start with foil and I think this is the right move. Foil is arguably the most complex weapon in terms of convention and provides a good introduction into the world of fencing. Once a fencer has got some time in with the foil they can think about diversifying. If a fencer is introduced to the weapons early enough they can then decide where they want to go ambition wise, rather than gravitating away from foil because the other weapons 'look better' or seem 'easier'. I feel it's a good idea for club weapon Captains to get involved with new fencers as soon as possible to introduce themselves and their weapon and spot any potential future competitors/team members.
Progression of learning: it's important to show people that there are loads of techniques to come and get them on the hook intellectually and provide them with something to look forward to. Fencing knowledge develops over a long period and is not to be taken lightly in terms of the challenge and achievement it can give people. It's not all about awards but they can help.
Physical challenge: I feel that sometimes we overlook the physical demands of fencing as a sport in favour of the 'swordy' aspect. Years of fencing have ensured I have remained flexible and in reasonable shape and this is a positive benefit that we may not give enough emphasis to; after all, there are some people out there who like keeping fit!
Healthy competition: fencing provides an almost unique style of competing against another person. If the student is initiated into the skills of combat carefully and sensibly there are many positive experiences to look forward to, with an ongoing developmental challenge as the student develops. Quite often students can get thrown into the deep end and this can be potentially off putting if the student is not used to one on one contact sport.
History lessons: fencing has a huge history to turn to when it comes to engaging the imagination but do we as a sport make enough capital out of it? The odd historical anecdote can enliven any lesson and also stimulate a desire to learn more within a student.
I haven't got the definitive answer to my self posed question of how to keep beginners coming back, but thinking about it is pretty important for the future. Any thoughts out there in the blog-o-verse?
Beginner's course: is this the wrong title? Are we giving the impression that once you've done it you're a fencer? Shouldn't we be terming it an introductory course? This would make more sense to me and the course should give the impression that there are years of learning and development that can be undertaken subsequently. In Karate you are aware that a black belt (or even the next belt) is not coming soon, that there will have to be significant study and practice before they are achieved and also that this is the natural order of things. I think that sometimes modern sports are guilty of bowing to the 'quick dip/smorgasbord/tapas/mezze' culture in which people want a brief experience of the activity and then tick it off. Well, guess what? Some things can't be mastered or experienced in twelve weeks. In fact fencing can't really begin to be understood in that time. You have to manage the basic moves instinctively before you can understand the complicated ones and then you can start thinking about strategy. And that's another few years worth of work.......
Which weapon? Here's a conundrum for any club; how to introduce the weapons and in which order....... Maybe clubs should have a 'mask of sorting' a la Harry Potter which tells the budding fencer which weapon they should pursue..... Traditionally fencers tend to start with foil and I think this is the right move. Foil is arguably the most complex weapon in terms of convention and provides a good introduction into the world of fencing. Once a fencer has got some time in with the foil they can think about diversifying. If a fencer is introduced to the weapons early enough they can then decide where they want to go ambition wise, rather than gravitating away from foil because the other weapons 'look better' or seem 'easier'. I feel it's a good idea for club weapon Captains to get involved with new fencers as soon as possible to introduce themselves and their weapon and spot any potential future competitors/team members.
Progression of learning: it's important to show people that there are loads of techniques to come and get them on the hook intellectually and provide them with something to look forward to. Fencing knowledge develops over a long period and is not to be taken lightly in terms of the challenge and achievement it can give people. It's not all about awards but they can help.
Physical challenge: I feel that sometimes we overlook the physical demands of fencing as a sport in favour of the 'swordy' aspect. Years of fencing have ensured I have remained flexible and in reasonable shape and this is a positive benefit that we may not give enough emphasis to; after all, there are some people out there who like keeping fit!
Healthy competition: fencing provides an almost unique style of competing against another person. If the student is initiated into the skills of combat carefully and sensibly there are many positive experiences to look forward to, with an ongoing developmental challenge as the student develops. Quite often students can get thrown into the deep end and this can be potentially off putting if the student is not used to one on one contact sport.
History lessons: fencing has a huge history to turn to when it comes to engaging the imagination but do we as a sport make enough capital out of it? The odd historical anecdote can enliven any lesson and also stimulate a desire to learn more within a student.
I haven't got the definitive answer to my self posed question of how to keep beginners coming back, but thinking about it is pretty important for the future. Any thoughts out there in the blog-o-verse?
posted by Dave at
1:04 PM
4 Comments:
In my club, we also teach a six week “Introduction to Fencing “course. We retain about 1 out of 4….2 out of ten….something like that. “Retain meaning they come back and fence in a regular class. They may last for two months or they may last for years.
As for what weapon, we may try to guide them, but we let them choose. As weapons are divided by days of the week (Example: Wednesday is epee night.), sometimes the day may make the difference for students or parents of students. (Please note: we are a very small club with all volunteer coaches and most of our students are between 10 and 15.)
I tend to think of the kids as “fencers” the minute they pick up a blade. I never thought of it any other way.
As for retention being good for the sport, obviously this true, however, I tend to think of it as “touching the future”. You never know when a beginner student who dropped out may take it up again. Maybe they are young and will do so again in college. Perhaps they are like me and will pick it up later in life. I am sure you have looked at young students and wondered if they might coach later in life. Might their children fence? You just never know. You do know that your drop outs have a higher understanding of fencing than when they came in. This is helping the sport and who can say how it may touch the future.
Thanks for this TGE, very interesting comment. I particularly like your expression regarding 'touching the future'. I've always said that as a coach I am in the business of introducing people to a potential life long activity. It certainly changed my life when I started fencing and opening up the possibilities for other's should always be part of the coaches' ambitions. I am always particularly pleased when a student takes coaching exams as then I feel that I have really extended my tradition to the next generation....!
FWIW, the step from beginner group to the next is almost the most difficult one and the one where you loose most members, in all martial arts I've been exposed to. Perhaps in all kinds of activities?
Some of these people just weren't ment to be fencers, they tried it and said OK I'll do something else. Regarding the rest of the bunch, I'd suggest arranging something at the end of the course to make them get to know some other people in the club. Bring a bunch of more advanced people to the beginner class, let them show what it looks like when people are good, then let the advanced people try and play nice with the beginners... am I out of line here? since I am used to a kohai-sempai structure, where the seniors in a way always are responsible of taking care of their juniors. This is very crucial in Japanese culture, but we Westerners sometimes feel and behave more like we are buying a service from the coach/teacher and/or the club.
Some budo clubs I know of don't do beginner classes, but throw beginners direction into regular class. This takes a specific design of the regular class, where basic stuff is practised by everyone at the same time, and perhaps that part of the class is divided according to level. When there's no beginner classes it attracts fewer beginners - but retention rates are higher. I never figured out if this version of club structure actually is better att making people stay, or if it simply is those who join a beginner class but won't join a mixed level class, who won't stay.
Thanks for your comments Kontakt, there are many very good points here. I too have been ruminating about the kohai/sempai model and how it could be applied in a fencing club and I think you have nailed the issue with your point regarding our western culture of 'service charging'. A lot of people would shy away from the implied responsibility of such an arrangement in my opinion but I've got great respect for it as a system. I may post more on this subject........
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