Fencing requires speed, strength, balance and a very sharp (and quick) mind!  Strategy is constantly in the forefront as is reaction time.  Sound familiar?  Virtually every sport in the true sense of the word requires all of these skill sets.  I might even go as far as saying fencing is “more” of a sport than some of our more “mainstream” sports.  I’ll leave that open for debate, so talk amongst yourselves.

Fencing actually began thousands of years ago as a training method for soldiers to use their swords in battle.  Now, in a much more civilized version, individuals can compete and duel on a 6′ x 40′ strip with one of several swords (foil, epee or saber).  Individual fencers gain points in their bouts which are then added to their teams totals, very much the way it works in wrestling and other team sports.  Fencing is another example of “sport”, where you compete on your own, but you are working with your teammates for overall team victory.  As competitive sports go, fencing is one of 4 sports that has been represented in every Olympic Games since 1896.

To assist the “common folk” who, like me, simply don’t get the terminology, here is a list of the basics involved in fencing.  For more in depth learning, I would greatly suggest any one of the outstanding team, association or olympic websites out there (i.e. – USFencing.org , etc.).

Advance - Taking a step towards one’s opponent.

Attack - Movement or series of movements by which a fencer tries to score a point. In foil and saber, the fencer who attacks first     acquires the “right-of-way.” In order to execute a attack properly (i.e. one that the referee will acknowledge), the fencer’s hand must be clearly extending towards their opponent’s valid target in a threatening manner.

Beat - Sharp tap on the opponent’s blade to initiate an attack or provoke a reaction.

Bout - The actual “game” between fencers.

Disengage - Evasive action in which the fencer avoids the opponent’s attempt to take their blade.

Engagement - Contact between the fencers’ blades – often as the prelude to an attack.

En Garde - Position taken before fencing commences.

Epee - “Freestyle Fencing” -  The epee (pronounced “EPP-pay” – literally meaning “sword” in French) is the descendant of the dueling sword, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a stiffer, thicker blade and a larger guard.

Feint - A false attack intended to get a defensive reaction from the opposing fencer, thus creating the opportunity for a genuine attack (“feint-disengage attack”)

Fleche - Explosive, running attack (Foil and Epee only)

Flunge - Action unique to saber – a combination of a lunge and a fleche. Evolved recently after the FIE modified saber rules in 1992 to prohibit running attacks.

Foil - “The Sport of Kings” – The foil is a descendant of the light court sword formerly used by nobility to train for duels. It has a flexible, rectangular blade approximately 35 inches in length and weighing less than one pound.

Guard - Part of the weapon between the blade and handle; protects the hand (also: “bell-guard”)

Parry, Counter-Parry - Defensive action in which a fencer blocks his opponent’s blade.

Lunge - Most common attacking technique, in which the fencer launches themselves at their opponent by pushing off from their back leg (which generally remains stationary).

Opposition - “Thrust with Opposition” – To simultaneously deflect the opponent’s point with one’s guard while making an attack of one’s own. Commonly used in epee to avoid a double touch.

Piste - French term for the fencing strip.

Point-in-Line - Action in which the fencer, who is generally out of attacking range, points their weapon at their opponent with their arm fully extended. A fencer who establishes a point in line has right of way, and their opponent cannot attack until they remove the blade from line by executing a beat.

Recover - The return to the en guarde position after lunging.

Remise - Attacking again immediately after the opponent’s parry of an initial attack.

Riposte - Defender’s offensive action immediately after parrying their opponent’s attack.

Sabre - “Hack and Slash” - The saber is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword. As such, the major difference between saber and the other two weapons is that saberists can score with the edge of their blade as well as their point.

Second Intention - A tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing, yet false, action in hopes of drawing a true, committed reaction from their opponent.

Stop Hit, Stop Cut (saber) - A counter-action made at the moment of an opponent’s hesitation, feint, or poorly executed attack. To be awarded the point, the fencer attempting a stop hit must clearly catch their opponent’s tempo. Hence, if their Stop Hit is not “in time,” the referee may award the touch to their attacker.

Strip - Fencing area, 14 meters long by 2 meters wide.

ViewMySport.com helps promote young fencers as athletes looking to take their sport to the next level.  Be it college, association, club, etc.  If you know a fencer looking to gain exposure, send them to www.ViewMySport.com and have them create a “free” fencing profile, complete with photos, stats, highlight videos, etc.  It’s easy to do and even easier to share the finished product with coaches.

* For more High School athletics and college recruiting / scholarship assistance, visit:  http://www.ViewMySport.com/

In sports and life, each of us face pressure moments; at some point we all struggle with adversity. Mental toughness is the trait that will help us play consistently under pressure and cope with hardship.¹

You must prepare and train in ways that actually plan for future pressure moments and adversity. Mental toughness is not just a “game day” concept, nor is it a “have it or not” mentality. The mind is a muscle; you can enhance your mental toughness the more you work on it.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to assess your own level of mental toughness:

1. How strong is my passion for the game?
If you are mentally tough, you are totally passionate about the game. It is difficult at times to really enjoy the tough practices and workouts, but passion for the sport always drives your commitment toward improving and strengthening your resolve.

2. Do I believe in myself?
When you believe in your coaches, your teammates and yourself, you develop a level of trust. At some point, when you encounter adversity, doubt may enter your mind, but having confidence in yourself will help you overcome it. Also, during pressure moments, you will be confident enough to want the game on the line.

3. Can I let go of mistakes easily?
Mental toughness means not letting mistakes bother you. Sure, you will get upset when you mess up, but re-focusing and re-grouping before the next play is an essential element of mental toughness.

4. Do I make my teammates better?
If you are mentally tough, you will make your teammates better. This requires you to be a good teammate, even when you are not playing your best. Your attitude and behavior rub off on your teammates. You need to assess how to make others better.

5. Do I make good decisions off the field?
Mental toughness means staying disciplined in your off-the-field decisions. John Wooden, legendary basketball coach at UCLA, said that mental toughness is about our “character as a person,” not just our ability to make plays.

Mental toughness can be developed in all areas of our lives. However, it means rigorously addressing the above questions and committing to improve. This article offers a way to assess your current level of mental toughness.

1. Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). “What Is This Thing Called Mental Toughness? An Investigation of Elite Sport Performers.” Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14(3), 205-218.

Dr. Rob Bell is the owner of Dr. Rob Bell, LLC in Indianapolis, helping athletes, coaches, teams and parents build mental toughness. He is a certified sport psychology consultant with The Association of Applied Sport Psychology. He also works as a caddy on professional golf tours. His first book, Mental Toughness Training for Golf, was published in 2010. A prolific writer, Dr. Bell has been published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Journal of Athletic Insight, Journal of Sport Behaviorand Encyclopedia of Sports. He writes extensively on the mental game—for, among others, Runner’s World, The New York Times and STACK  magazine—and he has been a presenter for numerous teams, schools and organizations. Dr. Bell earned his B.A. in psychology from Shepherd University; his M.Ed. in kinesiology, with a specialty in sport psychology, from Temple University; and his Ph.D. in sport psychology from the University of Tennessee.

National Letter of Intent Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the National Letter of Intent?

2. What happens if I sign a National Letter of Intent and then decide to go to a different college?

3. Can a college or university reduce or cancel my scholarship during the academic year?

4. How long does a scholarship last and can the college cancel my scholarship after the first year?

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an institution in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student-athlete who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student-athlete’s agreement to attend the institution for one academic year. All colleges and universities that participate in the NLI program agree to not recruit a prospective student-athlete once he or she signs an NLI with another college or university. Therefore, a prospective student-athlete who signs an NLI should no longer receive recruiting contacts and calls and is ensured an athletics scholarship for one academic year. The NLI must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement. If the prospective student-athlete does not enroll at that institution for a full academic year, he or she may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residence requirement.

Please note that the NLI program is administered through the NCAA Eligibility Center office.  Specific questions regarding its application should be directed to the NLI office at 877/262-1492. Additional information can be obtained through the NLI program Web page at www.national-letter.org. Please contact the NCAA membership services staff at 317/917-6222 if you have further questions.

Breach of NLI by Student-Athlete Prior to Initial Enrollment, Practice and Competition in Order to Attend Another Institution If you sign an NLI, you are committed to attend that institution for your initial year of collegiate enrollment. If you do not attend the signing institution or attend that institution for less than one academic year and you enroll in another college that participates in the NLI program, there may be eligibility ramifications. The basic penalty may preclude you from representing the second college until you have completed one academic year in residence at the latter institution and you may lose one season of competition in all sports.

For further information, visit the NLI Web site (www.national-letter.org)

You work very hard in practice, during the games, in the classroom and in your community.   Make sure you are also working “smart” when it comes to getting recruited and get familiar with a few terms thrown around during the recruiting process.   If you are going to try and play sports at the collegiate level, then I suggest that you “and” your parents take a few moments to KNOW these NCAA recruiting terms:

Contact

A contact occurs any time a coach has any face-to-face contact with you or your parents off the college’s campus and says more than hello.  A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing.

Contact Period

During this time, a college coach may have in-person contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college’s campus.  The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school.  You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you during this period.

Dead Period

The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents at any time in the dead period.  The coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Evaluation

An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate your academic or athletics ability.  This would include visiting your high school or watching you practice or compete.

Evaluation Period

The college coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations with you or your parents off the college’s campus.  You and your parents can visit a college campus during this period.  A coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Official Visit

Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college.  The college may pay the following expenses:

• Your transportation to and from the college;

• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and

• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Prospective Student-Athlete

You become a “prospective student-athlete” when:

• You start ninth-grade classes; or

• Before your ninth-grade year, a college gives you, your relatives or your friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to students generally.

Quiet Period

The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college’s campus.  The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period.  You and your parents may visit a college campus during this time.  A coach may write or telephone you or your parents during this time.

Unofficial Visit

Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents.  The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.  You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time.  The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Verbal Commitment

This phrase is used to describe a college-bound student-athlete’s commitment to a school before he or she signs (or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent.  A college-bound student-athlete can announce a verbal commitment at any time.  While verbal commitments have become very popular for both college-bound student-athletes and coaches, this “commitment” is NOT binding on either the college-bound student-athlete or the school.  Only the signing of the National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties.

With so many high school student-athletes pursuing athletic scholarships, the competition for offers is extreme!  What is absolutely amazing is how many of these recruits and their parents have never heard of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)………simply put, it is the “NCAA” for smaller college programs.  Not only are there a lot of colleges under the NAIA, but they offer the coveted “full-ride” scholarships as well!

The NAIA is a community of nearly 300 member colleges and universities, 60,000 student-athletes and an environment that focuses on athletic participation as one part of the total education process.  Their members award millions of dollars in financial aid each year, compete for 23 national championships in 13 sports and offer a wide selection of academic and athletic programs.

The key to a successful summer workout regime is to not just work hard, but work “smart”.  Don’t start day one 100% full-throttle, as your body needs to adapt.  Give yourself a couple of weeks to get used to the heat.  Consider shortening the time, due to the intense heat.  If you typically do a workout for an hour and a half, shorten it to no more than an hour.  If you jump right into intense workouts and you’re not ready, you could risk heat exhaustion, cramping and major fluid loss.

A lot of running and conditioning drills are the focus during the summer.  Outside, you can run as short as 40 yd sprints and as far as 100 yd sprints, which means your hamstrings need to be ready for the long strides.  Be sure to focus on proper stretching and strength training in order to be ready.

A huge misunderstanding is that training during the hottest time of the day helps condition and build more endurance.  This is far from the truth.  The sun is strongest in the middle of the day.  If you choose your workouts during this time, you can be overpowered and risk serious injury or even death.  You should plan your workouts in the early morning, ending it no later than 11:00, or in the evenings, around 7:00 since the sun is going down.

Another thing you should take into consideration is what you wear.  I’m not talking about making a fashion statement, but proper material that helps keep you cooler and allow optimum motion.  You don’t want to wear any dark colored clothing, as it absorbs heat and can really break you down.  Wear any light-colored material made from the sweat-wicking technology, as those fabrics pull the moisture from your skin and promotes keeping you cooler.  The good news is that almost every manufacturer makes this type of gear now, so the price is affordable for everyone.

The most obvious thing to focus on is hydration.  It’s a pretty simple concept, but one that is not properly addressed or simply ignored all together.  If you don’t take in fluids, not just the right amount of fluids, but the right “type” of fluids as well, you run the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  Be sure to take water breaks every 15 minutes and drink “water”.  Have a sports drink (i.e. – Gatorade, Powerade, etc) after your training session.  Then drink water the rest of the day until you go to bed.

But, it’s true!  Milk, in general, is a healthy source of Vitamin D, Calcium and protein.  Chocolate Milk is loaded with added sugar, cocoa, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, all of which are spent and needs to be replaced after high intensity workouts.  The taste is great and it is much cheaper as opposed to those special “replacement” fuel drinks sold online or in health stores like GNC.

Now notice I said “high intensity” workouts….. I’m not saying every time you take a flight of stairs, you gulp down a carton of chocolate milk.  Remember, you are replenishing all of the minerals and carbs that the body needs to refuel.  If you haven’t spent those minerals and carbs in your workout, then drinking chocolate milk will simply give you the result of eating a Twinkie!  Just like any training regime, make sure you are being smart with what you are putting in your body, before, during and after your workouts.  Typically, we’re talking about long distance runners, swimmers, cyclists, etc. or that type of workout for other athletes.  You need high levels of calories, carbs and protein to sustain that level of peak performance.

By the way, if you’re still wanting to be weight concious, you can always op for the low-fat chocolate milk!  Either way, you can’t lose!  Just remember, this is a resource to take in directly after a strenuous workout, not later that night, etc.  It’s best to have while you are in a “recovery” or rest period after your activity.

When it comes to high school sports, remember, these are KIDS!  At this level, they’re supposed to act like they’ve NEVER been there before!  Encourage the fun aspects of playing sports!  Now, I’m not saying that they should celebrate and “act the fool” every time they make a tackle, score a point or swim a lap.  As a matter of fact, you see way too much of that behavior at the professional and collegiate levels!  Talking about acting like you’ve been there before!

Basically, high school sports have become corrupted by their professional counterparts.  Now, instead of just recruiting for colleges, scouts are out on the playground recruiting for high schools.  Of course, they don’t call themselves recruiters, as that would violate the rules of high school athletics.  Instead, they are just folks “persuading” 13 year olds of the future they could have playing “big time” high school sports.  “Come here and you can be a star!”

It’s understood that sports at the college level creates quite a bit of revenue for that particular college and of course, sports at the professional level is pure money for entertainment.  To put the same emphasis on high school sports is horrible.  High school sports should be fun, competitive and a platform for young student-athletes to develop, not just physically, but also mental toughness, team work, decision making, committment, comradarie, etc.

Don’t confuse the “fun” attitude with a non-committed or immature attitude towards sports by the student-athlete.  They obviously should take things serious, as far as focus and dedication goes.  Also, there is a certain amount of maturity needed, as it is part of the process of being recruited by colleges for a scholarship.  For many, sports may be the ONLY way to get into college.  The key is that you CAN be a serious high school athlete AND have fun and a love of your sport at the same time.  After all, that is how all athletes started out, as a young kid just “playing” sports for fun!

For example, you have a 13 year old volleyball player.  She’s already 5′ 11″, can sky and spike like a pro, quick on the court, great setting skills and aggressive.  It’s obvious she has it all.  But as she works to get better with her game, her future is already being planned “off” the court.  She already stars for her club team and no doubt will soon be the star on her high school team.  True, volleyball may be her path into college, but hopefully she will not forget, in the midst of all the hoopla, the reason she first started to play at the Y every weekend was because she simply loved the game…….