Top Ten Things A Parent Should Not Do At A Tournament
10. Do not argue with the director or interfere with the bout.
9. Do not antagonize other coaches, fencers, or spectators.
- This is not the way to have your questions regarding the bout answered.
- More importantly, your fencer will be concentrating on what you are going to do next, instead of on his/her upcoming bout.
8. Do not publicly criticize your fencer's coach or teammates.
- The time for evaluation is after the tournament.
7. Avoid putting pressure on your fencer to win.
- Each fencer puts more than enough pressure on him/herself.
6. Don't demand a specific result in a bout or tournament.
- Your fencer has his/her own goals in the sport.
- Winning can be achieving a personal best or exceeding the number of touches that he/she expected to score on an opponent.
5. Don't talk all the time.
- Your fencer needs to prepare with minimal distractions.
4. Don't get your fencer caught up in extraneous details.
- If you think that the venue is too hot, too cold, etc., politely tell the tournament
organizer. Don't complain to your fencer.
3. Avoid comparisons between your fencer and other fencers.
- Training schedules, warm-up routines, etc. vary widely.
- The time to ask your fencer,"Why don't you train like that?" is not during a tournament.
2. Avoid giving negative feedback to your fencer.
- Unfortunately, it is easy to relieve your own anxiety and stress by telling your fencer that he/she did something wrong.
- If your fencer has made an error in judgment during a bout, he/she already knows it.
1. Don't try to be your fencer's coach.
- There are three major roles in fencing: the fencer, the parent, and the coach.
Each role has separate responsibilities and obligations.
- Your primary responsibility as a parent is to provide support and encouragement for your fencer.