The Fencing Competition Master Plan is an audio-guided video, enhanced performance routine for fencers. It includes a narrated PowerPoint tutorial
and text files. Available at Amazon.com
Stripside
Coaching
The effective coach will fill a variety of roles
and possess a multitude of skills -- spanning
tactics, training and travel planning, as well
as, the nuts and bolts of equipment and
nutrition. Stripside coaching is probably one of
If so a better approach might be to focus on
tactical concerns -- either adjusting tactics
to fit the fencer ’s comfort zone, or finding a
way to renew the fencer ’s confidence in the
established tactical plan.
skills. Lying at the interface of tactics and
Communication Plan
psychology, its goal is to convey critical
Once “what to do” is identified, the coach
information in a short period of time with the
becomes a communicator. The importance
coach and athlete under extreme pressure–
of crafting the right message can not be
clearly not a task to be taken lightly. However,
underestimated. Simply put, the right
despite its potentially dramatic impact on
message is a compromise between what the
bout performance and the formidable skill
“situation calls for” and “what the athlete can
set it requires, stripside coaching is seldom
receive and act on.” As a general rule: the less
discussed, studied or systematically trained.
time available, the greater the pressure and
Instead, its development is left to each
the simpler the message must be. Good advice
coach’s intuition, trial, and error.
addresses “root causes” rather than calling
attention to the most obvious aspect of the
Stripside coaching, like any skill, is improved
problem. The timing of the message, while
by a systematic approach to training. This
a seemingly small detail, merits planning
requires an examination of fundamental
especially in a noisy venue. Usually this works
concepts of tactical decision making and
best when the fencer indicates she is ready
communication, the development of a
to listen and positions herself accordingly
comprehensive plan, and a repeating cycle of
(e.g., near the coach’s location, face-to-
review and revision. On game day, this begins
face positioning). Lastly, the receipt of the
with a series of tactical analyses and is followed
message should be confirmed, with the fencer
with a step-wise communication plan.
being sure to indicate when communication is
not clear. This small step helps insure that the
The first level of tactical analysis provides a
rendering of what is happening in the bout.
This requires a comprehensive assessment
of the technical, tactical and psychological
aspects of the bout, and should consider the
behavior of the fencer, her opponent and the
official. From this follows an understanding
of what general measures may be taken to
neutralize an opponent. A second layer of
analysis cross matches the skill set of the
fencer being coached with the broader set of
possible tactical options. This phase should
consider both the technical abilities and
psychological state of the fencer. The best
advice considers “root causes,” that is the
underlying factors driving performance. They
can be one in the same, but often are not.
For example, the athlete may be fencing with
uncharacteristically poor technique. If calling
attention to technique does not solve the
problem, there may be an underlying “root
cause” to address. Consider the possibility
that indecisiveness in tactical execution, leads
to hesitation, and hence poor technique.
3. Redundancy aids reception. Sending
information along multiple information
channels can make the message more clear
and complete. Behaviors such as hand signals
which mime actions are particularly useful
in loud venues, or when the fencer is having
the most critical and complex of all coaching
Tactical Analysis
Dr. John Heil
work of the analysis bears fruit.
Psychology of Communication
Sometimes the best message is a
psychological one. The mind is like a “funnel”
that narrows under pressure, limiting
the information that can be received and
potentially rendering the best advice useless.
When the fencer is performing poorly,
addressing emotional state by instilling
calmness and confidence can open the
“funnel” to tactical information.
difficulty processing verbal information.
4. Positive language works best. Saying “what
to do” is a one-step process. Saying “what not
to do” requires at least two steps: Thinking
about the wrong action, then coming up with
an alternative. Under pressure the fencer may
get stuck on the first step. Negative language
can be used but should be done so sparingly.
5. Coach’s feelings are a message. They may
be conveyed directly through words, and
indirectly through tone and expression. Under
pressure, fencers may pick up the emotional
component of the message better than the
content (“what to do”). Conveying trust and
confidence helps the fencer receive and use
the content. Negative emotional displays
by the coach may inadvertently convey lack
of trust and confidence. The single most
important message is that the coach has
confidence in the fencer ’s ability to win.
6. Recognize and accommodate individual
differences. There is no “one size fits all”
message. Appreciating what, when and how
to communicate with each fencer is the most
complex and most critical aspect of strip
coaching. At the competition, the coach must
adjust to the fencer, and not the other way
around.
In providing guidance stripside, the coach
comes closest to the competition physically,
viscerally, and tactically. Successful
performance demands the heart of a fencer,
the mind of a general, the insight of a
psychologist and the steely resolve of the Zen
master. Clearly this is a skill worth working on.
Some communication guidelines follow.
1. A message has a sender and a receiver.
Both need to be working on the same set
of assumptions for communication to be
Originally published as Stripside Coaching in
effective
Click the link below for the full version of
2. Information moves along multiple
channels. The spoken word says “what to
do”, while tone of voice, volume, etc. add
feeling to message (positive or negative.),
with additional feeling conveyed by facial
expression and body language.
American Fencing Magazine, Summer, 2009.
Stripside Coaching available as a DVD and as
a spiral-bound book at:
Amazon.com
Mind-Body Relaxation for Fencers is an audio-guided video enhanced mental training program to manage intensity control. It includes a narrated
PowerPoint tutorial and text materials. Available at: Amazon.com