WHY FENCING?
How Will Fencing Benefit My Child?
Fencing provides physical and cognitive benefits.
Students describe fencing like a physical "game of
chess." It takes strategy and quick reflexes. Your
opponent can make an attack in any number of ways
and your defense needs to come in a split second, and
in the next split second, you've got to make your attack.
Fencers learn good sportsmanship, self-discipline,
gain quick reflexes and how to compete independently.
They gain a sense of accomplishment when winning
and learn to profit from their defeats. They learn to make
complex decisions, analyze problems, and think fast on
their feet. These ideals help children reach their
potential in many areas other than fencing.
• They are active and doing something, not being
passive receptacles for programming beamed out from
the TV.
• Fencing helps children get fit – you can’t “sword fight”
without a good bit of movement!
• Educators are discovering that fencing can enhance
mathematical performance.
• Fencing helps children learn to pay attention and to
develop their decision-making abilities.
• Fencing helps people with ADD and ADHD to focus.
• Because fencing is an individual sport, the fencer is
solely responsible for their success or failure, which
becomes a great lesson in responsibility.
• At the same time, being a member of a fencing club
gives the fencer an opportunity to participate in a group
setting, where friendships are made and true sports-
manship is encouraged.
• Finally, many great colleges have fencing teams and
are always looking for experienced fencers. While
scholarships are few and limited to top-level
competitors, having fencing on your college resume
provides you with another way for your child to market
themselves.
Taken in part from: "A PARENT’S GUIDE TO FENCING 2007
EDITION," Page 3.
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From Columbia University's Website:
"The college applicant who is also a fencer becomes
an athletic "recruit." A recruit certainly has many
advantages over the non-fencer. There are also,
however, certain problems that can become
bothersome for the recruit. You, the recruit, should know
what to expect from a school to which you are applying
and what the coach of that school may and may not do.
Good colleges are looking for good students who will
contribute to their college. Each year, some straight A
students with 1600 SAT's are rejected by colleges (don't
worry, they get in someplace) because they have little to
offer; they simply regurgitate information . . . they have
no creative spirit. The fencer is unique. The fencer
brings experiences that enrich the college, just as an
accomplished poet or violinist do. This is the type of
person Admissions Directors like to have represented in
their stacks of applications. Being a fencer is a distinct
advantage for the college applicant.