From Last to First: A Parent's Guide to Fencing Success

by Jon Salfield, Daniela I. Norris

Overview

With the exciting sport of fencing steadily becoming more mainstream in the UK, US and around the world, parents are spending thousands each year to help and encourage their children to train and excel in this unique Olympic sport. Fencing can be a mysterious world to the uninitiated, and parents and young fencers will have many questions about the sport, the fencer’s potential and the dos and don’ts. From Last to First aims to answer all these questions and many more. Written by a team comprising Jon Salfield, a leading Youth Development and High Performance coach (London Olympics 2012), and Daniela I. Norris, an experienced author and fencing-parent of an international youth fencer, with input from Strength and Conditioning and Psychology experts, and a foreword from a multiple champion and highly-regarded author, it is meant for anyone who wants to know how to support their young fencer from the start of their fencing adventure, all the way through to success at international competitions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781789041347
Publisher:	Collective Ink
Publication date:	03/27/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

A former international fencer and professional musician, Jon was Team GB's sabre coach at London 2012. Jon is considered the most prolific British sabre coach of the modern era. He has coached teams to Senior, Junior and Cadet World Championships. He lives in Truro, Cornwall, UK, where he heads up the club that introduced him to fencing, Truro Fencing Club.

Daniela I. Norris, a former diplomat and political writer turned inspirational author and speaker, is the author of three books of non-fiction, two novels and a collection of short stories. When she doesn't write, read or sleep, she can usually be found at a fencing salle.

Table of Contents

Foreword Richard Cohen 1

1 En garde: Welcome to fencing 4

2 Ready: Some basic fencing rules 11

3 Fence: How does fencing work? 20

4 Environment and culture: Researching the best club and coach for your child 30

5 Dos and don'ts: How to support your young fencer 39

6 Positive communication: Getting along with your coach, fellow parents and club-mates 49

7 Winning versus improving: Relative Age Effect, playing the long game and avoiding shortcuts 59

8 Athlete responsibility: The importance of self-sufficiency 67

9 Sports psychology 101: Attitude, resilience and dealing with pressure 74

10 From local to national: Competitions, rankings and goals 84

11 International competitions: What to expect when you fence abroad 93

12 Fit to fence: Physiology, strength and conditioning, and nutrition 101

Conclusion 111

Glossary of fencing terms 113

About the authors 128