What should parents know about bouts?
During the one-minute breaks in DE bouts, only one person is allowed to approach the fencer. Usually, that is the child’s coach or a knowledgeable team-mate who can give advice, in which case a water bottle and possibly a sweat-towel should be very near the strip where the fencer can reach it without leaving the strip. Coaching from the side lines, while not necessarily encouraged, is permissible, so long as the referee does not deem it disruptive. Parents may cheer, so long as the referee does not deem it disruptive. If is safest to cheer only after a touch has been scored, not while fencing is actively going on. Needless to say, it is never appropriate to boo the opposing fencer, or make comments concerning their fencing or conduct. Some children like having their parents audibly engaged, but some children fair better when their parents hang back and watch from a distance. Find out which helps your child more.
