|
Post by schlager7 on Oct 30, 2010 8:35:49 GMT -6
Some will have received emails, others may have learned of this via the Facebook grapevine. For the rest, I am sad to report that the Katy Blades, at least in their current form, are closing.
I wish them well and hope they have success re-organizing. The far west side of the Houston area needs a fencing club.
|
|
|
Post by fox on Oct 30, 2010 8:58:03 GMT -6
I don't think nearly enough fencers realize how much constant, ongoing work is applied to keeping a fencing club going. Whenever a club fails, the surprise should not be that it did close, but that it lasted as long as it did.
Good luck, Katy Blades. I hope you can re-form and set up shop under new conditions.
|
|
|
Post by grace on Oct 31, 2010 13:49:47 GMT -6
It is more work than most folks can imagine... BUT it is so much fun! I certainly hope that while this door closes, another opens for Katy Blades.
|
|
|
Post by katyblades on Nov 15, 2010 19:09:45 GMT -6
The economics of the clubs require an USFA tournament a month to be viable or a very aggressive marketing strategy. I decided I did not have to pay to teach fencing, and with the current USFA strategy any club will be very differently organized. I won't be aggressive in marketing new members for the USFA, and will be very selective.
I have been too successful in building this other organization during a worse economic cycle during the same period, and don't see expecting different results in this environment as the way to go. I will be contacting the Greg and the USFA office to let them know the issues facing local clubs. It was a factor of the club costing me serious money in opportunity costs, and that finally became an unfeasible option.
|
|
|
Post by schlager7 on Nov 15, 2010 23:20:09 GMT -6
I would state that depends on the type of "club" one needs to be. CLFC has only averaged 3 tournaments per season, yet since 1993 we have survivied several changes of venue and a hurricane. We are not a large organization like Salle Mauro or Alliance, but 17 years is nothing to sneeze at.
Come to think of it, the Spindletop Cavaliers have a longer run than us in Beaumont/Port Arthur with only rarely holding a USFA tournament.
Even Salle Mauro and Alliance do not hold a USFA tournament per month.
|
|
|
Post by Aldo N on Nov 16, 2010 19:13:01 GMT -6
The economics of the clubs require an USFA tournament a month to be viable or a very aggressive marketing strategy. Forgive my ignorance. IS there a club in Texas holding 12 USFA tournaments per year?
|
|
kb
Squire
Posts: 261
|
Post by kb on Nov 16, 2010 21:49:14 GMT -6
Close to it.
Check out AskFRED.
|
|
|
Post by Aldo N on Nov 17, 2010 1:35:35 GMT -6
I'm lost. Where should I be looking on FRED?
|
|
|
Post by joevisconti on Nov 17, 2010 9:40:20 GMT -6
If you combine all of the "Lepie clubs" and their tournaments together, you come pretty close, probably 6-8 per year. I'm including SYCs and ROCs in this.
Actually, for years Salle Mauro rarely held local tournaments. Their concentration was sending their fencers to NACs and World Cups.
|
|
|
Post by katyblades on Nov 17, 2010 20:49:20 GMT -6
I should really clarify myself. I am tired of getting mediocre results compared other sports similar because of the restrictions we place on ourselves.
Mauro, Andrey, Khariton, Ilaxei (sp?)have all done very well given the restrictions, but we should be ashamed of ourselves based upon how other sports do that are similar.
I just left the 3rd sanctioned event this week, and will attend two more by Sunday in a similar sport. The difference is that I estimate 5,000+ participants in the Houston Area, and 10 - 12 years ago this sport was virtually non-existent by coaches standards. Their business model was many events to get as many participants as possible. Our results versus theirs is terrible. We are mediocre at best. Maybe that is the goal of many in our sport, but it is not mine. I will focus my energy in ways were I can be productive. Growing the sport of fencing in this environment will result in poor results at best.
I will log in again in a week and give clues as to what sport has kicked fencing's but in the same time-frame, and has more participants than I see in both men's and women's divisions. Try 5 tournaments/meets in an 9 day period in fencing. Gross.
|
|
|
Post by Aldo N on Nov 17, 2010 21:53:08 GMT -6
My guess would be that he is referring to soccer.
|
|
|
Post by katyblades on Nov 20, 2010 10:10:26 GMT -6
Further update:
I was at a "rookie" competition last night with 300 or so males. This would be 11/19/2010, and the 4th competition in less than a week. Very similar to fencing, in that the other parents told me to bring a book. I was able to be very involved with the competitions although I knew nothing. I helped in ways that I appreciate my parent helping.
Next matches/bouts were posted on the wall by projector, so we could tell when the next match was. It was just like a fencing competition, exciting and boring at the same time. Another competition just two days after the last one, and if there will be another next Tuesday. There is one on Saturday but not for him. Amazing. There would also be one on Thursday or Friday next week if not for Thanksgiving.
It is not soccer. This sport is individual and team. It involves hand signals and I have very little idea how the scorng is held. It is very similar to fencing in manner ways except for this:
It was not in this area when I was a youth (same as fencing). I am guessing 5,000 participate now after 15 years of growth. The coaches all are young,mid-30s, and they are the ones that have started the programs and the growth. They insist on this type of schedule for growing their sport. Each of these events are sanctioned.
I can just tell you it has worked. It has taken many of these organizations working together, and an organizational body that grasps his concept.
Fencing should be ashamed. I brought in over 20 epeeists to the Call to Arms in 07 for mixed epee, and now there were 28 in the event. I will have to leave it to others to take up the introduction of others to fencing in Katy, and focus on my current students and sports that are growing.
I did get my USFA donation letter today. Did anyone else?
|
|
kon
Moniteur
Posts: 65
|
Post by kon on Nov 21, 2010 22:36:38 GMT -6
Further update: I was at a "rookie" competition last night with 300 or so males. This would be 11/19/2010, and the 4th competition in less than a week. Very similar to fencing, in that the other parents told me to bring a book. I was able to be very involved with the competitions although I knew nothing. I helped in ways that I appreciate my parent helping. Next matches/bouts were posted on the wall by projector, so we could tell when the next match was. It was just like a fencing competition, exciting and boring at the same time. Another competition just two days after the last one, and if there will be another next Tuesday. There is one on Saturday but not for him. Amazing. There would also be one on Thursday or Friday next week if not for Thanksgiving. It is not soccer. This sport is individual and team. It involves hand signals and I have very little idea how the scorng is held. It is very similar to fencing in manner ways except for this: It was not in this area when I was a youth (same as fencing). I am guessing 5,000 participate now after 15 years of growth. The coaches all are young,mid-30s, and they are the ones that have started the programs and the growth. They insist on this type of schedule for growing their sport. Each of these events are sanctioned. I can just tell you it has worked. It has taken many of these organizations working together, and an organizational body that grasps his concept. Fencing should be ashamed. I brought in over 20 epeeists to the Call to Arms in 07 for mixed epee, and now there were 28 in the event. I will have to leave it to others to take up the introduction of others to fencing in Katy, and focus on my current students and sports that are growing. I did get my USFA donation letter today. Did anyone else? Paintball?
|
|
kb
Squire
Posts: 261
|
Post by kb on Nov 22, 2010 12:16:32 GMT -6
Martial Art of some sort?
|
|
|
Post by katyblades on Nov 23, 2010 22:24:42 GMT -6
Two excellent guesses, but no cigar.
I was at another sanctioned competition tonight, with about as many participants as in the Call to Arms.
It is an Olympic Sport, sadly not one of the "elite" sports very similar to fencing. They just have another approach.
I have not seen the same competing group twice in any of the 5 competitions in past 8 - 1 days. Many these competition groups did not exist 10 - 15 years ago based on those who know, (I don't pretend to). This was definitely not available in Rosenberg where I grew up, although neither was fencing.
Don't think one of the sports like soccer that has all the youth push. I won't have competitions to report until about a week now because of Thanksgiving. Tonight's competition was at our club.
When you look at where this sport is compared to fencing it really shows what can happen when the right strategies are implemented. It also shows the potential that fencing has but is unrealized.
|
|
kb
Squire
Posts: 261
|
Post by kb on Nov 24, 2010 8:18:54 GMT -6
Handball? So why is it a big secret?
|
|
nemo
Blademaster
mobilis in mobili
Posts: 729
|
Post by nemo on Nov 24, 2010 9:42:53 GMT -6
Curling, obviously. (The clue was that it was rarely done in Rosenberg, TX in the 70s!)
|
|
|
Post by schlager7 on Nov 24, 2010 10:02:26 GMT -6
Not much of a clue. Burling (since nemo mentioned curling) also had little presence in Rosenberg in the 1970s... not that anyone in Rosenberg is big into it now... Fencing should be ashamed. I brought in over 20 epeeists to the Call to Arms in 07 for mixed epee, and now there were 28 in the event. College club tournaments are inherently uneven from year to year due to the turnover of experienced personnel. The original Cougar Call to Arms and all subsequent ones until just a couple of years ago were held on Labor Day Weekend. A 2-day tournament on a 3-day weekend at the very start of the competitive season. Just three years back or so the epee event was an A4 with a bit under 70 competitiors... In an A4 letters are awarded down to 48th place, meaning it was so strong some lost their first DE and still got a letter! The whole event was huge. What changed was management and the schedule. Davis Jno-Finn who had the experience is no longer the person who runs that event. They have new people who have to learn how to hold a tournament from near-scratch. Also, please don't tell me it is the job of the division to step in, take control and make it all better because: 1.) That would probably offend the organizers; 2.) They really should at least ask first (allowing they want the help). They do have the right to fail in order to learn. One of the biggest factors, however, is that the tournament moved from Labor Day weekend. That was an incredibly sweet date! (A 3-day weekend that had NOT been claimed by a NAC!) They can build it up if they want. If they work at it. There have been plenty of major tournaments that have disappeared completely (Franks Memorial, Weider Memorial, Bragging Rights) or winked in and out (Van Buskirk) over the years. How successful a tournament will be is a matter of the skill, will, guts (sometimes you have to take chances) and work ethic of the organizers. Give them a chance.
|
|
|
Post by katyblades on Nov 26, 2010 7:37:34 GMT -6
Three more good guesses, but not even close. This sport is not obscure, but would not normally be associated with many participants.
With Thanksgiving, there is not a competition until Wednesday. There are competitions that are available to participate in, we just chose not to this weekend.
The referee or official will signal scores with the associated hand of the competitor, and participants and parents can see the score on a device similar to the LEDs in a fencing scoring box.
Team scoring is added and displayed for a composite total. The team scoring is more similar to fencing team events that I witnessed in the 1980s than the 2000s. Winning a match/bout gives more points, but the individual points can make a difference.
As to the Call to Arms, John misses my point entirely and goes a different direction. If I had brough a similar number to this event there would have been approximately 45. This would not have been based on the weekend, but available USFA fencers or interested USFA fencers. I had outfitted approximately 7 - 10 fencers entirely that competition. My feelings for fencing are the same as the US government, let the local clubs schedule and deal with it. Direction from the division is definitely not working.
By being free not to participate in a failed and failing process, I am able to enjoy my fencing time more. I appreciate being set free.
|
|
|
Post by fox on Nov 26, 2010 8:26:47 GMT -6
I agree that it is best for fencing to be nurtured at the club level. Even so, most clubs I encounter are either doing all they can just to hold themselves together on a month-to-month basis.
Sadly, after nearly 60 years of involvement in the sport, my experience has been that the really successful clubs are totally focussed on their own success. This is likely why they are successful, but the result is that they do nothing to grow fencing but much to grow their own bank accounts and personal glory.
|
|
kb
Squire
Posts: 261
|
Post by kb on Nov 26, 2010 9:25:41 GMT -6
The referee or official will signal scores with the associated hand of the competitor, and participants and parents can see the score on a device similar to the LEDs in a fencing scoring box. Ah-don't know why you just didn't say boxing to start with. I wouldn't classify it as a 'minor' Olympic sport. I thought it was a huge thing in the Olys. Very popular. Okay, more popular than fencing, but still not as obscure as curling or (for us) biathlon. And so much more of a 'real' macho sport than fencing. ( -just kidding folks!)
|
|
nemo
Blademaster
mobilis in mobili
Posts: 729
|
Post by nemo on Nov 26, 2010 9:39:23 GMT -6
kb, you know wayyyy more about boxing than I. Anything you'd care to share? ;D
|
|
|
Post by joevisconti on Nov 26, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -6
Just from what I can see, fencing is not grown at the local level by divisions or clubs. It always comes down to the efforts of individuals.
For instance, many speak glowingly (or disparagingly) of the South Texas Division's approach, but what they are really talking about is Oscar Barrera's approach.
Some are best at publicizing fencing and getting it in front of the public. Some are better at firing up those beginners that might just as easily drop out. Some get beginners to near elite level and draw local attention and inspire. Others are always there to help struggling clubs. Still others excel at pushing fencing into areas of their community where it had previously no presence (boyscouts, handicapped, seniors, etc).
Fencing has plenty of work on all of these fronts.
|
|
|
Post by seguin on Nov 26, 2010 12:23:42 GMT -6
With all due respect to thread drift, do we know what has become of the Katy Blades?
|
|
|
Post by Dan Gorman on Nov 26, 2010 22:59:50 GMT -6
Katy Blades is looking for a new home after the rent went up at the mall. They're fencing in someone's driveway until that happens. I'm not sure if Auggie gushing over the organizational skills of a different sport means his involvement in the club has changed, but I'm pretty sure he's still working with a core of the students at the least.
The rest of the thread is idle speculation about what Auggie's talking about.
Dan
|
|