Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

New York, NY (August 2022) — The new fencing season is days away from starting. You’re excited to get back into the rhythm of lessons, classes, and competitions. You want to show off the skills and progress you made over the summer. But what are you working toward?

The Importance of Goal Setting

Setting goals is a critical part of having a successful season. It’s important to determine what you want to achieve in the season and beyond as an athlete and competitor.

Goals should be both short-term and long-term. If you ultimately want to fence for a college team or make Team USA and compete internationally, hitting steps along the way like medaling at a NAC or winning an RYC will help you to stay on track. For less experienced fencers, goals could range from besting a certain opponent, earning a specific number of touches at a competition or simply reaching a skill level that allows for a first competition.

Setting big-picture goals give you the leeway to map out step-by-step accomplishments — a checklist of smaller goals — to reach along the way. I can safely say no youth fencers will make the Olympic team this year, but steps can be taken to reach the milestones along the way.

Planning is a Team Effort

Goal-setting starts with the fencer. What do they want to achieve? Coaches and parents should be brought into the process once the fencer has some idea of what they want to achieve.

For younger fencers, the process should start with the coaches. The Tim Morehouse Fencing Club coaches have experience at all levels of fencer development. They have valuable knowledge young or less experienced fencers can benefit from. Set a time to discuss what goals are attainable for the season.

There Are Many Different Types of Goals

Depending on the experience level, personal situation and experience level of each fencer, there are many different kinds of goals you can set.

For the youngest fencers, goals can be as simple as being on time for a lesson or being prepared with their gear. Beginning fencers may want to reach a level where they can compete. Goals for adult fencers could be as simple as regularly making classes. Competitive fencers may want to try to compete using specific parries or types of footwork.

I break them down into goals of passion, learning, hard work, participation and knowledge. The next article in this series will discus the specific Types of Goals You Can Set in depth.

Now is the time to start thinking about what kind of a season you want to have. Mindful planning will allow you to have a great and productive season.