How to Tournament: A Parents’ Clinic
In order to use AskFRED to register for events, all users must have a registered and successfully confirmed user account.
Registration closes October 4, 2025 — in about 18 days
Online Payments Not Accepted
Please join Brighid & Eric Moret at 2:15pm to get all your questions as the parent of a fencer answered, with particular attention to tournaments - from local events up to the national level.
Parenting is tough enough on its own. When you mix in a bit of competitive sport, high energy, and exhaustion, it can become an emotional roller coaster for both the parent and child.
A bit of planning and early expectation management - for your kid and for you - can go a long way in making that roller coaster end with excitement rather than meltdown.
Whether you're a parent that's completely new to the sport, an experienced fencer yourself but new to having kids in the sport, or you've even been a sherpa / chauffer for a couple seasons and curious if there are things to consider or improve - all are welcome.
Brighid & Eric have more than 50 years of combined experience as fencers, coaches, referees, and tournament organizers in addition to being the parents of two competitive youth/cadet fencers.
The clinic will begin at 2:15pm, shortly after the DCFC Saturday classes wrap. Kids are welcome, but keep in mind it's a group discussion focused on the parents.
In preparation for the clinic, we do ask that you fill out this brief 9-question questionnaire: How to Tournament: A Parents' Clinic Questionnaire
We will cover
Intro & general benefits of competition
the Mechanics
- equipment requirements and recommendations
- tournament planning & preparation
- competition flow & competitor/spectator etiquette
- levels of competition and qualification paths
the Philosophy
- some thoughts on college aspirations and general misconceptions
- support & resources that can be expected at various levels (coaches & organizational)
- fencer progression & recommended best practice
- (most importantly) the Role of the Fencing Parent
Bring any and all questions you have regarding the sport of fencing, tournaments, or the logistics therein.