Lineups for the fence another formation exercises

Line formations are excellent for large groups in which all of the fencers will be simultaneously engaged. However, not all parts of all fencing training sessions meet this criterion. How then do you work with two students, or five, or when you want to execute one or two repetitions of a skill and move on to the next fencer? There are formations that do this well and that allow considerable flexibility in your instruction or training.

First, it is important to understand when you want to use an alternate teaching or training formation. For massed drills, the line formations remain the best choice. You can operate a basic paired line formation with as few as two students, and a single line also with two. The key is that for continuous activity for all students, the line formations offer the maximum repetitions.

However, if you need to provide direct attention by the master or a student tutor for a small number of repetitions with rest intervals, the line formation is not optimal. In these cases, semi-circular, one-on- two, or queue formations may provide variation and better training.

In each case the Master faces one fencer at a time for a small number of repetitions (as few as one, and preferably not more than five). Small numbers of repetitions are driven by the need to keep the fencers energized and engaged in the drill.

The semi-circular formation places the master in the center of an arc, preferably no more than a half-circle. If there are more students than can be accommodated in a tight half-circle, assistant coaches or student tutors should be used to create additional semi-circles.

The master works with one fencer for the appropriate number of repetitions, and then pivots to work with the next fencer. The first set of repetitions can be delivered by going from fencer to fencer in order. After that rotation, however, I recommend that movement from fencer to fencer be random, both in the number of repetitions and in the order in which the fencers are worked.

The one-on-two formation places the master between two fencers, each at the appropriate distance for the skill being exercised. The student on one side executes the appropriate number of repetitions with the master. Then the master pivots in place and works the other student. This formation obscures the drill sequence used with one fencer from the other, making each engagement essentially unpredictable for the student.

When the master works quickly in training mode, the length of the drill for each student approximates the fencing interval of a single long phrase or the rest period between halt and fence (depending on whether the fencer is working or resting). The value of this exercise can be increased if you insist that the students use the rest time to visualize the technique or to go through their standard mental drill for the period between "halt" and "fence."

The queue formation is commonly used in queue drills, but can also be used for small group instruction. In this formation, the fencers form a line with the master working with the fencer at the head of the line, one fencer at a time. When the fencer completes the task, he or she steps to the rear of the line. The term queue comes from British use, and suggests a line at a bus stop or for admittance to a public event.

I prefer to address this formation as a conga line, because a conga line, named after the line of participants in the conga dance, suggests that there is a rhythmic flow to the line, rather than the stop, wait, start of the queue. When the fencers participating in the formation have reasonable proficiency in the skill being worked, the flow of fencers through the line should be rhythmical and quick. Long lines and waiting are to be avoided; they result in boredom and loss of focus on the exercise, especially among younger fencers.

Drills using each of these formations succeed when four critical things happen:

The master works quickly,
The number of repetitions is low and tightly controlled,
Movement from fencer to fencer is rapid, with no time allowed for the fencer to wake up and come on guard from an inattentive position, and
The master communicates a sense of the focus and stress of competition.

When you design drills for your fencers remember that a drill is an intentional mix of a skill to be taught or practiced, distance and timing, the degree of interaction by the master, and the formation used to maximize repetitions and performance outcomes. The choice of formation is an important part of designing the drill. Make sure you choose the drill formation that will give your fencers the best outcome.