- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The tape line
- An en garde mark for the front foot
- A wall target
A card with the commands; no weapon.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Salute: stand tall, raise the hand to the face, then lower it toward the other fencer.
- "En garde": step into the fencing stance. "Ready": stay still and ready.
- "Fence": start to move. "Halt": stop and stand still at once.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Salute.
- Act each call: en garde, ready, fence, halt.
- Wait for "fence", not "ready".
- Stop the moment you hear "halt".
How much: 6 rounds
Wait for fence
Referee's call
The rules
One child referees and the others act each call; anyone who moves at the wrong time loses a point.
- Everyone stands on the tape line
- The referee gives the calls, sometimes pausing a long time after "ready"
- On "fence", everyone steps forward and back on the spot; on "halt", everyone freezes
- 6 rounds, then a new referee
Fair play: A grown-up loses 2 points for each wrong move.
- Points
- Each player starts with 6 points; the referee takes 1 away for each wrong move.
- Fouls
- Lose 1 point: moving on "ready" instead of "fence"; moving after "halt"; forgetting the salute
- Win
- The most points left after everyone has had a turn as referee.
- 3
- 5
- 6
The child does the commands correctly 5 times in a row.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
Saved in this browser only. Next time, "What should we practise today?" picks up from here.