Can Sports Help Your Child in Business?

In today’s rapidly changing business climate stereotypes are also changing.  In the past, successful business people fell into two categories; the lone wolf or the team player.  Though equally respected and sought after by employers, these days business is more streamlined, and job seekers benefit if they are thoroughly comfortable in both roles.

The ability to thrive alone or as a team player is learned early in a child’s formative years.  The sports a child chooses can strongly impact that development.   Individual sports, such as tennis, gymnastics or golf, emphasize self-reliance, while team sports such as football, basketball or hockey, teach young athletes to co-operate and communicate well with their team mates.  Team sports can also foster mentor relationships between athletes, which is sometimes lacking in individual sports.

Fencing is one of the few sports that emphasize teamwork while simultaneously cultivating self –reliance.  According to Garrick Hu, a business consultant whose son is an Elite foil fencer at the Renaissance Fencing Club "Fencing fosters a unique approach to problem solving; fencers train as a team but are ultimately personally responsible for their results."

A quick look at a typical club practice illustrates his point.  Practice starts out with more advanced students leading the group in warm ups while encouraging and pushing newer students to higher levels of performance.  Coaches split the students into pairs and set them up with a drill.  This is where teamwork really comes into play.  In order for a drill to be beneficial they need to work together to set a rhythm and pace that works for both of them.

Practice bouts are where the students learn to think on their own.  Newer students are required to fence not just their peers but also more experienced fencers thus learning how to apply their newly developed skills.  After the bout, a quick review between the two fencers really helps develop communication and critiquing skills.

It all comes down to the tournament though where it is ultimately up to the student to perform alone.  Decisions have to be made individually and quickly during a bout which draws on the knowledge gained in team practice.

 For more information on fencing contact The Renaissance Fencing Club at 248-930-0747 or email renfencing@earthlink.net.  New classes are starting up the week of March 31st.