Impressions from the USFCA Conference this weekend?

[MdA]

Just curious. Any comments from those who attended the USFCA Coaching Conference and clinics this past weekend in Lambertsville NJ?

[Goldgar]

Just curious. Any comments from those who attended the USFCA Coaching Conference and clinics this past weekend in Lambertsville NJ?

Correction: it's "Lambertville", not "Lambertsville".

I certainly enjoyed the conference a lot, but then I might be considered biased, as it was hosted by my club. We certainly had a great turnout.

[MdA]

Correction: it's "Lambertville", not "Lambertsville".

I certainly enjoyed the conference a lot, but then I might be considered biased, as it was hosted by my club. We certainly had a great turnout.

How many coaches attended? Do you have any idea how many passed their exams?

[Goldgar]

How many coaches attended? Do you have any idea how many passed their exams?

I don't have an exact count of attendees. I have the impression we had more than 90, but I'm not sure. I don't know about the exams yet.

[Allen Evans]

I would be very surpirsed if there were 90 people there. Perhaps in total through the week, but I don't think there were more than 35 on any given day.

I know that two of the Moniteurs passed their exams.

Allen

[Goldgar]

I would be very surpirsed if there were 90 people there. Perhaps in total through the week, but I don't think there were more than 35 on any given day.

I'm inclined to agree with you, that not everybody attended all days. I could be wrong about the 90+ total figure, but I think that was what someone told me.

[MdA]

So what about the presentations? ..and the presenters? I heard one comment that some of the presenters were teaching people how to fence and not teaching coaches how to coach.

How 'bout some feedback?

[eekoloops]

As a first time attendee I was very impressed by the presenters and the number of people who attended. I believe that the number given to me was 70+, which seems right in that the Saturday luncheon was sold out and they had room for 50 and lots of people still wanted to attend.

During a sabre presentation everyone came out to the largest part of the Salle and the instructor Tomas commented that he had never seen so many coaches in one place.

I think they were expecting 35 or so.

Great turn out.

[MdA]

As a first time attendee I was very impressed by the presenters and the number of people who attended. I believe that the number given to me was 70+, which seems right in that the Saturday luncheon was sold out and they had room for 50 and lots of people still wanted to attend.

During a sabre presentation everyone came out to the largest part of the Salle and the instructor Tomas commented that he had never seen so many coaches in one place.

I think they were expecting 35 or so.

Great turn out.

Thanks for the info...I think this is the largest attendance in the history of the annual conference. Thanks for attending.

[Rick Thompson]

So what about the presentations? ..and the presenters? I heard one comment that some of the presenters were teaching people how to fence and not teaching coaches how to coach.

it was a great conference for coaches. Every one of the 12+ presenters was showing things that were pertinent to coaches. Some of them were discussing things that affected athletes, like tactical choices and the state of athletic fencing, but these are things that coaches need to know. The majority of the presentations, especially those that had active participation, were about "how to teach".

The presentations had a wide range of levels. Dave Micahnik's "Teaching the Toe Touches(Epee)" was clearly aimed at coaches with experienced students, while Waldek Czaja's footwork lesson was focused on teaching beginners. Aaron Kandlick's footwork session covered both beginning and advanced footwork and tactical applications. Dave Littell demonstrated how to use Alexander Techniques to elicit proper stance and footwork from both beginners and experienced fencers. Wow.... My notes go on for pages and pages.

There were, at last count, something like 75 attendees. And most of them were present for all three days.

I'll post the list of new certifications here shortly.

[Allen Evans]

I'll confess that I never actually counted the numbers of coaches in the room. I keep hearing 75 plus attendees rather than my guess of 35, so I'll stand corrected.

I'll admit to some disappointment in the conference. The theme was oriented about "taking fencers to the next level" and while I don't consider myself a high level coach, I only took about a half a page of notes (and most of these notes were on the three presenters Rick Thompson mentioned by name). I did feel that the orientation could have been much stronger geared towards coaches.

I know that John Krauss (who is organizing next year's conference) solicited a lot of feedback. I'm looking forward to next years conference.

Allen Evans

[MdA]

Certifications from the 2008 USFCA Coaches Conference
================================
Jill Feldman (Virginia) -- Foil & Saber Moniteur
Josh Keatley (Oregon) -- Foil & Saber Moniteur
Rolando Balboa (Brooklyn, New York) -- Foil Moniteur
Charles Astudillo (New Jersey) -- Foil, Epee & Saber Moniteur
Miyako DeRose (New Jersey) -- Foil & Saber Moniteur
Rick Thompson (South Carolina) -- Master at Arms (All three weapons)

Congratulations

[Maximus]

Balboa is from New York (Brooklyn)

[MdA]

Balboa is from New York (Brooklyn)

Thanks. It is corrected now. Don't want to mix those Brooklyners in with those Jersey folks. (just kidding) Once again, congratulations to all coaches completing your certification with the USFCA.

[AaronK]

I actually would appreciate if anyone had feedback or criticism in response to my own presentation (please email me).

My only critique in general (and this may also be true of myself) is that I thought there needed to be more emphasis on coaching and less on fencing- for example in many of the hands-on type presentations the presenter(s) would come around and correct the technique of the student-partner rather than focus on the coaching-partner's performance as a coach.

I am looking forward to seeing how this conference grows and evolves in the coming years.