Elite World Class Coach Opening for Asia

[tkwong]

Z Fencing, est in 1993 and based in Singapore, Asia is looking for a top level elite coach - with experience in coaching foil at world youth championship and olympic levels.

Singapore will be hosting the very first Youth Olympic Games in 2010. The selected coach will be responsible for preparing and grooming our foil fencers for selection and competing in World U17 and U20 competitions.

Contract is for 2 years and renewable for another 2 years.

Z Fencing is Singapore's top club with over 500 fencers in all three weapons.
Our sabre coach, is the former National Coach of China. Our Foil coach has a Master of Arms, International Fencing Advanced Diploma and we have a coaching team of 15.

Please see www.zfencing.com for more about the club.
We also have positions for developmental coaches in Foil, Epee and Sabre.

Please send resumes and questions to tk@zfencing.com

[MdA]

I would really like to take you up on your offer, unfortunately I am not in a position to move right now because of family commitments. Maybe in a few years.

I had a chance to visit Singapore in June 2007 during a business trip to India. The city is beautiful...a tropical paradise...with all the modern conveniences. Your website is also impressive...obviously your staff has some technical skills....I noticed your founder is an MIT grad.

Your fencing centre looks like a world class facility. This looks like a perfect opportunity for one of our elite world class coaches. The salary would need to be pretty good in order to draw them from one of our top programs.

[tkwong]

Hi MdA

Tks for the nice feedback on Singapore and Z Fencing.

Yes, I did go to MIT from 1985 to 1989. Was Captain of the MIT Fencing Team in 89. Coach Eric Sollee, who passed away last year, was my coach - whom i was very fond of. He taught me so much - how to maximise my strengths and manage my weaknesses - and as importantly - to live a life happy and generous.

If you do know of an elite coach, or an up and coming one, who would like to
take a team of youth fencers to the pinnacle of fencing, i would appreciate some introductions. Being close to China and Korea, we intend to have many training sessions with these two countries. It would be a wonderful opportunity to both share as well as learn the latest in fencing in Asia.

Best wishes for the New Year, and if you do come thru Singapore - please do let me know and come visit Z Fencing.

TK Wong
MIT '89

[prototoast]

I like the top gun-esque nicknames you give yourselves.

[MdA]

....Coach Eric Sollee, who passed away last year, was my coach - whom i was very fond of. He taught me so much - how to maximise my strengths and manage my weaknesses - and as importantly - to live a life happy and generous.....
TK Wong
MIT '89

Coach Wong,

It is wonderful that you knew Eric. It is obvious that he taught you the right things about fencing. You are generously giving back to fencing in Singapore. It is no wonder that your club is successful.

Pardon me, while I drift here for a moment for the benefit of other young coaches in this forum. Eric Sollee was Vice President of the USFCA in 1984. He had a great impact on fencing in America and obviously around the world.

The next time I visit Singapore, I will definitely take you up on your offer and visit Z Fencing. I don't know of any American foil coaches who are looking for a move right now but I will ask around next weekend at the North American Cup in Louisville.

I am going to a Junior Men's Foil World Cup in Mödling, Austria next month. I will see if anyone is interested in your position.

Please feel free to contact me by PM.

[MdA]

....- with experience in coaching foil at world youth championship and olympic levels.

Singapore will be hosting the very first Youth Olympic Games in 2010. The selected coach will be responsible for preparing and grooming our foil fencers for selection and competing in World U17 and U20 competitions.

I was thinking about your original post today. Do your cadet and junior fencers have the ability to travel to international events. You may be in a fencing vacuum in Singapore.

Will this coach be responsible for planning international events? Your fencers will need to travel in order to get to the Jr. World and Cadet level.

[erooMynohtnA]

I've seen articles indicating that there's a fairly active cadet circuit in the southeastern Asian region.

[Superscribe]

Um, well I have a facebook group dedicated to how good I am at fencing. It actually says i'm "too good" at fencing. There's a loyal following of about 84. Actually they aren't that loyal. I think that makes me uniquely qualifed for your position. Lemme know if you'd like to review it.

In all seriousness, it definately makes me smile to see people promoting this sport and developing it into something more and more "legitimized", even in areas where I wouldn't think there would be a strong following. Good luck on your search.

[tkwong]

Hi coach MDA

yes, it would involved planning and travel to major asian, and international junior and cadet championships. Training camps to china, korean and US/Europe also expected.

appreciate any help you can render on this.

rgds
tk wong

[RITFencing]

It's a long shot, but you could try getting in touch with Andrea Magro from Italy. He's certainly got the skills, and he's no longer the Italian national coach.