Kurt Aichele on the USFCA

[MdA]

Originally Posted by K O'N

….. The USFA CC didn't make or not make until when, mid April? And then a USFCA clinic, scheduled for the end of May, had its plug pulled in early April? I know you two are not the same organization, but could you talk? Have a chat? Make a deal? A plan? Something?
……
K O'N

The above comment got me thinking about the interview with Kurt Aichele, the new USFA Executive Director, in the recent Spring 2009 edition of American Fencing magazine.

In that article on page 32, Aichele mentions coaches twice,

“Then, as an organization we need to work with the Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) and colleges (CC) so that all of us are working together to develop coaches at all levels, from grass roots to high performance coaches.

And also on page 32…

“It’s important to find more effective ways to develop our coaches. By developing our recreational coaches first, finding ways to help them not just be technically correct but help them making fencing fun, exciting, and engaging, we’ll help increase the numbers and commitment of participants.” Ultimately, growth of the number of recreational fencers helps support clubs, allowing them to provide their coaches with a viable income”

Given his background, it seems like he understands coaching development. This is heading in the right direction.

However, the Coaching Committee and the High Performance Committee are under VP Ro Sobalvarro and the representative to the USFCA is VP Jerry Benson. If this is the current direction, I expect to see some leadership in this area from those guys.