Desperate Request for Advice Regarding Coach's Training

[Regret d'Vie]

I know this is a long post, but I'm confident that I need to provide detailed information in order to get the most meaningful and specific advice.

I own/run a tiny (2,150 SF, 20-fencer) rural club about two hours from Nashville. I've taught fencing for fifteen years: two as assistant instructor in the local university, eleven as the university's senior instructor (adjunct faculty), and two in my own club. I give both group and individual lessons.

My strengths, as I see them, are primarily derived from diligent and critical dissection of fencing actions, systems, theories, and principals, both from an intellectual standpoint and through countless hours studying the (often conflicting) teachings of accomplished instructors, breaking down individual actions with training partners and students, testing these actions in controlled combat situations to determine what works and what doesn't, when, why, etc. I can usually cite more reasons why or why not to perform an action in a given way or at a given time than most any of my students ever care to know.

My primary weaknesses (aside from advancing age and weight-gain), lie pretty much in everything else. I'm largely unskilled/unknowledgeable in pedagogy. I need to improve the range of exercises/drills that constitute the core of my curriculum, as well as my ability to concisely and fluidly communicate and succinctly demonstrate expected actions and progressions. I confess that I've only in the past year begun to use non-verbal cues in my lessons. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I'm aware that I'm not even qualified to comprehensively and accurately identify my deficiencies.

Throughout the last two years, it has became obvious to me that I must improve my coaching skills if I am to produce better-quality fencers. I was excited to see that the USFA Coaches College would be offering Level 1 courses in all three weapons this summer, as I considered the cost in time and money for three consecutive weeks of training under qualified coaches at the US Olympic Training center about as efficient of an investment in my development as imaginable. I was also pleased with this news because it appeared that I'd be able to logically progress through Level 3 or perhaps even 4 (possibly skipping Level 2, depending on what was offered and how quickly I was able to develop) before the next Olympic year. My interest in improving my value as a coach seemed to divinely intersect with the USFAs coaches education plans, at least in the short term.

Thus, I can't tell you how disappointed and discouraged I am that Coaches College Sessions 1 and 2 have been cancelled.

I'm thirty-eight years old. I'm not inclined to wait around year after year hoping that the USOTC provides dates early enough to ensure that coaches can arrange their schedules to attend so the sessions aren't cancelled. For that matter, we don't even know for sure what levels will be offered *next* year, if any at all.

It's true that I can still attend Session 3, but I'm a three-weapon coach (through both choice and necessity) and -- like most everyone -- the limitations of my time and money are significant concerns: Flying to Colorado for one week of training vs. three (and for one weapon vs. three) represents a staggering decrease in efficiency. I feel like an opportunity was lost that I'm not going to find replicated in any other form available to me.

I've already read the numerous threads and thousands of posts debating the significance and value of the USFCA, and have decided to pursue training through it, the USFA, and any independent source of competent instruction I can locate. So if CC had been cancelled a week earlier, I might have been able to pull together a trip to the USFCA three-weapon clinic in San Francisco. At this late date, though, that would be nearly (though not completely) impossible. Besides, this clinic provides only three days (perhaps less) of training spread across three weapons for around half of what it was going to cost me for three weeks at CC, and I'm not confident that I have the teaching/coaching skills necessary to get much out of such instruction, whether it's nature is more of a compressed "crash course" or a series of deep, specialized lessons.

I could attend a Session 3 CC course followed by the USFCA foil course in Salem, Oregon this fall, but I expect those two clinics to cost 125-150% of what three weeks of coaches college would have, and I would end up with training in only two weapons even if I opted for Level 2 epee at CC, for which I'm highly uncertain that I'm qualified. I'm also unfamiliar with the listed instructors at the USFCA clinic, and thus am somewhat concerned about the quality of training I would receive there, given the cost in time and money.

I am not in a position to just drop what I'm doing to seek an apprenticeship under a more qualified instructor. I couldn't possibly get away for more than a month, and I can't see how I'm going to be of value to a fencing coach under those conditions.

So, what do you suggest? Based on my stated skills and experience, what could I possibly gain from the San Francisco clinic, and what is the nature of what will be taught there? What are the chances that I'd be able to keep up in CC's Level 2 Epee? What can you tell me about the instructors in the Oregon USFCA clinic? How much of what I would learn in CC Level 1 Foil be duplicated at the Oregon clinic? What training opportunities exist that I'm unaware of?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Regret

[epeeslasher]

Level 1 foil was an eye opening experience for me, even after fencing for five years and coaching for a few. It may sound low level, but undoubtedly there will be more information there, (especially in relation to pedagogy) than any book or weekend clinic could hope to produce. If your cueing most of your student's actions vocally, the level one class will definitely have some pertinent information for you.

[darius]

You may look at another option, which hasn't been well-publicized:

The NWFC Advanced Camps (Foil / Epee) are going to contain a bunch of coach development work. What you'd do if you're coming to learn coaching methodologies is to participate in the camps as a student - you'll observe group interaction from some of the top coaches in the county. If you've got a keen eye for the fencing theory, you'd be able to pick out what makes the methods work and be able to participate in real-time and see it done by fencers from relatively low-level to a very high level.

On top of that, we do extra work in the mornings with nationally ranked fencers. During this session, we'll have coaches/aspiring coaches pitch in and help with the group work and how the frameworks apply to a lesson. We've set aside evening time for coaches to go out with the coaching staff and talk about how and why things work.

Michael Marx, who's on the coaching staff at NWFC, teaches the L3/4 Foil at Coaches' College and has put several epeeists on Olympic teams, so his coaching bonafides are solid.

Unfortunately I can't help you with the sabre, but you'll also be 3 miles from Ed Korfanty's place - if you need an introduction, we can arrange that.

If you have any questions, let me know.

darius

[Allen Evans]

Coaching eduction in the United States is still in its infancy in terms of organizaation and visiablity. I've found (over the last 20 years of trying to educate myself as a coach) that you need to keep your ears open, flexiable in your planning, willing to take opportunities that come to you, and willing to make a few opportunities on your own.

Coaches College was a big eye opener for me (and a lot of work). I really think it is the best place for a new coach to start their education, but there are a lot of other opportunities out there with a little digging.

NWFC, as outlined by Darius above, has the start of a good coaching program firming up. I would reccommend some time there. Ed Korfanty usually runs a saber coaching camp in the summer (August, I believe) as well. check the Oregon Fencing Alliance web site.

But don't ignore the fact that you're only three hours away from the Louisville Fencing center, and the head coach there, Maitre Stawicki, taught saber at the USFA's Coaches College for a number of years. A phone call to him, and the chance to spend some weekends watching what he does wouldn't hurt and might be more in your budget.

Do you regularly attend large compeititons in your area? Are there other coaches you can network with in the same boat? What about combining resources in order to have someone outside the area come in and work with you?

A little bit of imaginiation and the internet can take you a long ways towards your goals of coaching education.

[MdA]

Don't forget to consider the USFCA in your development plans

Coaches College canceled for sessions 1 & 2

Consider the following. The USFCA Annual Coaching Conference in San Diego on July 24-26, 2009 will be at a fairly high level. The guest instructors, Soter, Pederson, Goodhartz, Stawicki, and Itkin have all been National Coaches and have produced Olympic level athletes.

They will cover a lot of material and will be focused primarily on the Prevot/Master level (CC Levels 3-5) according to the schedule which is posted on the USFCA.org.

There will also beginning “Moniteur” level presentations in foil by Master Rob Madril.

This conference will provide an excellent opportunity for you to meet with coaches at all levels who will help you develop your personalized plan for your coaching education. This may be a very valuable experience. You will also receive information about USFCA initiatives for the upcoming year which may also affect your plan.

I don’t know very much about the instructor for the Salem, Oregon clinic. Since it is a week long program, I expect it will be at a very detailed level for beginning coaches working towards the Assitant Moniteir and Moniteur (Instructor) level…Basically Level 1 and 2 of the CC. However, the instructor is only a Moniteur himself so I don't know his depth of knowledge and experience.

If you take Allen’s suggestion, you would be able to meet with Les Stawicki at the USFCA Annual Conference. You will be able to observe his saber method and make a decision on whether or not you would like to continue working with him in Louisville.

[Regret d'Vie]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I truly do appreciate your opinions.

epeeslasher: I never harbored any doubt that Level 1 Foil would be extremely beneficial to me, I just wanted Level 1 Epee and Level 1 Sabre to go with it. Nevertheless, your specific comments are exactly what I'd hoped to hear. Thanks!

Darius: You're right, I never considered fencing camps as a source of coaching education (outside of the opportunity to observe the coaches while being taught, of course). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've got a feeling that these would better suit me in a year or two, when I'm not so wet behind the ears in regard to formal coaching training. Also, it looks like the foil camp butts against the USFCA Coaches Conference (which I'm considering), and the Epee camp falls in the same week as Coaches College Session 3 (in which I'm enrolled). Makes things tough this year. Regardless, thanks for the great and not-so-obvious-to-me suggestion, and I may take you up on that introduction one day.

Allen: Thanks for all the ideas. To answer your questions: I haven't competed for several years, and have just recently resumed attending large competitions because my first group of private students is just now reaching the point that doing so is worth the time and monetary investment. The nearest coaches I know of who are trying to better themselves are about ninety miles away, but if I could snag a few from the Vanderbilt/Nashville area as well, maybe we could pull something together. Louisville is actually more like four hours away, but point taken: Even just watching Maitre Stawicki give lessons would be beneficial to me at this point. Again, all good suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to offer your advice.

MdA: As mentioned in my original post, I fully plan to take advantage of USFCA-related activities. My primary concern is identifying events for which I'm qualified. If I'm going to commit the time and money to travel completely across the country, I need to be confident that I can assimilate the information presented and fully participate without wasting others' time and generally making a fool of myself. In your words, the USFCA Coaching Conference "will be at a fairly high level" and "will be focused primarily on the Prevot/Master level." As my wife's brother lives in San Diego, I'm not going to get away with this trip without flying her and my three children with me and making an outrageously expensive full-fledged family vacation out of the thing, so I need to be REALLY, REALLY certain spending three days with a bunch of relatively high-level coaches is an efficient use of my resources at this point. Thoughts?

Again, thanks to everyone for your comments.

Regret

[Allen Evans]

Just a few more observations....as they say in the course materials, Coaches College involves physical exertion at high altitude. You might find that a week of working at Colorado Springs is going to be harder than you think. Going for one session might just be enough this go around, and give you a taste about what the other levels are going to be like. Remember, you won't just be coaching during the camp, you'll be taking lessons as well from your fellow coaches, and -- speaking from experiance -- five full days of this is enough to wear a lot of people out (except, oddly enough, Alex Beginuet).

I haven't been to any USFCA conferences or clinics that couldn't be appreciated by anyone at a beginning coaching level. Some material may be a little harder to "access" but I think you'll find that even for beginning coaches, there is material there applicable to you and your situation.

[darius]

You're right, I never considered fencing camps as a source of coaching education (outside of the opportunity to observe the coaches while being taught, of course). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've got a feeling that these would better suit me in a year or two, when I'm not so wet behind the ears in regard to formal coaching training.

You'll find the same thing as Allen said regarding the USFCA conference in reference to our camps. They're designed for coaches of all levels. The youngest fencers at an NWFC camp will be 11-12 years old, and the top fencers will be at a National Champ level (or higher). What's nice is that you'll get to see the natural progression of difficulties in what we do.

Plus, your own participation in the activities means you'll get to make your own mistakes. Feeling the repetitions is important if you learn that way.

I did a month of Coaches' College in 2006 and attended the NWFC Adv. Foil Camp as a fencer in 2007. The theoretical background from CC was great, but I would have stolen the practical ideas from the camp regardless.

darius

[Regret d'Vie]

Allen: Yeah, soon after I finished embarrassing myself via the whiny fit I threw upon learning most of CC was canceled, I came to realize that it may have been a blessing in disguise for the very reasons you put forth. That said, I'm still disappointed because these (mostly) annual summer sessions seem to be the only opportunity to attend CC.

Allen and Darius: You both seem to agree that whatever clinics/conferences/camps I choose to attend, I'll have the opportunity to improve. I thus stand corrected and withdraw my stated supposition that I'm not "qualified" for the USFCA conference or the NWFC camps. Thanks for straightening me out.

Regret