Pan American Sport Organisation Fencing Coaching Course Invitation - Colorado Springs

[MdA]

I just got this email last night. Anybody else hear about this?

EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR UNITED STATES APPLICATIONS: MONDAY JUNE 29 2009

THERE ARE 3 ALL EXPENSES PAID POSITIONS FOR 1 COACH IN FOIL, EPEE AND SABER (3 TOTAL)

Craig already posted this one....see the following thread.

PASO Fencing Coaching Course Update: Slots Available

[oiuyt]

In addition to Craig's thread in response to the email, it was also briefly mentioned in another thread about a month ago.

edit: I think it's great that we're getting to host something like this and that we're able to offer positions to some US coaches, both grant- and self-funded.

-B

[MdA]

I think its great. I just wish I would've heard about it sooner...I guess I should have looked in the Discussion Forum.

I just got the email from the USFCA yesterday. We need to improve communication for US coaches.

[oiuyt]

Note that it's a scheduling conflict with the USFCA Annual Conference. Coaches that are already planning to be in San Diego cannot do both.

-B

[MdA]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Note that it's a scheduling conflict with the USFCA Annual Conference. Coaches that are already planning to be in San Diego cannot do both.

-B

I didn't notice. Thanks for pointing that out. There is no doubt that the USFA and the USFCA need to communicate and coordinate better....the USFA Coaching Committee would be a good place to start....or I think the name is now.....

Coaching Development Task Force
Gary Copeland (chair), Michael Marx, Abdel Salem, Coaches College Director (Alex Beguinet), USFCA Liaison (Jerry Benson)

It has been inactive for awhile...at least I haven't heard anything for a few years.

[darius]

This forum is a good start; there have been some informative discussions in this section of f.net. We do need to move out of the dark ages in how we disseminate information, but that's a slow process.

Let's question whether or not the USFA could have done better about this, but remember that we're talking about USOC/PASO grant funding, the OTC and all its issues (bed space, etc). None of us know how much lead-time Andrea had to put this together, and how many bureaucratic hassles needed to happen to get the extra slots.

Maybe I'm just happy to see high-level professional development opportunities.

darius

[MdA]

Given that the USA won 6 medals at the last Olympics, it would seem like the obvious choice in PASO to host this course.

I saw somewhere that $11K in grants from USOC/PASO would have been lost if this wasn't thrown together quickly.

So it looks like the lesson is to plan, organize and communicate these things sooner.

Now, it appears the the USFA is trying to make the best out of this opportunity.

In contrast, I think the USFCA did a good job this year, communicating its annual conference in advance...in 3 newsletters, American Fencing, Swordmaster, website, and here on f.net.....months in advance.

Let's work together and get a combined USFA/USFCA coaching development schedule in the future.

[MdA]

Originally Posted by MdA

.........
I saw somewhere that $11K in grants from USOC/PASO would have been lost if this wasn't thrown together quickly.
........
Now, it appears the the USFA is trying to make the best out of this opportunity.
........
Let's work together and get a combined USFA/USFCA coaching development schedule in the future.

Let's think outside the box....

Why didn't Andrea use the $11K to get the PASO coaches to the USFCA Annual Conference....where most the USA's best coaches are already assembled to give presentations....including the USFA HP director, Mike Pederson?

Now, I don't want to appear negative again....but if they host the course at the OTC in Colorado Springs.....a portion of that grant money goes to the USOC for rooms and board at the OTC....

....could this have impacted the decision to cancell the first and second sessions of Coaches College

Coaches College canceled for sessions 1 & 2

....or was that decision already made?

[Craig]

MdA - I'd say that is a discussion that you should have offline with Andrea. If you look at the thread she has her email and phone # right there.

Craig