COACH EDUCATION: 68 COACHES TRAINED IN ITCF IN 2024

Eight introductory courses have been organised since January, including open, closed, and hybrid formats.

As we head towards the final quarter of the year, we want to look back at what we have achieved so far with the Coach Education programme, and to congratulate the sixty-eight new coaches who have completed their Introduction to Coaching Fencing (ITCF) training.

Since January 2024, the following ITCF courses were delivered:

• Open ITCF Canterbury (by the late James Williams and Marc Chapman): seven coaches
• Open ITCF London (by Joe Pearce): ten coaches
• Open Online ITCF Stratford-upon-Avon (by Neil Brown): twelve coaches
• Closed ITCF Totnes (organised by South West Fencing and conducted by Joe Pearce): six coaches
• Closed ITCF Chesterfield (organised by ITCF Wingerworth Fencing Club and conducted by Ev Van Gemeren): twelve coaches
• Open ITCF Manchester (by Ev Van Gemeren): eleven coaches
• Open ITCF Epsom (by Nick Payne and Rupert Davies-Cooke): ten coaches

Another four candidates have registered to attend the open ITCF Cardiff this weekend (21st and 22nd September, conducted by Peter Russell), and three are booked on the open ITCF Rugby (23rd and 24th November, with Peter Russell). A closed ITCF is currently being run by Paul Davis for four members of Paul Davis Fencing Academy.

Three courses are scheduled for the 5th and 6th of October in Ashford, Mold, and Doncaster at Kingswood centres. They will have a special offer for the candidates attending, who will be able to book on-site accommodation and meals at a lower rate.

A special thank you is owed to the team of Coach Developers who are sharing their knowledge and experience with new cohorts of coaches, and are helping to make the course an exciting experience for those starting their coaching journey.

We also acknowledge the invaluable support of clubs and officials who have contributed to make these courses possible; for example, by engaging with members to raise awareness about the courses, or by offering affordable rates on facilities hire:

• The King’s School Canterbury
• St Bartholomew’s Primary School (a We Are Forging Futures partner)
• King Edward VI School
• Jane Browne and the SW Fencing team
• Wingerworth Fencing Club
• Manchester Fencing Centre
• Epsom Fencing Club
• Sword Fighting International
• Cardiff Academy of Fencing
• Robert Parsons and Rugby School
• Paul Davis Fencing Academy
• Kingswood (a licensed partner to BF)

WHAT IS ITCF?

It is BF’s introductory course for fencers with at least twelve months of fencing experience who want to get started in their coaching journey. The course is also suitable for Core Coach instructors, and we’ve had successful non-fencer candidates who already coached a different sport (in this case, a Level 2 qualification is a pre-requisite).

The candidate will learn how to lead a group session for beginners, and much of the focus is placed on the “how-to-coach” skills. We believe it is fundamental to create a welcoming and positive environment for newcomers, and ITCF trains new coaches to provide just that.

ITCF offers the basic knowledge required for coaches wanting to pursue a Coaching Fencing Level 2 qualification, which is centred on weapon-specific skills and prepares you to run individual sessions.

More information about all BF coaching courses can be found here.

HOW IS ITCF ORGANISED?

Three formats are offered:

• Open – Organised by BF, open for self-registration, available at designated locations chosen based on there’s evidence of local demand.
• Closed – Organised by a club, region, or coach developer, who will typically have a closed list of participants. It can happen in a local environment and has flexibility to decide location and dates. This is a good option when there is little local demand.
• Hybrid – called Online ITCF, the theoretical modules are taught on BF Learning Zone, and the practical part happens in a one-day face-to-face session.

There is a minimum number of candidates required to make a course viable. The exact number will vary, depending on the costs associated to organise each individual course. From the perspective of the learner, we need a group that creates the right learning environment. Some courses run well with four people, but ideally, we aim to get at least six candidates.

Insufficient bookings have, unfortunately, led to the cancellation of ITCF Durham and a second ITCF in London. We encourage clubs and members to get in touch and inform us about their training needs and interest. It is also important that they help to promote courses within their local network.

Closed courses that happen in a club environment can be led for fewer than four candidates, as long as there are enough people in the room so they have the opportunity to practice with fencers.

 

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

Feedback on the ITCF course has been consistently positive. While we work behind the scenes to update and improve the current programme, the vast majority of candidates that share their impressions with us found ITCF an important and enjoyable experience.

Here are just a few of the things we heard:

“The course was outstanding and provided me with everything I need to begin coaching at a novice level. It also improved my confidence significantly, which was my major concern before starting the course.” – ITCF Manchester candidate

 

All dates are published on our Upcoming Courses page, alongside other coaching, safeguarding, refereeing courses, and more. To learn more about organising a closed course, please contact us via [email protected].

 

---

Don’t miss the latest news. Subscribe to our weekly summary email, The Fencing Digest, featuring the previous week’s latest news and announcements. Sign up here.