Phil Carson joins #BFLearningMonth 2026 with ‘The Skill (R)evolution. Stepping in, or Time to Leap Ahead’, taking place on Wednesday 19th August at 12pm.
Date: Wednesday 19th August, 12-1pm
Guest Speaker: Phil Carson (Fencing coach and author of ‘The Constraints-Led Fencing Coach’)
Host: Chris Turner (BF Head of Coaching & Workforce)
Join Phil Carson for an engaging exploration of the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) and its application to developing skilled, adaptable performers. Drawing on his experience as a coach, educator, and author of The Constraints-Led Fencing Coach, Phil will unpack the theory and practice behind one of the most influential approaches in contemporary skill acquisition.
Rather than relying on repetitive drills and prescriptive instruction, the Constraints-Led Approach places athletes in representative learning environments where movement solutions emerge through interaction with the task, environment, and individual. This session will explore how coaches can design effective practice activities that encourage problem-solving, perception-action coupling, creativity, and decision-making under pressure.
Through practical examples and real-world coaching insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how manipulating constraints can shape learning outcomes, promote athlete ownership, and enhance performance transfer from practice to competition. Phil will also address common misconceptions about CLA and provide guidance on how coaches can confidently integrate its principles into their everyday coaching.
Phil has studied coaching in France, Germany Italy, Russia and the USA. He has been coaching for 40 years and has worked with over 100 Scottish, British and Commonwealth Champions. Phil has recently published a book ‘The Constraints-Led Fencing Coach’.
If you have any questions about this session, please contact Chris Turner (BF Head of Coaching and Workforce) via [email protected].
Due to popular demand and feedback from previous iterations of BF Learning Week, BF has now extended the event to a Learning Month. Now named BF Learning Month, this year’s event will be taking place between the 23rd July and 21st August 2026.
It is an annual opportunity for our members and wider community to join online developmental and informative sessions in subjects from coaching to community development.
BF Learning Month is also supporting the first online International Fencing Research Committee (IFRC) Conference. The IFRC welcomes leading researchers, coaches, and practitioners from around the world to explore the latest advances in fencing science and methodology.
A full timetable, updated regularly, can be found here: BF Learning Month 2026
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