Coaches

This is designed for coaches working with participants who are being introduced to fencing in a learn to fence program, summer camp or school program. The focus is on group lessons and yellow armband skills. This workshop takes place over three training days of six hours each.

The Community Sport-Initiation context focuses on participants who are being introduced to a sport. In many sports this is very young children participating in the sport for the first time. In a few sports, initiation into the sport can occur with youth or adults. Participants get involved to meet new friends, have fun, and to learn a new activity. The role of the coach is to ensure a fun and safe environment and to teach the development of some of the “FUNdamentals” stage skills and abilities for participants. You can complete all 3 weapons or just the weapon of your choice.

Congratulations on your decision to become a Community Fencing Instructor! What’s next? Here are some steps you can take, at any time, to acquire general and sport specific coaching knowledge and skills. These links are a great resource for new developing coaches as well as experienced coaches. Good luck!

Four simple steps for becoming a Fencing Community Coach:

STEP 1) Complete the Basic Registration Requirements as mentioned above: CAC account/Respect in Sport/Criminal Background Check/Making Ethical Decisions and sign up for the next available NCCP Community Sport Coaching Workshop.

Once Step 1 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Community Sport- In Training (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 2) Sign up for the next Multi-Sport Theory module offered by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). The minimum age to take a Multi-sport NCCP workshop is 14 years old. This is necessary and provides general sport theory knowledge for all coaches. Complete the following 4 modules:

• Fundamental Movement Skills- Community Leader
• Making Ethical Decisions
• Teaching and Learning
• Planning a Practice

A list of all available multi-sport modules for interested coaches can be found here.

STEP 3) Sign up for the next NCCP Community Sport Coaching Workshop through the AFA below. This 18 hour course, which will likely take place over one or two weekends, will give you the foundation knowledge you need in sport specific knowledge (foil, epee or sabre) to become a Community Sport Coach. It is required that you have a pre-requisite of the Yellow Armband, in your weapon of choice, prior to this course. Part II of this course is the requirement to complete a Coaching Portfolio.

Once Step 3 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Community Sport- Trained (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 4) Complete the Coach Portfolio requirements, within six months, which includes:

• Making Ethical Decisions (online assessment)
• Submit an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to your Learning Facilitator/Evaluators
• Submit a video of your practice performing a) samples of Collective Training including warm-ups and group drills and b) a 12-minute video of Individual Training to your course Learning Facilitator

Once Step 4 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Community Sport- Certified (in your respective weapon(s))

This is designed for coaches working with participants who are experiencing fencing for the first time through a series of lessons. There is no focus on competition at this level – it is strictly about skill development. The focus is on group lessons in yellow and orange armband, with an introduction to the individual lesson as it pertains to the development of a technical or tactical skill. This workshop takes place over five training days of six hours each, and is recommended to be done over two separate weekends.  

Instructors in the Instructor Beginner context are usually working with participants who are experiencing the sport for the first time through a series of lessons, there is no formalized competition at this level – it is strictly about skill development and there is a short time-frame of interaction between the instructor and the participant. You can complete all 3 weapons or just the weapon of your choice.

Four simple steps for becoming a Fencing Instructor Beginner Coach:

STEP 1) Complete the Basic Registration Requirements as mentioned above: CAC account/Respect in Sport/Criminal Background Check/Making Ethical Decisions and sign up for the next available NCCP Fencing Instructor Beginner Coaching Workshop 1 & 2. Both workshops must be completed in this stream.

Once Step 1 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Instructor Beginner- In Training (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 2) Sign up for the next Multi-Sport Theory module offered by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). The minimum age to take a Multi-sport NCCP workshop is 14 years old. This is necessary and provides general sport theory knowledge for all coaches. Complete the following 4 modules:

• Fundamental Movement Skills- Community Leader
• Making Ethical Decisions
• Teaching and Learning
• Planning a Practice

A list of all available multi-sport modules for interested coaches can be found here.

STEP 3) Sign up for the next NCCP Fencing Instructor Beginner Coaching Workshop 1 & 2 through the AFA below. Both workshops must be completed in this stream. This 36 hour course, which will likely take place over one or two weekends, will give you the foundation knowledge you need in sport specific knowledge (foil, epee or sabre) to become an Instructor Beginner Coach. It is required that you have a pre-requisite of Yellow and Orange Armband, in your weapon of choice, prior to this course. Part II of this course is the requirement to complete a Coaching Portfolio.

Once Step 3 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Instructor Beginner- Trained (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 4) Complete the Coach Portfolio requirements, within six months, which includes:

• Making Ethical Decisions (online assessment)
• Submit an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to your Learning Facilitator/Evaluators
• Submit a video of your practice performing a) samples of Collective Training including warm-ups and group drills and b) a 12-minute video of Individual Training to your course Learning Facilitator

Once Step 4 is completed the designation is NCCP Fencing Instructor Beginner- Certified (in your respective weapon(s))

This is designed for coaches who will be introducing fencers to competition. Coaches will work on planning, athlete support, performance analysis, the individual lesson (green and blue armband skills), and competition rules for their athletes. Coaches participating in this workshop should already have some experience giving individual lessons and it is highly recommended that they have completed Instructor-Beginner prior to this workshop. This workshop takes place over five training days of six hours each, and is recommended to be done over two separate weekends. 

Four simple steps for becoming a Competitive Development Coach:

STEP 1) Complete the Basic Registration Requirements as mentioned above: CAC account/Respect in Sport/Criminal Background Check/Making Ethical Decisions and sign up for the next available NCCP Competitive Development Coaching Workshop 1 & 2. Both workshops must be completed in this stream.

Once Step 1 is completed the designation is NCCP Competitive Development- In Training (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 2) Sign up for the next Multi-Sport Theory module offered by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). The minimum age to take a Multi-sport NCCP workshop is 14 years old. This is necessary and provides general sport theory knowledge for all coaches. Complete the following 4 modules:

• Fundamental Movement Skills- Community Leader
• Making Ethical Decisions
• Teaching and Learning
• Planning a Practice

A list of all available multi-sport modules for interested coaches can be found here.

STEP 3) Sign up for the next NCCP Fencing Competitive Development Workshop 1 & 2 through the AFA below. Both workshops must be completed in this stream. This 36 hour course, which will likely take place over one or two weekends, will give you the foundation knowledge you need in sport specific knowledge (foil, epee or sabre) to become an Competitive Development Coach. It is required that you have a pre-requisite of Yellow and Orange Armband, in your weapon of choice, prior to this course. Part II of this course is the requirement to complete a Coaching Portfolio.

Once Step 3 is completed the designation is NCCP Competitive Development- Trained (in your respective weapon(s))

STEP 4) Complete the Coach Portfolio requirements, within six months, which includes:

• Making Ethical Decisions (online assessment)
• Submit an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to your Learning Facilitator/Evaluators
• Submit a video of your practice performing a) samples of Collective Training including warm-ups and group drills and b) a 12-minute video of Individual Training to your course Learning Facilitator

Once Step 4 is completed the designation is NCCP Competitive Development- Certified (in your respective weapon(s))