How to Coach Fencing

Fencing is a sport involving two skilled contestants and the use of foils or epées to strike at the opponent's body. Clubs and teams at the college level require an outstanding coach to teach athletes the virtues of fencing. As a fencing coach, you need to familiarize yourself with sound techniques and the history of the sport before coaching your athletes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Consult with fellow fencing coaches through coaching clinics. These clinics feature equipment vendors, seminars on fencing technique and breakout sessions that allow you to share information with other fencing professionals. You can find coaching clinics in your area through the United States Fencing Coaches Association Web site (see Resources below).
2. Score each practice duel utilizing a buzz box. Buzz boxes record body hits on each fencing participant which can be recorded for an accurate assessment of a fighter's skills. This raw data can help you formulate new practice techniques as the season progresses.
3. Focus each player's attention on their defensive stances in practice to ensure success in competition. Participants should stay on the balls of their feet and their foil poised to protect their body and head. Repeated practice of this simple technique allows for advancements throughout the season.
4. Utilize a practice dummy equipped with a buzz box to demonstrate dueling techniques to your team. As an experienced coach and fighter, you should show how to parry and thrust on an inanimate object to avoid physical harm.
5. Make sure that your fencing team knows who the team captain is from the start. Team captains are typically experienced fighters with an intimate knowledge of the sport. You should consult with you team captain to gauge the morale of the team throughout the season.
6. Exhibit ways to maintain foils before the season starts to keep your team dueling with the best equipment. Foils and epeés look like simple implements but they involve several parts that break on occasion. Replacing sockets, plugs and guards on a regular basis ensures the safety of each player on your team.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage an appreciation of fencing's history before you begin practice. The sport of fencing has developed out of a tradition of honorable fighting and technical prowess going back several centuries. Athletes who know why they are fencing perform better in tournaments and appreciate the sport's focus on precision.

Who Can Help: