British Academy of Fencing
Coaching Awards

The Academy operates a 5 Level Coaching System.

The minimum age to take any British Academy of Fencing Coaching Award is 18 years of age.

Level 1

An introductory award designed for those who wish to begin to teach fencing. Candidates who successfully reach the required standard should be able to take absolute beginners – either singly or in small groups – and to teach them the basic strokes of fencing.

Level 2 (Basic Coaching Award)

This award requires to candidate to be able to coach all the topics on the Level One Syllabus and to teach the technical and mechanical aspect of an additional group of strokes. Successful candidates should be capable of taking a beginners class within a club or school and to give short individual lessons to a fencer.

Level 3 (Intermediate Coaching Award)

A candidate who successfully reaches the required standard for this award is expected to be able to give coaching sessions, both individually and in groups, on all topics on the syllabuses for Levels 1 and 2 and to be able to teach (again both groups and individuals) almost the complete range of known fencing strokes. Here, as in the Level 2 award, the teaching is concerned with the technical and mechanical aspects of the stroke(s).

Advanced Award - Level 4

Unless the examination question specifically asks the candidate to teach, the award is primarily

concerned with a candidate’s ability to coach strokes within a limited group or subject. The candidate should be of sufficient standard to give exercises, which form the basis for developing and improving a fencer's theoretical and tactical ability. In contrast to Levels 2 and 3, the lessons (class and individual) should have an under lying theme of one or more of the following topics:

    Technique

    Timing

    Tactics

    Distance

    Rhythm / Changes of Cadence

    Continuity Hitting

    Competitive situations

    Simple and/or Compound Reaction

Diploma - Level 5

The Academy’s highest award is primarily concerned with a candidate’s ability to coach strokes and topics within a group or subject. The candidate should be of sufficient standard to give exercises, which form the basis for developing and improving a fencer's theoretical, technical and tactical ability, within the confines of the stroke(s), topic or subject being examined. In contrast with the Advanced Award the candidate is required to deal with multiple strokes, topics and or subjects whilst focusing on one or more of the following topics:

    Technique

    Timing

    Tactics

    Distance

    Rhythm / Changes of Cadence

    Continuity Hitting

    Competitive situations

    Simple and or Compound Reaction

Teaching and Coaching

To fully appreciate the above notes, it is essential that the reader should fully understand the difference between teaching and coaching as it applies to the sport of fencing.

In a teaching lesson, a teacher, imparts to an individual/class, the knowledge and/or technique to enable them to execute a fencing stroke (or group of strokes). The teacher should assume that the class/individual receiving the lesson has no previous knowledge or experience of that fencing stroke (or group of strokes).

The teacher’s class/pupil control and ability to impart the necessary knowledge and technique whilst maintaining the interest of the class/pupil are the essential factors in assessing his/her ability as a teacher.

In a coaching session, a coach takes a class/individual, having previous knowledge or technical ability with a fencing stroke (or group of strokes), and formulates exercises and practices that will improve the class/individual’s ability to execute that stroke (or strokes) under a range of competitive conditions.

As in teaching, the coach’s class/pupil control and his/her ability to maintain the interest of the class/pupil are very important. Important also is the need for the exercises provided to be realistic from a competitive point of view.

Candidates may:

    Subject to sponsorship, take examinations at any level. Awards do not need to be followed in numerical order

    Submit themselves for examination for one or more weapons up to and including Diploma Level. There is no compulsion to study all three weapons.

Those qualifying at Diploma Level in one or two weapons may use the title ‘Maître d’Escrime’.

Those qualifying at Diploma Level in all three weapons become ‘Masters’ of the Academy and may use the title ‘Professor’.

To obtain a copy of the new Coaching Award Syllabuses (Issue 3 - Sept 2005) or further information please contact the Course Officer.

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Last modified: 24th Oct 2006