2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
US Fencing Association
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Presented October 15, 2008 by
Andrea Lagan
Interim High Performance Director
This document is a collaborative work product of the following individuals:
US Fencing National Office: Marli Carollo Christine Simmons – Interim ED Lonnie Sellers Jeanna Mendoza – Director of Sport Nick Tobianski Technical Programs Dana Brown - US Fencing Armorers: Ashley Razo – Daniel DeChaine Melissa Baylor - Ron Herman Tana Isgar - Matthew Porter
US Fencing National Coaches: US Fencing Referees: Yury Gelman – MS Samuel Cheris Simon Gershon – MF William (Bill) Oliver Michael Itkin – Jr MF Arianna Klinkov Jim Carpenter - WE Doug Findlay Ro Sobalvarro – JR WE Derek Cotton Maureen Griffin – Cdt WE Ed Korfanty – WS Michael Pederson – WF FIE Photographers: Gagik Demirchian – ME Amy Alden Timachef Boris Vaksman – JE ME Serge Timacheff
US Fencing Coaches: USOC Daniel Costin Alan Ashley Bob Hurley Bob Gambardella Andrey Geva Arkady Burdan Jim Page Les Stawicki Other US Fencing Resources US Fencing National Program Donald Alperstein – USFA Legal Managers: Counsel Robert Largman Alan Kuver Sunil Sabharwal Cathy Zagunis Michael Massik US Fencing Sport Science: Dr Peter Harmer Editorial John Carollo Kate Hanna
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan i Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary ...... 1 II. Vision and Mission ...... 4 III. Stakeholder Identification and Prioritization ...... 7 IV. SWOT Analysis ...... 14 V. International Competitive Analysis and Action Plan ...... 1. Women’s Sabre ...... A. Coach/Manager Biographies B. Critical Success Factors C. International Competitive Analysis D. Athlete Development Pipeline E. Athlete Identification for 2012 F. Summary of International Results
2. Women’s Foil ...... A. Coach Biography B. Critical Success Factors C. International Competitive Analysis D. Athlete Development Pipeline E. Athlete Identification for 2012 F. Summary of International Results
3. Women’s Epee ...... A. Coach Biographies B. Critical Success Factors C. International Competitive Analysis D. Athlete Development Pipeline E. Athlete Identification for 2012 F. Summary of International Results
4. Men’s Sabre ...... A. Coach Biography B. Critical Success Factors C. International Competitive Analysis D. Athlete Development Pipeline E. Athlete Identification for 2012 F. Summary of International Results
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan ii Table of Contents, continued
5. Men’s Foil ...... A. Coach Biographies B. Critical Success Factors C. Summary of International Results
6. Men’s Epee ...... A. Coach Biographies B. Critical Success Factors C. International Competitive Analysis D. Athlete Development Pipeline E. Athlete Identification for 2012 F. Summary of International Results
7. US Fencing ...... A. Critical Success Factors B. Team Development Plan C. High Performance Plan for Olympic Preparation
VI. Summary
VII. Appendices ...... Appendix 1: Paralympics Development Plan...... A. Coach Biographies B. 2009 Wheelchair Performance Plan
Appendix 2: Contributors Biographies ...... Appendix 3: Description of SSentif Sport training software ...... Appendix 4: Summary of tables and graphs......
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan iii I. Executive Summary
The United States Fencing Association is comprised of a membership base of better than 25,000 individuals, most of whom fence in the 1500 to 2000 member clubs in every state in the union including Hawaii and Alaska. (See appendix one)
The country is divided into geographic sections, which are then subdivided into divisions. All of these entities are involved in competitions from the absolute grassroots to elite national and international tournaments. Divisions provide competitions from grass roots to national qualifying levels. Sections schedule competitions for youth and national qualifying.
On the developmental level there are Regional Youth Circuit events for young fencers in the 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under age categories. These events are sanctioned by the USFA and organized by clubs and regional associations and is the entry point for young fencers wishing to compete beyond the most rudimentary, intra-club competitions.
In 2007-8 there were be some 40 of these Regional Youth Circuit events culminating in a national gathering known as Summer Nationals at which some 3000 fencers of all ages, literally from age nine to 90, will come together fencing in appropriate age categories over a 10 day period. This is without doubt the single largest fencing event in the world with some 60 pistes (metallic fencing strips) in continuous action from early morning until late into the night for 10 days.
During the year, the USFA conducts six North American Cup competitions (NAC) in various age classifications, levels of ability and international caliber. These are held throughout the United States and attract a high number and caliber of fencer, often from all other countries. The first of these events this year will be held in October in Columbus and will have some 1200 fencers. The competition is for Cadet (under 17), and Division II & Division III senior fencers. The competition will be in the six weapon groups of fencing (men’s and women’s foil, men’s and women’s epee and men’s and women’s saber).
The fact that so many fencers would enter a competition so early in the competitive calendar in the post Olympic year is indicative of the fact that the sport is in robust good health and experiencing an unprecedented level of interest in the United States.
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 1 On the coaching front, the USFA National Coaching staff boasts some of the finest fencing coaches in the world. Some of them are native-born American; some of them are émigrés from Europe. Fencers enter the sport through a fencing club or high school or college, recreation programs or park and community classes. Fencing thrives at any of these areas through the presence of fencing coaches, the backbone of the fencing program in the United States.
The USFA is actively engaged in the development and improvements of the coaching of fencing in America and has a number of educational programs in this regard. It conducts an annual Coaches College held in the Olympic Training Center in non-Olympic years, which is run by coaches for coaches and brings in clinicians from all over the country. These programs are structured for coaches at various levels and include certification for coaching, first aid, nutrition and the like. In addition there are clinics run in conjunction with national tournaments, training camps and other programs to catch the attention of the coaches of America.
The USFA has worked actively to promote coaching as a vocation and has been successful in bringing a number of talented young fencers into the coaching ranks.
While the preponderance of elite coaches are European, the number of American-bred coaches is rising rapidly as can be seen in the ever increasing proportion of American coaches in the National Coaching group. They are another demonstration of the health and growth of the sport.
The example of the excitement in fencing generated at the recently completed Beijing Olympics speaks volumes in this regard. The television coverage was greater than at any other time in Olympic coverage and showed the excitement of the sport, the technical brilliance of its world-class athletes and, significantly, the high standing of American athletes in the sport.
The U.S. garnered an amazing six medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We are, in short, in uncharted waters in terms of the growth, popularity and visibility of this sport, which is one of the original modern Olympic sports and has a history that dates back thousands of years. It is in fact the national sport, or close to it, of many of the European countries from which our forbearers came. It is a sport that has been dominated by countries such as France, Italy, Hungary, Russia and Poland. It is a sport that showed great growth in Asia, especially in the host country of the 2008 Olympic games. It is a sport understood and appreciated all over the world. In terms of growth and growth potential, it is one of the sports that showed to greatest positive effect in Athens and again in Beijing.
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 2 Thus, on the grassroots level, the sport is experiencing wonderful and sustainable growth with more and more younger fencers coming into the USFA sponsored competitions and training programs. On the elite level we have experienced the finest Olympic Games in the history of American fencing.
The future appears very bright, but there are a number of steps that need to be taken to exploit these opportunities. The only thing that can hold back this upward trend is a lack of resources.
Organizational Background
The United States Fencing Association (USFA) is the recognized NGB for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981.
The USFA is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913.
The USFA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993 in compliance with the Amateur Sports Act and opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. in August of 1982 .
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 3 II. Vision and Mission
The mission of the USFA is to develop fencers to achieve international success and to administer and promote the sport in the USA.
Goals
. Earn international medals . Expand membership . Increase the number and quality of coaches and integrate them into the USFA . Increase public interest in fencing . Make the USFA an effective and efficient organization
The vision of the United States Fencing Association is to raise the level of fencing awareness in the United States to the point at which its is appreciated by the general public as a sport that is aerobically sound, intellectually and physically stimulating and of interest to and understood by a mainstream audience. Fencing is not a marginal sport in Europe where its subtlety, its mental and physical demands are understood and applauded. It is not too much to expect that fencing can reach that level of acceptance in the United States.
Of equal if not greater importance is the creation of the best possible atmosphere for the growth of the sport for its participants. This is happening as the current level of USFA membership and the interest in and attendance at USFA sponsored events will attest. In fact it is not too much to say that fencing has reached a level of unprecedented growth and interest in the USA. Inquiries from parents, potential fencers, schools and other institutions such as Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs are a daily occurrence.
Benchmarks for success would include the continued growth of the number of fencing clubs in the United States from the current level of 1500 to 2000 clubs by another 200 clubs in the next four years. This would bring a concomitant growth of the number of fencers by at least 10 per cent.
Fencing is a healthy, life-long activity that provides all of the benefits of sport: physical and mental well-being, a socially acceptable outlet for the aggressiveness inherent in our society in an intellectually satisfying way in an environment that promotes socialization, camaraderie, and the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 4 In a very specific sense, it is the goal of the United States Fencing Association to make the United States one of the acknowledged fencing powers in the world. The impressive results from the 2008 Beijing Olympics demonstrate that we are further along this road than many would have thought a few months ago.
Would it be unreasonable to expect six medals in 2012, eight finishes in the top four places in the various weapons and ten top eight finishes in London? A result of this sort is not beyond the realm of possibility.
It would thrust this country into the highest possible level of elite fencing countries. This is a position for which we should be working and for which we will work over the next four years. The USFA has been working rigorously toward these goals for more than a decade. It has appointed nationally and internationally renowned coaches to lead its national teams. It has encouraged, guided and helped to finance American fencers and teams to World Championship levels.
The next step, as defined above, requires only adequate funding to become a reality. The USFA received outstanding volunteer support from the fencing community and has throughout its history. This is, in fact, one of the great strengths of this sport. The organization has depended on its volunteer base to handle many of the domestic issues that inevitably arise. This does, however, lead to problems of timing and conflicts that will occur with the limited commitment of volunteers. The USFA staff has not grown over the past five years, and it remains quite small and is challenged to cope with the ever- expanding workload that comes with the kind of expansion of interest that is now happening. More staff is needed and will have to be added as the grassroots of the sport expand at such an amazing rate.
The mission of the USFA is to administer and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, to develop programs, services and opportunities that enable members from recreational to the Olympian to reach their maximum potential.
The USFA is responsible for the selection of athletes and cadre for international tournaments including Federation International D’Escrime World Championships, Pan American Championships, World University Games and the Olympic Games.
The USFA will maintain and improve its membership programs including the annual recognition reception, its grants programs and develop an Olympian Alumni program. To continue to support and manage the rapid growth of USFA membership, it needs to partner with community-based programs to expand the
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 5 outreach of the organization and promote the sport of fencing as well as the welfare of our fencers.
The USFA will work to enhance its efficiency and organizational effectiveness, continue to improve the coaching recruitment, education and national coaching programs and recruit and train young referees for domestic and international competitions. The US Fencing Association will also continue to partner with the USOC to provide our elite athletes with the best possible programs and training opportunities that are available.
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 6 III. Stakeholder Identification and Prioritization
Board and Staff Information
. 26 Board Members . 3 Board Meetings per year . 23 Committees . 8 Full Time Staff Members
Membership Information
Table 1: Membership Type and Cost
Membership Types Cost Senior/Senior 3 Year $50/$130 Junior/Junior 3 Year $50/$130 Coach/Coach 3 Year $50/$130 Veteran/Veteran 3 Year $50/$130 Associate/ Parent /Coach $40 Family $100 Club $40 Corporate $500
Life $1200
Membership Benefits
. Subscription to American Fencing Magazine . Access to Athlete Accident Insurance . Voting privileges: Members 18 and over, have the right to vote in USFA Elections . USFA Membership card: Recognition as a member of U.S. Fencing and passport to worldwide fencing . Discounts on Travel and Fencing Equipment . Corporate membership: o Access to membership o Advertising discount in magazine
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 7 Membership Benefits, continued o Free link on USFA website o Access to vendor space o Magazine o Mailing labels o Advertising opportunities in tournament mailings
US Fencing Individual Membership
25,000 members
Membership Breakdown
Table 2: Membership Breakdown by Age Youth 10 - 12 11% Youth 14 18% Cadet 26% Junior 44% Age 20 - 39 23% Veteran (40+): 19% Coaches 2% Wheelchair Approximately 20+ athletes
Education: 45% are under 18 (school age) 68% of those over 18 years of age possess a college degree or higher
Income: 72% have a household income greater than $60,000 36% have a household income greater than $100,000
Member Clubs: There are over 616 dedicated fencing clubs in the United States with nearly 500 additional organizations that offer fencing classes. Currently, there are 82 NCAA sponsored varsity-fencing teams.
Universities & Colleges: There are over 100 NCAA member programs and over 200 ntramural or club teams. I
Geography: Fencing has a presence in all 50 states and, for competitive purposes, is separated into 66 Divisions and 10 Sections.
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 8 Membership Growth: Membership continues to grow at a constant rate. Over the past five years it has increased at an average of 11 % per year, with an overall five-year increase of 34%.
Graph 1: US Fencing Distribution by Gender
Male 68%
Female 32%
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 9 Graph 2: US Fencing Distribution by Age
65 & Over 2% Age not provided
50-64 10%
Under 18 37%
35-49 15% Age not provided Under 18 37% 18-24 27% 25-34 9% 25-34 9% 35-49 15%
50-64 10% 65 & Over 2%
18-24 27%
US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 10 Graph 3: US Fencing Distribution by Level of Education
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Senior Junior Associate Coach
Veteran Life Supporting Life Special Life Club Family
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2007 US Fencing Summer Nationals 3700 Athletes over 10 Days with 85 Events - Miami Beach, Florida
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IV. SWOT Analysis
The strengths of the USFA are the strengths of fencing as a sport: its growing numbers of participants, the passion and commitments of its adherents, the number of coaches joining the sport in this country and the volunteers who have been its backbone throughout its 100-plus year history.
The growth of the sport in the last ten years has been phenomenal; the number of members of the USFA has more than doubled over that period of time to over 25,000 members. While this is an obvious strength, it is also a subtle weakness. The increasing numbers tax facilities, push competitions later and later into the night, force extra days of competition and tax the number of available referees, bout committee personnel and volunteers generally. These are the problems of a sport that is growing and healthy and should and will be turned into strengths over time.
The opportunities for new coaches, new referees, new clubs and new volunteers are very real. The stranglehold that can come from a single entity dominating a sport in a particular geographic area will be broken by the growth of the sport throughout the country.
This growth must be managed and is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the USFA today and is also its greatest opportunity. As memberships grow, more money is available to be reinvested in the sport on the grassroots level and more and more is needed especially in the area of coaching and referee development, in subsidies for equipment to older clubs whose equipment has become dated and to newer clubs needing to ramp up to international standards for the first time. The sport continues to evolve, rules changes from the Federation International D’Escrime, the international governing body of the sport, force clubs and competition hosts to update and modernize their scoring equipment.
The greatest threat in all of this arises on the elite athlete level where we must demonstrate the greatest possible commitment to our world-class athletes who are comparing themselves and our programs to their counterparts in the rest of the fencing world. As we aspire to international prominence in the sport, we come up against the example of other countries in which the national coaching program may be fully paid by the national government. Some countries have fully paid cadre members who travel with their teams and are paid all of their expenses and in fact all of the expenses of their athletes. In one country the national team members are automatically enlisted in the military and their national service consists exclusively of there fencing activities.
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While we would never advocate such a system, we must recognize that it is a threat to our ability to excel on the international level. If we are to attract world- class athletes to the sport, we must treat them in a world-class manner. We should continue to pay our national coaches.
In addition, we must pay the expenses of our world-class athletes – including juniors and cadets – to all of the World Cups competitions that are designated for points by the national coaches. In order to protect the collegiate eligibility of our NCAA athletes, we cannot go beyond actual and necessary expenses, but this would be adequate to our needs given the international nature of this sport. We do not now cover the expenses of the younger fencers to competitions other than World Championships. This will amount to a great deal of money, but will take the United States from its current place where it expects to medal at most competitions to a position of potential dominance that will rise through the age levels to the most elite senior competitions.
Thirdly, the sport of fencing is at the mercy of refereeing. The sport, despite the nature of its electronic scoring systems, is still at the mercy of the subjective decisions of the referee standing at the strip. It is very important; again if we are to reach a level of world elite status, to have American referees traveling with our teams to all international competitions. At present this is not always being done. In many countries, the same referees travel consistently with the same teams, thus becoming familiar with the refereeing landscape in their particular weapon and becoming a real asset to their teams. This is not to say that referees are needed to steer particular bouts in the right direction, but rather to make sure that the steering is not being done in the wrong direction. In addition, this sort of a program shows the rest of the fencing world how serious the American program is and that the level of commitment is the same in the United States as in the other elite fencing countries. On top of all this it demonstrates the quality of American refereeing and makes more of our referees known internationally. In sum, this is needed to make sure that American fencers are treated fairly at all international competitions, a very real problem that must be addressed if we are to take that next giant step forward in international competition.
In addition, we must be filming/videotaping our competitions internationally. This takes an additional financial commitment. New technologies such as Dartfish are available that allow the effective use of videotape without the commitment of enormous sums in electronic editing equipment. At present the USFA is not in a position to provide the software needed for all of our national coaches to have this technology at their disposal, let alone the funds to send someone to videotape events internationally. If we are to take that next great step forward, we must have the advantage of technology. Editing software is worthless without the videotape to analyze. It is the performance of our world-class athletes (no matter the age) under world scrutiny that will tell us the most about their
Page | 15 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan development as world-class fencers. To make them effective, we must have them on tape during the most important bouts of the year, most of which take place in other countries.
Finally, at present the USFA is able to send cadre to the most important international events. Our athletes are often accompanied only by a coach who cannot be expected to take care of the many problems that crop up on an international trip in addition to the burdens of coaching the team. Therefore, the USFA should be sending a team leader or captain to all World Cup events in addition to the World Championships as we now do.
Again, this is being done by the premier fencing countries in the world. Continued funding will allow us to do the same. The volunteers who would go to protect our young fencers are available; we simply need the wherewithal to make this happen.
Table 3: SWOT Analysis Summary
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STRENGTHS WEAKENESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Athlete Support for Appropriate training, coaching, Cadets and Athletes don't fully understand 24 Hour Fitness competitions and Juniors at OLY Quad Performance Plan Partnership equipment Prep Camps (retention) Squad Team Top athletes staying Pressure of Format and Operating Building prior to connected to the pipeline success - how to Procedures for Competitions OLY (mentoring / Competition) deal with this Direct Athlete Support (Monthly Better use of "off strip" Lack of referees Geography Stipends vs. services (SS/Medicine) from the USA Performance Bonuses) Inclusion of the Performance Training that mirrors the team events in the Training Opportunities with Bonuses for way the athletes are Olympics (which National Coaches Athletes going to compete (OLY) weapons, decision, etc…) Divided responsibility of US Fencing "Olympic Team" - team Lack of funding / Coaches (Clubs and National Foundation building opportunities resources Team) No full-time Previous Balance of home time vs. National team Experiences Zonal Competitions to close to training camps leading coaches (Structural contributing to Olympic Games up to Olympics weakness - club vs. OLY Success NT responsibilities) Scouting of our Too few credentials for Olympic USA to host zonals in Athlete Retention Opponents Coaches OLY yr Better integration of core Competition No Policy or Education for how Planning for OLY staff into major between coaches Replacement Athletes will be Beijing (USFA) events prior to Olympics on "Team USA" used (4 yrs) level Capture the success of Strong local Front offices of Better NGB Apparel for the athletes at OLY for clubs and USFA isn't fully Olympics (Psychological) development - mentoring coaches staffed of Jr / cadets Other countries in Strong Better Media Program to the Americas are membership No plan for Managing Victory promote sport / athletes challenging team bases and good during or after the Olympics post Olympics USA - getting young athletes stronger Other countries Committed Olympic Specific PR reactive vs. Athletes stipends key to trying hiring and Parents proactive athlete retention paying coaches at high levels Engage Olympics in Excellent Fencing no included in USOC educating the next Coaches Cadre Victory Tour generation Need to get plugged into USOC Training for the team
"A" List of athletes event Page | 17 PromptnessUS Fencing of payments 2009-2012 andQuad IntegrHigh Performanceation of Referees Plan communication regarding into training plans - better payments collaboration Better coaches contracts Timely availability of resources and recognition of t t HP P Page | 18 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
V. International Competitive Analysis and Action Plan
1. Women’s Saber
A. Coach/Manager Biographies
National Coach: Maestro Ed Korfanty • Head Coach - Oregon Fencing Alliance • Director of Fencing Programs, Head Coach - Oregon Episcopal School 3x World Champion • U.S. Fencing Coaches Association Distinguished Merit Award for International Coaching - Coach of the Year 2005 • U.S. Olympic Committee - Coach of the Year, 2000, 2003, 2004 • U.S. Fencing Association - Coach of the Year 2003 • USFA Western Region Developmental Coach of the Year, 1997 • 2006 World Champion - Men's Veteran Sabre 50+ • 2004 Silver Medalist - Veteran's World Championships - Men's Saber 2003 World Champion - Men's Veteran Sabre 50+ • 2002 World Champion - Men's Veteran Sabre 50+
Ed Korfanty was born in Poland. He started fencing at age 16. He quickly developed into a top ranked fencer in Poland and fenced a number of years on the Polish Junior and Senior National Teams. In this era, the Polish team was considered to be one of the strongest contingencies in the world. Mr. Korfanty graduated from the renowned Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland with a master's degree in Physical Education and a Master of Fencing degree. By 1984 he had become the head coach at the Olympic Center in Katowice, Poland and coach of the Polish National Team. Under his guidance the Polish team flourished and in 1989 he received the award from the Minister of Sport and Culture in Poland for excellent achievements in sport. In 1990 Coach Korfanty immigrated to the United States and became assistant fencing coach at the University of Notre Dame.
In 1993 he was recruited by Colleen Olney (mother of Michael and Robert Marx), to come to the Oregon Fencing Alliance (OFA) as Head Coach, along with the Head Coach position at the Oregon Episcopal School, in Portland, Oregon. Colleen Olney was coaching and developing OFA into a powerful center of fencing in all 3 weapons of sabre, foil and epee.
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Maestro Korfanty’s first student to make historical progress in US fencing was Seth Kelsey. As a cadet epee fencer, Kelsey made the Cadet, Junior and Senior US National teams in epee in one season. No fencer prior to this had made three different age group national teams in the same season. Under his direction, the Oregon Fencing Alliance Club moved to become a one-weapon club in 2000 concentrating solely on sabre fencing. The accomplishments of his students have been extraordinary and unmatched, not only in the history of US fencing but also in the history of World fencing. His students have won more World Championship medals under his tutelage and set an unprecedented marker for others to admire.
His students have won more than 41 World Championship Medals, 2 Olympic Gold Medals (2008 Beijing, 2004 Athens) and 3 Olympic Bronze Medals (2008 Beijing). Additionally as US National Coach of Women’s Sabre the US Women’s Sabre team has won 5 Gold medals in the Team World Championships. Add to that the additional individual and team medals won at the World Championships and it makes 9 more medals.
His most recognized student is Mariel Zagunis who started her fencing career with him at age 10 and continues under his tutelage. She has won an unprecedented 3 individual World Championship Gold medals (Cadet in 2001, Junior in 2001, Junior in 2005) and the first OLYMPIC Gold medal for US fencing since the era of modern fencing. In 2008 Ms. Zagunis won her second Olympic Champion title in Beijing, successfully defending her title. She has been a member of all 5 teams that won World Championship Gold medals for US Fencing. In 2006 Ms. Zagunis also won the NCAA female saber championship title. Other notable students include Caitlin Thompson - 2004 Cadet World Champion, Rebecca Ward: 2005 FIE overall Jr. World Champion - 2006 Cadet World Champion - 2006 Jr. World Champion - 2006 Jr. World Team Champion member, Patrick Ghattas and William Thanhouser.
He continues to be recognized internationally by his students being honored as the World Cup FIE holder in Junior Women’s sabre for the last 4 consecutive years. The US Women’s sabre team won the FIE team World Cup honor in 2003, and the 2005 World Championships in Germany.
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Women’s Saber Team Manager: Catherine M. Zagunis
Education
• BA Zoology, Cum Laude, Connecticut College, New London, CT • BSN, Sigma Theta Tau, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Athletic Accomplishments
• New England Colleges Swimming Champion, 50m and 100m backstroke • Captain Connecticut College Varsity Swim Team • 1974,75,76 Champion Women’s 8, Head of the Charles Regatta, Boston, MA • US National Champion, Women’s 8, Oakland, CA • US National Women’s Rowing Team, 9th place World Championships • US National Women’s Rowing Team 4+, 5th place World Championships • US Olympic Rowing Team Women’s 4+, Montreal, 6th place • 1979,81,83 Manager US Women’s National Rowing Team • Current Recreational tennis player and runner.
CAREER
• RN, Critical Care, Shift Supervisor, Providence Hospital, Portland OR. • RN, Emergency Dept., Shift Supervisor, Providence Hospital, Portland. • Director of Support Services, NIKE World Masters Games. • 1998-present Director of Programs Oregon Fencing Alliance.
FENCING EXPERIENCE
• Chair, Oregon Division of USFA. • 1998-present Director of Programs Oregon Fencing Alliance. Responsibilities include management and oversight of all fencing programs and coaching staff also including cadre travel, community program development, accounting, equipment inventory, marketing, Bingo
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volunteer program, organizing and management of all camps, clerical support and assistance to US National Women’s Sabre Coach. • USFA National Team Manager Junior/Cadet Women’s World Sabre Championships, Dijon, France. • 1999-present Secretary, Pacific NW Section, USFA. • Manager US Fencing Team Junior/Cadet World Championships. • Manager, US Women’s Sabre World Championships, Budapest, Hungary. • Manager, US Fencing Team Junior/Cadet Championships, Gdansk, Poland • US Women’s Sabre Squad Manager
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B. Critical Success Factors – Women’s Sabre
#1 The retention of current top fencers with support of their individualized training and travel plans. Retention will be dependent on available financial support. Success of program is dependent on retaining core group of high- level athletes
#2 Maintain Women’s Sabre Team World Ranking top 4 for 2009 thru 2011 World Championships and win a team medal at each World Championships this quad and Olympic medal in 2012
#3 Individual results for Women’s Sabre World Championship medals wining at least 1 per World Championship leading London and with the expectation to win two individual medals at the 2012 Olympics
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C. International Competitive Analysis Women’s Sabre is assuming that in 2012 there will be a Women’s Sabre team event. Therefore our qualification path and goal is to be ranked in the top 4 to secure our Olympic berth. Our analysis at this time shows us that both Canada and Venezuela, who will also be contenders to qualify through the American zonal pathway, will be much stronger teams in this quad. Both nations have recruited top world-class coaches to grow their programs and both have significantly increased financial support from their respective NGBs and governments.
Our biggest challenge is to formulate incentives in order to keep our current Olympians and top fencers in the pipeline. All current women sabre fencers are considered young and have the potential to fence through 2016 in a sport where the average European fencer is in their late 20’s and early 30’s. It has been identified that financial support is the primary concern for all our athletes in this travel intensive sport. Also, the ability to work with their personal coaches and enough finances to afford the private lessons required staying at their best competitive level.
Two other challenges to address are to keep the team healthy and injury free and how to deal with the collegiate environment that can be detrimental to an athlete’s ability to stay at peak form and conditioning. Below is the identification of specific fencers who at this time show us the ability to be part of the 2012 Olympics.
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D. Athlete Development Pipeline
HPP Development Team Includes athletes designated above and the National Coach, for overall direction on a daily basis and insight for quad development of Olympic athletes; the Squad Manager, for travel and training coordination, budget oversight and clerical and planning support for national coach; Athletic Trainer(s) to travel with the squad (limit to 2-3 persons so to have consistency with therapy and support); US Fencing High Performance Director to support goals, discipline, policies and coordination with US Fencing goals and directives.
Elite Performance Model Technical preparation of fencer over the quad starting with identification of weaknesses and strengths for each individual and capitalize on how to strengthen the fencer’s technical execution of actions in the first two years of the quad.
Tactically incorporate the parts of the bout into a strategic plan to beat opponents; gained thru video analysis of opponents and seminars during camp when the tactics can be applied in controlled bouting situations. Emphasis on tactical preparation will be two years leading to the Olympics as the nations and individual top fencers in the world are identified.
Physical preparation will be one going throughout the quad based on sound cross training exercises specific to fencing’s need for strength, agility, speed, reaction tie, core strength, flexibility and anaerobic capacity. One year prior to the Olympics the intensity and attention to physical preparedness will be at it’s peak leading up to the Olympic Games.
Mentally athletes will be given the opportunity to meet with former and current Olympians during the organized camps to help prepare the fencers to have the winning mental attitude needed to be a champion. Networking with referrals from the USOC Sports Science and Sport Psychology departments for individualized needs in regards to use of sports psychology.
Technology support is essential for the top fencers in regards to having access to available video footage to study from the 2010 and 2011 World Championships. Technology support for the athletes is needed for their laptops or other tools to support their ability to study and analyze their opponents. Projected development by 2012 of handheld video system for each athlete to use as an additional tool to help them prepare for each bout.
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Action Plan 1. Secure adequate funding to retain top fencers 2. Attend all Grand Prix Tournaments 3. Hold 5 training camps of which 3 are mandatory (winter, summer, pre-world championship and 2 between Grand Prixs in Europe) Goal at camps will be: a. Analyze identified opponents and teams b. Tactical teaching by coach to fence opponents c. Keep logs of tactical actions/ bouts/ training d. Team building activities for camaraderie e. Attention to physical preparedness f. Individualized training analysis and goal setting Number of bouts Hours of lessons Hours cross training fitness Number of competitive tournaments/win-loss record 4. Individual Goals for Fencers
Commitment to Train and Compete (Athlete Agreement signed) 1. Guidance for how to train (number of bouts, hours in cross training, lessons, tournaments, etc) 2. Communication with personal coaches on how to train their fencer by recognizing her weaknesses and strengths and how to build on their individual strengths 3. Help personal coaches and fencers devise training plan around the building of these strengths and minimizing weaknesses; specifically how the coach can present private lessons to teach the parts of the bout the fencer needs to improve upon 4. Fitness Training Guidance: evaluation and provision of support material and equipment. Use of 24 Hr Fitness gyms and personal trainers where available 5. Support for times of injuries or chronic injuries via network of USOC sport rehabilitation clinics 6. Individualized competition plan around academic schedule or other conflicts 7. Knowledge of rule changes and how to incorporate into their bouting tactics and then how to technically train to be bale to apply those tactics 8. Contact with college coaches for organized preparation plan for critical tournaments and support of competitive plan that will motivates that fencer to train and seek out appropriate training opportunities available to them
Training and competition plan for each year of the quad will vary according to the FIE schedule. Adjusting the competition schedules according to any changes made by the FIE in qualification paths to the 2012 Olympic Games will be taken into account.
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The first year of the quad the travel and competition load will be about ½ of projected 2012 load. In the first year, 2008-09 there will be attendance required at 5 of 8 designated world cups, 3 out of 5 camps and moderate levels of technical and physical preparedness.
Year two and three of the quad the competition requirements will increase to 8 out of 10 then 10 out of 12 respectively. Goal is to set our FIE team rank to be in the top 2 at the 2011 World Championships and maintain that rank to the Olympic Games. Additionally, individual FIE ranking will be stressed so that USA fencers do not eliminate each other until the semifinals or final round.
The attached budget outlines the competition calendar and training plan as the load increase leading to 2012.
Athlete Support
2009 Criteria for Direct Athlete Support
Commitment to Train and Compete (Athlete Agreement signed)
Retention and motivation of current top fencers is critical to the performance plan for this next quad
Top 4 on FIE Individual ranking evaluated every 4 months AND compliance with athlete travel and training plan (signed athlete agreement)
From USOC $3500/month per athlete stipend plus EAHI for eligible fencers.
From USFA $1500/ month per athlete stipend in lieu of performance award/grant structure that is being eliminated and all travel expenses to international competitions (and Las Vegas World Cup) covered.
Criteria
1. Attend minimum number of designated world cups in 2009. This minimum number is 5 2. Attend 3 of the 5 Grand Prixs (NCAA conflict can make allowance for variance in this criteria with national coach’s agreement with fencer’s plan) 3. Participate in a minimum of 2 National Training Camps 4. Have at least 3 top 16 results in designated world cups and maintain at minimum top 32 FIE rank 5. Participate in designated fitness preparedness exams 6. Submit a monthly training log
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Note: 2009-12 High Performance Plan for Women’s Sabre in subsequent years of this quad will define higher criteria of participation in camps, competitions and intense training preparations with expectations for significant international results leading to London.
Stipend from USFA is to supplement the USOC stipend program. With the removal of the former US Fencing training grants and performance awards, the athletes will not be able to support the levels of required training. They need this additional regular income so that they can budget their expenses. This financial support is also necessary in order to be able to retain our elite fencers after college while they are still in their peak fencing years.
Coach Development
• Critical pathway to add to our top coaching levels is to provide opportunities for identified developmental coaches or coaches of specific elite fencers to have the opportunity to work with the National Coach on a more regular basis. Additionally, providing these caches the opportunity to travel with the senior squad to be able to learn, witness and understand the international playing field. This is financially based, as the coaches would need to have expenses paid in order to attend world cups and training camps. • Use coaches of top developing fencers as designated national coach for selected world cups. • Recommend that one criteria to be chosen, as this designee is attendance at national training camp minimally 1 per year. • Follow up by national coach with the identified development coaches’ on- going basis to facilitate their learning how to prepare their fencer to be a top international caliber fencer. • Work closely with the college coaches to develop training programs and competition schedules that will facilitate the fencer to remain at their peak
Youth/Cadet/Junior Development
• Participationininternationaleventstobuildexperience recommendation is minimally 4 per season • Basic Knowledge of how to be a world class fencer (micro-cycles) • Dedication • Hours of training • Number of required bouts a week • Cross training personal fitness requirements • Involve Champions as role models and in discussion groups and to include physical and mental preparation; share experiences; Q and A groups
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Referee Development
• Recommendation is to send referees to national training camps. • Recommend the criteria for a referee to be granted an international assignment is to atend 1 national training camp per year • Outcome is stronger referees with basic skill sets of knowledge to be a good international referee and to build them into the team support group for athletes with the confidence of fencers
Olympic Training Center Camps
In the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons use of the USOTC for 10 day camp for elite fencers in preparation for the World Championships. Bring in other top senior fencers as sparing partners and to facilitate the development of our younger cadets and juniors by inviting top 4-6 fencers in these age groups to be exposed to the role models of the experienced senior group. Anticipate a mid to late August 2011 training camp at the USOTC and a winter time frame for a 2012 training camp. Utilize this camp time to access the resources at the USOTC in the areas physiology, psychology, nutrition counseling, fitness testing period, and technology (video analysis and video taping of our fencers)
International Games Preparation
It is very beneficial to send squads to the Pan American Games and World University Games. Both of these international competitions provide incentive and motivation for tier two athletes to remain in the active training state with specific end goal of participation and winning medals at these two events. These higher- level competitions also provide recognition for being on a USA team and help prepare the fencers of the next generation for their pathway to the Olympic Games in 2016.
International Relations
As learned from this past quad, having consistent cadre travel with our squads helps build camaraderie among the nations and also resources that can be used to our advantage. This includes consensus for decisions at world cups when issues arise with the world cup organization, additional medical support, facilitation of international training camps and training partners, transportation assistance and numerous other activities. It facilitates our international camps held in Europe and readily encourages participation by other nations in these periods between world cups when we stay in Europe or Asia (thus providing our
Page | 29 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan fencers with a large pool of top fencers they can fence with during the international camps). Lastly, it provides a professional presentation when we travel which gives the US team respect and gives the fencers pride in representing their country.
Short and Long Term Performance Measures
Analysis of personal results of our top fencers will occur at the end of each season. By reviewing their international results and results trending will help us to plan the season that follows. Periods of poor performance will be analyzed to adapt/change our micro training cycles, evaluate potential for injury if training and competition schedules are too intense, changes in tactical preparation for the nations that will become our biggest opponents in the next season and a time to review of any new rule changes. Analyzing the depth and consistency of results will identify our pool of potential fencers as we build to 2012 and beyond.
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E. Athlete Identification for 2012
Table 4: Women’s Sabre Athlete Pool Team Athlete and age Hometown Coach potential Zagunis – 23 Portland, OR Ed Korfanty for 2012 Jacobson – 25 Atlanta, GA Arkady Burdan Ward – 18 Portland, OR Ed Korfanty/Jacek Huchwajda (Duke) Wozniak – 20 Avenel, NJ Yury Gelman (St John’s) Vloka – 18 Upper Saddle Oleg Stetsiv (Harvard) River, NJ Baratta – 24 NYC Yury Gelman Thompson – 21 Portland, OR Ed Korfanty (Penn State) Second Tier Schneider, Daria– 21 NYC Yury Gelman (Columbia) Aksamit, Monika – 18 New Jersey Yury Gelman (Penn State) Wheeler, Diamond – Portland, OR Ed Korfanty 16 Osier, Lian – 17 Vancouver, WA Ed Korfanty (Portland, OR) Miller, Allison – 18 Chicago, IL Hristo Estropolski Roberts, Samantha – Upper Saddle Oleg Stetsiv (Columbia) 18 River, NJ Merza, Celina – 15 New Jersey Mark Trudnos Team ID Glon, Nicole -16 State College, Wes Glon for 2016 in PA addition to Ford, Tasia- 16 Albany, NY Caroline Washburn above Diedro, Loweye – 17 NYC Mik’hal Sankofa Diedro, Essane – 17 NYC Mik’hal Sankofa Russo, Francesca- 13 New Jersey Oleg Stesiv College Hassett, Eileen -19 Portland, OR Ed Korfanty (Notre Dame) Pool Borrmann, Sarah -20 Portland, OR Ed Korfanty (Notre Dame) (individual Grench, Eileen -23 Sacramento, CA Vladimir Nazlymov strong Stone, Elizabeth -18 Chicago, IL Hristo Estropolski fencers Russo, Jessica – 18 New Jersey Oleg Stetsiv who will Franciskowicz, Chicago, IL Hristo Estropolski add Dominika -18 training Cichomski, Joanna -17 Chicago, IL Hristo Estropolski support to Miller, Falencia -19 Atlanta, GA Arkady Burdan top tier Muhammed, Ibtihaj – NYC Mik’hal Sankofa fencers) 23
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F. Summary of International Results
Table 5: Summary of Results - Women’s Saber 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 1 0 2 1 4 08 Junior World Championships 0 1 0 0 0 08 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07-08 Senior World Cups/Grand Prix 0 1 2 3 6 07-08 Junior World Cups 0 0 0 5 4 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 3 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 0 1 2 0 3 07 Junior World Championships 0 1 0 0 1 07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Senior World Cups/Grand Prix 0 1 2 7 10 06-07 Junior World Cups 1 0 1 2 4 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan Am Championships 06 Junior World Championships 0 0 1 0 1 06 Cadet World Championships 1 0 0 1 2 05-06 Senior World Cups/Grand Prix 1 1 1 4 7 05-06 Junior World Cups 2 0 1 3 6 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Senior World Cups/Grand Prix 1 1 1 2 5 04-05 Junior World Cups 0 1 2 6 9 04-05 Cadet International Totals
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2. Women’s Foil
A. Coach Biography
National Coach: Mike Pederson
Years Coaching: 15 Certifications: Prevot D’Armes from the International School of Fencing, Montreal, Canada Best Fencing Moment: Winning the team silver in Women’s Foil at the Beijing Olympics Awards: 1. •Order of Ikkos USOC - Beijing Olympics 2008 2. •USOC National Coach of the Year for Fencing 2007
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B. Critical Success Factors – Women’s Foil
#1 4-year financial commitment from USOC and USFA.
#2 Full time, salaried national coaching position. Creation of team logistics manager position
#3 Inclusion of WF team in 2012 or reinstating of all team events at the Olympics
#4 Commitment to 4-year training program by identified athletes and coaches.
• Funding to retain key senior athletes: Cross and Willette. • Support from the OTC in terms of physical testing and development of a S&C program • Implementation of high performance plan. • Training record system implemented • Video recording and analysis of USA and opponents.
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Table 6: Women’s Foil SWOT Analysis
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STRENGTHS WEAKENESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Youth Fencing – Youth 10,Youth 12 and Youth 14) Develop a recommended national curriculum/skill list/program for youth fencers. Include Active local and technical, tactical, High pressure on regional physical, psychological youth fencers No talent identification system in tournament in and emotional causing place for coaches or Athletes the forms of components as well as unnecessary drop
RYC and SYC. recommendations on out type and length of competition, length of training sessions, and level of coach needed.
No national LTAD plan or Skill acquisition plan in place. Top fencers are Coaches are left to make up Bad coaching competitive in their curriculum on their own. Create Talent ID program encouraging bad next age This leads to diverse and often fencing. category up. unorthodox fencing styles in the .
youth age levels.
Number of No certification standards or Create regional camps Parents becoming competitors at process to be a youth coach. for ID'd youth fencers too involved in national level Model or partner with PCA type AND THEIR COACHES child’s success increasing program.
Other countries (France in particular) have strong youth developmental programs. They have created a steady pipeline that Create a basic skills program for is national in scope Regional circuits youth fencers. Include technical, and cohesive in are encouraging tactical, physical, psychological terms of skills clubs to work and emotional components as taught. Focused on with youth well as recommendations on group learning fencers. type and length of competition, instead of length of training sessions, and individual lesson. level of coach needed Since we don’t have one, we don’t have a steady pipeline except by the pleasure of private clubs in the USA. Page | 36 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Reliance on private Y10 is small in numbers and not clubs limiting valuable in my opinion. It should numbers. Need to not be a part of the National implement school tournament structure; instead programs as drop
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STRENGTHS WEAKENESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Cadet Level (Under-17) This group, of all the Current World groups, needs a lot of Champion and time with top-level Repeat of World Burn out of 3rd place coaches to work on champion or at least talented fencers medalist are technique and tactics. medalists from the USA They are all over the place.
11 top eight finishes in Fencers not designated Design and schedule being in good International Physical evaluation and physical testing enough shape tournaments testing is non-existent at module to be done to compete at 2007 ñ 2008 this level. either at clubs or at the international (Samorin, camps. level. Cabriese,
Budapest, Jena)
Implement physical training regimen Cadre of Training camps are including strength, coaches who 9 of the top 16 difficult to schedule given agility, speed and are capable and are cadets of school and tournament anaerobic/aerobic able to coach varying abilities schedule. conditioning. Set internationally. markers for top
athletes.
This age group has the most number of tournaments to compete in given that all the levels Only 2 of the top Rework tournament Coaches feeling above (Junior/Senior 16 Cadet schedule to reflect a marginalized domestic and fencers age out saner qualifying path and not international) count in a this season. The to the Cadet team. included trickle down method. This reigning world makes it very difficult to schedule camps, training, school etc.
Fund or at the very Champion and least invite coaches of 3rd place Communication top-level cadet to medalist are Burnout due to from National international eligible for 1 and demanding schedule coaching staff tournaments or 3 more years not clear. national training each. camps.
Strong group of designated Contact Increase funding for international Cadet success is not a Pageinformation | 38 for cadet fencers based tournaments strongUS Fencing indicator 2009 -2012of future Quad High Performance Plan top-level on performance or available for senior success. coaches not up rankings competition and to date. evaluation
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STRENGTHS WEAKENESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Junior Level Fencing – Under-20 Graduated top international athletes Strong coaches (Willette and cross) within Identify and support working with top the last3 years. No one an athlete leader / athletes has stepped up to take captain
on his or her roles.
Doesn’t compete Create opportunities together as a team for team competitions except at Junior Worlds.
Work with individual No clear leader. Prescod coaches to identify is strongest fencer, but key strengths and very young and not ready weakness of each top emotionally to step into fencer and then the leadership role filled create training plan to by Willette or Cross. build on strengths and correct weakness
Many fencers are one- dimensional and do not Set goals realistically exhibit strong technical or for junior world tactical skills. This works championships. for the most part at the Target 2010 for cadet level, but at the medals junior level, it fails.
Coaches sometimes not willing to take the long way to success and Implement physical instead focus on tricks testing and unorthodox style to garner immediate success Implement physical No physical testing done training regimen (see
at this level cadet)
Implement video analysis of other
teams and individuals as well as US juniors. Page | 40 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Educate juniors as to US team strategy:
roles, psychology, tactics, etc.
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STRENGTHS WEAKENESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Senior Level Fencing Emily has committed (in theory) to training for 2012 contingent on there being Silver medal Technical abilities need adequate funding and Status of WF team at Beijing to be improved in terms WF Team in London. team in London Olympics of variety and execution. If there is no team Olympics . competition, then
there is no Emily. .
By developing the strong group of Cadets and juniors, I Hot and cold believe that we can Top fencers are performances: need Lack of equal or surpass our highly ranked in more psychological consistent silver medal in team world rankings. consistency funding in 2016 by adding an
individual medal. It
would be a long shot for 2012.
There is a strong set of hidden talent in WF - Leahy, Nott, Alicea, Nemecek to name a few - that could be Top fencers are convinced to come Age of just hitting their Need to be physically out of semi-retirement upcoming top peak in terms of stronger if there were funding athletes age and skill. and training
opportunities. These fencers can be used as training partners and, perhaps, even team members.
The success of the WF team at Beijing Retention of top athletes: sets a great example 2 Olympic team members Top fencers are for the next group of are not planning on physically strong senior athletes. They Lack of full time training for 2012 and 2 and used to a will go into this quad National coach have either not physical training knowing that it can be responded or are done. This will help to undecided. raise their
expectations and standards Top fencers are Page | 42 technically NoUS Fencingstrong seniors2009-2012 to take Quad High Performance Plan Relative age of strong and their places if they do not top fencers if tactically diverse compete for 2012. Only the Beijing team Able to train less juniors and they are retires and gain more mostly cadets C. International Competitive Analysis
Organizations
The four main organizations that impact Women’s foil are the IOC, FIE, USOC and USFA. Of the four, we have the most to gain and lose from the USOC and USFA as they directly control our funding. However, the FIE also impacts us as they control the rotation of the team events at the Olympics and also world cup event locations and dates as well as rule modifications and the IOC dictates the number of allowed events and medals as well a number of participants in fencing at the Olympic games.
As a federation, we need to lobby the FIE to either stick to the current rotation (which would have ME and MS team not included in 2012) or to work with the IOC to include all team events for all weapons. Any other option would be unfair to the team events that would otherwise be eliminated in 2012, including women’s foil team. We are currently assuming that WF will be in the 2012 Olympics, but it is not for certain.
The USFA has a direct impact on our success. We have limped along for several years; slightly broken, occasionally successful and mildly cooperative. We need to do better and turn this organization away from the volunteer mindset and towards professionalism.
In light of this here are my recommendations:
1. Hire a full time High Performance Director. 2. Hire full time National Coaches for each squad. a. Identify cadet, junior, and developmental coaches as well. Perhaps not hired, but as part of identified staff. 3. Hire someone or subcontract a service to provide logistical support for international team trips: hotels, air, and transportation. 4. Have regular staff meetings with all national coaches. 5. Implement technology for meetings to cut down on travel costs 6. Implement High Performance Coaching Development program 7. Create timelines for expense reimbursement that are functional and real.
Hiring these key personnel and implementing these ideas will help US Fencing to achieve excellence in 2012 and 2016
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Sport
America’s Zone: In the America’s, both Canada and Venezuela have the capacity to be competitive with the USA. Both countries have different strengths and weaknesses; Canada has better quality coaches and access to a well organized NGB and Canadian Olympic Association. Canada’s funding situation has also improved, though it is still less than the USA. Their biggest asset is their commitment to hiring a full time staff of national coaches and funding them for the entire quad.
Venezuela has fewer coaches and athletes overall. However, they were a credible threat this last quad and are extremely well funded. Their top athlete in WF, Gonzalez, may or may not return for another quad. She is currently planning not to, but plans change. She is a strong threat for the individual slot and a strong person on their team. If Venezuela were to take their current group of WF fencers and work with them, they would be a strong opponent in terms of qualifying a team for 2012.
Non-Zonal Countries: Key countries are Russia, Poland, Italy, France, Hungary, and China. Each country listed has a strong program and an excellent pipeline. They are also, for the most part, well funded in that they have a full time coaching staff and fully funded athletes at the top levels.
If we are going to continue to compete, we must mimic other countries where it makes sense and examine the unique situation of US Fencing in order to put together a structure that is uniquely American.
USA: US women’s foil is undergoing change this year and this quad. This is a historical consequence of the decision in 2002 to not include WF in the 2004 Olympics. Once this decision was made, many of the top fencers retired and we were very thin in terms of talent at the top levels. We had a good group of youth and cadet fencers and just a few senior level fencers. As a consequence, this left a large gap in the pipeline and we are now suffering in that we are lacking top level seniors and the fencers who continued from 2002 – Smart, Cross, Thompson – have now retired or are thinking of it.
Additionally, there is a group of second level seniors who are either in university or working that will be a great asset for training partners and bouting.
International Competitive Analysis: Discussion
The Olympic games in 2012 are tenuous for women’s foil for several reasons. 1. The team event for women’s foil is not certain for 2012
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2. Two of the 2008 Olympic team retired and one is semi retired. 3. 9 out of the top 16 women’s foil fencers on the domestic senior point list are cadets – that means that they are under 17 years of age. 4. Our highest ranked fencer on the FIE point list is 9th. Our next highest active fencer is 37th and then 75th and 121st. Of the four fencers, two are cadets, one was the replacement athlete for Beijing and one was on the team.
Women’s foil needs to focus on our junior and cadet level fencers right now and start preparing for 2016 first and 2012 second. To this end the immediate 2008 – 09 WF Goals are as follows:
1. 2 Cadet world championship medals 2. 1 Junior world championship individual medal 3. 1 Junior world championship team medal 4. Participate in 3 Sr Grand Prix team events 5. Hold 4-5 high level training camps during the year 6. Hold 3 coaching summits for women’s foil coaches
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D. Athlete Development Pipeline
HPP Development Team • High Performance Director • National coach for Women’s Foil • Junior/Cadet National Coach • Squad Manager / logistics support • Strength and Conditioning Consultant • Sports Psychologist consultant • Athletic trainer who travels with the team • Nutritionist consultant.
Elite Performance Model A top women’s foil fencer reflects the following attributes:
Physically: • Excellent Anaerobic conditioning • Explosive leg strength • Strong core strength • Overall strength and conditioning program for injury prevention and bilateral muscle development. • Agility and speed training • Sound aerobic base
Tactically: • Understands and applies tactical theory (tactical wheel) • Able to create and execute strategic plan for each opponent • Able to control the bout in order to maximize opportunities to score • Able to adapt to changing conditions in bout • Uses video analysis to profile opponents • Profiles referees for tendencies and inconsistencies • Listens to coaches and teammates
Technically: • Excellent control of distance and direction change • “Tip Centric” – knows where there tip is in relation to target • Minimizes technical weaknesses and maximizes technical strengths • Continually strives to refine and perfect technique • Able to be kinesthetically “flexible” and control and change technical actions.
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• Confident about their technical abilities
Mentally: • Able to rebound from mistakes • Mentally tough and flexible • Willing to take risks and be decisive • Utilizes refocusing plan during breaks • Utilizes pre – game, during competition, during bout and post- competition plan. • Actively uses sport psychology as part of their daily training.
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Action Plan (Goals, Strategies, Tactics & Performance Measures)
Table 7: NGB Core Program Summary for Women’s Foil (Assuming that WF team is in 2012)
General Area 2008 – 09 2009 – 10 2010 – 11 2011 – 12 Overall Goals 1. Create HPP 1. Review HPP 1. Review HPP 1. Focus on plan and staff Plan Plan qualifying 2. Secure 2. Review 2. Review team to Funding Funding Funding Olympics 3. Create Categories Categories 2. Fully funded Funding 3. Review 3. Review Olympic Categories Regional Regional Squad 4. ID Key training system Training 3. Fully funded athletes/ 4. Set up System support staff coaches / recognition 4. Start HPP 4. European support staff system for planning for training center 5. Baseline coaches and 2016 for key physical Clubs 5. Zonal tournaments testing for Key 5. Top 16 at Sr. Analysis of 5. Individual Athletes Worlds competition – Medal at 6. ID Key Individual Ind and Olympics Coaches and 6. Top 10 at Sr. Team. 6. Top 6 finish at start coaching Worlds Team 6. ID Key Pre – Olympics seminars 7. Top 8 Cadet Olympic 7. Set up worlds tournaments regional individual 7. ID Key training 8. Top 8 Junior Potential system/ camps Worlds Olympic 8. Top 3 Cadet individual Athletes Worlds 9. Top 3 Junior 8. ID Key
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individual words Team Olympic 9. Top 8 Junior support staff Worlds (trainers, Individual sport psych, 10. Top 6 Junior nutritionist Worlds Team etc)
WF Program 1. Individual TBD TBD TBD Needs Training plans for top athletes – signed off by private coaches 2. Signed Athlete agreements for all fencers in program. 3. 4 Cadet internationals, 4 Junior internationals, 3 Sr Grand Prix + 1 sr world cup - Camps Cabriese Camp, 1. Implement 1. 9 regional 1. 9 regional Christmas Camp, Sr. regional camps camps for camps for Euro Camp, June for youth youth youth Camp, August Camp 2. 4 jr/cd camps 2. 4 jr/cd camps 2. 2 jr camps 3. 4 senior camps 3. 5 sr camps 3. 7 sr camps
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Testing 2 day testing camp at Pre-season testing for Pre-season testing Pre-season testing OTC after Div 1 in evaluation purposes for evaluation for evaluation COS Dec 15 – 16. purposes purposes International Jr/ Cd Worlds Sr. Worlds Sr. Worlds Olympic Games Games Sr. Worlds Jr/ Cd Worlds Jr/Cd Worlds Zonal Qualifiers (In order of priority) WUGS WUGS WUGS Jr/Cd Worlds JR/Cd Pan Am’s (low Pan Am’s Pan Am’s priority)
Training and Competition Calendar 2008 - 09 See Attachment 1
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E. Athlete Identification for 2012
Based on the following subjective and objective criteria:
• Ranking – FIE, USFA • Current and potential injury status – Injury history, Physical condition, Fencing style • Training situation – Level of coach, number of hours training, training partners • Financial support – Family finances and USFA/USOC funding • Psychological Aspects – competitiveness, focus, desire, work-effort, attitude • Program Participation – willingness to be part of the team, work with the program and support the team.
Grouped into three tiers. Tier 1 composes athletes who have, in my opinion, 5 out the 6 key elements; tier 2 athletes have 3 out of the 6 and the third tier consists of athletes who are either inconsistent, in college or semi- retired.
Table 8: Women’s Foil Athlete Pool Age Group Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Youth 14 1. Lee Kiefer 1. Eliza Klyce N/A 2. Madison Zeiss 2. Elizabeth Meyers 3. Margaret Lu 3. Niki Meyers 4. Mona Shaito
Cadet 1. Nzingha Prescod 1. Teagan Kilpatrick 1. Hyun Yung Yuh 2. Lee Kiefer 2. Eve Levin 2. Liz Van Son 3. Epiphany Georges 3. Alex Kiefer 4. Luona Wang 4. Kathryn Hawrot 5. Ambika Singh 5. Kyle McGill
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Junior 1. Nzingha Prescod 1. Ambika Singh 1. Mikayla Varadi 2. Nicole Ross 2. Luona Wang 2. Lindsay Knauer 3. Lee Kiefer 3. Brianna Martin 3. Grace Hartman 4. Dayana Sarkisova 4. Epiphany Georges 4. Kylie McGill 5. Margaret Lu Senior 1. Emily Cross 1. Nicole Ross 1. Jacqeline Leahy 2. Doris Willette 2. Lee Kiefer 2. Samantha Nemecek 3. Nzingha Prescod 3. Aidi Nott
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Athlete Support
Table 9: Program Funding Structure for Women’s Foil Senior Level A: Level B Level C • Monthly Stipend • Monthly stipend • $500 travel $4000 $1500 expenses (USFA/USOC) • Expenses Paid • Camp • Expenses Paid expenses paid Criteria Performance 1. Signed Athlete 1. Signed Athlete 1. Signed Athlete Agreement Agreement Agreement 2. Top 8 FIE 2. Top 24 FIE Sr 2. Top 64 FIE
Ranking Ranking Senior 3. Attend ALL 3. Attend All training Rankings training camps camps unless 3. Attend All unless excused by excused by injury or training camps injury or National National Coach unless excused Coach. 4. Attend minimum of by injury or 4. Attend ALL Senior 3 Sr. designated national coach Designated 5. Attend physical 4. Attend tournaments testing camp. Minimum 2 Sr. 5. Attend Physical 6. Submit monthly Designated testing Camp training log 5. Attend Physical 6. Submit monthly Testing Camp training log 6. Submit monthly training log
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Junior Level A: Level B Level C • Monthly Stipend • All Travel Expenses • Expenses to 500 Paid National camps (USFA/USOC) (Air and • Expenses Paid Housing) Criteria Performance 1. Signed Athlete 1. Signed Athlete 1. Signed Athlete Agreement Agreement Agreement 2. Top 8 FIE Jr 2. Top 24 FIE JR 2. Top 64 FIE Jr
Ranking Ranking Ranking OR 3. Attend ALL 3. Attend ALL training 3. Top 8 Domestic training camps Camps unless junior Ranking unless excused by excused by injury or 4. Attend all injury or national national coach. training camps coach. 4. Attend minimum of unless excused 4. Attend All 3 designated Junior by injury or designated Junior world cups national coach world cups 5. Attend Physical 5. Attend physical 5. Participate in 2 Sr Testing camp testing camp world cups 6. Submit monthly 6. Submit monthly 6. Attend Physical training log training log Testing camp 7. Submit Monthly Training log Cadet TBD Youth TBD
Coach Development
1. Identify key coaches in USA: a. Leach, Petin, Hamza, Goodhartz, Gershon, Lee, Pederson 2. Implement a series of coaching meetings a. Define key technical and tactical components for WF b. Identify weaknesses and strengths of top athletes c. Collaborate on strategies to improve athletes performance 3. Use top level coaches to hold regional seminars on high level WF tactics, techniques and coaching strategies 4. Use OTC coaching program to complement coach development a. Coaching clinics i. Coaching science ii. Sports psychology iii. Nutrition
Page | 54 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 5. Integrate university coaches to support key WF fencers at University 6. Use identified coaches as trip coaches to expose them to international fencing
International Games Preparation
Key tournaments include:
1. WUGS 2. Pan Am’s 3. World championships 4. Zonal Qualifiers 5. Olympics
The first two competitions provide excellent opportunities for the US to gain experience and to scout the opposition. Pan Am’s in particular will allow us to scout the zonal competition towards qualifying for the Olympics and should be funded.
Olympic Training Centers
The OTC’s provide us with several opportunities including longer camps, access to performance testing and other support services. It is our intent to utilize the OTC each year for performance evaluation (physical testing). Additionally, we intend to hold longer camps in the two years prior to the Olympics at the OTC.
Other Programs and Camps: Regional Youth Pipeline Camps
Goals: 1. To provide opportunities for Youth/Cadet development training camps a. 3-4 regional training centers / clubs b. Identify coaches to lead training camps 2. Work with coaches to create curriculum based on identified key components for WF. a. Have one elite level coach attend each camp as mentor coach 3. Each training center will hold 2-3 camps per year for a total of 6 –9 developmental camps a. Bring in former and current Olympic athletes for PR and mentoring 4. Use these camps as talent ID for the unknowns 5. Create simple, baseline physical testing component 6. National coach attends 1 camp in each region
Page | 55 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Short and long term performance measures: Year 1: 1. Secure funding for program a. Refine funding allocation and criteria 2. Hire national coach full time salaried 3. Initiate Regional Youth Pipeline camps 4. Implement baseline testing for top athletes 5. Implement training log system for top athletes 6. Medals in Cadet and Junior world championships 7. Work with FIE to include WF team in BOTH 2012 and 2016. Year 2: 1. Fully implemented regional youth pipeline 2. Fully implemented training log system 3. Implement sports psych program 4. Identify key Olympic athletes for 2012
Year 3: 1. Participate in all Grand Prix events a. Make top 8 in 2 out of the 5. 2. Move Senior team ranking to top 8 3. Place in top 6 at Senior World championships.
Year 4: 1. Select Olympic squad of 6 fencers 2. Fully fund 6 fencers for entire year
Page | 56 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Table 10: Women’s Foil Quadrennial Budget (ESTIMATE ONLY) Item $$ Per year $$ Quadrennial National coaches Salary 70,000.00 280,000.00 Athlete Trip Expenses 80,000.00 320,000.00 Coach Trip Expenses 40,000.00 160,000.00 Athlete stipend Sr. Level A 288,000.00 2008 -09 0.00 2009 - 10 96,000.00 2010 - 11 96,000.00 2011 - 2012 96,000.00 Athlete stipend Sr. Level B 120,000.00 2008 -09 20,000.00 2009 - 10 20,000.00 2010 - 11 40,000.00 2011 - 2012 40,000.00 Athlete stipend Sr. Level C 60,000.00 2008 -09 15,000.00 2009 - 10 15,000.00 2010 - 11 15,000.00 2011 - 2012 15,000.00 Athlete stipend Jr Level A 42,000.00 2008 -09 6,000.00 2009 - 10 12,000.00 2010 - 11 12,000.00 2011 - 2012 12,000.00 Athlete stipend Jr Level B 80,000.00 2008 -09 20,000.00 2009 - 10 20,000.00 2010 - 11 20,000.00 2011 - 2012 20,000.00 Athlete stipend Jr Level C 28,000.00 2008 -09 7,000.00 2009 - 10 7,000.00 2010 - 11 7,000.00 2011 - 2012 7,000.00 Cadet Funding 15,000.00 60,000.00 Youth Funding 10,000.00 40,000.00 Coach development 10,000.00 40,000.00 Regional Youth Pipeline 20,000.00 80,000.00
Page | 57 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Training Camps 25,000.00 100,000.00 Grand total Year 1 338,000.00 Grand total year 2 440,000.00 Grand total year 3 460,000.00 Grand total year 4 460,000.00 Quad total for Women's Foil 1,698,000.00
Page | 58 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan F. Summary of International Results
Table 11: Summary of Results - Women’s Foil 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 1 0 0 1 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 2 0 1 1 4 08 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 2 2 08 Cadet World Championships 1 0 1 0 2 07-08 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 1 7 8 07-08 Junior World Cups 0 1 0 1 2 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 2 1 1 0 4 07 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 2 0 8 10 06-07 Junior World Cups 2 0 0 3 5 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan Am Championships 06 Junior World Championships 1 0 0 2 3 06 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 05-06 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 0 2 2 05-06 Junior World Cups 1 0 2 2 5 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 1 0 0 2 3 04-05 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 1 0 1 04-05 Junior World Cups 2 2 4 6 14 04-05 Cadet International Totals
Page | 59 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 3. Women’s Epee
A. Coach Biographies
National Coach: Jim Carpenter
Jim competed in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta Georgia, narrowly missing winning a medal with a sudden death overtime loss to Italy in the team epee event. He won a Silver medal in the 1995 Pan American Games as well as a Bronze medal in the 1991 Pan American Games. He fenced in three World Championships for the United States and was ranked in the top 10 of the US Fencing Association point standing for over 10 years. During that time he won 5 Team National Championships and took the Silver Medal twice in the Individual National Championships.
As a coach he has trained numerous fencers who have attained high rankings in the USFA point standings including at one point having three Women’s Epee fencers in the top 10 of the standings. Furthermore, he was Chairman of the powerful New York Athletic Club fencing program from 1990 until 1996. He was also the Director of High Performance of the US Fencing Association from March of 2007 through August of 2008.
Junior National Coach: Ro Sobalvarro
Ro has been coaching and fencing for thirty years. He has been a member of the U.S. national coaching staff since 1992, and is a former national head coach. Ro was the coach of the first ever gold medal Women’s Epee team at Junior World Championships in 2008.
He also is in his second quadrennial as a Vice President for US Fencing.
In addition to traveling with and coaching numerous senior and junior U.S. teams, he has built a highly successful fencing program in St. Paul. The Twin Cities Fencing Club has trained nationally ranked fencers in all three weapons categories, and in senior and youth competition.
Along with his activities at TCFC and his national duties, Ro teaches at the University of Minnesota.
Page | 60 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Cadet National Coach: Maureen Griffin
Maureen Griffin is part owner and founder of the Golden Gate Fencing Center. She is active in building all of their coaching and instructional programs, especially new classes for kids and women. Maureen has been instructing fencing throughout her career and now coaches’ foil and epee. She is very encouraging to beginners and enjoys bringing new students along to their first competitive experiences.
Maureen began fencing in 1977 in Montreal, qualifying for the Canadian team to the Junior World Championships in foil in 1982. She fenced on the varsity team at the University of Wisconsin. In 1990 she began fencing epee, and was been a member of the Canadian National Team from 1992 through 1998. She has represented Canada in three World Championships and the 1995 Pan American Games, where she won a bronze medal. She has trained and competed in Canada, the U.S., France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Argentina, Cuba, Venezuela, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Slovakia.
Page | 61 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. Critical Success Factors – Women’s Epee
#1 4-year financial commitment from USOC and USFA.
#2 Full time, salaried national coaching position. Creation of team logistics manager position
#3 Inclusion of WE team in 2012 or reinstating of all team events at the Olympics
#4 Commitment to 4-year training program by identified athletes and coaches.
Page | 62 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan C. International Competitive Analysis
The Junior World Cup Champion team of Courtney Hurley, Kelly Hurley and Susannah Scanlan has the potential to emerge as the dominant team in our zone. Their ability to function as a team, playing off each other’s strengths, supporting each other emotionally, and complimenting each other tactically, will place them in the strongest position to qualify as a team for 2012. And because there was not a Women’s Epee team event in Beijing, we can plan from the outset for a team event in London.
Their youth—Courtney Hurly and Susannah Scanlan will be 22 in 2012, and Kelly Hurley will be 24—is both a strength and a weakness. The mean age in international epee events is in the upper 20s, and experience can be a critical factor. However, their age guarantees that they will be in an environment of consistent training without the pressures and distractions of employment and self-support. All three are in collegiate programs that support their Olympic aspirations and offer flexibility in their NCAA obligations. All have dedicated personal coaches working with the support of their college coaches to continue to develop and compete in a full international program.
All will need to consider deferring the last 1 ½ to 2 years of collegiate competition to focus fully on the ’10-’11 and ’11-’12 seasons in order to reach 2012 in the best possible position on the international standings as we approach the Games.
In our zone, this team should be dominant. Our strongest opposition has traditionally come from Venezuela and Canada. So far, we have not seen fencers emerging from either country to challenge the US. Canada has one very strong fencer who may or may not retire in this quadrennial—but she does not have a team that can pressure us.
Page | 63 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan D. Athlete Development Pipeline
2008-2009 Season: Establish structures to develop the strongest possible team to send to London, 2012
I. Structures and Pipeline. a. Camps: 3 combined camps (Cadet, Junior, Senior) using USOC facilities. i. Camp I: February/March (dependant on NCAA championship dates) focusing on Cadet and Junior team, prior to Cadet/Junior World Championships, emphasis on bouting and team matches with baseline physical testing component. ii. Camp II: Summer Camp (post-National Championships) focusing on skill development and physical training. iii. Camp III: Fall Camp prior to Senior World Championships focusing on bouting and team matches, baseline physical testing for those not yet tested. b. Develop long-term physical training program utilizing baseline numbers that is accessible to all athletes and coaches. Plan must be feasible using typical fencing club/athletic facility equipment in order to maximize athletes’ and coaches’ ability to fully comply. c. Examine Cadet system to maximize development of competitive skills. d. Work with coaches in National Youth Program to emphasize Women’s Epee. i. Regional Women’s Epee camps focusing on skills development and epee-specific coaching skills. e. Asset development: work with parents, Women’s Epee alumni, and coaches to create task-oriented support group.
II. Performance and Competition. a. ID Talent. i. 14s and Cadets: Identify athletes who have ability and support systems to achieve elite status. ii. Cadets and Juniors: Identify athletes who have the support systems to continue to develop and train for at least 1 to 2 quad cycles. iii. Seniors: Identify those who are continuing to train in this quad and assess their level of commitment. iv. Identify coaches of younger athletes and personal coaches of current elite Junior and Senior athletes.
Page | 64 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan b. Cadet team: Program needs to focus on development of skills and experience. Make greater use of the European Cadet Circuit to give appropriate level bouts in an international arena. 3 events with training camp at German National Training Center in Heidenheim. c. Junior team: 2 members returning from ’08 World Championship gold medal team. Continue to focus on performance as a team. This season, utilize 5 Junior World Cups, 2 with a high degree of difficulty (Budapest and Tauberbischofshein), and 2 with a medium degree of difficulty (Bratislava and Gottburg), with Mödeling as the fifth event. d. Senior team: this will be a transition year with some expected retirements and a strong probability that some Juniors will move into the top spots. We will utilize primarily the Grand Prix events to take them to team events and expose them to fencing at a higher level.
III. Support and asset development. a. Develop task-orient support group composed of parents, alumni, and coaches. b. Physical training program available to all athletes with baseline testing and retesting at camps for athletes identified in the development pipeline. c. Develop network of sports medicine and sports psychology providers to offer greater accessibility for regionally dispersed athletes. d. Staffing for competitions and camps. i. Minimum of 1 staff coach to each camp. ii. 2 staff coaches to all international Cadet trips and to Cadet camp. iii. 1 staff coach to all Junior World Cups. iv. 1 staff coach to all Senior World Cups. v. 1 to 2 staff coaches to Cadet/Junior and Senior World Championships.
IV. Financial Resources and Athlete Support. a. Camps: Airfare for top 4 Seniors, top 4 Juniors, and top 4 Cadets (some overlap expected) and 1 coach. Estimate: $4,000-5,000 b. Coaching support to World Cup and international competition. Estimates: $4,000 (3 Cadet events plus camp), $6,000 (5 Junior World Cups), $6,500-7,000 (5 Senior World Cups) c. Senior International Competition: airfare to Grand Prixes for top 4 athletes. Estimate: $19,000-20,000 d. Performance awards for athletes at Cadet/Junior and Senior World Championships at 2007 levels.
Page | 65 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
2009-2010 Season: Develop structures and develop athletes identified in the pipeline for current quad and future success
V. Structures and Pipeline. a. Camps: Maintain 3 combined camps (Cadet, Junior, Senior) using USOC facilities and add 1-2 weekend camps (dependent on National and International competitive calendar). i. Camp I: February/March (dependant on NCAA championship dates) focusing on Cadet and Junior team, prior to Cadet/Junior World Championships, emphasis on bouting and team matches with baseline physical testing component for newly identified athletes. ii. Camp II: Summer Camp (post-National Championships) focusing on skill development and physical training. iii. Camp III: Fall Camp prior to Senior World Championships focusing on bouting and team matches, baseline physical testing for newly identified athletes. iv. Add 1-2 weekend camps to emphasize bouting and competitive skills. Invitations will be extended to Zonal teams. Camps will be scheduled to maximize training in reference to key national and international competition. b. Incorporate use of online training diaries (utilizing baseline test information) and periodic testing with online reporting to track training progress for elite athletes. c. Work with coaches in National Youth Program to emphasize Women’s Epee. i. 4 Regional Women’s Epee camps and coaching seminars.
VI. Performance and Competition. a. ID Talent (ongoing). i. 14s and Cadets: Identify athletes who have ability and support systems to achieve elite status. ii. Cadets and Juniors: Identify athletes who have the support systems to continue to develop and train for at least 1 to 2 quad cycles. iii. Seniors: Identify those who are continuing to train in this quad and assess their level of commitment. iv. Identify coaches of younger athletes and personal coaches of current elite Junior and Senior athletes. b. Cadet team: 3-4 international events plus 1 international camp, TBD when ’09-’10 season domestic and international calendars are available.
Page | 66 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan c. Junior team: 5 World Cups, approximately the same dispersion as ’08-’09 season. d. Senior Team: 5 Grand Prix events plus 2 Grade A World Cup events.
VII. Support and asset development. a. Identify appropriate opportunities to utilize task-orient support group composed of parents, alumni, and coaches. b. Continue physical training program available to all athletes with addition of online reporting (see point V.b.) c. Monitor use of sports medicine and sports psychology provider network. Make recommendations to athletes who might be under- utilizing program. d. Staffing for competitions and camps (same as ’08-’09 season).
VIII. Financial Resources and Athlete Support. a. Camps: Airfare for top 4 Seniors, top 4 Juniors, and top 4 Cadets (some overlap expected) and 1 coach. Estimate: $6,000-7,000 b. Coaching support to World Cup and international competition. Estimates (in ’08 dollars): $5,000 (3-4 Cadet events plus camp), $6,000 (5 Junior World Cups), $8,000 (7 Senior World Cups) c. Senior International Competition: airfare to Grand Prixes for top 4 athletes. Estimate: $19,000-20,000 d. Performance awards for athletes at Cadet/Junior and Senior World Championships at 15% increase over 2008 (rationale: travel and training expenses will inevitably increase, and athletes will be required to increase commitment to the program)
2010-2011 Season: Utilize structures in place to ensure team success at Senior World Championships in preparation for London.
IX. Structures and Pipeline. a. Camps: 4 combined camps (Cadet, Junior, Senior), placing emphasis on Senior team development and needs. 2 of these in Europe and 2 domestically. In addition, 2-3 domestic weekend camps (dependent on National and International competitive calendar). b. Continue to incorporate use of online training diaries (utilizing baseline test information) and periodic testing with online reporting to track training progress for elite athletes. c. Continue to work with coaches in National Youth Program to emphasize Women’s Epee. i. 4 Regional Women’s Epee camps and coaching seminars.
Page | 67 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan d. Offer USOC-based or club-based residency program to promote full-time training capability for committed athletes.
X. Performance and Competition. Note: building in recovery and skill building time will be an issue in this season. a. ID Talent. i. Continue with structures in place to ID and build talent in 14s, Cadets, and Juniors. ii. Heavy emphasis on working with athletes who are in a position to make the Olympic team and who are committed to full time training and competition load for the last half of the cycle. b. Cadet team: 3-4 international events plus 1 international camp, TBD when ’10-‘11 season domestic and international calendars are available. c. Junior team: 5 World Cups, approximately the same dispersion as ’08-’09 and ’09-’10 seasons. d. Senior Team: 5 Grand Prix events, plus 3-4 Grade A World Cup events, plus Pan American competitions as they are planned. e. World University Games: as available.
XI. Support and asset development. a. Utilize support group composed of parents, alumni, and coaches to develop additional funding and athlete support structures for the final 2 years of the cycle. b. Continue physical training program available to all athletes with addition of online reporting as in the ‘09-’10 season. c. Utilize USOC facilities for retesting physical baselines as fits into the camp schedule. d. Continue use of sports medicine and sports psychology provider network, focusing on needs of Senior team. e. Staffing for competitions and camps (same as ’08-’09 and ’09-‘10 seasons with possible addition of an extra staff coach at camps).
XII. Financial Resources and Athlete Support. (All in ’08 dollars) a. Domestic camps: Airfare for top 4 Seniors, top 4 Juniors, and top 4 Cadets (some overlap expected) and 1 coach. Estimate: $6,000- 7,000 b. International camps: Airfare for top 4 athletes and 1-2 coaches, plus ground costs for all. Estimate: $8,000-10,000 c. Coaching support to World Cup and international competition. Estimates: $5,000 (3-4 Cadet events plus camp), $6,000 (5 Junior World Cups), $10,000-11,000 (8-9 Senior World Cups)
Page | 68 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan d. Senior International Competition: airfare to Grand Prixes for top 4 athletes. Estimate: $19,000-20,000 e. Performance awards for athletes at Cadet/Junior and Senior World Championships at 15% increase over 2009-‘10 (rationale: travel and training expenses will inevitably increase, and athletes will be required to increase commitment to the program) f. Athlete stipends to qualifying athletes (based on FIE ranking and other criteria to be fully determined). Estimate: to be determined.
2011-2012 Season: Qualify a full team and ensure their ability to be podium- prepared for the London Games.
XIII. Structures and Pipeline. a. Camps: same level as ’10-’11 season—4 combined camps (Cadet, Junior, Senior), placing emphasis on Senior team development and needs. 2 of these in Europe and 2 domestically. In addition, 1-2 domestic weekend camps (less than previous season due to increased competition load). b. Continue to incorporate use of online training diaries (utilizing baseline test information) and periodic testing with online reporting to track training progress for elite athletes. c. Continue to work with coaches in National Youth Program to emphasize Women’s Epee. i. 4 Regional Women’s Epee camps and coaching seminars. d. Offer USOC-based or club-based residency program to promote full-time training capability for committed athletes.
XIV. Performance and Competition. Note: building in recovery and skill building time will again be an issue in this season. a. ID Talent. i. Continue with structures in place to ID and build talent in 14s, Cadets, and Juniors. ii. Heavy emphasis those individuals who are fully committed to the training and competition load for the run-up to the Games. b. Cadet team: 3-4 international events plus 1 international camp, TBD when ’11-‘12 season domestic and international calendars are available. Possible additional domestic camp. c. Junior team: 5 World Cups, approximately the same dispersion as previous seasons. 2 additional domestic camps. d. Senior Team: 5 Grand Prix events, plus minimum 5 Grade A World Cup events, plus Zonal competition if available.
XV. Support and asset development.
Page | 69 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan a. Utilize support group composed of parents, alumni, and coaches to develop additional funding and athlete support structures for the run-up to the Games. b. Continue physical training program available to all athletes with addition of online reporting as in previous seasons. c. Utilize USOC facilities for retesting physical baselines as fits into the camp schedule. d. Continue use of sports medicine and sports psychology provider network, focusing on needs of Senior team. e. Staffing for competitions and camps (same as previous seasons with possible addition of an extra staff coach at camps).
XVI. Financial Resources and Athlete Support. (All in ’08 dollars) a. Domestic camps: Airfare for top 4 Seniors, top 4 Juniors, and top 4 Cadets (some overlap expected) and 1 coach. Estimate: $6,000- 7,000 b. International camps: Airfare for top 4 athletes and 1-2 coaches, plus ground costs for all. Estimate: $8,000-10,000 c. Coaching support to World Cup and international competition. Estimates: $5,000 (3-4 Cadet events plus camp), $6,000 (5 Junior World Cups), $15,000-17,000 (10-11 Senior World Cups) d. Senior International Competition: airfare and ground costs to Grand Prixes and Zonals for top 4 athletes. Estimate: $30,000 e. Performance awards for athletes at Cadet/Junior and Senior World Championships at 15% increase over 2010-‘11 (rationale: travel and training expenses will inevitably increase, and athletes will be required to increase commitment to the program) f. 10% increase in athlete stipends to qualifying athletes (based on FIE ranking and other criteria to be fully determined). Estimate: to be determined.
Page | 70 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan E. Athlete Identification for 2012
Women’s Epee is in a unique situation where our likely 2012 Olympic team is also our likely 2020 Olympic team. Kelley Hurley will be 28 years old in 2016 while Courtney Hurley and Susie Scanlon will have just turned 26. Furthermore, they are a team that gets along well together and is the team that won the Junior World Championships this past year. With strong financial support and innovative career planning, this could be an opportunity to have a team that dominates at least two cycles.
Table 12: Women’s Epee Athlete Pool Likely 2012 Athlete Coach Division Olympians Courtney Hurley Paul Pesthy/Bob South Texas Hurley (Notre Dame) Kelley Hurley Paul Pesthy/Bob South Texas Hurley (Notre Dame) Susannah Scanlan Ro Sobalvarro Minnesota (Princeton)
Other targeted Lindsay Campbell Yefim Litvan Metro NYC potential Maya Lawrence Daniel Levavaseur Metro NYC (France) Olympic team members
Other athletes Hannah Safford Maureen Griffin Northern California of note Emily D’Agostino Michael Marx Oregon Katherine Holmes Ray Finkleman Capitol
Phoebe Caldwell Michael Marx Oregon (Alabama)
Christa French James Carpenter North TX (Northwestern) Kayley French James Carpenter North TX (Northwestern) Erica Korb Paul Soter Northern California
Danielle Henderson Albert Chikayev/ Metro NYC Yefim Litvan Grace Neveu Maureen Griffin Northern California
Page | 71 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan F. Summary of International Results
Table 13: Summary of Results – Women’s Epee 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 0 0 2 0 2 08 Junior World Championships 2 0 0 0 2 08 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07-08 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 0 0 0 07-08 Junior World Cups 1 1 1 2 5 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 0 2 1 1 4 07 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 06-07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 06-07 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 0 3 3 06-07 Junior World Cups 0 0 0 1 1 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan Am Championships 06 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Cadet World Championships 1 0 0 0 1 05-06 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 0 2 2 05-06 Junior World Cups 1 1 2 4 8 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 04-05 Cadet World Championships 1 0 0 0 1 04-05 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 0 1 1 04-05 Junior World Cups 1 2 3 7 13 04-05 Cadet International Totals
Page | 72 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
4. Men’s Saber
A. Coach Biography
National Coach: Maestro Yury Gelman
Founder of the Manhattan Fencing Center, three-time Olympic coach for the United Sates (Sydney, Athens and Beijing), coach of three silver medalists of Beijing Olympic Games, National Men's Saber Team coach and head fencing coach for NCAA Champion Team St. John's University (2001).
He received a master's degree in both physical education and fencing from the Kiev Institute of Physical Education. His students have won gold, silver and bronze medals at Cadet and Junior World Championships and many medals in Junior and Senior World Cups, including wining individual and team grand prizes.
Yury has prepared members of the U.S. Cadet, Junior and Senior national teams every year since 1995. His students Ivan Lee and Tim Hagamen were the first to bring a gold medal home to the United States in the men's saber Junior World Championship in 2001. Student Akhi Spencer-El was the first U.S. fencer to place first in Junior Federation Internationale d'Escrime(FIE) point standings in men's saber in 1998, and in April 2003, Yury's student Keeth Smart became the first Senior United States fencer to achieve a number one world ranking.
Page | 73 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. Critical Success Factors - MS
#1 Keep the top fencers in the sport. All success of our program is depending of keeping our high level athletes as active fencers.
#2 Our goal is maintain Men ‘s Sabre team World Ranking in top 8 for 2009-2011 World Championships and win at least one team medal at World Championship and medal at 2012 Olympics.
#3 Our goal for individual results is to be in top 8 at each World Championships and win one individual medal. 2012 Olympics – win one individual medal.
#4 Athletes/coaches support from USOC/USFA – financial, planning, travel, athletic trainer, video, medical insurance, cadet /junior coaches and squad manager.
Page | 74 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. International Competitive Analysis
The strongest nations in Men’s Sabre, and our main opponents for 2009-12, will be France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, China, Korea, Canada, and Venezuela.
Our goal is to be first in Pan-American Confederation and to be in top 6 in the world. This will bring us to 2012 Olympic Games.
Many fencers from Europe will finish fencing (#1 Tarontino, ITA –36 years old now, #6 Covaliu, ROU – 31, #7 Montano, ITA – 30, #8 Marti, ESP – 29, #9 Nemcsik, HUN – 31, #11 Pina, ESP – 31, #13 Pillet, FRA – 31, #14 Lopez, FRA – 28, #18 Pozdniakov, RUS – 35, #22 Sanson, FRA – 28, #23 Zhou CHN – 28, #24 Kothny, THA – 29, #25 Lapkes, BLR – 32 and another 6 fencers in age 28- 35 from top 50 in the world). It will be a new field with a lot of young fencers and new team members.
We can see now in top 25 fencers 15 in age 28 or older. It shows men’s sabre age preference. Experience fencers lead the world. We have Smart –30 years old, Morehouse – 30, Rogers – 25, Williams – 23, Igoe – 23, Chattas – 23, Lee- 27 and Homer – 18. Smart and Morehouse in grate physical conditions and with proper training and support can stay and be in the top 16 for another 4 years. Rest of the fencers much younger and with proper monetary support will stay.
Our biggest challenge now is to keep best fencers in the game. We should find way to give financial support to the best fencers.
Page | 75 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan C. Athlete Development Pipeline
HPP development team Designated athletes; National coach; Cadet and Junior National Coaches; video operator; athletic trainer; USFA high performance director and USOC representative.
We have an opportunity to be always in top 3 in the world if team like I describe above will be fully functional.
Elite Performance Model
• Technical preparation – individual lessons with coaches, individual footwork and blade work. Adjust to the new rules. • Tactical preparation – individual lessons, camps, video analysis. • Mental preparation – sport psychologist, coach, camps, former Olympians and champions. • Rehabilitation program – personal coach, national coach, special camp, medical support. • Technology support- video operator, organize and manage video by coach directions.
Action Plan • Organize proper training for all elite athletes – personal contacts, contact with personal coach, camps, observe competition bouts and analyze it with an athlete. Set individual goal for fencers. • Hold at list 5 training camps of which 3 are mandatory (winter, summer and pre-world championship) • Attend all Grand Prix tournaments and 2-3 world cups in Asia and America. • Provide necessary funding to the top athletes.
Every elite athlete must sign the contract between USOC/USFA and fencer. Personal and National coach should sign the contract. It should include action if fencer does not follow the contract.
National and personal coaches should work very close to create and develop plan for each fencer. This plan should include: number of bouts, lessons, camps, competitions and amount of physical preparation.
Page | 76 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Training and competition plan for each year of the men’s sabre will vary according to the FIE schedule and our current situation. We may adjust the plan if FIE will change qualification paths to the 2012 Olympics.
The first two years of the quad we will travel to 8-10 World Cups. All best fencers must participate in at list three National camps.
Year three and four we will travel to 10 – 12 World Cups. Our goal is to set best possible individual and team FIE ranking and keep it till Olympic Games. All best athletes should participate in five National camps per year.
Criteria for direct athlete support
Each athlete must sign the contract – commitment to train and compete.
Direct athlete support should go to the top 4 (2009/10) and top 5 (2011/12) on FIE Individual ranking evaluated every 4 months (start from 1/2009) and compliance with athlete travel and training plan (signed athlete contract).
From USOC - $3500/month per athlete stipend plus EAHI for eligible fencers.
From USFA - $1500/month per athlete stipend in lieu of performance award/grant structure that is being eliminated and all travel expenses to international competitions covered.
Criteria:
1. Attend minimum number of designated world cups each year. 2009 – 5, 2010 – 7, 2011/12 – 11/12. 2. Attend 3 of the 5 Grand Prix in 2009, 4 in 2010-12. 3. Participate in a minimum of 2 National camps in 2009 and 3-4 in 2010- 12. 4. Maintain top 32 individual FIE rank or be in the team in top 6 in the World by FIE ranking. 5. Submit a monthly training log
Note: The financial support what we ask is extremely important for our elite fencers and we will not be able to keep them in the sport without stipends. This support is also necessary to be able to retain our best fencers after college while they are still in their peak fencing years.
With elimination of USFA training grants and performance awards our junior and cadet fencers will not have any financial support. It will stop many talented
Page | 77 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan fencers from participation in spot of fencing. We must create some stipend for best juniors or support them from the squad budget.
Coaching Program
1. National coach and leading coaches should organize coach’s clinics at youth/cadet/junior NAC. 2. Provide the opportunities to the best development coaches and coaches of elite fencers to work with National coach on a regular basis. Provide to these coaches the opportunity to travel with the senior National team and learn, witness and understand the international playing field. 3. Invite coaches to the National training camps. 4. Use coaches of top developing fencers as designated national coach for selected world cups. 5. Organize clinics for best development coaches and discuss technical, tactical and mental aspects of international level fencers preparations.
International Games Preparation
As a preparation to the Olympic Games it’s very important for us to participate in Pan American Games and World University Games. It gives to fencers’ very similar experience of participation as Olympic Games. In men’s sabre World University Games almost always is very strong. Many European countries send there first or second teams. Pan American Games is very good to get confidents and winning attitude for our fencers.
International Relations
In the last 8 years we had very good relationship with many leading countries in the world. We organize camps in Italy, France, Ukraine, Spain, Russia, Hungary, China and Germany. Also we invited to us fencers from Byelorussia, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and Italy. It helps to our reputation and also we learn from best fencing nations.
Page | 78 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan E. Athlete Identification for 2012
There are fencers who at this time show the ability to be part of the 2012 Olympics.
Table 14: Men’s Sabre Athlete Pool
First team: Keeth Smart Timothy Morehouse Jason Rogers Williams J. Igoe Patrick Ghattas Ivan Lee Daryl Homer Second team: Zuck Nydam Matthew Zich Cheney Primus Ochocki Williams M. Thomas Kolasa Daniel Bak
Page | 79 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan F. Summary of International Results
Table 15: Summary of Results – Men’s Saber 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 1 0 1 2 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 2 1 1 0 4 08 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 08 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07-08 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 2 1 7 10 07-08 Junior World Cups 0 1 3 2 6 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 2 1 1 1 5 07 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 1 1 2 06-07 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 1 2 8 11 06-07 Junior World Cups 0 1 3 7 11 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan Am Championships 06 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Cadet World Championships 0 0 1 1 2 05-06 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 0 1 3 6 05-06 Junior World Cups 0 1 2 3 6 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 04-05 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Senior World Cups/Grand Prixs 0 1 2 1 4 04-05 Junior World Cups 2 1 3 8 14 04-05 Cadet International Totals
Page | 80 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 5. Men’s Foil
A. Coach Biographies
National Coach: Simon Gershon
Formerly, Coach of both the Ukrainian Men's and Women's Foil Squad and the Soviet Union Women's Foil Team (Gold Medalists at the 1986 World Championships), Simon continues to develop students achieving international results. He earned a Masters degree in fencing from the Kiev Institute of Physical Education, was a coach at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and has served as the US National Men's National Coach
Dan Kellner - 1994 Junior Olympic Champion, eight time member US World Championship Team, Silver Medalist 2003 Grand-Prix, Bronze Medalist 2003 World Cup, Gold Medalist 2003 Pan-American Games Jon Carter - 2000 Cadet National Champion, 2001 Cadet World Championship Team. Peter Devine - 1996 US Olympic Team, 1994-95 US World Championship Team. Jessica Florendo - 2002 Cadet World Team. Jon Tiomkin - 2001 - 2002 US World Championship Team, Silver Medalist 2002 NCAA Championships.
Page | 81 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Junior National Coach: Michael Itkin
A native of Lvov, Ukraine, Misha started competing at a very early age winning numerous fencing competitions. With an outstanding talent for teaching, Misha started coaching early in is career earning various distinctions.
His skill for guiding gifted athletes continued when he came to the USA. He trained Junior Olympic champions, North American Cup champions and US national champions, Junior World Cup champions. In 2001, he became a US national coach for the Junior Foil Team. Under his leadership, the US Junior Team won the Junior World Championship Title in Italy in 2008. Besides his coaching experience, Misha earned a doctorate in physical education with emphasis in fencing from the Lvov State Institute of Physical Education and Sports.
At LAIFC, Misha is the head coach of the Foil Program. Under his coordination the program offers competitive instructions for athletes willing to prepare at a more challenging level.
Page | 82 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. Critical Success Factors - MF
#1 4-year financial commitment from USOC and USFA.
#2 Full time, salaried national coaching position. Creation of team logistics manager position
#3 Inclusion of ME team in 2012 or reinstating of all team events at the Olympics
#4 Commitment to 4-year training program by identified athletes and coaches.
One of the major accomplishments of the Men’s Foil senior team is that we have successfully transitioned through the change of generations.
All our previous success were involved our veterans (Jon Tiomkin, Jed Dupree and DanKellner) who left the sport after taking 4th place at Olympic Games in Athens
Today our senior team consist of group of young highly motivated and successful athletes, some of them still in the junior age group and will be competing at the junior world cups and a junior world championship but already had a chance to compete at Olympic Games in Beijing rest of our senior team just age out from junior age. In four year at next Olympic Games in London our olympians will be 22-28 years old. which is the best age for fencers. This talented and successful group gives us a great hope and high expectation for the next Olympic Games in London.
Our other major success is first time in US history Men’s Foil team won the gold medal at the Junior World Championship in Acireal, Italy in April 2008. Our Champions are Gerek Meinhardt, Nick Chinman, Zain,Shaito and Miles Chamley-Watson. All members of the team won or had made at least one final during the Junior World Cup Season.
Our cadets had outstanding performances as well .The highlights are Nick Chinman’s silver medal at the 2006 World Championship in Austria , followed by a Bronze in 2007 by Enzo Castellani at the World Championship in Turkey and gold medal at one of the strongest and most prestige cadet international competition in Koblenz, Germany.
Another promising fact is that in Junior and Cadet foil we always have double the number of young athletes who sign up for the world cup and there is always
Page | 83 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan a waiting list to compete at the events. All this showing how strong competition in Men’s Foil to qualify for the world championship team and even for the place at the junior or even cadet world cup . Having such a strong competition helps athlete to grow in their fencing skills and for us as a coaches to select the best out of best to represent US at the International competitions.
Today we are in the better position compare with other US teams due to the age of our potential Olympian. All current Men’s Foil fencers are young, talented and are going to be at their best age by 2012.
In order to continue our success on the international level and eventually to get the Olympic medal to due to specific situation in US where fencing even on the highest level not a professional sport, we need some how to be able financially support our top athlete to keep them motivated and provide funds for training and travelling. By the time when they graduate from the colleges and get a prestige high paying salaries it’s very important to find a way to encourage them to continue their athletic pursuits. The only way to do this is through financial incentives.
As we know we were able to keep our veterans for quite a while and support them financially and because of that today we have a new group of the elite fencers who have a good chance to come to their peak performance at 2012 Olympics.
Another aspect which is tied to finance is the need for our best to train with the best. We cannot. just compete in Europe , we need to spend a quality training time with our competitors.. This cannot be done without appropriate funding. A great example of the effectiveness of financial incentives is the Women’s Saber Team. Through result based incentives and increased funding they became and have maintained their status as an international power house.
Our potential is unlimited, but it is imperative that we find a way to motivate, encourage and support our best athletes.
Here the list of our top foil fencers who can be part of the 2012 Olympic Team (alphabetical order)
Enzo Castellani, Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Chinman, Kurt Getz, Andras Horanyi, Alexander Massialas, Gerek Meinhardt,
Page | 84 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Zain Shaito, David Willete..
Other group of our potential Olympian ( alphabet order) Bravo, Caldwell, Cardillo, Curioso, Daniluk, DeSmet, Di Cioccio, Goldstein, Khoshevissan, Kubik, Lin,Parkins, Pensler, Perkins,Schenkel, Van Son.
Critical success factors
Our goal is to get a medal at 2012 Olympic Games individually or in the team event. To set a goal is not a magic formula that guarantees success. Goal setting is a very effective tool, that when combined with hard work and discipline can help athletes and coaches to active a peak performance.
In order to accomplish this goal we need to be able to train and compete according to individually plans, which will depend on available financial support.
Elite performance Model
Technology support using video with analyze of the performance of the main opponents , which allow to set a fencing portrait of them. Analyzing the repertoire of the opponents main action and accordingly to create a plan against the main opponents. Tactical part of the preparation on that level will be the most important factor which allow to controlled bouting situation and to beat opponents.
ACTION PLAN 1. Adequate funding for the top fencers. 2. Attend all Grant Prix tournaments. 3. Attend 6 training camps including 1 in Asia and 3 in Europe between world cups and 2 in US during winter and summer breaks .
Season can be divided on 3 different periods
1. Preparatory period, which include period of general preparation and special- preparation. 2. Competition period. 3. Transitional period.
Each of the period has a different goals and emphasis on physical, tactical, technical or mental preparation , depend on the period of time. The training process has to be individualized and has a different goal setting.
Page | 85 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan In the end of the season analysis of the personal results will occur and changing in the training process will be added accordingly
Page | 86 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan C. Summary of International Results
Table 16: Summary of Results – Men’s Foil 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 1 1 0 0 4 08 Junior World Championships 1 0 0 0 2 08 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 1 07-08 Senior World Cups 0 0 1 1 3 07-08 Junior World Cups 1 3 2 2 11 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 1 1 1 2 5 07 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 1 0 1 06-07 Senior World Cups 0 0 0 6 6 06-07 Junior World Cups 0 0 3 8 11 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan Am Championships 06 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 05-06 Senior World Cups 0 0 1 7 8 05-06 Junior World Cups 1 1 2 4 8 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 1 1 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Cadet World Championships 0 1 0 0 1 04-05 Senior World Cups 0 1 2 4 7 04-05 Junior World Cups 1 2 6 8 17 04-05 Cadet International Totals
Page | 87 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 6. Men’s Epee
A. Coach Biographies
National Coach: Gagik (Gago) Demirchian Coached by his father, Armenian National Coach Edouard Demirchian, Gago started fencing in childhood. With the benefit of having his father as a coach, and a natural talent, Gago started winning many athletic titles at quite a young age. Gago became three times Armenian National Épée Champion, scored fourth in the USSR National Championship, and placed fourth at a World Cup in La Rochelle, France. In the USA, Gago became seven-time champion at the California Games, and is a two-time finalist in the NAC events.
Gago earned his fencing master from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports in the USSR, and coached for almost 20 years. Currently his most talented student is Soren Thompson, a member of the US National Épée Team. Gago is a National Coach. Head coach of the épée program at LAIFC, Gago runs the Épée Junior Program, a training program for young athletes, from which several participants actively fence in international events
Page | 88 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Junior National Coach: Boris Vaksman
Boris Vaksman began his fencing career in Odessa, Ukraine at the age of 14. At 17 he was awarded the title Master of Sport, and by 18 he had won his first Ukrainian National Championship, and Soviet Union Championship. During his fencing career Boris went on to win 5 more Ukrainian Championships and 2 more Soviet Union Championships. In all Boris has earned an impressive 56 medals in International and Soviet competitions between 1978-1983. Boris began his coaching career in the Ukraine as a Pentathlon coach. Two of his top students qualified for the Ukrainian National Pentathlon team. In 1989 Boris moved to the U.S. and began coaching in New York. For the past 3 years Boris has been an Assistant Coach at St. Johns University. In 2007 the Red Storm placed 2nd in the NCAA Championships.
His students have included National Team members Mark Oshima (Epee), Juana Agelakos (Foil), and Alan Weber (Foil). Boris is the current U.S. National Coach of the Men’s Junior Epee Team. Members of the 2007 Team include - Dwight Smith, Graham Wicas, Ben Weider and Stanley Vaksman Under-19 Men's Foil National Champion.
Page | 89 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. Critical Success Factors – Men’s Epee
#1 Improve our performance in the Grand Prix team events. These events are critical to our seating in the World Championships. A higher seating would result in an easier draw.
#2 Finishing better than Venezuela at Zonal Championships team events. Zonal Championships count the same as the Grand Prix events; however, an important difference is the overall size and strength of the field, which is much smaller and weaker. Thus there is a very strong chance of meeting Venezuela in the semifinals or finals. Therefore these events will be critical in qualifying for the Olympics.
#3 Placing top 8 in the 2011 World Championships. Besides the amount of FIE points that such a strong finish would bring it would also give the team confidence at the start of the Olympic qualifying season. A major facture in our not qualifying for the Beijing Olympics is that during the majority of the 2007-2008 season we were trailing Venezuela in the point standings. This put more pressure our team and filled the Venezuelans with confidence.
Page | 90 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan C. International Competitive Analysis
The objective for the Men’s Epee team, in 2012, is to qualify for the London Olympics. Our main opposition for the North American qualifier spot will be Venezuela. Their major competitive advantage is their capability to train in Europe (Poland, and France) year round. Thus the experience our team members gain a couple of times a year, in world cups, the Venezuelan team gains on an every day basis. Furthermore 3 of their 4 Olympians are under the age of 24 and the mean age of fencers ranked in the top 25 in the world is 29, suggesting that Venezuela can be even stronger by 2012.
Our strategy to compete with Venezuela should be three fold.
1. Identify the reasons our squad was unsuccessful in qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, particularly concentrating on our result in the 2007 World Championship Team Event. 2. Identify prospective athletes with the potential to be on the 2012 team. In addition to our current 4-team members, we must assist in the development of other possible candidates. Thus creating competition resulting in stronger more experienced athletes. Moreover adding depth to our program in case of injury or retirement. 3. Providing our top athletes with financial support as well as health insurance and the accessibility of medical trainers.
Strategies for achieving goals: To achieve significant improvement in any high level sport, athletes must work on technique/strategy, physical conditioning, and mental preparation. Therefore we will conduct a total of 5 training camps every season during the next quad. Four of the five camps will be oriented towards perpetration for competitions, specifically working on the areas previously stated and how they pertain to fencing. The goals for these camps are:
Individual Athlete Development: 1. Identify fencers strengths and weaknesses: a. Strengths: improve on them by periodically increasing the level of difficulty of training b. Weakness: place athletes in situations where they cannot rely on their strengths and are forced to depend on their weaknesses 2. Strategic development and tactics: a. Developing strategies towards specific fencing styles b. Developing strategies for all competition situations c. Practicing execution of strategies
Page | 91 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Team Development: Team events will be heavily focused on in future training camps because of our fencer’s, especially juniors and cadets, lack of preparation and experience in this event. This insufficiency is a result of most club coaches putting very little to zero emphasis on team training, for two reasons. First, the US Fencing National Championships is the only domestic competition with a team event. Second because club coaches feel their only obligation during the season is getting their athlete on the national team. Since the national team is announced a couple of months before World Championships, team members have an insufficient period of time to prepare for the team event which most of the world’s best teams have been preparing for all year.
*Since personal and club coaches are so important to the development of their athletes all information learned of and taught to each fencer will be detailed in a comprehensive report and sent to their coaches. Furthermore our camps will include video documentation of key training sessions, which will be included in the report.
Page | 92 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan D. Athlete Development Pipeline
Today’s modern athletes are well rounded, meaning they are not only experts in their specific sport or area of athletics but also in nutrition and overall physical fitness. We feel that most fencers neglect these subjects because they don’t understand the importance of a living an overall healthy lifestyle. Therefore we would like to have our fifth training camp in the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center under the guidance and instruction of any nutrition and conditioning experts provide for us. Our goals for this camp are:
Nutrition: 1. Educate athletes on the difference between healthy and non healthy eating 2. Design a structured eating plan for: a. Pre competition training days b. Pre competition non training days c. International competitions (two day event) d. Domestic competitions (one day event)
Fitness/conditioning: 1. Evaluate fitness levels of each individual athlete 2. Educate athlete on how to improve; speed, power, and stamina 3. Instruct athlete on how to deal with minor injures 4. Design training program for: a. Off season b. One month before competition c. Two weeks before competition d. Week of competition
Athlete Agreement/Training log
Structure and regulation are key elements in the development plan of world-class athletes. Developing a plan is an important but small start towards success. Therefore we will not only create a training model we will also collect monthly training logs via email.
Training Model
The model will include: 1. The minimum number of bouts each athlete must fencer per week. 2. Each athlete must report how many lesson they receive each week and if they plan on increasing or decreasing that amount 3. Minimum hours of cross-training per week (gym, other sports)
Page | 93 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 4. Number of competitive tournaments for season
*Each athlete must fill out then sign the model, and will be expected to follow it.
Weekly Training Log:
We will create a training log that each athlete will be expected to fill out daily and submit to us monthly. The logs will include every form of training/practice the fencer participates. They will also be expected to evaluate their own progress and report it in the logs. Personal coaches will verify all logs.
Athlete Support:
Athletes must make many sacrifices to attain a high level in any sport, and they deserve rewards for those sacrifices. One of those sacrifices is finance. Lessons, equipment, club membership dues, and travel (daily and competition) expenses accumulate to a huge sum during the course of a season. It is very important that we do not discourse talented young athletes by not providing them with incentives.
Criteria for Direct Athlete Support:
The top 4 ranked US Men’s Epee athletes on the FIE point standings: • $2000/ month stipend from USOC plus EAHI for eligible athletes • $1500/month stipend from USFA plus full coverage of travel expenses for international events
Criteria for stipend eligibility 1. Must maintain top 64 ranking on FIE points standings 2. Attend a minimum of 3 out of 5 national training camps 3. Adhere to athlete agreement 4. Submit monthly training logs *The national coach must have the authority to remove stipend eligibility from an athlete if the athlete does not act in accordance with the athlete agreement or any other criteria stated above.
Page | 94 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan E. Athlete Identification for 2012
Possible candidates for becoming 2012 Men’s Epee Olympians Team:
Team ID 2012 Second Tier Prospective Juniors/Cadets Seth Kelsey Dwight Smith Graham Wicas Cody Mattern Stanley Vaksman Adam Watson Soren Jimmy Moody Yergler Thompson Benjamin Unger Graham Wicas Raynis Benjamin Tommi Hurme Hawrot Bratton Jan Viviani Duncan Benjamin James Kaull Solomon Gegan Ferguson
Page | 95 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan F. Summary of International Results
Table 17: Summary of Results – Men’s Epee 2005-2008 Competition Gold Silver Bronze 4-8 Totals 2008 Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 08 Senior Pan Am Championships 1 0 2 1 4 08 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 08 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07-08 Senior World Cups 0 1 2 3 6 07-08 Junior World Cups 0 0 1 3 4 07-08 Cadet International 07 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 07 Senior Pan Am Championships 0 1 2 0 3 07 Junior World Championships 0 1 0 0 1 06-07 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06-07 Senior World Cups 0 1 2 7 10 06-07 Junior World Cups 1 0 1 2 4 06-07 Cadet International 06 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 06 Senior Pan AM Championships 06 Junior World Championships 0 0 1 0 1 06 Cadet World Championships 1 0 0 1 2 05-06 Senior World Cups 1 1 1 4 7 05-06 Junior World Cups 2 0 1 3 6 05-06 Cadet International 05 Senior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 05 Senior Pan Am Championships 04-05 Junior World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Cadet World Championships 0 0 0 0 0 04-05 Senior World Cups 1 1 1 2 5 04-05 Junior World Cups 0 1 2 6 9 04-05 Cadet International Totals
Page | 96 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 7. US Fencing
A. Critical Success Factors - USFENCING
#1 Funding support of HPP from US Fencing and USOC
#2 Commitment to the implementation of US Fencing Quad High Performance Plan from National Coaches, US Fencing and USOC
#3 Performance of National Coaching Staff and successful partnership of US Fencing High Performance Staff, National Coaches and USOC Performance Teams
#4. Influence within the FIE/PAN Am Confederation through positions in FIE Commissions, International refereeing and professional staff relationships.
Page | 97 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. Team Development Plan
Action Plan
The USFA plans to take the next step from being recognized as a strong fencing country – where we now stand following the outstanding Beijing Olympic performance – to that of world power in the sport. That is, one of the elite programs in the world and so recognized by the FIE and the other serious fencing nations.
This step envisions winning additional individual and team medals at the London Games and the intervening World Championships and Pan American games. It is the goal of United States Fencing to win team medals at the London Games. It is also the goal of the USFA to win more than the six medals won at Beijing.
How may this be accomplished?
We need to support the top international athletes in the two years prior to the Olympics such that they can train and compete full time without the distraction of working to support themselves.
• We must better support our fencers at international competitions from the youngest levels. • We must provide better international support in terms of referees, cadre and technical support. • We must give our younger fencers more travel support than we are now able to give. • We must provide more training opportunities with a greater level of support so that our fencers are able to travel to those training opportunities. • We have an outstanding calendar of domestic events at which we should be providing more technical and training support. • We must continue to pay our national coaches, as we demand more and more of their time and commitment. • We must provide our own referees at all international events at which our fencers compete. • We must provide technical support in the person of videographers as well as armorers to provide teaching support. • We must send team leaders to all international World Cup competitions to insure that our athletes are well treated and generally protected, as are their peers.
Page | 98 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan • We must work well with our international partners in the FIE to be sure that that organization is responsive to our very real concerns about scheduling both in the conflicts among tournaments and the placement of crucial events in places to which we cannot travel. • We must make inroads into the Pan American fencing voting bloc to strengthen our international position.
The real key for the next level of growth of the sport in this country lies in positioning it as a mainstream activity that the very best athletes should look at carefully when making life decisions about what sports they will pursue. This is happening now in surprising ways, but we must strengthen our image as a world- class fencing power that supports its athletes in a world-class manner. We must do this at least as well as our competitors from the rest of the fencing world.
To make this happen we must have the whole-hearted support of the USOC. We must be able to pay our coaches, starting perhaps with an honorarium but escalating to the point where we are adequately compensating them for their time.
Performance measures come through international results by our fencers. These results have been getting better and better.
At the moment the United States has a fencer who has been ranked number one in the world in her weapon for the past year. This is an unprecedented happening in the history of US fencing. It is a performance measure that we should be shooting at in all of our weapons.
The growth of the sport is shown in the increasing number of individuals who have joined the USFA over the past year (see chart at the beginning of this report).
1. NGB Core Program Summary 2. Training & Competition Calendar 3. Athlete Support a. Criteria
USOC Athlete Support Stipends
The USOC and USFA have adopted a more performance driven approach to providing funding that will affect all the weapons and most of the National Team athletes.
Page | 99 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan The criteria will require each athlete to qualify for the support based on FIE rank and the program will be reevaluated three times each year, on April 1, July 1 and October 30. The following are the criteria:
1. Top 4 ranked athletes in each weapon (FIE Ranking) can qualify:
2. Individual World Cup Ranking: a. Top 5 FIE World Cup ranking receive $2750 per month b. Top 15 FIE World Cup ranking receive $1750 per month c. Top 30 FIE World Cup ranking receive $1000 per month
-OR-
3. Team World Cup Ranking: a. Top 3 World Cup ranking receive $2500 per month b. Top 5 World Cup ranking receive $1500 per month c. Top 8 World Cup ranking receive $1000 per month
There are some important restrictions/guidelines 1. Athletes can be added to the program, or move to the next support level, if they maintain the necessary ranking for one month. 2. Athletes will be removed or moved down if they don’t meet the criteria – or contract stipulations – at the review periods (April 1, July 1, October 30) 3. Maximum of 4 athletes per weapon. Athletes must be among the top 4 ranked US athletes on the FIE rankings to be eligible. 4. Athletes and coaches are required to sign individual agreements outlining specific competitions/camps each must attend and a commitment to a program of training.
There is a very limited opportunity for discretionary athlete support for athletes that don’t qualify per the program above who have agreed to train together as a team on a year around basis to pursue a medal opportunity for the team in that weapon at the next Olympic Games. That support can be up to $750 per month for the top four athletes.
Operation Gold and Elite Athlete Health Insurance programs will continue as they have in the past. Athletes must complete the USFA Athlete Agreement forms to begin receiving stipend payments.
Coaching Program
The National Coaching Program is divided by weapon and gender into six groups. This has proven a worthwhile innovation, especially since it allows each national coach to be responsive to the needs of all fencers up and down a fairly
Page | 100 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan narrow pipeline. In addition to the head coach of a weapon group there is generally a cadet coach (Under-17 years of age) and a junior coach (Under-20 fencers). This system allows younger fencers to be seen and evaluated and urged to begin their international program at the appropriate time. These younger fencers have a significant number of competitions in which to earn points that will allow them to qualify for domestic and international World Cup competitions. It is at these competitions that the more proficient younger fencers may move up to more demanding age group competitions, earn international (FIE) points, come to the attention of the international fencing community and move toward world-class status.
The greatest roadblock to the efficient working of this system is in scheduling. Each coach designates a number of domestic and international World Cups for his/her group of fencers to compete for points that will advance the fencers internationally. Making a sensible, even sane, schedule has become more and more difficult as the FIE schedules World Cups in remote and even inaccessible (e.g. Iran) places for United States fencers to compete. These international points are crucial for the proper seeding of fencers at the more important international tournaments, thus the frustration of not being able to get to these competitions because of conflicts and, again, inaccessibility.
It has become more and more important that our athletes have the best possible opportunity to perform well and score well (not always the same thing) at the more important and accessible international competitions. If the United States is to achieve optimal performance, we must have the proper cadre, the best technology and the best referees traveling with our coaches and teams. The price tag for a world-class program to produce world-class results is high but the proper results are in part at least a function of money spent in the proper way. This money is not now available to our coaches.
Perhaps better than at any other time in the history of United States fencing, the USFA is able to attract the best coaches to our programs, but they are restless. The expectation for their work product grows apace with the ambition of the United States to earn Olympic and World Championship medals. As the number of young athletes in the sport grows, the expectations of the coaches’ ability to see and grade the ability and potential of these youngsters grow as well. The time needed to do this job effectively grows and grows on top of the more specific teaching and coaching responsibilities and organizational and budgetary demands that fall on these coaches. The need to compensate them grows apace with the higher expectations held for them.
While nothing is ideal, the current development plan for coaches is working as the unprecedented results in World Cups, World and Pan American Games and the Olympic Games demonstrate.
Page | 101 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
Athlete/Coach Competencies, Education/Certification, Retention & Succession
We must have the wherewithal to expand the grass roots aspect of the coaching development plan, to attract more and more young coaches into the ranks and prepare them to work at the highest levels. We must find the means to send coaches to see more and more of the regional competitions for young fencers; we must help them to attend clinics, training camps, NACs and the Coaches College. We must be proactive in this area and funds are needed to do these things effectively.
If the athletes with world-class potential are to be attracted to the sport, we must have more and more coaches with the same potential. Fencing is a teaching intensive sport. It requires constant work to become and stay at world-class levels and this requires a large base of well-trained coaches committed to bringing the sport to the next level of international recognition.
Athletes, as they develop over time, move upward through the various age categories, earning points by their results in competition, rising to national and possibly international levels where they are graded by their coaches and placed on domestic and international point standings reflective of their accomplishments in competition.
Their peers in the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) grade coaches. There are written examinations given at the Coaches College and at other training and seminar opportunities for coaches to improve their skills. The Coaches College, being an annual event, is the most convenient vehicle for coach’s evaluation. The most senior members of the USFCA carry out this evaluation process.
A similar program is in place for referees who are evaluated by the senior members of the Fencing Officials Commission. They are given written examinations that are both domestically and internationally produced and graded and they are given ratings reflective of their examination results and on-strip experience. The FIE administers an international referees examination program and selects referees for World Championships and Olympic Games through this mechanism.
The USFA does not use an outside certifying agency and has never felt the need to do so. Fencing is unlike most other sports in that its rules are difficult and unique unto its particular weapons and really would not lend itself to outside examination.
Page | 102 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
Page | 103 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan C. High Performance Plan for Olympic Preparation
The United States Fencing Association (USFA) took a bold step for the Beijing Games. It committed itself to prepare for the Games as the athletes must prepare for the Games. To this end, the USFA provided the best foundation from which its athletes and coaches could perform at the 2008 Olympic Games. The USFA was the most prepared it has ever been to provide an environment of success for our Olympic athletes and coaches.
This endeavor was bold in its inception and required a lot of education to justify the operating expense involved. After the Games, the program’s value was proved and now the USFA must take the next step to formalize an Olympic Preparation and Planning program and incorporate it in an overall High Performance Plan.
We learned a lot from the Beijing program and need to continue and evolve the NGB framework to continue the support necessary to have our athletes compete and succeed at the highest levels.
To maintain our recent success in this area and continue along an upward line, the estimated budget through 2012 is $135,000.
Vision and Mission
To provide a solid foundation from which the Olympic coaches and athletes can rely for their own training plans. This includes developing an expert knowledge base to provide input and expertise where needed to augment Olympic training plans.
Value Statements / Guiding Principles
• Investigate and research valuable points of information to assist the coaches in developing their Olympic training plans. • Engage in regular interaction and communication with the National Coaches on what their needs will be in the 3 years leading up to the Games. • Include athletes in the building of their Team. • Identify all opportunities to provide a sound framework and foundation on which athletes and coaches may rely to build their plans for Olympic success.
Page | 104 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Olympic Preparation and Planning High Performance Plan
Year 1 – 2009
Objective – Obtain a 10, 000-foot view of the London Games. This includes the following specific items:
• Learn the layout of the Games • Understand USOC initiatives for the Games • Learn about USOC possibilities for a London USOTC • Identify opportunities for pre-Games training (team and weapon)
Budget - $5,000
• 1 trip to London (piggy-backed on a USOC trip) • 2 people (Team Leader / USFA staff) • 1 week • 1 week
Objective – Continue Coach interaction by engaging in follow-up meetings to gauge the progress of the HPPs, by weapon, and adjusting them as needed based on London discoveries. This will also allow us to define new discovery missions for future London trips.
Budget - $10,000
• 1 HPP / National Coach follow-up meeting • 6 National Coaches • 1 HPD • 1 USFA Officer • 1 Team Leader • USOC staff • Friday pm – Sunday am
Year 2 – 2010
Objective – Drill down on London discoveries to obtain more concrete information that will filter into the weapon HPPs.
• Learn logistics and operations of the London Games and movements/distances between venues • Identify possibilities for a Friends & Family Program
Page | 105 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan • Identify opportunities to outsource F&F program and joint operations with other smaller NGBs • Assess the training possibilities at the London OTC
Budget - $10,000
• 2 trips to London (at least one with the USOC) • 2 people (Team Leader / USFA staff) • 1 week
Objective – Continue Coach interaction by engaging in follow-up meetings to gauge the progress of the HPPs, by weapon, and adjusting them as needed based on London discoveries. This will also allow us to define new discovery missions for future London trips.
Budget - $20,000
• 2 HPP / National Coach follow-up meeting • 6 National Coaches • 1 HPD • 1 USFA Officer • 1 Team Leader • USOC staff • Friday pm – Sunday am
Year 3 – 2011
Objective – Identify the logistical and operational plans for specific weapons and start the negotiating process for potential contracts.
• Lock-down pre-Games training sites • Lock-down F&F program vendor • Learn mass transit system • Understand what is in the area (points of interest, athlete needs) • Learn LOCOG rules and procedures
Budget - $15,000
• 3 trips to London (at least one with the USOC) • 2 people (Team Leader / USFA staff) • 1 week
Page | 106 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Objective – Continue Coach interaction by engaging in follow-up meetings to gauge the progress of the HPPs, by weapon, and adjusting them as needed based on London discoveries. This will also allow us to define new discovery missions for future London trips.
Budget - $20,000
• 2 HPP / National Coach follow-up meeting • 6 National Coaches • 1 HPD • 1 USFA Officer • 1 Team Leader • USOC staff • Friday pm – Sunday am
Year 4 – 2012
Objective – Finalize the Olympic Preparation and Planning program.
Budget - $5,000
• 1 trips to London (at least one with the USOC) • 2 people (Team Leader / USFA staff) • 1 week
Objective – Continue Coach interaction by engaging in follow-up meetings to gauge the progress of the HPPs, by weapon, and adjusting them as needed based on London discoveries. This will also allow us to define new discovery missions for future London trips.
Budget - $10,000
• 1 HPP / National Coach follow-up meeting • 6 National Coaches • 1 HPD • 1 USFA Officer • 1 Team Leader • USOC staff • Friday pm – Sunday am
Team Building Initiative
Page | 107 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Lessons learned from the past two Olympic Games, provided insight to the Team preparation outside of the athletic training. It is important to foster and grow “teamsmanship” among and between squads.
In an effort to provide this augmented training environment, it is planned to have 2 team-building events – one in 2010 and one in 2011. These events would include all 6 weapons and athletes from all ranks – cadet, junior, and senior. These are athlete centric events with support from USFA and USOC staff to run the program. Additionally, the Olympic Team support staff (Trainer, Armorer, Team Leader) is included in the exercises.
The focus of the exercises can be many fold and determined in advance. Essentially this helps the athletes actively participate in the building of their Team.
It is anticipated that this effort will cost $40,000 or $20,000 per event.
Ongoing Efforts and Plans for 2012
In order to support these efforts, several underlying programs need to be developed, maintained, and regularly managed. These include:
• Initiate the 2012 plan as a true “project” with appropriate charter, communication plans, etc. • Develop a 4-year 2012-planning calendar with milestones, tasks and responsibilities. • Develop a Plan for Success • Develop an F&F program. This might include joining with other small NGBs and approaching an established agency to plan and run an F&F program. Address deficiencies from Lessons Learned (both in Athens and Beijing) and include them in the 2012 project schedule. • Develop the Olympic Team support staff and personnel, including familiarization with potential Olympic Team members.
7. International Relations
Note: Quad Performance Plan being developed with USOC –(10/13/08)
Project 1. : FIE Elections US Fencing has returned from the Beijing Olympiad with a resounding success: • 6 medals, including 1 Gold, 3 Silvers, and 2 Bronzes • #2 Medal winner amongst all nations preceded only by Italy
Page | 108 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan • US Fencing represents an outstanding return on investment for the USOC: whilst receiving less than 2% of its grant funds, Fencing has delivered nearly 6% of all medals in Beijing.In order to ensure the continued strong international performance of the US Fencing team, it is essential that our athletes continue to play on a level playing field, requiring an increased level of funding. • US Fencing’s long term prospects are under-pinned by its Cadet/Junior teams frequently finishing amongst the top nations at recent Junior/Cadet World Championships • US Fencing is well-represented throughout the FIE commissions, with the exception of the Executive Committee • US referees are highly regarded, well-respected and frequently invited to all major championships and international competitions. Our Olympic referee, Doug Findlay, was chose to referee in an Olympic final. • US Fencing has, in recent years, hosted 2 or 3 Senior World Cup tournaments, the circuit that provides qualification points and seeding to the World Championships and Olympic Games. • The objective of US Fencing is to further strengthen the international competitiveness of its fencers and to be considered a positive influential force within the FIE. • The Projects listed on subsequent pages all serve this purpose.
Project 2.: Spreading Best Practices US Fencing now boasts 616 clubs, 727 coaches. The coaching pool is one of the largest and deepest anywhere in the world, and many world-class coaches now call the US their home. •It is proposed to offer Coaches from other Pan American and friendly nations to spend 1 week in the US with selected top level coaches. •In 2009, it is proposed that we invite 8-10 coaches in each of the 3 weapons for a total of 24-30 coaches. Up to 30 countries may benefit from this. Air fare and lodging would be paid for by the Grant. •In addition, it is proposed that we invite 8-10 international fencers in each of the 3 weapons in which we host the World Cup in Chicago during June 2009. A week-long training camp immediately preceding or following the event is proposed to be held in an appropriate location. Air fare and lodging of the athletes would be paid for by the Grant. •For both of the above, coaches and athletes would submit their applications via their national federation. •US Fencing will also contemplate having an application process from Coaches and Clubs to host the fencers or the coaches. Coaches doing the clinics would be paid and clubs hosting the fencers would receive a type of “floor-fee”.
Page | 109 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan VI. Summary
• Over the period 2000 –2008 US Fencing has become a leading fencing nation, taking the#2 position in the medal count in Beijing. • Further, it has significantly “upgraded” itself from the bottom of the list amongst US Olympic sports, and is now firmly placed as a top 5 medal- winning sport for the USOC, out of the 34 sports at the Summer Games. • The consistently strong performance of our Cadet and Junior team over the past few years provides well-founded optimism –whilst no guarantees –for continued future success. • Traditionally strong European nations and emerging Asian countries, no doubt, will seek to attain similar positions themselves. Therefore, it is essential that we position our leadership to be on par with them, and to be present at all critical gatherings. • US Fencing respectfully submits this Grant application and trusts it will meet your guidelines and requests approval. • We would be pleased to discuss and provide further detail on any of the above. Please contact the USFA President, Executive Director or Sunil Sabharwal with any questions.
Page | 110 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Appendices
Appendix 1: Paralympics Development Plan
A. Coach Biographies
Fencing Coach: Maestro Les Stawicki Maestro Les Stawicki enters his 16th season as the head coach of the Louisville Fencing Center. He is nationally recognized and respected by fencing practitioners and coaches around the world. Under his tutelage, the Louisville Fencing Center has produced numerous national and international champions. When Maestro Stawicki arrived in Louisville, he brought vast experience and international prestige to the Louisville Fencing Center. He was head coach of the Polish National fencing team from 1973 to 1990. His students earned silver medals at the Moscow and Seoul Olympic Games. His Polish sabre team also earned bronze medals at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia and Sofia, Bulgaria. Maestro Stawicki is responsible for the development of the United States Paralympic (wheelchair) fencing program. Appointed Head Coach of the USA National Paralympic fencing program in 1995, Maestro Stawicki has brought great success to this program.
• In 1996, the U.S. National Team participated in the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. • In 1998, Stawicki made U.S. history by taking the first wheelchair team from the U.S. to the World Games in Bonn, Germany. There he led his fencers to 2nd and 3rd place medals. • In 2004, Maestro Stawicki led a strong contingent of athletes including Kentucky native, Shawn Shumate, to the Paralympic Games in Athens. Maestro holds a master's degree in Physcial Education from the National Institute of Sport and Physical Education in Lvov, Russia
Page | 111 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan B. 2009 Wheelchair Fencing Performance Plan
General Statement of Purpose/Mission: US Fencing will work to significantly improve the Wheelchair Fencing system in the US, with a goal to build a sustainable sports system that will begin to produce top international results by the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Program Summary: US Fencing will provide the management structure to fulfill the proposed goals. In addition, it is expected that this program will produce 1 medal in the Paralympic Games in London.
National Team:
A. Program Support: A goal of the program is to get the top athletes to attend at least 4 international World Cup events each year as well as the World Championships. The National Coach should also be running at least two national camps each year with all the top fencers and their coaches present.
Projected Expenditure for Program Support $10,000
Included in this amount are funds to support World Cups and National Training Camps.
B. Athlete Support: Top Paralympic athletes, in order to be highly competitive, must make the same kind of unequivocal commitment to international excellence as that made by their Olympic-hopeful counterparts. To do so, they must avail themselves of high level training environments, top coaching and living environments that enable them to take the time to prepare for international competition. Athlete support will be a key to allowing this to happen. The goal is to provide elite athletes with more significant personal funding to make this all possible.
US Fencing defines athletes with more than 250 points in any Paralympic discipline on the IWFC International Ranking List as national team level athletes as well as those athletes with at least two (2) top-three (3) world cup finishes in a 12 month period. (Top three (3) finishes presume a field depth of sixteen (16) or more athletes at the event in consideration. A top 25% finish will replace this criterion if fewer than sixteen (16) athletes are in the field.) It is proposed that athletes receive a $1000 performance award for each top three (3) World Cup or World Championship finish and $2000 upon achieving/maintaining 250 points on the IWFC International
Page | 112 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Ranking List as of the conclusion of the last world cup event of the season.
Projected expenditure for Athlete Support $10,000
These funds are allocated for Athlete Support and Performance Awards.
Program Initiatives:
• Expand the pool of talented athletes and development athletes • Expand the pool of trained coaches • Provide appropriate support for the athletes currently in the system capable of credible performances in 2012 Paralympic Games in London. • Provide appropriate support of clubs with specific wheelchair fencing resources • Continued development of the USFA staff maintained wheelchair fencing website: http://www.international.usfencing.org/NWP/wc.htm
Projected expenditure for the above Program Initiatives $5,000
These funds will be used to support the above initiatives as well as provide administrative support for the entire program.
Activities:
• World Cup Montreal, Canada May 2009 • World Cup Paris. France November 2009 • World Cup Warsaw, Poland July 2009
Development Program:
Priority 1:
Continue to develop or expand three centers in the US where new athletes can be recruited and trained and talented athletes can be developed into international class fencers. The goal is to have each center running a high level program by year-end with at least 10 fencers involved. The three centers would probably be:
i. South Orange, New Jersey has replaced San Antonio, Texas as the emerging center of the development of wheelchair fencing in the US.
Page | 113 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan ii. Atlanta, GA in conjunction with the Shepherd Center continues to be a program priority.
iii. Louisville, KY managed by the National Coach, Lescek Stawicki continues to be a program priority
Assuming success in getting these programs going at this level, the goal will be to add one new center a year for several years to increase the geographic reach and to continue to build more fencers and more coaches into the system
Projected budget amount for Priority 1 programs $5,000 These funds will be used primarily for equipment purchases to enhance the development of high-level programs.
Priority 2:
i. Develop and expand the US Fencing Coaches College program for Wheelchair Fencing. Each summer, Coaches College offers a program for Wheelchair Fencing coaching. With good planning and funding, which US Fencing will provide, the goal for 2009 is to develop and expand this program to include 10 intermediate to advanced level Fencing coaches, many of whom should be associated in some way with the three development centers.
ii. Establish a “mentoring and sharing” program at all national camps, held in conjunction with national tournaments, where personal/club coaches associated with athletes are invited to attend, and the National Coach can lead sessions to develop the coaches as well as the athletes.
Projected budget amount for Priority 2 programs $5,000 These funds will be used primarily for expansion of the Coaches College program, expanded opportunities at National Tournaments and the fine-tuning of the vertical integration program that currently exists in US Fencing.
Projected expenditure for Athlete Support $10,000
Projected expenditure for the above Program Initiatives $25,000
TOTAL: $35,000
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Page | 115 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
Referee – Wheelchair Fencing: Jonathan Moss
• Fencing coach for 32 years • Fencing Coach for the University of New Hampshire (21st year) • Co-founder/co-creator of the United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs • USFA Board member 2005-2008 • Member of the USFA Fencing Officials Commission 1996-present • Creator of the current system for referee development in the USFA (implemented since 1996) • International referee in all 3 weapons (“B”) since 1996 • International Wheelchair Referee since 1996 o Referee at 3 Paralympic Games – 1996, 2004, 2008 o Referee at many many wheelchair world cups o Referee at the 2002 and 2006 Wheelchair World Championships
Page | 116 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Candidate – FIE Legal Commission: Samuel David Cheris
Fencing Activities:
USA – President (1988-90), Vice President (1982-84, 2004- 08) and Treasurer (1985-88) of the US Fencing Association Chairman of the International Selection and Training Committee (1988-90, 1992-96) Assistant Organizing Committee Chairman – World Championships 1989, Junior/ Cadet World Championships1993 Chairman, Directoire Technique, US World Cup Saber 1994-2000, 2005 & 2007 Chairman, Directoire Technique, US World Cup Foil 1994-96 Member of the Fencing Officials Commission (Refereeing) 1980-Present. Chairman 2008-. Assistant Coach – Stanford University Fencing Team – 1968-71 Retired Referee – Foil, Epee, Saber Manager, 1985 US World Championship Team Chief of Mission, US World Championship Teams – 1989, 90, 2007 Trustee and Secretary-Treasurer – US Fencing Foundation 2008-
FIE – Member, Public Relation Commission 1988-92 Member, Legal (formerly Statutes) Commission 1992-present Member, Special Rules Committee for Olympic Games 2000-present President, Legal Commission 1996-present Member, Executive Committee 1996-2004 Member Directoire Technique, World Championships 1994, 1995, 1996 Member, Directoire Technique, Olympic Games, 1996 Chief of Protocol, World Championships and Junior/Cadet World Championships 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Chief of Protocol, Olympic Games, 2000, 2004 Retired Referee, Epee – A, Foil – B World Cup Supervisor – 1992- present
Page | 117 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Candidate – FIE Rules Commission: Donald Alperstein, J.D.
SPORTS EXPERIENCE
United States Fencing Association • President, United States Fencing Association from the Atlanta Olympic Games to the Sydney Olympic Games, a period of rapid improvement in the USA’s international results • General Legal Counsel and Advisor to the Executive Committee of the United States Fencing Association 1992 – 1996; 2000 – present, including supervisor of disciplinary proceedings • Co-author of US Fencing Association Bylaws and Disciplinary Code • Top level referee • Evaluates referee performance (3 weapons)
Federation International d’Escrime/Pan-American Fencing Confederation • FIE Discipline Commission Member 2004-2008 • FIE Observer/Supervisor at numerous Junior and Senior World Cups 2004-2008 • FIE Referee at Junior, Senior and Grand Prix competitions • United States Delegate to FIE Congress from 1996 to 2000 • Host of FIE Competitions: 2000 Junior/Cadet World Championships (South Bend, Indiana) and numerous World Cup events (New York, Rochester, Boston) • Pan-American Fencing Confederation Statutes Commission, 1999 -2003
Sports Arbitration • American Arbitration Association sport arbitrator
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / EXPÉRIENCE PROFESSIONELLE / EXPERIENCIA PROFESIONAL • Principal of Alperstein and Covell, P.C. a Private Practice Law Firm in Denver, Colorado (1985 – present), practicing in the areas of arbitration, business transactions and commercial litigation. • Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (1980 – present) with extensive experience and education in commercial and sports arbitrations. • Denver Bar Association: Professionalism Council (Chairman 2006- present); Legal Fee Arbitration Committee (1978 – present; Chairman 1990 – 1994) with experience arbitrating hundreds of disputes between attorneys and clients
Page | 118 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Candidate – FIE Referee Commission: Derek Cotton
Personal: Work as Research Associate with Egon Zehnder International in executive search. Previous experience with Robert Half International, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers. Speak fluent Spanish.
Fencing Experience: Started fencing in 1983 with coach Ralph Faulkner. Co-founder of San Diego State University’s fencing team. Long-time student of Ed Richards, Hezaburo Okawa, and Cole Harkness. Lived and trained with Hungarian National Foil Coach Sandor Beliczay in Budapest Hungary for 13 months.
Competitive Results: Three-time US National finalist. Member of the US Men’s Foil National Championship Team, 1995. Five-time member of US Olympic Festival Team, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995. Two-time winner of Pacific Coast Sabre Circuit, 1994-1995.
Coaching Experience: Passed the moniteur d’escrime level exam for all three weapons, 1997. Assistant National Coach for Cadet women’s foil, 1999. Coach of the third place Women’s Foil Team at US National Championships, 1999.
Refereeing and Committee Experience: Received US Fencing referee’s license in 1988. Refereed many national finals in all three weapons. Received International referee’s license in 1995. US referee to Pan American Games, World University Games, Jr. World Championships and Senior World Championships, 1998-2003. Only US referee selected to go to Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 for the Olympic Games. Referee selected for the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, 1996. Internationally rated B referee in all three weapons. Member of the Fencing Officials Commission, 2001 to Present where: 1. Served as chair of Referee Development Committee. 2. Act as an observer and assigner at US selection tournaments. 3. Actively work to teach, train and mentor referees. Member of the Wheelchair Fencing Committee, 1999 to 2003. Vice Chairman of the Southern California Division, US Fencing, 2001 to 2004. Treasurer of US Fencing Association, 2004 to 2008.
Page | 119 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Candidate – FIE SEMI Commission: Daniel DeChaine
Mr DeChaine has been a member of the Semi since 1985
He was the National Team Armorer for the United States for 33 Years, at four Olympic Games, Several World Championships, Several Junior World Championships, Pan-American Games and Universiades
He has been Chef Du Controle at numerous International Championships and was the Technical Manager for Fencing at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
He is an experienced manager for all technical levels of Weapons Control, and has invented and constructed many test devices which have been used at the weapon control for several world championships, Olympic games, junior world championships and Pan-American Games
He speaks five languages and brings with him more than 50 years of expertise in Fencing Technology.
Page | 120 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Armorer: Matthew Porter
1977 • Started fencing UC Santa Cruz, CA
1980 • Started working full time in fencing at American Fencers Supply, San Francisco, CA
1989 • Staff Armorer for the World Championships, Denver, CO, USA
1993 • Staff Armorer for the World University Games, Buffalo, NY, USA
1995 • Took over ownership of American Fencers Supply
1998 • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championship in Valencia, Venezuela
1999 • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championship in Kezthey, Hungary • US Team Armorer for the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada • US Team Armorer for the World Championships in Seoul, Korea
2000 • US Team Armorer for the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
2001 • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championships in Gdansk, Poland • US Team Armorer for the World Championships in Nimes, France
2002 • US Team Armorer for the World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal
2003 • Staff Armorer for the Titan Games in San Jose, CA, USA • US Team Armorer for the World Championships in Havana, Cuba
Page | 121 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan 2004 • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2005 • Staff Armorer for the World Cup in Las Vegas, NV, USA • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championships in Linz, Austria (featuring Andrea Lagan as Team Manager!)
2006 • Staff Armorer for the World Cup in Las Vegas, NV, USA • US Team Armorer for the Jr/Cadet World Championships in Taebek City, Korea
• 2007 • Staff Armorer for the World Cup in Las Vegas, NV, USA • US Team Armorer for the World Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia
• 2008 Staff Armorer for the World Cup in Las Vegas, NV, USA
Page | 122 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Sports Medicine: Nick Tobianski MEd, ATC, CSCS
Education: • Central Michigan University (Graduate May 2003) • Bachelor of Science, • Major: Sports Medicine • Minor: Exercise Physiology • University of Virginia (Graduate August 2004) • Master of Education • Emphasis in Athletic Training and Research
Professional: • Head Athletic Trainer – Detroit Ignition Professional Indoor soccer team (2007-2008) • Set Medic/Athletic Trainer – Motion Picture “The Job” (Due for release 2009) • Athletic Trainer – Troy High School (2006-2007) • Athletic Trainer – Troy Athens High School (2005-2006) • Athletic Trainer – Macomb Community College (Michigan) (2004-2005) • Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer – Hampden-Sydney College (Virginia) • (2003-2004)
Fencing: • United States Fencing Association Medical Staff since 2002 Athletic Trainer for Cadet and Junior Fencing World Championships: 2005 Linz, Austria • 2006 Taebeak City, Korea • 2007 Belek, Turkey • 2008 Accireale, Italy
Other: • Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) • Finalist for 2005 NATA Outstanding Masters Oral Presentation • Fluent in Ukrainian. Basic comprehension of Russian, German and Brazilian Portuguese
Page | 123 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Sports Medicine: Lonnie Sellers
• Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from University of Washington in 1983 • Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from University of Oregon in 1986. • Athletic Trainer Certification in 1986. • High School Trainer for Lake Washington High School, 1986-1995. • Selected as Athletic Trainer for US Wrestling Team, Carcisonne France Tournament 1992. • Assistant Athletic Trainer Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships, Venezuela, 1998. • Assistant Athletic Trainer Senior Cadet World Fencing Championships, Seoul Korea, 1999. • Selected as team trainer for the USFA World Championship Teams, 2000. • Head Athletic Trainer Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships, South Bend Indiana, 2000. • Head Athletic Trainer Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships, Gdansk Poland, 2001. • Head Athletic Trainer Senior World Fencing Championships, Neime France, 2001. • Selected as Athletic Trainer for fencing at Titan Games, San Jose California, 2002. • Head Athletic Trainer Senior World Fencing Championships Lisbon Portugal, 2002. • Selected as Athletic Trainer for fencing at Titan Games, Atlanta Georgia, 2003. • Head Athletic Trainer Senior World Fencing Championships, Havana Cuba, 2003. • Selected by USOC as Athletic Trainer for fencing team at XXIII Olympics, Athens Greece, 2004. • Continued coverage of NACS for the USFA from 2005 to present. • I have over 25 years of clinical experience in orthopedic based Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.
Page | 124 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Sports Medicine: John Carollo, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS
John begins the London Quadrrenium as the Head Athletic Trainer for the US Fencing National Teams. He has been working with fencing since 1998, and the USFA since 2000. He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer at a very large high school in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to his current position, he has worked in the NHL, NFL, and NBA. He has also worked for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Olympic Committee.
John is a specialist in numerous hands-on techniques, and is in high demand at international competitions by athletes, coaches, and officials. He has covered over 30 fencing events, including 11 World Cup and World Championship competitions, most of them as the Head Athletic Trainer.
His hobbies include international travel and foreign languages, of which he speaks Russian fluently. He is a US Navy and Operation Desert Storm veteran. He has volunteered at the USOTC in Colorado Springs, and with the following other NGBs: wrestling, synchronized swimming, gymnastics, and soccer
Page | 125 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Sports Medicine: Marli Carollo, LAT, ATC
Marli has been working with fencing since 2000. She has also worked for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Olympic Committee. Marli is a specialist in rehabilitation techniques, as the majority of her career has been clinic based. She has covered over 20 fencing events, including 7 World Cup and World Championship competitions. She is known for her constant smile, easy going personality, and hard work. Her hobbies include cooking and scrapbooking. She is currently a proud stay-at-home mom of 2 children, Robert (3) and Lillian (3 months).
Page | 126 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Team Leader/Manager: Alan Kuver
A long time resident of Huntington, New York, he is a graduate of Fitchburg State College, Massachusetts, with a Batchelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology and a Batchelor of Arts Degree in Industrial Arts Education. He has also earned a legal education from Touro College, The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and passed the Bar exams of New York and Pennsylvania in 1993. He is an employee of the Huntington Union Free School District since 1990 teaching technology education classes in both the High School and the Middle School.
Alan has coached in the Huntington school district since being hired in 1990. He has been the Varsity Boys and Girls Fencing coach each of the years he has worked in the district. He has also coached the football, track and field and girls lacrosse teams at various times. He has coached both individual and team champions and has sent many athletes on to college fencing programs. Graduates of the his program have been NCAA All-Americans and members of NCAA Championship teams. Alan is Nationally rated Referee, a veteran of the USFA coaches college, a bout committee member of several National Championship events, and a local, regional, and national officer of the USFA.
A large part of his national fencing experience has come from managing summer camp fencing programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of North Carolina, and Brandies University. He also has been the manager of a summer training camp run by national Men’s Saber coach Yuri Gelman for the last 10 years. This exposure to our international class athletes proved invaluable when he was asked to manage the our teams at Junior and Cadet World Championships in 2008. The championships took place in Acieralie, Italy and saw two individual and two team world champions from the US squad. He feels that his management style of preparation, communication, and strong personal relationships with the athletes and the coaches will set a tone that will lead to success in the future for the US fencing program.
Page | 127 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Appendix 3: Description of SSentif Sport training software
SSentif Sport
Client Installation Information
Background
The SSentif Sport installation process covers all areas to ensure the system is set up to the exact requirements of the client. The process includes: • Identifying all bespoke datasets • Evaluating any potential data quality issues • Finalising the data model best suiting the client • Identifying training requirements
The aim of this information sheet is to demonstrate the installation procedure and give an understanding of the full installation process to current and potential clients.
An approximate time for this installation procedure is 2 weeks.
Step 1 – Data Types
The first step in the installation phase is to understand from the client the different datasets they wish to analyse in SSentif Sport. This can be added to and amended at any point in the future as and when data analysis changes are required. With each dataset SSentif will review the data to ensure they fully understand the purpose, data structure and also data quality. See table below for dataset example.
Data Type Source Format Data Update Level Frequency Hydration Athlete Excel Athlete Monthly Competition Results Website PDF Athlete Weekly Strength and Coach Excel Athlete Monthly Conditioning Training Results Athlete Paper Athlete Daily
Page | 128 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Dartfish Stats Performance Excel Athlete Monthly Analyst
Step 2 – System Users
The next step in the installation phase is to fully identify all the system users and their appropriate roles and permissions. This will enable the information in the system to remain safe and secure as each user will only be able to access the data the client has authorised them to see.
Step 3 – Convert to test/result format
The third step is to convert all the datasets identified into the relevant format for SSentif Sport, ready to be uploaded into the system. SSentif will conduct this piece of work after step 1 so they are fully aware of the purpose of the data, any protocols required and thus ensuring the datasets set up within SSentif Sport exactly match the requirements of the client.
Step 4 – Data Structure
The final piece of the jigsaw is to work with the client to identify which data structure will best suit their needs. This will ensure the client can gain the maximum knowledge from their data. The final data structure will be agreed with the client before implementing it in the system.
Example of data model components:
Page | 129 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan
Page | 130 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Step 5 – Installation SSentif will conduct the technical work necessary to set up the system and make it available to all the named users. Once this is complete the users will have full access to the system and the wide variety of reports and analysis tools within the system.
Step 6 - Training and Handover
Final step for a new installation will be to identify the training needs of the clients. The training can be any combination of face to face, online training
Page | 131 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan and train the trainer. Once the training is concluded this completes the handover to the client.
However SSentif are always on hand to offer support when required.
SSentif Sport
SSentif’s unique customisable framework allows it to be used across all sports. From cycling, rugby and swimming through to curling, ice dance and fencing, no matter what performance statistics you need to analyse and track, SSentif will be able to help. SSentif can collect, manage, monitor and analyse any quantifiable data providing you with key information to improve performance. Because SSentif is web-based it allows any members of your team, that you have authorised, to see the data they need access to.
SSentif is the perfect benchmarking system for setting short and long term targets for individuals, teams and coaches. Use industry norms, create your own norms or set your individual/team targets to raise the bar for your athletes.
SSentif allows you to thoroughly understand the exact state of play of all your athletes and teams, allowing you to easily make decisions to improve performance and to take your athletes to the next level.
Some of SSentif Sport’s Clients
USA Cycling - Jim Miller Director of Endurance Programs
Page | 132 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan “SSentif is one of the most efficient data management tools I have seen.” “We manage 14 regional camps encompassing 300 athletes per year. SSentif gives us the power to add data, sort results and rank participants in real time.”
Scottish Institute of Sport - Dr. Tony Turner Prog. Director MSc Strength & Conditioning “SSentif is an excellent database for those working with groups of athletes, making it easy to quickly compile and analyse data gathered from a range of interrelated sources, such as training data, physiological testing results, match play data, injury status etc.” “As it is online multiple users in different locations can work with the data simultaneously and then discuss observations.”
Essex University - Dr. Gavin Sandercock Lecturer in Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) “SSentif provides a quick and simple way to collate and store data. Unlike other databases, the data can be displayed in a number of different formats with little prior investment of time.
United States Fencing Association
Estimate of Costs – 72 Athletes / 10 Users
What you get!
• Online access to data from anywhere in the world • Real-time reporting • Comprehensive analysis - monitors and accurately analyses each athlete, performance indicator, group or team by comparison • Collates and manages all your data • Automatic templates for large data collections • Simple online forms for quick and easy data input • Unlimited targets/thresholds to motivate athletes • Charts can be dragged and dropped into word, PDF and even emails • Multi-user permission based access
SSentif Estimate
Page | 133 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Data Athlete Amount Warehouse Access Annual Licence $2,599 $0 $2,599 Historical data $0 Development $0 Bespoke Installation $5,198 Training $0 Total 1st Year $7,797
US Fencing Association Specific Requirements • Up to 72 individuals per year • Each individual to be associated with agreed variables • Up to 10 Full Admin Users • Online training at $120 / hour.
Estimate valid for 30 days from 15th Oct 2008
United States Fencing Association
Estimate of Costs – 72 Athletes / 36 Users
What you get!
• Online access to data from anywhere in the world • Real-time reporting • Comprehensive analysis - monitors and accurately analyses each athlete, performance indicator, group or team by comparison • Collates and manages all your data • Automatic templates for large data collections • Simple online forms for quick and easy data input • Unlimited targets/thresholds to motivate athletes • Charts can be dragged and dropped into word, PDF and even emails • Multi-user permission based access
SSentif Estimate Individual Data Warehouse Amount Users
Page | 134 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Annual Licence $7,174 $0 $7,174 Historical data $0 Development $0 Bespoke Installation $7,598 Training $0 Total 1st Year $14,772
US Fencing Association Specific Requirements • Up to 72 individuals per year • Each individual to be associated with agreed variables • Up to 36 Full Admin Users • Online training at $120 / hour.
Estimate valid for 30 days from 15th Oct 2008
Page | 135 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan Appendix 4: Summary of Tables and Graphs
Table 1: Membership Type and Cost Table 2: Membership Breakdown by Age Table 3: SWOT Analysis Summary Table 4: Women’s Sabre Athlete Pool Table 5: Summary of Results – Women’s Sabre 2005-2008 Table 6: Women’s Foil SWOT Analysis Table 7: NGB Core Program Summary for Women’s Foil Table 8: Women’s Foil Athlete Pool Table 9: Program Funding Structure for Women’s Foil Table 10: Women’s Foil Quadrennial Budget Table 11: Summary of Results – Women’s Foil 2005-2008 Table 12: Women’s Epee Athlete Pool Table 13: Summary of Results – Women’s Epee 2005-2008 Table 14: Men’s Sabre Athlete Pool Table 15: Summary of Results – Men’s Sabre 2005-2008 Table 16: Summary of Results – Men’s Foil 2005-2008 Table 17: Summary of Results – Men’s Epee 2005-2008
Graph 1: US Fencing Distribution by Gender Graph 2: US Fencing Distribution by Age Graph 3: US Fencing Distribution by Level of Education Graph 4: US Fencing Membership Growth by Type 1982-2008
Page | 136 US Fencing 2009-2012 Quad High Performance Plan