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USA Fencing Athlete Development Model

CORE VALUES

1. Developmentally appropriate training and competitions for fencers

Did you know young fencers are not just smaller adult fencers?

  • While it seems obvious that young athletes are not mini-adults, it is not uncommon to train and interact with young athletes as if they are mini-versions of adult athletes. Kids are different from adults; they are different physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially, and coaches need to factor this in when interacting with and training young athletes.
  • An IOC Youth Consensus paper (2015) stated that youth athlete development is contingent on an individually unique and constantly changing base of normal physical growth, biological maturation and behavioral development, and therefore it must be considered individually. 
  • Kids, unlike many adults, are still trying to figure out movement and physicality – how to run, throw, jump, etc. Young athletes need to be taught this physical literacy as doing so gives them the skills, ability, confidence and motivation to be physically active and the foundational      skills upon which fencing skills can be learned.

2. Encouraging, supporting and promoting fencers participating in multiple sports and/or activities

Did you know that over 70% of Olympians (2000-12) were multisport athletes? 

  • In a survey of Olympians from 2000-12, it was found that, up to the age of 14, athletes (n=299) participated in three sports (Riewald, 2014). Even between the ages of 15 and 18, these Olympians averaged just over two (2.2) sports. Eighty-eight percent of these multisport Olympians felt doing so was valuable to their athletic success.   
  • John O’Sullivan (2016) points out that kids who specialize in a single sport have a high incidence of overuse injuries, are 70-90% more likely to be injured, tend to become more inactive as adults and have a higher rate of burnout from stress. 
  • Many of USA Fencing’s athletes were multisport athletes. For example, two-time Olympic medalist Alex Massialas swam and played basketball in high school and two-time Olympic Champion Mariel Zagunis played soccer her first three years in high school. 

3. A fun and engaging learning environment

Did you know that a primary reason kids participate in sport is to have fun and a primary reason kids discontinue sport is because it is no longer fun?

  • Research related to reasons for participating in school and non-school sports found both boys and girls rate “to have fun” as the top reason for participation (Ewing and Seefeldt, 1989). 
  • Recent research (Visek) asked kids to define fun. Young athletes tell us fun is not just about ‘playing tag’ but being with friends, competing, learning skills, getting compliments from a coach … so much broader than what we as adults might assume. 
  • By creating a fun, engaging environment, athletes will be motivated to continue to fence and clubs will have more success retaining fencers.   

4. Quality Coaching

Did you know coaches have an influence on athlete enjoyment, satisfaction, development and desire to continue?  

  • Effective coaching is critical to successful athlete development, whether it involves instilling love for the sport, providing motivation, teaching skills or periodizing training. 
  • In a survey of Olympians, athletes consider coaching to be important throughout their entire athletic development, rating importance of coaching between 3.6-4.5 on a scale of 1-5 across stages.
  • One study found that 95% of athletes who played for trained coaches (Coach Effectiveness Training) came back to the sport program versus 74% of those that played for untrained coaches.  
  • It is important that coaches working with our fencers have an understanding not only of how to teach technique, tactics and strategy of fencing but also how to effectively work with and develop young athletes.  

5. A focus on development over results and success through personal growth

Did you know that winning is not everything, and do your actions align with this?

     “Compassionate coaching is an important part of my approach to teaching fencing. There is so much failure inherent in the sport, from having a bad practice, to losing a touch, to losing a bout, that it is critical to keep your athletes focused on the process of improvement and finding the positive in everything. If the drive to succeed can come from positivity, rather than a negative place filled with fear of losing, fear of disappointing yourself, your coach or your family, then better results and higher self-esteem will follow.” –Dan Kellner, 2004 Olympian and Owner of Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club

  • A long-term approach to athlete development places a focus on development, progress and improvement as opposed to winning today.
  • Research finds that athletes who focus on outcome goals (winning) experience      greater anxiety and lower confidence than those who focus on process      goals (improvement relative to oneself).
  • While winning is important, it is not a primary motive for participation. Young      athletes want to improve their skills, socialize with friends, have fun, etc.  

Copied from USA Fencing's website: https://www.usafencing.org/adm

Goals of the ADM program

  •  Promote physical literacy and athleticism
  • Implement developmentally appropriate activities and      competitions
  • Encourage multisport/multi-activity participation
  • Focus on the well-being and psychosocial development
  • Foster an athlete-centered environment focused on      engagement and enjoyment
  • Support success and development of athletes
  • Retain athletes in the sport of fencing
  • Promote fencing/physical activity across the lifespan
  • Decrease overuse injuries and burnout


Copied from USA Fencing's website:  https://www.usafencing.org/adm  

ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM and FIT PROGRAMS

Age ranges are a general guideline and by no means a primary factor to determine when an athlete sho

Discovery and Fundamentals – Musketeer and Bronze Beginner Programs ages 6-9 years old 

An athlete has decided to try the wonderful sport of fencing. The initial exposure should focus on fun, engagement, physical literacy and basics of learning to learn. 

  • Fun and engaging environment 
  • Games and drills to teach ABCs - agility, balance, coordination - and functional movement 
  • Introduction to basics of the sport - equipment, safety 
  • Develop physical literacy; Teach ABCs – agility, balance, coordination, speed 
  • Multisport, multi-activity focus 
  • Fun, engaging play 
  • More fencing-related games and drills to teach fencing movements and skills
  • Inclusion - anyone at any age can and should be encouraged to participate   


Develop and Optimize – Silver I and Silver II Intermediate to Advanced Recreational and Competitive Programs – 10 – 14 years old 

Silver I: Athlete training evolves into more emphasis on fencing-specific tactics, technique and training, but still a continued focus on ABCs (agility, balance, coordination, and speed), multisport involvement, exploration and fun; teamwork and sportsmanship are also emphasized. 

  • More sport-specific training 
  • Introduce fencing-specific tactics, training and technique
  • Develop consistent training habits 
  • Focus on fine motor skills
  • Teamwork - supporting and pushing one another, better together 
  • Multisport engagement encouraged 
  • Limited, intentional competition for the purpose of learning and growth, not outcome 

Silver II: The athlete enjoys fencing and wants to continue to develop and improve, athlete-driven desire for the challenge of competition, more individualized coaching, greater commitment to fencing, and focus on competition as an opportunity to learn and improve. 

  • Learn advanced tactics and techniques 
  • Fencing-specific training
  • Needs to be fun, challenging and engaging 
  • Individualized coaching 
  • Continued focus on teamwork and sportsmanship
  • Growth through competition 
  • Sport specialization for some   


Excellence and Growth – Gold Team Advanced Competitive Program – 14 years and older 

These athletes are committed to attending classes regularly and participating in private instruction, as well as cross-training in other sports such as swimming to ensure whole body and mind wellness. 

  • For some, the goals are a pursuit of excellence and a commitment to maximizing talent 
  • For others, the focus is on continual improvement and growth socially, physically and mentally
  • The athlete is self-motivated to practice and actively participates with their Coach to establish their training and competition paths  


Fencing for a Lifetime - Veterans and Fitness Fencers – 20 years and older (veterans 40 and older) The athlete is “hooked.” Fencing is a lifelong endeavor, and the individual may take on many roles within the sport. Older teens and adults who love the sport and want to continue as recreational fencers or competitive fencers may also get involved in other roles within the sport. 

  • Fencing is part of an active lifestyle 
  • Enjoy the sport and the social aspects of engagement 
  • Desire to challenge oneself 
  • Focus on technical training for continued development 
  • Engagement with the organization as a volunteer, official, coach or mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@fenceintexas.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

The references quoted in the question answers are from Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body by Scott Hogan CPT, COES

We develop neuromuscular coordination through these exercises.  This is the "ability of your central nervous system to control muscles while executing complex movements. This is essential to address in the early stages of training to prevent bad habits." (p19)


Anyone may learn to fence.  We don't have a culture of fencing in the US, so just about every new fencer is in the same level.  You don't have to be an athlete to fence.  "Many people mistakenly believe that your levels of coordination are set in stone. but that's not true. By establishing joint stability with targeted corrective exercises and frequently practicing the primary movement patterns, you can improve neuromuscular coordination. (p19)


Doing what is termed "footwork and blade drills" helps the student develop muscle memory and a feeling of where they are on the fencing strip in relation to other fencers.  This is called "joint proprioception.  "Joint proprioception describes your ability to sense the position and movement of your body through space.  When you build skill around movements that challenge joint proprioception, your ability to protect yourself from injury improves intuitively." (p20)  


"In addition, fatigue management must be programmed into training.  This includes fatigue-proofing important postural muscles that you can't afford to have quit on you." (p20)


No!  In fact we encourage multi-sport athletes.  Multi-sport athletes generally enjoy better performance and reduced injury rates than single-sport athletes. This is the push behind the US Olympic and Paralympic Commission's Long-term Athlete Development Program (ADM).  "A study commissioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations showed that single-sport athletes are 70% mor likely to suffer an injury than are multisport athletes due to a greater risk of suffering repetitive use injuries. They also develop lopsidded musculature and narrow movement patterns." (p21)


Muscle imbalance occurs when one or more muscles in your body are stronger or larger than others. Everyone has some muscle asymmetry, but imbalances that alter joint mechanics are the real problem. A muscle imbalance alters movement patterns and joint mechanics, which leads to postural faults, excessive compensatory loading on specific joints and muscle, inflammation, pain and injury.


Practicing fencing exercises without a coach who understands the development of body mechanics in fencing can cause serious muscle imbalance, or worse, injury. "Muscle imbalance occurs when one or more muscles in your body are stronger or larger than others. Everyone has some muscle asymmetry, but imbalances that alter joint mechanics are the real problem. A muscle imbalance alters movement patterns and joint mechanics, which leads to postural faults, excessive compensatory loading on specific joints and muscle, inflammation, pain and injury." (p21)


Coaches will give you exercises that can be done at home if you ask. We do not recommend weight training unless the trainer understands the mechanics of fencing.


There are two types of stretching, static and dynamic. "Static stretching is holding a stretch for a period of several seconds or longer.  However, a 2011 meta-study revealed that static stretching has no "significant effect." Stretching before competition or working out impairs performance...and may actually increase injury risk. Dynamic stretching is actively moving back and forth through full ranges of motion (for example, during lunge drills).  Stretching has its place, but mobility, training, corrective exercise and adding more varied movement are much more effective training strategies." (p21)


First and foremost, inform you trainer or coach immediately. You may be executing the exercise incorrectly and need to make an adjustment, or you may have over worked that area, something that often happens during a tournament.


While joint pain can stem from injuries to ligaments and cartilage, in most cases the source is your tendons.  Tendons are the fibrous connective tissue throughout your body that attaches muscles to bone. They are often the first to break down from overuse, causing inflammation and pain, and cell degeneration, called tendinopathy. (p23)


"Tendinopathy is the most common class of overuse injuries, affecting both competitive athletes and recreational fitness enthusiasts. Tendon injuries often seem to happen suddenly but are usually the result of several microtears that occurred over time.  In the past, virtually all cases were referred to as tendinitis, which means an inflammation of the tendon. And instances where tendon degeneration was apparent was called tendinosis. Today, most experts refer to both as simply tendinopathy." (p42)


"One of the biggest misconceptions about tendinopathy in that inflammation is the primary cause." (p42)


"Tendinopathy develops in relation to your tendon load capacity and the corresponding training load applied to your tendons.  Everyone has their own load threshold for tendon adaptation, called the load tolerance set point. When you exercise and move at your setpoint, or just slightly beyond it, you experience fitness improvements. When you fail to stress your tendons enough to reach this setpoint, your tendons adapt by reducing their load tolerance." (p43)  If you aren't training and performing drills, you are setting yourself up for injury if you participate in a tournament.  


If you have tendinopathy and are wearing knee or ankle braces to protect weak joints, make sure you move through full ranges of motion before and after using them. Prolonged immobilization of joints reduces hyaluronic acid concentrations within synovial fluid and reduces the clearance of inflammatory compounds." (p51)


  1. Exercise: Short, frequent interval training
  2. Keep moving: even if you can't do the exercises in class yet, do as much as you can
  3. Perform isometric contractions
  4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
  5. Warm up stiff joints with a deliberate tempo
  6. Try supplements that increase joint lubrication such as collagen and hyaluronic acid.  (Glucosamine-chondroitin has recently fallen out of favor) (p52-53)
  7. Sleep!!!  Especially a consistent sleep schedule.


Copied from USA Fencing's website: https://www.usafencing.or

ADM Core Values

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