U.S. Fencing Coaches Association

"USFCA" redirects here; not to be confused with University of San Francisco.

U.S. Fencing Coaches AssociationAbbreviation| USFCA

|

Formation| 1941; 84 years ago (1941)
Membership| USFCA is a member organization of the Academie d'Armes Internationale (AAI), and a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

President

| Vincent Bradford
Website| usfca.org

The U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) is an association of United States fencing coaches, and was established in 1941.[1][2][3] It is a national academy of the Academie d'Armes Internationale (AAI), the world organization of fencing masters, which has as members more than 20 nations.[4] It is also a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and cooperates with the United States Fencing Association (USFA) in supporting the development of fencing in the United States.[4] Since 2014 the association has been headed by Peter Burchard. [5]

## Functions

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One of its major functions is to increase the competency of fencing teachers by testing, certifying, and accrediting three levels: fencing instructors (qualified to teach beginners), prevosts (qualified to coach teams and to teach intermediate-level fencers), and masters (qualified to work at the highest level of national and international competitive fencing).[2][6][7][8]

## Notable coaches

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Princeton University Head Coach Michel Sebastiani was twice awarded the USFCA Schreff Sword, which the Association gives yearly to the most outstanding college fencing coach of the year as voted on by his peers.[9] He received the award both in 1994 and 2006.[9] The Schreff Sword is an engraved silver Glamdring broadsword resting on a red velvet cushion.[9]

Muriel Bower was the first woman Fencing Master accredited in the United States, in 1976.[1] Nikki Franke, an All-American while fencing for Brooklyn College and later a coach at Temple University, was named the USFCA Coach of the Year four times (in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1991).[10]

## Publication

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The Swordmaster is the official publication of the USFCA.[11]

## References

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1. ^ a b "History of the USFCA". Usfca.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
2. ^ a b Maxwell R. Garret; Emmanuil G. Kaidanov; Gil A. Pezza (1994). Foil, Saber, and Épée Fencing: Skills, Safety, Operations, and Responsibilities. Penn State Press. ISBN 0271010193. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
3. ^ "Fencing Fascinates Young". Reading Eagle. April 15, 2001. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
4. ^ a b "General info about the USFCA". Usfca.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
5. ^ Coaches - NorthBayFencing.com
6. ^ Fencer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Fencing. Tracks Publishing. 2010. ISBN 9781884654770. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
7. ^ Stacy M. DeBroff (2003). Sign Me Up!: The Parents' Complete Guide to Sports, Activities, Music Lessons, Dance Classes, and Other Extracurriculars. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743235419. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
8. ^ "En Garde; Classes teach beginners the finer points of fencing". The Washington Times. October 14, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
9. ^ a b c "Princeton's Sebastiani Closes Career with National Coaching Honor: Retiring after 25 years at Old Nassau, USFCA awards Schreff Sword to Tiger mentor". Cstv.com. March 23, 2006. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
10. ^ John C. Walter; Malina Iida (2010). Better Than the Best: Black Athletes Speak, 1920–2007. University of Washington Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780295990538. Retrieved October 27, 2013. "U.S. Fencing Coaches Association."
11. ^ Nick Evangelista (1995). The Encyclopedia of the Sword. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313278969. Retrieved October 27, 2013.

## External links

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* USFCA homepage