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2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT - COACHING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

This article forms part of a series of reports which accompany the 2024-25 BF Annual Report.      

In this report:

  • Summary
  • Overview (Metric and KPIs)
  • Fencing Development Team
  • Learning Week
  • Partnerships
  • Advanced Coaching Programme
  • Sword in Hand CPD
  • GBR Pathway Coach Development

Summary

Coach learning, development and education continues to be delivered through a combination of BF led delivery and licensed education partners.

Overall the number of workforce courses increased from 2023-24.

In August, Chris Turner started in his role as Coaching and Workforce Development Manager to continue the development of this work. Chris’ first piece of work has been to establish the Fencing Development Team; a geographically spread team of people supporting the learning and development of workforce across the fencing landscape.

August 2024 saw the third BF Learning Week delivered with 25 sessions delivered.

Overview (metrics and KPIs)

Coaching Courses for British Fencing Membership

ITCF CFL2 WS3 24-25 Total 23-24 Total
Number of courses 9 4 1 14 12
Number of Participants Passed 81 43 9 133 125
% Female Passes 29% 26%

Course descriptions can be seen here.

SafeGuard Courses

SafeGuard Core SafeGuard Welfare Officer
24-25 210 92
23-24 187 74

Course descriptions can be seen here.

Refereeing

L1 these courses were held by the Home Nations
L2 these courses were held by the Home Nations
L3 – 10 candidates
L4 – 10 candidates

The referee journey can be seen here*

*please note Level 2 refereeing in England will be delivered by British Fencing in 25-26.

Team Manager Training

Domestic International
Number of Participants passed 25 23
% Female 32 39

More information on Team Manager training here.

For all upcoming workforce courses visit here.

Fencing Development Team

One of our ambitions for this year was to create a Fencing Development Team which has been achieved.  The ambition for the team is to be a collaborative group of people who support the development of individuals through the delivery of courses and learning opportunities.  In time, we see the team having a positive impact on their local areas through recognising opportunities and being provided with a range of delivery options to support.

January saw training delivered for eight new participants which combined with previous coach developers joining the journey takes the team to 30 (33% female).

For more information on the Fencing Development Team including current members visit here.

Learning Week

BF’s third annual Learning Week delivered 24 sessions to over 550 people. The sessions were delivered by a mixture of staff members and guest speakers, on topics related to fencing and sport more widely.

Sessions included:

  • Considerate Coaching from The Change Foundation teaching participants how to support neurodiverse fencers.
  • Meaningful experiences for young people by Lawrence Halsted.
  • Performance analysis for coaches by Richard Cheetham MBE
  • Staying focussed under pressure by Dr Jon Rhodes.

Coaching Development Partnerships

As in previous years we engage with partners across the sport and the sector to support the growth and development of our workforce.

  • UK Coaching– Coaches from the Advanced Coaching Programme (Alice Lancaster & Marion Nemitz) were also part of UK Coaching’s Performance Pathway Collective
  • EFC – Coaches Nat Lewis and Mike Evans Jones were successfully selected to attend a Sabre Coaching Camp in Slovenia.
  • FIE – Simon Trevithick from Harrogate Fencing Club attended the FIE Foil Course in Budapest.  You can read more in The Sword Magazine.
  • Archery GB – Multi Sport Coach Development Delivery Pilot – 12 participants – pilot explored whether fencing and archery coach education could be delivered to individuals as part of one course (as opposed to two sports covering very similar topics) before moving into sport specific elements.

Advanced Coaching Programme

The aim of the Advanced Coaching Programme is to support the growth of our coaches through the exploration of their own coaching philosophy, reflective practice and values as well as providing an opportunity to explore performance, athlete and season planning. Following a first second cohort with eight participants in 2023-24; a second cohort of 11 coaches (36% female) enrolled on the programme in 2024-25.  From the first two cohorts 10 coaches have successfully completed the programme.

Cohort 3 began in May 2025.

In 2025-26 we will be delivering the programme again to Cohort 4.  Applications will open mid October 2025.

Sword in Hand CPD

In response to demand for more informal coach CPD opportunities, additional ‘Sword in Hand’ CPD days were delivered in all weapons.  These are intended to bring coaches together to share anything they would like to discuss with their peer group, alongside the opportunity for coaches to give and receive lessons with feedback.

Although take up has been low; they have been well received by attendees. Further opportunities will continue into 25-26 with developers from our Fencing Development Team facilitating the sessions. We also plan to deliver these with a greater geographical spread, opening up access for more coaches.

Foil Epee Sabre All Weapons Total
Number of CPD Days 1 1 1 3 6
Sign Ups 22

Upcoming Sword in Hand CPD Days can be seen here.

GBR Pathway Coach Development

Support to GBR Pathway Coaches across all weapons has been delivered through the Coach Development Team with opportunities to access to BF Learning Week 2024, the Advanced Coaching Programme  and Combat Club.

In addition GBR coaches accessed informal CPD sessions as well as 1:1 Mentoring and in-competition support from external and internal Coach Developers and UK Coaching CPD events.

Key Stats

  • Three pathway coaches have completed the Advanced Coaching Programme
  • Seven pathway coaches have enrolled on the ACP and working towards completion.

In 2025/26 we will build on this work by:

  • Developing our Digital Learning Offer
  • Developing a Level 4 Coach Education Programme
  • Having a greater geographical spread of Sword in Hand CPD facilitated by a member of the Fencing Development Team.
  • Delivering a coordinated annual course calendar of courses
  • Delivering the Advanced Coaching Programme to Cohorts 3 & 4
  • Further supporting the development of L2/L3 referees

Thank you

BF would like to thank:

  • British Judo for hosting Advanced Coach Programme
  • Leon Paul for hosting Sword in Hand CPD
  • Dr Jonathan Katz for his continued support of coaching and coach development
  • Ev Van Gemeren for his continued support, guidance and mentoring to members of the Fencing Development Team

Click here for the full 2024-25 Annual Report.