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BF BENEFITS FROM UK COACHING SUPPORT

BF coaches and the Fencing Development Team have benefited from a range of support from UK Coaching over the past twelve months.

Over the past twelve months, BF has benefited from a strengthening relationship with UK Coaching in which coaches and developers have accessed various programmes.

Co-Sport Initiative 

Following an application process, BF is delighted to be selected as just one of eight sports to receive tailored support estimated to a value of up to £15,000.

The initiative is designed to diversify the coaching workforce in Performance Pathways and High-Performance Sport. The partnership aimed to explore and understand the current landscape, identify areas for growth and co-design support that leads to sustainable change.

The package of support on offer from UK Coaching included consultation, system support and one-to-one support for two coaches (Alice Lancaster and Aimee Aronica) and a member of the Fencing Development Team (Beth Cranston-Selby). The one-to-one conversations aimed to gather insights into the lived experiences of under-represented coaches; barriers to progression, and what effective, equity-focused support looks like in practice.

These insights will be used to inform future coach development strategies and share learning across the wider sporting system.

Alice and Aimee will be looking to join the Fencing Development Team over the next twelve months, further supporting more coaches.

Beth commented:

“Sharing expertise in a potentially niche sport such as fencing has provided an opportunity to check and challenge my practice as a coach and educator. From the first meeting, I gained a greater understanding of coaching environments and understanding of my influence for others to deliver a session. The relationship was about me as a coach and educator with open conversations. Success is born out of better-informed practitioners who have confidence to challenge traditional concepts.”

In addition, the Fencing Development Team enjoyed two days facilitated by Marianne Davies, internationally-renowned for her expertise in coach development and skill acquisition. The days encouraged the team to reflect on what great coaching is, what problems the game of fencing is actually asking athletes to solve and how practice can be developed.

Certificate in Coach Education (CCE)

UK Coaching has released their Certificate in Coach Education aimed to equip coach developers with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to the evolving landscape of contemporary, coach-centred education.

Staff members Neil Brown and Lorraine Rose have completed the course. The skills gained will be used as BF begins to reimagine what coach education and learning could look like.

Lorraine Rose, BF Workforce Development Officer, said about the course:

“The CCE has been a really useful learning experience and has given me lots to reflect on in terms of how we design and deliver our coaching courses. It has helped to reinforce what works well in fencing coach education, particularly the importance of keeping learning person-centred, practical, and closely linked to real coaching environments. The programme also highlighted the value of reflection, clear progression, and supporting coaches to adapt their delivery for different audiences, settings, and stages of development. I hope this learning will enable us to shape future courses so they feel even more engaging, more connected to fencing practice, and aligned to the day-to-day challenges coaches face.”

Performance Pathway Coaching Programme

The Performance Pathway Coaching Programme provides opportunities for individuals to develop themselves as a coach, working alongside a UK Coaching Associate Coach Developer, as well as with a network of peers from different sports.

This year, GBR Pathway coach and BF Performance Athlete Support Coordinator Dan Robinson has been part of the programme.

Dan commented:

“The Performance Pathway Coaching Programme deepened my understanding of coaching as everyday leadership. It showed how my behaviours, relationships, and self-awareness shape the environments I create, and has helped me lead with greater reflection, adaptability, and intention in complex performance settings. I want to say a massive thank you to BF for nominating me, UK Coaching for delivering a great course, and to my Coach Developer, Alison Payne, who was amazing!”

BF thanks UK Coaching for their ongoing support of fencing.


This post is related to the BF 2030 Strategy goals to Create A Sustainable Future and Support Women & Girls. You can read more about the Strategy here.