The U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) is an association of United States fencing coaches, and was established in 1941. It is a national academy of the Academie d'Armes Internationale (AAI), the world organization of

fencing master Masters of Defence or Masters of Fencing is a widespread guild of teachers specializing in close combat military techniques with weapons, civilian fighting skills, and unarmed combat. The title was coined during the Medieval period, and referred to ...

s, which has as members more than 20 nations. 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. Since 2014 the association has been headed by Peter Burchard.

Functions

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).

Notable coaches

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. He received the award both in 1994 and 2006. The Schreff Sword is an engraved silver Glamdring broadsword resting on a red velvet cushion.

Muriel Bower Muriel (Bower) Taitt is an American foilist, coach, and educator. She is author of the foilist's classic textbook ''Foil Fencing'', now in its 8th edition. In the second edition (1972), former F.I.E. President Miguel de Capriles identified her a ...

was the first woman Fencing Master accredited in the United States, in 1976. Nikki Franke, an All-American while fencing for

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls about 15,000 undergraduate and 2,800 graduate students on a 35-acre campus. Being New York City's first publ ...

and later a coach at Temple University, was named the USFCA Coach of the Year four times (in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1991).

Publication

''The Swordmaster'' is the official publication of the USFCA.

References

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External links

USFCA homepage
National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports organizations established in 1941 Fen College fencing in the United States 1941 establishments in the United States