The U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) is an association of United States
fencing
Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...
coaches, and was established in 1941.
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.
It is also a member of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and cooperates with the
United States Fencing Association
The United States Fencing Association (USFA) is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA was founded on April 22, 1891, as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of 20 New York City fen ...
(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
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nin ...
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
Weapons and armour of Middle-earth are those of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings, such as ''The Hobbit'', '' The Lord of the Rings'' and '' The Silmarillion''.
Tolkien modelled his fictional warfare on the Ancient and Early Me ...
broadsword
The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages.
In mod ...
resting on a red velvet cushion.
was the first woman Fencing Master accredited in the United States, in 1976.
Nikki Franke
Nikki Franke (born March 31, 1951) is an American former fencer and fencing coach. She fenced for Brooklyn College, and was an All American. She competed in the women's individual and team foil events at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and fenced a ...
, an
All-American while fencing for
Brooklyn College
, mottoeng = Nothing without great effort
, established =
, parent = CUNY
, type = Public university
, endowment = $98.0 million (2019)
, budget = $123.96 m ...
and later a coach at
Temple University
Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then called ...
, 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
{{Reflist
External links
USFCA homepage
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Sports organizations established in 1941
Fen
A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetlands along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires. The ...
College fencing in the United States
1941 establishments in the United States