
Coaching Clinics, Training, and Coaching Certification
The noble privilege of the Fencing Master is to defend and enhance the prestige, passion and poetry of the sword, and instill them into the heart and mind of the pupil. While he must be able to treat adequately the spiritual side of the art, his aim and toil is to demonstrate the architectural beauty of the science and the harmonious simplicity of its laws. Only by complete devotion to his profession will he accomplish his duty – to help fencing retain and expand its honored place among the more worth-while activities of mankind.
-Aldo Nadi
The noble privilege of the Fencing Master is to defend and enhance the prestige, passion and poetry of the sword, and instill them into the heart and mind of the pupil. While he must be able to treat adequately the spiritual side of the art, his aim and toil is to demonstrate the architectural beauty of the science and the harmonious simplicity of its laws. Only by complete devotion to his profession will he accomplish his duty – to help fencing retain and expand its honored place among the more worth-while activities of mankind.
-Aldo Nadi

The Assistant Moniteur Certification for PVFA Fencers: Teenage fencers can train for certification as USFCA Assistant Moniteurs at PVFA in foil, epee, or saber. The ideal candidate must be a PVFA member and will have at least two years of fencing experience, a record of success in competition, excellent organizational skills, be patient and good with younger children, an aptitude for coaching, and a willingness to put in the extra effort. Students will be required to help teach the Youth class, study written materials, attend one or more USFCA coaching clinics, pass a written examination, and pass a practical examination for certification. The whole process usually takes about a year. The certification looks good on college applications and many of the students that we've certified have later been hired (once they are at least 18) by PVFA to help teach our summer classes. See the USFCA website for details about the Assistant Moniteur certification process.
Coaching Education and Certification for Non-PVFA Coaches:
Are you a fencer who would like to become a coach? Are you already teaching classes or giving lessons, but would like to improve your coaching skills? PVFA offers coaching training at our club and around the New England area.
If you are close to PVFA and would like to become a fencing coach or improve your coaching skills, contact us and we can help. Depending on your needs, we can arrange anything from a few coaching lessons to long term training.
USFCA Clinics in New England:
Fencing Master Paul Sise co-teaches clinics with John Krauss of the Down East School of Fencing in Maine. Clinics are usually offered each spring and fall in and are advertised on Askfred. These are excellent opportunities to receive high quality coaching education in New England, especially for those coaches who are not associated with the large clubs in the Boston area. See our clinic testimonial page for what others have said about previous clinics.
Hosting the Clinic: There are benefits to being the club that hosts the clinic. As the host club, you get to help determine the date of the clinic as well as the material that will be presented. Also, you and your coaches will not have to travel far or stay in a hotel, which makes it more convenient and less expensive for you. If you would like to host a clinic please contact Paul Sise or John Krauss. See the USFCA website for details about the Moniteur certification process.
Previous Clinics were held for:
VT Fencing Alliance, Middlebury Vt Moniteur clinic spring 2009
Scowhegan Maine, Moniteur level Oct 25 and 26, 2009
ICONN Fencing Club, Moniteur level June 4 and 5, 2011, Connecticut
PVFA Moniteur clinic, March 10 and 11, 2012
PVFA Prevot clinic April 21 and 22, 2012
ICONN Fencing Club, Prevot level, sept 29 and 30, 2012
PVFA Hosts Rob Handleman May 31 and June 1, 2013
Marist College Moniteur clinic, April 26 and 27, 2014
PVFA Moniteur clinic, spring 2015
Candlewood Fencing Center, Moniteur and Prevot clinic June 6 and 7 2015
Prevot Developmental clinic, June 11 and 12, 2016, Academies of Fencing Baltimore MD
PVFA Moniteur clinic Sept 18 and Oct 2, 2016
Wang Yung Saber Clinic April 3 and May 1st 2016
Coaches Academy, 2017, Keystone College
Concord Fencing Club, Concord NH, Moniteur and Prevot, Nov 4 and 5, 2017
Moniteur and Prevot, April 29 and 30 2017 at PVFA (with Sise, Krauss, Yung, and Gillman teaching)
Rogue Fencing Prevot clinic, April 30 and May 1 (Sise, Krauss, Gillman)
Coaches Academy, Rome GA, 2019
Saber clinic with Josh Herring, PVFA, Sept 21 and 22, 2019
Concord Fencing Club Northeast Regional May 4, 5 2019
Fairfield Fencing Academy Moniteur Clinic Dec 4 and 5, 2021
Northeast Regional Prevot clinic May 2 and 3 2022
Level 3A NCDP clinic, PVFA, April 29 and 30 2023
Level 2 and 3 B NCDP clinic Oct 21 and 22, 2023
Spring Core clinic at PVFA, May 4 and 5 2024
Four Lesson Clinic PVFA Oct 19 and 20, 2024
Online Clinics:
“So you want to be a fencing coach” in 2021
Coaching Fencer Students with Special Needs in 2021
Upcoming Clinics:
See the USFCA's website for a list of upcoming coaching clinics.
Clinic Topics:
The following topics are available in our clinics. Generally, a two day clinic will include at most six to eight of these topics, as well as time set aside for the clinic attendees to practice the material and receive feedback from the instructors.
Basic Armoring
The Business of Fencing (tips for running profitable club)
Safety and Professionalism
Risk Management
Sports Psychology
Coaching Children
Footwork
Teaching Methodology
Teaching group warm up activities, stretching, and games
Basic cueing techniques in all three weapons
Right of Way
Specific Fencing Techniques
Group lesson construction (methods of teaching drills to groups)
Technical and Tactical individual lessons in foil, epee, and/or saber
Moving from coach controlled to student controlled lessons
Lesson formats required in the Prevot and Master level USFCA exams
Coaching Education and Certification for Non-PVFA Coaches:
Are you a fencer who would like to become a coach? Are you already teaching classes or giving lessons, but would like to improve your coaching skills? PVFA offers coaching training at our club and around the New England area.
If you are close to PVFA and would like to become a fencing coach or improve your coaching skills, contact us and we can help. Depending on your needs, we can arrange anything from a few coaching lessons to long term training.
USFCA Clinics in New England:
Fencing Master Paul Sise co-teaches clinics with John Krauss of the Down East School of Fencing in Maine. Clinics are usually offered each spring and fall in and are advertised on Askfred. These are excellent opportunities to receive high quality coaching education in New England, especially for those coaches who are not associated with the large clubs in the Boston area. See our clinic testimonial page for what others have said about previous clinics.
Hosting the Clinic: There are benefits to being the club that hosts the clinic. As the host club, you get to help determine the date of the clinic as well as the material that will be presented. Also, you and your coaches will not have to travel far or stay in a hotel, which makes it more convenient and less expensive for you. If you would like to host a clinic please contact Paul Sise or John Krauss. See the USFCA website for details about the Moniteur certification process.
Previous Clinics were held for:
VT Fencing Alliance, Middlebury Vt Moniteur clinic spring 2009
Scowhegan Maine, Moniteur level Oct 25 and 26, 2009
ICONN Fencing Club, Moniteur level June 4 and 5, 2011, Connecticut
PVFA Moniteur clinic, March 10 and 11, 2012
PVFA Prevot clinic April 21 and 22, 2012
ICONN Fencing Club, Prevot level, sept 29 and 30, 2012
PVFA Hosts Rob Handleman May 31 and June 1, 2013
Marist College Moniteur clinic, April 26 and 27, 2014
PVFA Moniteur clinic, spring 2015
Candlewood Fencing Center, Moniteur and Prevot clinic June 6 and 7 2015
Prevot Developmental clinic, June 11 and 12, 2016, Academies of Fencing Baltimore MD
PVFA Moniteur clinic Sept 18 and Oct 2, 2016
Wang Yung Saber Clinic April 3 and May 1st 2016
Coaches Academy, 2017, Keystone College
Concord Fencing Club, Concord NH, Moniteur and Prevot, Nov 4 and 5, 2017
Moniteur and Prevot, April 29 and 30 2017 at PVFA (with Sise, Krauss, Yung, and Gillman teaching)
Rogue Fencing Prevot clinic, April 30 and May 1 (Sise, Krauss, Gillman)
Coaches Academy, Rome GA, 2019
Saber clinic with Josh Herring, PVFA, Sept 21 and 22, 2019
Concord Fencing Club Northeast Regional May 4, 5 2019
Fairfield Fencing Academy Moniteur Clinic Dec 4 and 5, 2021
Northeast Regional Prevot clinic May 2 and 3 2022
Level 3A NCDP clinic, PVFA, April 29 and 30 2023
Level 2 and 3 B NCDP clinic Oct 21 and 22, 2023
Spring Core clinic at PVFA, May 4 and 5 2024
Four Lesson Clinic PVFA Oct 19 and 20, 2024
Online Clinics:
“So you want to be a fencing coach” in 2021
Coaching Fencer Students with Special Needs in 2021
Upcoming Clinics:
See the USFCA's website for a list of upcoming coaching clinics.
Clinic Topics:
The following topics are available in our clinics. Generally, a two day clinic will include at most six to eight of these topics, as well as time set aside for the clinic attendees to practice the material and receive feedback from the instructors.
Basic Armoring
The Business of Fencing (tips for running profitable club)
Safety and Professionalism
Risk Management
Sports Psychology
Coaching Children
Footwork
Teaching Methodology
Teaching group warm up activities, stretching, and games
Basic cueing techniques in all three weapons
Right of Way
Specific Fencing Techniques
Group lesson construction (methods of teaching drills to groups)
Technical and Tactical individual lessons in foil, epee, and/or saber
Moving from coach controlled to student controlled lessons
Lesson formats required in the Prevot and Master level USFCA exams