1. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY WELCOME TO THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY Piers Martin Chief Executive

2. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY WELCOME  British Fencing  The Academy  LTAD and fundamental principles

3. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY VISION a “world leading fencing family”

4. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY “We succeeded because what we did was based on business principles not sporting fantasy.” Peter King, CEO British Cycling

5. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY TO BE WORLD LEADING... 1.An outstanding NGB 2.A sustainable business 3.Effective communications 4.A bigger sport 5.A community club network 6.A skilled and active workforce 7.High quality events 8.Long Term Athlete Development 9.Winning

6. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY OUR VALUES & BEHAVIOURS  Earn trust through integrity  Display team spirit  Challenge and innovate to excel

7. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY THE ACADEMY  Our delivery machine...  A quality learning and development environment

8. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY OFFICIALS TEAM MANAGERS HE/FE LINKS CLUBS COACHES REFEREES COMPETITIONS P/G/Cs SSSM THE ACADEMY ATHLETES FACILITIES

9. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY WHAT IS THE ACADEMY?  National & Regional Programme to develop: –Clubs –Skills –Talent  Actual & Virtual  Ongoing programme  Supports clubs and coaches, does not replicate or replace them

10. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY THE ACADEMY – TALENT  The aim of the British Fencing Academy is to provide an environment for fencers with talent & desire to develop and prepare for life as an International Athlete

11. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY POTENTIAL TALENT + ENVIRONMENT + DESIRE = PERFORMANCE

12. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY FENCER vs ATHLETE  School fencer?  Club fencer?  Regional fencer?  National fencer?  GB fencer?  Medal Winning International ATHLETE?

13. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY TRIDENT TRAINING  Fencing  Strength & Conditioning  Athlete Lifestyle & Education

14. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY TRAINING BASED PROGRAMME A3A2A1 GB CADET GB JUNIOR GB SENIOR

15. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY “It takes at least 10 years of extensive practice to excel in anything.” H Simon, Nobel Laureate “10 years or 10,000 hours.” Ericsson and Charness Salmela et al 10,000 hours in 10 years: - 20 hours per week x 50 weeks per year

16. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY WHAT IS LTAD?  Putting the needs of the ATHLETE at the centre of everything we do in our sport  A philosophy not a programme  An understanding that performances improve due to: - Growth & development - Properly Planned Training

17. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS AT THE RIGHT TIME Long Term Athlete Development is about achieving optimal training, competition and recovery throughout an athlete’s career, particularly in relation to the important growth and development years of young people.

18. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY WHY LTAD?  The “critical” periods of accelerated adaptation are not fully utilised.  Under development between 6-16 years cannot be fully overcome: athletes will never reach full potential.  The best coaches are encouraged to work at elite level.  Coach education tends to skim the growth, development and maturation of young people.

19. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY COMMON PROBLEMS  Young athletes under-train, over-compete.  Low training to competition ratios in early years.  Adult competition superimposed on young athletes.  Adult training programmes superimposed on young athletes.  Male programmes superimposed on females.  Training in early years focuses on outcomes (winning) rather than processes (optimal training).  Chronological age dominates training rather than biological age.

20. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY CHRONOLOGICAL VS DEVELOPMENTAL AGE  Training and competition is based on chronological age  Athletes can be 4 - 5 years apart by maturation levels  Training a biologically 11 or 15 year old the same way?  Players progress because they get OLDER or BIGGER not BETTER

21. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY HOW OLD IS A 13 YEAR OLD?? Biologically 11 Chronologically 13 Biologically 15 Chronologically 13 4 YEARS

22. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY HOW OLD IS A 13 YEAR OLD??

23. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY “Our task is not to do something dramatic to please people in the short term. It is to establish the structure for long term success.”

24. THE BRITISH FENCING ACADEMY QUESTIONS?