FOC Cadet Squad Prospectus2

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Four of Clubs Cadet Squad

Cadet Squad perience of competition and grow
in self confidence. In these years
The Four of Clubs Cadet Squad we seek to build on the foundations
is open to all our fencers between laid in the Junior Squad years and in-
the ages of 13 and 17 who wish troduce you to competing at nation-
to go into competitive fencing, or al Senior level and, where appropri- “I can write with genuine
who have come through our Junior ate, at cadet International level.. pride about the experiences
Squad and wish to continue to de- fencing has given me and
velop and expand their abilities. how I have developed the
We offer a comprehensive pro- types of skills that cannot be
gramme of training and support to measured by grades, yet mat-
help you achieve the best results you ter so much.”
are capable of, but more important,
we work to create an environment Sam Smith, Four of Clubs member
where you can have an enjoyable ex-
This continues to be very demand-
Gettting Started ing in terms of time and money.
At the same time, we recognise that
As in the Junior Squad years, it will school work and examinations will
be essential to continue with the be increasing in imporance in these
regular and high quality training. In years, so a well organised approach
addition, we expect to move up a to life is essential now.
gear in terms of competition. In While schoolwork is of the highest
addition to age group events as ap- prority, fencers who regularly miss
propriate, we also expect members training to catch up on homework
to start attending Senior Opens. cannot realistically expect good
At cadet level, our focus is on com- competitive results. Competitors
petitive épée, though fencers who need to be very proactive about
already have competitive experience organising homework and revi-
in foil are encouraged to continue sion so that it can be balanced with
with that weapon as well if they so training.
desire

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Squad Requirements Equipment
All members need to have full
Training competitive kit as well as the club
All members must commit to a tracksuit and badge.
minimum of two training ses- BFA Membership
sions per week as well as our It is a requirement of all com-
monthly one day sessions. petitions that entrants hold the
Competition ‘Compete’ level of BFA mem-
Fencers will receive a schedule of bership. You can arrange this
competitions aimed at achieving online via
the national ranking required for www.britishfencing.com
the England u15 teams in their Conduct
first year and for building up Members are expected to show
their cadet ranking in subsequent high standards in their behaviour
years. While it is not complusory and to be good role model to
to attend all of these, members younger fencers. Bullying will
will be expected to fence at as not be tolerated.
many as possible. Members are
expected to make a priority of
attending the Regional qualifiers,
the British and England Youth
Championships as appropriate
and the Cadet National Champi-
onships.

What We Do Cadets are supported in developing leadership

We take a comprehensive approach to managing your skills both in the club and in a wider context
competitive experience. In addition to the regular
weekly club sessions, we hold intensive all day training
sessions about once a month.
General weapon repairs are included in your member-
ship at no extra cost. However, you are expected to
maintain your weapons yourself to a high standard and
if you do not know how to do this already we will help
you learn how.
Refereeing is an essential skill for all fencers, especially
as competitiors are often expected to referee each other
at senior competitions. You will receive training in this
and plenty of opportunities to develop confidence in
doing this by refereeing first at in club competitions and
then moving on to doing so at local competitions with
the support of our senior coaches.
Full coaching support is provided at all competitions
in the club diary and we are open to attending other
competitions at request.

Four of Clubs Fencing 2017- www.fourofclubs.co.uk - 07828 588143

Our Staff

Our fencer have the help and sup-
port of our dedicated coaching
team, led by two experienced Fenc-
ing Masters. We are almost unique
in that we guarantee coaching sup-
port at every competition you attend.

Prof. Isobel Bruce-Combes PhD At this point in your development, it Prof. Philip Bruce
Director and Head Coach is important to receive more indi- Head of Tactical Coaching and Coach
vidual coaching so that the training
Four of Clubs founder and director. can be better tailored to your specif- Education
11 years experience as full-time ic needs. We do our best to ensure Former England Senior Team
professional coach. that all fencers get a certain amount Manager/Coach and National Under 20’s
of one on one coaching from vari-
Coach to a number of young ous members of our coaching team Epée Coach.
regional and national champions/finalists. when possible, but the best way to
ensure a consistent series of lessons Former coach to a number of
from the same coach is to book fencers who have represented GB in the
regular lessons with one or two of
our fencing masters. World Championships at Cadet,
Under 20 and Senior levels.

Coaching Apprentices

Four of Clubs runs a very successful coach education programme under
the direction of Prof. Philip Bruce and we have a number of apprentice
coaches, both members who have grown up in our club and are mov-
ing on into coaching and trainee coaches from other clubs around the
country.

Our coaching apprentices are only permitted to give lessons after pass- Our coaching apprentices learn coaching and
ing rigourous BAF coaching exams and even then only do so under the management skills that stand them in good
supervision and direction of the senior coaches. They are also required
to be members of, and fully insured by the British Academy of Fencing stead in more than just fencing!
and must undertake to abide by the British Academy of Fencing Code
of Practice for working with Children and Vulnerable Persons.

Cadets who wish to pursue coaching qualifications will be invited to join
our Coaching Apprenticeship Scheme when they reach 17. They will be
prepared for this by being inivited to assist with running Musketeer ses-
sions from around the age of 15.

Four of Clubs Fencing 2017- www.fourofclubs.co.uk - 07828 588143

Training for Success

In order to compete successfully, it is essential to train well. We
therefore require members to commit to a minimum of two ses-
sions (at least 4 hours total) per week as well as to our monthly
intensive all day training session. This must included attendance at
Tuesday or Wednesday sessions (ideally both)
• Monday – Warrington Fencing Club, 7pm – 8pm

(Technical practice)
• Tuesday – Leek Fencing Club 7pm – 9pm

(Fighting practice/class training/fitness)
• Wednesday – Macclesfield Fencing Club 7pm – 9pm

(Fighting practice/class training/fitness)
• Thursday– Wilmslow Fencing Club 7pm – 9pm

(Technical practice)
• Friday -- Cheadle Home Ed Fencing 1pm - 2pm

(Technical practice)
Our training programme also includes two training camps per year
(Easter and late summer) and various weekend master classes.

Four of Clubs Fencing 2017 - www.fourofclubs.co.uk - 07828 588143

Four of Clubs Development Scheme

Junior Musketeers
In your child’s first year or so, he/she will have been working
through our first three Musketeer levels. The focus in this group is
mastering basic fencing skills and learning how to participate safely
and in a disciplined manner.
Advanced Musketeers
Once your child has attained the Level 3 Musketeer Award, he/
she will be offered the option of joining the Advanced Musketeers
group. For this group, children need to have their own competitive
kit and in this session they work on more competitively oriented
training and learn to use the competitive scoring apparatus. This is
not compulsory and children who wish to remain in the junior group
may do so until they are 10 years old.
Children in this group begin work towards BAF Bronze, Silver and
Gold Awards
Junior Squad
Children are invited to move on to the Junior Squad towards the
end of the year of their 10th birthday. At this point, they prepare to
start entering competitions at regional and national level. The Junior
Squad is divided into two levels:
U11 Junior Squad: This is the Squad foundation year - children
attend regional and national competitions including the England
Youth Championships in June. Children in this year may include
Advanced Musketeer sessions as part of their training
U13 Junior Squad: Children spend two years in this section, during
which they seek to qualify for the British Youth Championships as
well as competing in the England Youth Championships. Training
at this level takes place in our mixed age groups.
Cadet Squad
Fencers move on to the Cadet Squad at the start of the year when
they will turn 14. They will now be competing nationally at senior
level but also widening their understanding and role in the sport by
having opportunities to referee first at club and then at national com-
petitions and by developing leadership roles within the club. We also
offer the opportunity to compete internationally at this level.
Coaching Apprenticeship
Fencers who wish to do so may enter our coaching apprenticeship
scheme at the age of 17. They will receive regular coach education
with a view to achieving a British Academy of Fencing coaching
qualification upon reaching 18, which allows for membership of the
British Academy of Fencing and professional coaching insurance.

Four of Clubs Fencing 2017- www.fourofclubs.co.uk - 07828 588143

Cadet Fees

Basic Competitive Membership -- £45 pcm
Includes

• unlimited access to Four of Clubs training sessions
• monthly training sessions
• discount on Four of Clubs training camps
• coaching and tactical support at competitions
• weapon repair and consumables (springs, blade wire, tape, etc.)
• loan of size 2/ size 3 weapons for BYC and U14 events as appropriate
• team t-shirts for National Championships

Elite Competitive Membership -- £80 pcm
Open to fencers who have realistic prospects of reaching the finals in their age groups at national level
and/or qualifying for national teams or have experience of international fencing. Fencers in this group
pursue a more intensive programme of competition with the possibility of including international experi-
ence.
Includes all benefits of Basic Competitive Membership, plus

• minimum of one 15 minute individual lesson from lead coaches per week with additional
lessons as appropriate/possible

• annual elite perfomance camp
• 15% discount on Leon Paul and PBT FIE level kit
• 10% discount on club tracksuit

Elite International Membership -- £40 pcm
Open to fencers who have achieved places on the GB cadet or junior teams (Fencing or Pentathlon)
Includes all benefits as above with a greater emphasis on individually tailored coaching and support.

Membership fees must be paid in advance by standing order only and must be received by the 1st day of
each month. Fees are payable througout the year with not breaks for holidays and missed payments will
result in withdrawal of membership.

Jessica Forse

Four of Clubs Junior Recent Achievements - 2017

National Championship Finalists

Lauren Prince England National Champion – U11 Girls Foil, 2009

William Gallimore - Tallen British Youth Championships – U14 Boys’Foil,2011

Lucas Townson England National Champion -- U11 Boys’ Foil, 2013

William Gallimore - Tallen 3rd, GB Cadet Championships – Boys’ Epee, 2014

Ryan Kelsey 8th, British Youth Championships – U12 Boys’ Foil, 2014

Charlie Thursfield British Champion - U13 Boys Pentathlon, 2016

Katie Hughes 3rd, British U19 National Tetrathlon Championships 2017

Jessica Forse 3rd, British Youth Championships U14 Girls Epee 2017

Joseph Walmsley 7th, British Youth Championships U14 Boys Epee 2017

Regional Champions

William Gallimore – Tallen West Midlands U16 ME, 2013

Ryan Kelsey West Midlands U12 MF, 2014

William Gallimore – Tallen West Midlands U18 ME, 2014

Lucas Townson West Midlands U14 MF, 2015

Jessica Forse West Midlands U12 WF, 2015

William Gallimore – Tallen West Midlands U18 ME, 2015

Sam Smith North West U18 ME, 2015

India Wilson West Midlands U12 WF, 2016

Ryan Kelsey West Midlands U14 MF, 2016

India Wilson West Midlands U14 WE, 2017

Joseph Walmsley West Midlands U14 ME, 2017

Jessica Forse West Midlands U14 WF, 2017

2017

Ryan Kelsey Bronze Medal Transpennine Open MF

Harry Gulliver Silver Medal Transpennine Open ME

India Wilson Gold Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 WE

Jessica Forse Silver Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 WE

Priya Sheldon Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 WE

Joseph Walmsley Gold Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 ME

Jem Green Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 ME

Jessica Forse Gold Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers 14 WF

India Wilson Silver Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U14 WF

John Vance Silver Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers 14 MF

Joseph Walmsley Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers 14 MF

Matthew Hall Silver Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U16 MF

Ryan Kelsey Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U16 MF

Oliver Walmsley Silver Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U12 MF

Otis Hughes Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U12 MF

Francesco Roncaroli Bronze Medal West Midlands BYC Qualifiers U12 MF

Sam Walmsley Silver Medal West Midlands U10 Regional Championships

William Gallimore-Tallen Silver Medal West Midlands Senior Championships ME

India Wilson Silver Medal Manchester LPJS U13 WF

Jessica Forse Silver Medal Manchester LPJS U15 WF

Ryan Kelsey Bronze Medal Manchester LPJS U15 MF

William Gallimore- Tallen Silver Medal Leicester Open ME

Priya Sheldon Bronze Medal Nepal British International Championships

Katie Hughes Bronze Medal National U19th Tetrathlon Championships

Jessica Forse Bronze Medal British National Championships U14 WE

Joseph Walmsley 7th Place Medal British National Championships U14 ME

Four of Clubs Fencing 2017- www.fourofclubs.co.uk - 07828 588143