U.S. Fencing Coaches Association

{{Redirect-distinguish|USFCA|University of San Francisco}}{{Infobox organization | name = U.S. Fencing Coaches Association | image = | image_border = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | abbreviation = USFCA | mission = | predecessor = | successor = | formation = {{Start date and age|1941}} | founded = | founder = | extinction = | type = | status = | purpose = | professional_title =  | headquarters = | location = | coordinates =  | region_served = | services = | num_members = USFCA is a member organization of the Academie d'Armes Internationale (AAI), and a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) | member = | language = | general_secretary = | leader_title = President | leader_name = Vincent Bradford | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | affiliations = | budget = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | slogan = | website = {{URL|usfca.org}} | remarks = | footnotes = | former_name = }} The '''U.S. Fencing Coaches Association''' ('''USFCA''') is an association of United States fencing coaches, and was established in 1941.<ref name="usfca1">{{cite web |url=http://www.usfca.org/Info/History.aspx |title=History of the USFCA |publisher=Usfca.org |date= |accessdate=October 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028044825/http://usfca.org/Info/History.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vScblzdeIiQC&q=U.S.+Fencing+Coaches+Association&pg=PA198 |title=Foil, Saber, and Épée Fencing: Skills, Safety, Operations, and Responsibilities |author1=Maxwell R. Garret |author2=Emmanuil G. Kaidanov |author3=Gil A. Pezza |publisher= Penn State Press|year= 1994|accessdate=October 27, 2013|isbn=0271010193 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8BoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1100,9912985&dq=us-fencing-coaches-association&hl=en |title=Fencing Fascinates Young |publisher=Reading Eagle |date= April 15, 2001|accessdate=October 27, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name="usfca2">{{cite web |url=http://usfca.org/USFCAHome/AbouttheUSFCA.aspx |title=General info about the USFCA |publisher=Usfca.org |date= |accessdate=October 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028071600/http://usfca.org/USFCAHome/AbouttheUSFCA.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name="usfca2"/> Since 2014 the association has been headed by Peter Burchard. <ref>[http://www.northbayfencing.com/coaches Coaches - NorthBayFencing.com]</ref>

==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).<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x9kFAzyujSAC&q=%22U.S.+Fencing+Coaches+Association%22&pg=PA191 |title=Fencer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Fencing |publisher=Tracks Publishing |year= 2010|accessdate=October 27, 2013|isbn=9781884654770 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNc-uO9683cC&q=%22U.S.+Fencing+Coaches+Association%22&pg=PA651 |title=Sign Me Up!: The Parents' Complete Guide to Sports, Activities, Music Lessons, Dance Classes, and Other Extracurriculars |author=Stacy M. DeBroff |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2003 |accessdate=October 27, 2013|isbn=9780743235419 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F6AB8C045BC3C5A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=En Garde; Classes teach beginners the finer points of fencing |publisher=The Washington Times |date=October 14, 2002 |accessdate=October 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192336/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F6AB8C045BC3C5A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/stories/032306aab.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183848/http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/stories/032306aab.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |title=Princeton's Sebastiani Closes Career with National Coaching Honor: Retiring after 25 years at Old Nassau, USFCA awards Schreff Sword to Tiger mentor |publisher=Cstv.com |date=March 23, 2006 |accessdate=October 27, 2013}}</ref> He received the award both in 1994 and 2006.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The Schreff Sword is an engraved silver Glamdring broadsword resting on a red velvet cushion.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Muriel Bower was the first woman Fencing Master accredited in the United States, in 1976.<ref name="usfca1"/> Nikki Franke, an All-American while fencing for Brooklyn College and later a coach at Temple University, was named the USFCA Coach of the Year four times (in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1991).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/betterthanbestbl0000walt |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/betterthanbestbl0000walt/page/187 187] |quote=U.S. Fencing Coaches Association. |title=Better Than the Best: Black Athletes Speak, 1920–2007 |author1=John C. Walter |author2=Malina Iida |publisher= University of Washington Press|year= 2010|accessdate=October 27, 2013|isbn=9780295990538 }}</ref>

==Publication== ''The Swordmaster'' is the official publication of the USFCA.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyJ8ebnS1HMC&q=%22U.S.+Fencing+Coaches+Association%22&pg=PR21 |title=The Encyclopedia of the Sword |author=Nick Evangelista |publisher= Greenwood Publishing Group|year=1995 |accessdate=October 27, 2013|isbn=9780313278969 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://usfca.org/ USFCA homepage]

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