This article forms part of a series of reports accompanying the 2023-24 BF Annual Report.
In this report:
The GBR Pathway Programme (ADP) is a six-weapon program based on the BF Fencer Pathway Model. Its goal is to support athletes in reaching their potential and success and inspiring others. The programme is designed for athletes aged 15 to 35 who advance through a specific development pathway to achieve success in high-level fencing and beyond for those performing at the Olympic level.
The GBR Pathway Programme objectives for 2023-24 were:
1. International Competition – create the right international opportunities for the right athletes to accelerate performances on a pathway to international (Olympic and Paralympic) success
2. World Class Ready – IADP objective – System development of an integrated pathway.
1. International Competition
The international competitions within the GBR Pathway Programme allow fencers to demonstrate their performance levels to meet qualification standards for selection for the Major Championships and accelerate fencers’ development by building experiences in preparation for the Major Championships.
Following a successful 2022-23 season, BF increased the performance demands for meeting the qualification standards for nomination to be selected for Major Championships for Cadets from 40% to 35%, and for Juniors, from 40% to 38%. The cadet and junior fencers met this increase, and performance to qualification standards increased despite the international calendar challenges of the calendar timings of the U20 European competitions and last-minute changes across all age groups.
2. World Class Ready
People & Culture – Fencers will always face challenges as they develop. Through various actions, they continue to exemplify the ‘Call It Attitude’ commitment. The U23 European Report highlights behaviours demonstrated during this season.
Independent Athletes—Performance Data. Fencers can record their individual results themselves and these are verified and included in the dataset. Fencers have also requested the opportunity to share their team data, which can be submitted via this link. The international performance results have been collected over four years. 2023-2024 data set. This data supports the building of the Athlete International Performance Profile. Upon submission of individual results, GBR Pathway Athletes are contacted, and their percentage finish is confirmed. New in 2023-24, athletes now also have an option to capture their thoughts on their performance through written reflection, encouraging self assessment and learning.
Independent Athletes—Managing the Moment. During 2023-24, practitioners from The True Athlete Project attended the Major Championships with BF for the first time. This has been recognised as a pioneering step, for BF to include someone on their world championships staff team who is purely responsible for the well-being of the whole squad—athletes, staff, and officials. The practitioners’ insights will input to shape a new ‘Managing the Moment‘ framework for fencers for the 2024-25 season.
GBR Coach and Personal Coaches. The GBR Coaches Code of Conduct has been reworked in 2023-24 with a greater emphasis on connectivity between GBR Coaches and Personal coaches to support the athletes and their performance at International events and the Major Championships. This approach has created greater insight into supporting athlete performance during competitions.
System and Process Development drives efficiencies and improvements within existing operational processes. The following enhancements have been made in 2023-24:
Individual Athlete Development Plans are crucial for a World-Class Programme. The IADP document has been updated with additional information to help athletes complete the Plan. Furthermore, guidance notes have been created to provide further assistance.
IADP – Goal Setting Guide
IADP – Competition Planning Guide
IADP – Self Assessment Guide
Analysis of the changing development needs of athletes in age groups and weapons continues to guide the implementation of competitions. Greater use of FIE satellites and EFC U23 competition has been used to increase appropriate time-on-task opportunities to accelerate performance.
As in previous years, ADP camps have continued with five camps focusing on performance simulation, incorporating FIE referees, call room processes, DT running competition formats with poules, DE and team match structures.
In addition to the five above, a European Preparation camp took place in February 2024, with the fencers meeting the travelling staff and coaches.
The integration of Para Fencing in the camps is complete, with additional stand-alone camps and a growing number of fencers recruited into the talent space.
Through the Cohort 32 initiative (funded by UK Sport Progression), the Cohort 32 group are now juniors. In the last year, they have transitioned into the senior space, with some of the Cohort 32 fencers in the senior teams. This group will begin planning for the 2028 LA cycle.
Staff time has been allocated to increase the understanding of how to use an IADP and the benefits of the process, and it is targeted at the cadet age group.
The BF/TAP Mentoring programme, where senior athletes and coaches mentor younger athletes, continued with five new pairings successfully completing the programme. Two athletes also undertook the global mentoring programme. Information on the True Athlete Project can be found here.
Educational content on subject areas related to Refereeing, with three areas per weapon, has been developed in conjunction with the Master list of FIE referees and Karim Bashir.
Sport England took over the DiSE programme and is part of the England Talent Pathway.
2022 – 29 starters, 28 complete
2023 – 29 starters, 28 complete on track as of March 2024
2024 – Recruitment of the fencers for 28 places on Cohort 7 is in progress
Part of the DiSE integration with the ADP is the curriculum deliverables. Courses used in 2023-24 at the induction stage of the program were Culture and Values, Goalsetting and Fencer Attending International Competition.
Looking ahead to 2024-25, the GBR Pathway programme will:
BF would like to thank:
Our funding partners (Sport England and UK Sport) and all the organisations that we work with to create and deliver the services of the ADP, including the Home Nation Fencing bodies, The True Athlete Project and the EIS.
Those organisations that have supported weapons are the BF Charity, The Epee Club and personal sponsors.
All the coaches and athlete support personnel who have engaged in the programme and support the athletes in their pathway journeys.
Click here for the full 2023-24 Annual Report.
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