On 5th and 6th September 2020, British Fencing’s Athlete Development Programme (ADP) hosted its third virtual training camp of the year. 110 athletes joined in for 35 online sessions and in-person training for Foil and Sabre at four locations across the country, in line with BF’s return to indoor fencing guidelines.
“The exercise sessions were a good balance of high intensity, strength and flexibility/stretching; I appreciate how well the coaches responded to our feedback regarding the video analysis sessions and adapted them” Epee Athlete
With no return to competitive international fencing in sight, and with restrictions on in-person fencing still in place, the ADP Team has continued to innovate and adapt to continue to support ADP Athletes as we move into the Autumn of 2020 and the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic.
There was a breadth of activity on display across the weekend.
The ADP Epee team took their video analysis to the next level, with interactive and in-depth analysis of individual and team matches. Looking into how the top athletes score their points, the mentality of athletes in major competition and how the dynamics in a match shift back and forth.
In Foil, BF’s CEO Georgina Usher along with ADP Coach Katie Arup, built on the sessions previously run in July with a session on discrimination and bias in performance fencing.
Coaches Steve Petrie, Pawel Osmanski, George Morris and Chris Hay delivered physical training sessions, giving athletes education in how to stay fit and conditioned while full training continues to not be possible.
Foil and Sabre began tentative returns to in-person fencing, with centres in London, Edinburgh, Stratford-upon-Avon and Truro in compliance with BF’s guidance on indoor fencing as set out on 25th July.
Across the entire weekend, our partners, The True Athlete Project delivered sessions for all three weapons which looked at techniques for staying focused on the task in hand in difficult or stressful moments.
British Fencing would like to thank the entire ADP Team and Coaches for the time and work that went into organising the weekend to make it a success.
We look forward to welcoming athletes back on October 17th and 18th for the next stage of the journey.
“It made the most of what we had at home and the coaching and feedback across zoom was very good” Sabre Athlete
BF’s Athlete Development Programme is funded by Sport England. For more information about the ADP please click here.
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