The development centres are designed to provide a localised delivery of support to identified groups of young athletes who are pursuing a future senior international fencing career representing GBR.
These centres are designed to support a connected community (including clubs and coaches) of collaboration and continuity. All centres have a track record of prioritising the development of young fencers towards the senior elite level alongside broadening their knowledge of fencing.
By bringing together forward-thinking clubs and their respective coaching networks the vision is to support and enhance the existing learning and training environments that clubs are typically able to provide.
The centres will provide a link into the Pathway Programme for athletes as they make their first steps from clubs into GBR performance fencing. Centres will provide fencers with wider development opportunities, including increased and appropriate sparring, S&C and coaching that is tailored to their needs.
BF is funded by Sport England to establish six centres in England. The intention is that centres will be placed in areas where a sufficient number of fencers would not need to travel for more than 45 minutes to attend the centre.
So far the following centres are in place:
Bath – Fencers here have benefitted from the expert support that these coaches have provided and from the world-leading S&C testing that the Bath Futures team based at the University of Bath have provided.
University of Nottingham – This centre is running at the David Ross Sports Village at the University of Nottingham.
Truro (Sabre) – Sabreurs in the South West can access the entre developed by the staff at Truro Fencing Club. The club has produced Olympic and international fencers, with many within their current cohort and training at the club.
London (Foil and Sabre) – Based at the Leon Paul Fencing Centre, this centre focuses on sparring for junior and senior athletes that are members of the national teams.
In order to allow the Pathway to be able to support talented athletes across the entire country, we will be looking to evolve the Development Centre concept. These will be flexible in nature, giving athletes access to the support of the Pathway, in a way that is appropriate for the environment that they are in.
Athletes can make formal enquiries about joining a centre by sending their Athlete Profile along with a covering letter to: [email protected]
Click here for further information: Becoming A Development Centre
Return to the GBR Pathway Programme Zone
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