Your National Slate

Part of the stated mission of the Unites Sates Fencing Association is “to develop fencers to achieve international success,” and one of the organization’s five goals is “earn international medals”. 

To better achieve this and to move the successes of our athletes forward, we must create new structures that allow for more focused and professional planning to develop and benefit our athletes. The current structure, the High Performance Committee or International Committee, may have suited our organizational needs at one time. However, as US Fencing has grown, and the level of the athletes we support has progressed, the necessity of drawing on resources with professional training and current experience has become mandatory if we are to continue our advancement. Those most capable of determining the best methodologies to develop our athletes, further our athletic programs, and support our top athletes are those who are trained to do the job. 

The center of the High Performance Program must be the Director of High Performance. A full-time, committed individual with appropriate authority can respond much more quickly and directly to the constant and variable needs of our athletes and squads during the competition season than a committee can. This person will have a big job. He or she must:

• be familiar with all facets of team function and planning
• work with and understand the role of individual coaches, National Coaches and coaching staff members
• be able to oversee budgets and the financial needs of athletes and programs
• work with the USOC to garner the best possible support from that critical organization

To work with the Director of High Performance in a policy development and advisory role, there would be a High Performance Policy Group. Made up of the National Coaches or their representatives, athletes reps, a Budget and Finance committee liaison, and a liaison to the FIE Relations Committee, this body would be responsible for creating policy, organizing national development programs and advising the DHP on the direction of elite programs.  The information, policies, funding programs and processes must be readily available to all. The highest priorities for this group must be transparency, defined spheres of responsibility and authority, a well-defined reporting structure, financial responsibility, athlete support, and a clear focus on formulating policies that will achieve our stated goals.

Regular reports, available to the membership, must be submitted to the Executive Committee to allow for oversight. Scheduled financial reports will be filed with the Budget and Finance committee to aid in budgetary governance and planning.

We currently have a group of athletes with the talent, experience, and drive to achieve unprecedented success. It is not only the responsibility of the organization but also its privilege to provide them with the support they need to realize their potential.