Weekly News Update & Performance Consultant appointed

Hello everyone

There are a few items to cover in this week’s news update with the major news being the appointment of our Performance Consultant.

Keith Cook has been appointed to the role and we are delighted someone of Keith’s calibre is joining the team. As the outstanding submission within the tender process, the panel were delighted to hear his thoughts on how we could maximise the next 7 months to prepare the team to deliver its strongest performance at the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in London.

This is an exciting time for all those keen to represent Scotland in London this year. Adding Keith’s expertise is critical to forming the team, its environment and its values and his clear experience as a Coach, athlete and mentor will be key skills for the team to draw upon. We can’t wait to see what the future brings.

This past week also saw success at home and abroad for Scottish athletes and its great to see so many people able to compete as restrictions become further reduced. As ever, if you can tag Scottish Fencing in any of your social media posts it would be great and we can share these too. On that note, we will shortly be advertising training opportunities for clubs and volunteers to get some social media training from an external training resource. Any member can access this and we would love to help create a new field of volunteers for clubs to own and “take over” fencing social media. We will release confirmation of dates and times next week.

At Scottish Fencing HQ, Clare Queen has been continuing to engage with clubs and members since she joined the team in January and you can keep track of where she has been out and about on the SF social channels. Recent highlights were a visit to Braveheart Fencing in Glasgow (pics on facebook) and also some engagement with Scottish Student Sport to help support some on-campus initiatives.

As mentioned last week, we are approaching a busy competition time with Scottish Student Fencing Beginners happening this weekend and in a couple of weeks we have the Scottish Open. Please have a look at the Scottish Open FAQ document here.

Thank you again to everyone who has entered these events and also thank you to those who attended the recent Foundation for Scottish Fencing YDS in Edinburgh last weekend. The next YDS event is on March 27th back at St George’s school in Edinburgh.

One of my favourite fencing-related emails arrived a few days ago in the form of the “The Duellist” – a wonderful newsletter from Elgin Duellist Fencing Club which is beautifully presented by Michael and Robin. If you aren’t on the mailing list please do contact the club or even better, get a read here. It’s a wonderful way to spend 20 mins with a coffee and a biscuit as the club updates on activities large and small.

Thank you again to everyone (family, coach, club committee, volunteer, friends) who keep the fencers motivated and committed to the sport. It’s great to see the community come together as we begin resurfacing from the pandemic and as my colleagues have written in previous weeks I look forward to seeing faces old and new on or beside a piste soon.

Sheila

Sheila Anderson – HR Director

#ForgingTheFuture

News Update - Paul Vaughan - SF Performance Director

Good evening everyone

A “warm” welcome to the sunnier climes of February – the bad joke here is outdoor fencing is no longer required but if its grown on you then good luck and keep going!

Moving away from my humour and awful dad jokes, it was great to see so many of the fencing community enjoying themselves at competitions foreign and domestic last week. So many of the images on social media were heartening to see and of course any sort of fencing is great fun at the moment. I may or may not have finished 11th at the Stirling Sword Sabre myself…

Coming up over the next few weeks we have the Scottish Student Sport (SSS) Beginners event which you can enter via PlayWaze here – please do consider supporting this beginners event if you are eligible to compete, it should be great fun. 

This coming weekend we also have the Foundation for Scottish Fencing Youth Development Series event in Edinburgh. Please do check the Foundation facebook page and other social channels for more info including check-in times and other crucial info. 

At the end of February we of course have the Scottish Open in Largs. We are delighted to be hosting the event after what seems like an age, indeed the last Open was in November 2019 so once again I’m looking forward to seeing friends old and new enjoying themselves on the piste. If you havent already entered (and you really should have by now 😉) then please check out the link here.

Throughout February, we also have a multitude of international representation at Cadet, Junior and Senior level as a clutch of Scottish Fencers were selected for various upcoming GB squads and events. We also have a few coaches and support staff from the Scottish fencing community travelling as well so a hearty congratulations to everyone selected – well done! 

A last call here for those who have yet to complete the British Fencing Equality Survey which was emailed to all members. Please do fill it in if you can as it provides a vital picture of our membership  landscape and really does help us tailor future programmes at British and Scottish level. 

Lastly, our Chair George Liston shared in last weeks brief update a number of opportunities to join the coaching team for the commonwealth championships would go live this week. These Lead Weapon Coach vacancies are now live on the SF website and socials and if you have any queries please contact Clare on Clare.Queen@scottish-fencing.comwho can get the best answer for you.

Our Performance Consultant post has now closed and the panel met this afternoon to review the applications. We will announce the successful tender next week.

Meantime, wherever you are getting your fencing fix this weekend please enjoy it and look after yourself and those around you.

Paul Vaughan – Performance Director

#ForgingTheFuture

Recruitment - Commonwealth Fencing Championships - Lead Weapon Coaches

Scottish Fencing wish to recruit three Lead Weapon Coaches to support the preparation and performance of the Scottish Team for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in London from 9-20 August 2022.

This is a positive opportunity to be part of a successful Scotland Fencing Team at a unique Commonwealth Fencing Championship. To participate as a team coach at a high-level event, honing your skills in team training and development as part of a small, dedicated group of coaches, matching your motivational and tactical skills against other countries from cadets to veterans.

We invite applications from coaches who are qualified at Level 3 in their chosen weapon. 

The closing date for applications is 17.00 on 14 February 2022. Please complete the attached application form (either written or as a voice recording) giving a short summary of your relevant coaching experience and personal qualities which will support your application to admin@scottish-fencing.com

The role description is attached below, please refer to this when preparing your application.

Scottish Fencing is an equal opportunities employer and would welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. All appointments are made purely based on merit and ability. If you require any assistance to apply please contact Clare Queen at clare.queen@scottish-fencing.com  

Lead Weapon Coach Role Description

Lead Weapon Coach application form

News Update - 28th January 2022

Good afternoon everyone

I hope those of you aged 18 and over have enjoyed your first few days back fencing indoor. I understand this has been a frustrating time but we remain ever hopeful things are on an upwards trajectory and we are now back on the piste permanently.

As the fencing landscape opens up there are always new things to talk about and hopefully new points of interest for all of the fencing community in Scotland.

A couple of weeks back we held the first domestic competition of 2022 in Scotland where athletes from as young as 11 through to 17 were competing in a (slightly truncated) Scottish Youth Championships (SYC). You can watch back the finals of each weapon on the SF Instagram channel but the great news is we have a provisional date for the U20 events as well. 

Thanks to the work of President Stan Stoodley and Operations Manager Liz Anderson we are securing Bathgate Academy on Saturday March 19th for the U20 SYC’s. As ever, if you would like to volunteer as a referee, social media crew or event crew please do contact Liz on admin@scottish-fencing.com

It was also a great week for the many Scottish Athletes named as part of the GBR teams for the upcoming Cadet & Junior European Championships in Serbia. You can see the British Team announcements here and all the athletes go with our best wishes for success -  a huge congratulations to all the young athletes and their clubmates and coaches who helped put them on a GBR team.

Last week, we also released the first of a number of roles related to the upcoming Commonwealth Championships. These roles will be remunerated and the Performance Consultant role is live here – In the next few days we will also release the role profiles and application process for those interested in coaching roles within the Scottish Team heading to London in August. 

We all hope everyone enjoys the Stirling Sword this weekend, a great event for those young and “senior”!  There is also the Foundation for Scottish Fencing YDS event on 6th February and then the Scottish Open (enter here) on 26/27 at Inverclyde. Lots of fencing coming up and hopefully a chance for all our members to get back on the piste.

Also, a final reminder to all members to please complete the British Fencing equality survey issued by email recently. We are keen to have as high a representation from Scotland complete the survey as it directly influences the number of equality and inclusion projects we can deliver nationwide. Please do check the email inbox all your BF comms go to and fill the form in if you can.

Finally, thank you again to everyone for your patience during the restrictions. We know it was tough but it would be great to see images from your own fencing or your clubs as to how much members are enjoying their fencing again. Please do tag us on our social media channels directly or use the hashtag #ForgingTheFuture and we can find you.

George 

George Liston

Chair – Scottish Fencing

Recruitment - Performance Consultant

Scottish Fencing is seeking tender proposals for the role of Performance Consultant to support the organisation as we move towards the 2022 Commonwealth Championships and beyond.

Please click here to access the tender document and please contact Clare Queen, Head of Pathways & Community Change with further queries.

This is an exciting time to join the organisation particularly if you have experience of delivery in a performance context or environment. We look forward to hearing from you!

#ForgingTheFuture

Note of thanks - Scottish Youth Championships 2022

It was really nice to see everyone who attended the Scottish Youth Championships at St Georges School in Edinburgh over the weekend.

Many of the children have grown significantly since last I saw them, not only in height but in convincing me that I’d have my work cut out for me if I had to face them on the piste. It was clear to see that the efforts made by the clubs and coaches is definitely paying off.

There was evidence of development in the children’s technical, tactical and physical competencies and of particular note was the spirit in which the children engaged in the competition, demonstrating respect for their opponents, referees and officials.

I was also very pleased to see them supporting and encouraging each other through the ups and downs of the poule fights during the day. Sporting events such as these provide the children with much more than just the opportunity to win a medal. They provide a safe environment to learn about social interaction, enjoying time with friends and making new friends along the way. They learn how to face and manage physical, mental and emotional challenges, sowing the seeds of self- understanding and personal growth as they mature into adult life.

These opportunities for our children to participate and learn would not be possible without the essential help from our volunteers who give up their time and skills freely for the benefit of all involved. To all these volunteers, on behalf of our fencing community, I’d like to say thank you.

Barring any restrictions on our competitive events imposed by the Scottish Government I’m looking forward to seeing the action at the upcoming YDS, Stirling Sword and Scottish Open. Get active and get your entries in !

Stan Stoodley

News update from Scottish Fencing President Stan Stoodley

Hello everyone

This week, our first domestic competition of 2022 kicks off at St Georges School in Edinburgh albeit in an augmented fashion. We are able to run the Scottish Youth Championships for those under 18 which sadly means our U20 age group will need to compete for their titles another time, however it is set to be a great weekend and we will bring you some coverage on socials and the SF website over the course of the weekend.

I hope you join me in wishing the best of luck to everyone competing.

Also, in the last few days our CEO Vincent Bryson has been engaging with Scottish Government and other sports to seek clarity on when the restrictions preventing adult contact sport may be lifted. The CEO Forum is a key part of the strategic dialogue between governing bodies and Scottish Government, Active Scotland and sportscotland and having our CEO as Chair of the Forum means Scottish Fencing is playing a key part in this dialogue.

These conversations were pivotal in ensuring U18 athletes could still receive lessons from coaches as we confirmed before Christmas and is also driving the debate around the benefits of contact sport indoor as a key vehicle for health, wellbeing, community and the nations recovery from the pandemic.

The CEO Forum has received a response from the Minister and SF will be engaging with government staff as a part of the Forum over the next few days. There will be a weekly update to parliament from the First Minister on January 18th.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone the Scottish Open takes place on February 26/27 2022 at Inverclyde National Sports Centre in Largs. Entries are open via Sport80 and I’d like to express my deepest thanks for the work going on behind the scenes from staff and volunteers to make what is sure to be a fantastic and fun event.

One last reminder, all members should have had the British Fencing Equality Survey sent to their registered email. It would be fantastic to have as many Scottish Fencing members complete the survey as possible to aid with our equality objectives for the future.

I look forward to seeing you in Largs or indeed on or near a Piste sometime in 2022.

Stan Stoodley

President

Scottish Fencing

#ForgingTheFuture

Rankings - January

Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022

RANKING LISTS – January 2022

The rankings have been updated to reflect the latest lists published by British Fencing, although there has been no Cadet activity and only limited Junior competition since the last lists.

SENIOR — JUNIOR — CADET

Veteran Fencers: Guildford International

Veteran fencers who have entered the Guildford International need to be aware of the current regulations and advice in Scotland in force until 15 January. These state that:

(a) adult non-professional contact sports are not allowed in indoor spaces; and
(b) people should avoid travelling to other parts of the UK to attend events, celebrations and other activities, if they are not permitted in Scotland.

In other words, we are not allowed to run adult competitions in Scotland, and the official advice is not to travel outside Scotland for that purpose.

It is, of course, for individuals to decide whether or not to follow the Scottish Government’s advice on travel. However, in relation to Commonwealth selection, no Scottish Veteran will be penalised for missing the Guildford International.

We've drawn BVF’s attention to the Scottish Government’s position. BVF have already updated their selection policy in current circumstances.

UPDATED - SF guidance effective from December 26th 2021

Good afternoon everyone.

We have today published our revised guidance for Fencing based on the outcome of the First Minister’s update to parliament on Tuesday 21st December. The new changes come into effect from December 26th 2021 and will last for 3 weeks. 

We expect a further update from Scottish Government on 11th January.

The news for adult fencing is that no adult indoor contact sport is permitted from the 3-week period from December 26th to January 15th (dates inclusive). This includes sparring with an adult or coaching an adult. Whilst this is extremely tough to swallow, it is not ambiguous however I accept it will provide challenges for club delivery to continue should clubs still wish to offer their U18 members the chance to continue their sporting journeys over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

However adults ARE permitted to conduct coaching activity with an Under-18 athlete. Please do read Section 47 of the SF Guidance (link is above)

If clubs have the opportunity or flexibility to conduct activity outdoor we ask that you conduct a risk assessment for the activity and pay particular attention to weather conditions on the day. 

We understand this is not easy for every club to do. Winter conditions make it doubly difficult.

The Scottish Youth Championships are currently scheduled to take place on the weekend of 15/16 January - we wrote to entrants a couple of days ago and indicated we still expect to run this event although the Under 20 element of it may need to be moved to the Sunday or rescheduled altogether. As mentioned above, we expect a further update on Tuesday 11th January.

We will update everyone with any changes to SYC’s when we have further information.. Whilst it is primarily an U18 event, we do need adults for refereeing and critical volunteer roles so there are many factors to consider. Scottish Government and sportscotland have confirmed we are still able to use adult volunteers for event delivery which is of course welcome news.

When there is more information to share we will share it, in the meantime I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable christmas and I hope to see you in the New Year.

Vincent