SOLIDARITY PROGRAMME 
EFC SKILLS ACADEMY

 1) OVERVIEW

This programme underpins one of the most important of our EFC objectives which is defined in EFC statute 1.1.2: “to ensure amicable mutual support, of technical and other kinds, between European fencing federations and to tighten the ties of friendship which unite fencers of all European countries”. 

This programme has been created to encourage technical, cultural, organisational and management exchanges, and to create solidarity between the European federations, for the benefit of the technical growth of coaches, athletes, referees and federation managers. 

It creates a framework of genuine European partnership, enabling each federation to show solidarity with other member federations through sharing their specialist knowledge, skills and expertise in a spirit of co-operation, friendship and mutual support.

 

The programme consists of 2 strands:

 

6 specific projects connected by this common aim, which will be delivered through an ongoing series of courses, webinars, meetings and training schemes arranged for:
Coaches
Athletes
Referees
Safeguarding Officers
Call Room Management
Federation managers (to include management topics such as marketing, fund-raising, and others)
Additional undefined projects, which will cater for special interest topics (items of common interest that are proposed by a member federation, or group of federations, and agreed by the Comex).

Participation information for all projects will be communicated in due course. 

The expertise for the programme will be provided through the establishment of ‘Founder Partner’ and ‘Contributor Partner’ federations (see next section) who are happy to share their knowledge and expertise with others.

The management of the programme will be provided through the EFC Comex.

 

2) THE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME

A Partnership Scheme is being established, comprising groups of Founder Partner federations and Contributor Partner federations who make a commitment, in a spirit of solidarity, to put their federation’s knowledge and expertise at the service of European fencing in order to deliver this programme.

Founder Partner Federations

The Founder Partner group of federations currently includes:

• France
• Hungary
• Spain
• Great Britain
• Sweden
• Italy

Additional federations are invited to join as Founder Partners if they:

make a commitment to put their federation’s knowledge, skills and expertise at the service of European Fencing
support the goals of the project

Contributor Partner Federations

Federations may request membership as Contributor Partners even if they do not meet one or more of the Founder Partner criteria above.  These federations will make a contribution by undertaking a project, or projects, defined by and agreed with the EFC Comex. 

3. THE PROJECTS 

3.1 COACHES

The Founder Partner federations, thanks to their history, technical level and organisational skills and with a spirit of sharing and collaboration, have each offered to organise a coaching course.

On a date to be agreed by the host federation and the EFC, each federation will organise a 5-day course for 12 coaches (arrival Sunday, departure Saturday), taking care of the organisation and bearing the costs of food and accommodation for the participants.  They will also provide, at their own cost, 2 coaches from their country with proven experience as teachers. 

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €150 (for Israele  Turchia  Armenia ,  Georgia, Azerbaijan  it will be up to €250), providing that they have attended the course for at least 4 of the 5 days.  

The 12 participants will be selected by the EFC from among those proposed by their federations.  

During 2023:
The French Federation will host the course for epee coaches.
The Italian Federation will host the course for foil coaches.
The Hungarian Federation will host the course for sabre coaches.

If other federations join the Founder Partner group, the EFC will propose that they host and organise courses to promote fencing in schools, social centres and tourist areas.  In addition, an important priority will be to provide grants and support for coaching courses for those interested in Paralympic fencing.

3.2 ATHLETES

The federations to which the organisation of the European Cadet & Junior, U23 and Senior Championships have been assigned, will each take care of organising a pre-championship training course for 12 athletes in the relevant age group (Cadets, Junior, U23, Senior), divided equally for each gender. 

The EFC will decide at the beginning of each competition season the specific weapon for each course. 

The duration of the course will be 5 days. The cost of food and accommodation will be borne by the organising federation who will also provide, at their own cost, 2 coaches with proven experience. 

Participating athletes will be selected by the EFC from among those proposed by their federations.

For 2023 and the Championships already assigned, if any of the host countries of the European Cadet & Junior, U23 and Senior Championships / European Games (Estonia, Hungary or Poland) are not able to commit to the provisions in this project, the EFC will provide support by funding the food and accommodation costs of the  invited athletes, while the travel expenses will be borne by the participants.

In future, when federations bid for the organisation of a European Championships, they will need to include the implementation of the provisions of this project.  

3.3 REFEREES

During 2023 the Royal Spanish Fencing Federation (RFEE), in collaboration with the EFC, will organise a 2-day course for national referees aspiring to become European referees.  All federations will be invited to nominate two referees (at least one woman) to participate on the course (arrival Friday, departure Sunday afternoon).  

The RFEE will take care of the organisational aspects and will provide food and accommodation for the participants.  The EFC will pay for the travel, food and accommodation, and per diem of 2 teachers.  

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €100 and Turkey, Israel , Armenia, Georgia,Azerbaijan it will be up to €200).  If there are more than 24 participants on the course, the EFC will bear the costs of food and accommodation for participants exceeding that number.  

3.4 SAFEGUARDING OFFICERS

During 2023 British Fencing (BF), in collaboration with the EFC, will organise a 2-day course on Safeguarding (arrival Friday, departure Sunday afternoon).  The successful completion of the course will enable participants to act as the Safeguarding Officer at EFC circuit events.  12 participants will be selected by the EFC from among those proposed by their federations.  

BF will take care of the organisational aspects and will provide food and accommodation for the participants. BF will also provide and pay for two qualified experts to run the course.  

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €150 (for Israel, Tukey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan it will be up to €250).  If there are more than 12 participants on the course, the EFC will bear the costs of food and accommodation for participants exceeding that number.  

3.5 CALL ROOM MANAGERS/a DIRECTORIE TECHNIQUE

During 2023 the Swedish Fencing Federation (SF), in collaboration with the EFC, will organise a 2-day course on Call Room Management (arrival Friday, departure Sunday afternoon).  12 participants will be selected by the EFC from among those proposed by their federations.  

SF will take care of the organisational aspects and will provide food and accommodation for the participants. SF will also provide and pay for the trainers to run the course.  

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €150 (for Israel,turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and TUR it will be up to €250).  If there are more than 12 participants on the course, the EFC will bear the costs of food and accommodation for participants exceeding that number.  

3.6 FEDERATION MANAGERS

Webinars will be organised for federation managers from all EFC federations to enable an exchange of experiences and knowledge.  Experts will be invited to speak on topics of common interest in connection with the promotion and management of fencing.  Topics will include (but are not limited to):  
Marketing
EU applications for project funding 
General fund-raising

In addition there will be a meeting arranged every year for all European Presidents and General Secretaries attending the EFC Ordinary Congress, giving a further opportunity for the sharing of expertise and best practice.

3.7 SPECIAL INTEREST TOPICS

Within the same framework of solidarity, the EFC is including in this programme further exchanges of positive experiences on topics that are proposed by member federations.  

There are currently 2 proposals:

a) From the French Federation – Laser Sabre Coaching

The French Federation (FFE) is offering to share the positive aspects of ‘Laser Sabre’, and will provide an in-depth analysis on this topic during a webinar, which will be followed by a course.

The FFE will provide, at their own cost, 2 coaches to enable the EFC to organise a 3-day training course for laser sabre coaching.  The course will be held during the European U23 Championships in Budapest in May 2023.  

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €150. 
(For Israel, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia Azerbaijan  will be up to €250.) 

b) From the Italian Federation – Introduction to Children’s Fencing

The Italian Federation (FIS) is offering to organise a seminar for federation managers on how best to introduce children to fencing and subsequently into a competition programme.  The seminar will be held during the Italian Under-14 Championship in Riccione in May.  The FIS will bear the costs of food and accommodation for a senior manager from each participating federation.  

Each participant will be awarded an EFC travel grant of up to €150.  (For Israel,  Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan nit will be up to €250.)

c) From the Italian Federation - Historical Fencing: Sport & Culture!

The Italian Federation offers a 5-day seminar to introduce athletes, members of federations, coaches and referees to historical fencing in its different aspects.

The course will be held at the Federal Center for Historical Fencing located in Botticino (BS), includes a day of examination of the sources (ancient books and ancient swords) at the museum of martial arts The M.A.M., a day of study of the federal rule set with projection of videos of the last three championships, three days of training with 5 federal instructors and athletes of historical fencing at the three arms:  Two-handed sword, sword and buckler, rapier.

For a maximum of 12 participants who will be hosted free of charge by the Federal Center, including a reimbursement for travel expenses equal to 100 euro.

At the end of the course a certificate of participation will be issued and for the interested Federations a project of continuous collaboration and updating can be discussed.

Approved by the Bureau on
11.01.2023