An In-depth View of How to Coach Epee from Youth to Elite Fencers

This series of seven clinics, with 21 total epee sessions, developed from Maître Handelman’s years of coaching epee and teaching three weapon coach clinics for the USFCA and internationally.

The goal is for the epee coach to learn how to deliver improved higher level epee lessons. Coaches who take all the sessions will learn a progression of material for a comprehensive epee background, and the practical ability to translate the techniques to any level lesson.

The clinics will progress from how to coach and cue correctly, to detailed information on all epee techniques, and finish with Teaching lessons and advanced high level Option lessons.  Each session has an additional Session Training Companion (STC) review, which summarizes all the drills and actions taught in the full session.

If possible, while watching the Session Training Companion videos it is suggested you work with a student, or another coach, to actively practice all the drills that are presented. After a drill is shown by the leads, the coaches should take time to repeat it as much as needed. 

Clinic #7: Option lessons

Develops the skills needed to use Option lessons. This type of advanced lesson is perfected for attacks
in the preparation, with the coach learning how to incorporate more advanced cuing techniques in offense, defense and counter-offense.

In the Option lesson series the coach will be given two to four simple actions and taught step by step how to make an Option lesson that is challenging for any level student.  Earlier clinics taught the base technical abilities to coaches so they are able to give the correct timing, distance and cues to accomplish the high level lesson. 

For elite level lessons the lead coaches will demonstrate how to make the lessons more challenging.  This occurs with an increase in speed in regards to changes of distance, timing, hand and blade orientation, footwork, hand and foot coordination both correctly and purposefully incorrectly executed, foreseen and unforeseen actions, student initiative and varied tactical situations.  The coaches will need to refine their cues and work on faster execution, perfect distance, shorter reaction time and rapid tempo change.

Each session earns continuing education credits and has a final formative assessment quiz. All quizzes contain 20 questions with a required passing grade of 75%. When the answer is incorrect, the correct answers will be displayed. Note the correct answers before retaking the exam. It is recommended to review parts of the session or parts of the session training companion before retaking the quiz and moving on.

The coach can proceed to the next session after passing the quiz with 75% or higher.

Session 22 Bonus Material

For the coaches that have completed Clinic # 7 we have added a bonus video.  A sample option lesson for a Y14 fencer is demonstrated and explained.  Finally, we play some Men’s and Women’s World Cup Finals video and do an analysis of the actions.  We hope to demonstrate that the option lessons we learned apply to the actions the best fencers in the world are doing.