Coeur Du Lion Newsletter

Coaches Training
As many of you know, I am currently in training for my fencing master’s certificate with Maestro Leon Hill in the UK. Though that may seem logistically difficult, the program is going well and I am progressing steadily through the course of instruction. Maestro Hill is coming to visit us and mentor me in March, and I will be traveling to England in April to attend a coach’s camp he is teaching. Both Coach David and I are studying the pedagogy of fencing under Maestro Hill and our private lessons are contributing to a rapid progression in skill for the students taking the lessons. In addition to D. Carey and Jennifer Ngolab, we have added Patrick Hruby to our list of assistant coaches. Patrick just had knee surgery, but he will be training with me over the next month in order to be able to run the Musketeer classes when I am gone.

BAF Program
One of the programs the British Academy of Fencing offers that the US Fencing Association does not offer is a proficiency program for fencing students. As part of my collaboration with Maestro Hill, we will be integrating the program into the club. The program has both a practical and theoretical elements and is designed to be completed in one year. The scheme includes a wall chart to mark off the elements which have been mastered as the student progresses through bronze, silver and gold levels. The student receives a pin and a certificate from the BAF, and also a chevron for their fencing jacket from CDL. This program may or may not be for your child, as it is designed for serious students who are most likely taking private lessons and so can move through the chart in a steady, methodical manner. The cost is $25 dollars per level and includes the graduation test, a study guide, a syllabus (which includes a mini wall chart in it to keep at home) and the awards - pin, certificate and chevron. 

CDL Is Expanding
New bouting day! One of the problems I have identified with the progress of our students is the lack of bouting time they are getting. Fencing instruction is great, but every student needs a chance to integrate those learned skills into their game by bouting. David, Jennifer and I have decided to open up Saturday fencing in order to accommodate this need, and to take on more students for private lessons. The session is scheduled for 3:00 – 5 pm every Saturday at Escondido Kung Fu. The floor fee is $10 and the bouting will be electric in the big studio. If you’re not currently getting private lessons these slots will be filled quickly, so now is the time to arrange this with your favorite coach!

I am teaching at Grossmont College and it looks as if I will be taking on their fencing program there when the current instructor retires. As a result of my affiliation there, I am running a collegiate training program one night a week in El Cajon. The program, dubbed “Midnight Madness”, takes place in a public park on tennis courts and goes from 9 pm to 11 pm on Monday nights. For more information, please contact Coach Lee (Coach_Lee@cdlyouthfencing.com, or 619-298-6153).

I am also opening a session for kids 12 and under in the El Cajon area. So far we are meeting at a fencer’s home at 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. I’ve identified two prospective permanent venues for the class, and will be choosing one in the near future. Let me know if you have any interest in attending.

Volunteers Needed
We could use some help running and administering some of the club activities. In particular, I would like to begin publishing a monthly newsletter such as this one. I have no ability in any publishing software and could use a volunteer to help me get it out each month. We could also use a “Competition Parent” – someone to work with me on planning the year’s competition calendar and to keep the club informed of upcoming events. Does either one of these activities appeal to you? Contact Coach Lee! Coach Jennifer Ngolab and I have been working on a new website for CDL. Look for it in the coming weeks…

New Fee Structure
Part of the vision of CDL from the beginning was to provide quality instruction as affordably as possible and still meet our minimum obligations. After the passing of my father and my graduation from San Diego State, I decided to shift the focus of the club from being recreational to a more competitive atmosphere. As a result of that decision we had to close the club on competition weekends because we had no coaches available. Unfortunately that policy had a negative financial impact on the club. In the past we had charged a competition fee to the students at the tournament. However, the fee has never worked out well and we have been seeking a means to eliminate it. 

In an attempt to address these issues we are making the following changes: 
1) We are bringing in a new instructor to help keep certain classes open. Pat Hruby will teach the 14 and under class at 11 am, and the foil 2 class at 1 pm. So most classes will not be cancelled just because there is a tournament!

2) We are going to change from an incentive based fee schedule to a flat fee. A flat fee means that everyone pays a set amount for every month, regardless of competition dates, or number of weekends in a month. We are hoping this change will encourage students to take advantage of all of their fencing opportunities! As a result of this change we are also eliminating the competition fee. It does represent an overall increase in our fee structure, but our commitment to affordable and high quality fencing instruction has not changed. 

T-Shirts and Warm-ups
We are currently taking orders for the Black warm-up jackets that you see many of the coaches and athletes wearing. Each one is embroidered on both the front and back, and includes a personalized name on the front. The cost will be in the vicinity of $110.00 each, depending on the size of the order and shipping costs. After we stop taking orders we can calculate the cost and will start taking checks. This should be in the first weeks of March, so please talk to Elizabeth if you’d like to have one. Anyone who is competing needs warm-ups of one sort or the other – if you can afford it you might as well have the one that represents the best club in San Diego!

T-Shirts and Warm-ups continued
We are also developing the official CDL t- shirt. This will be our first “color” t- shirt, so it will be a new look for the club! It will only be available in black (for now at least) and features our improved color logo on the front and crossed swords on the back. Look for the chance to order them in the coming weeks! The price for the club shirt is $20 – it’s a four-color print job and so costs us more to have made. This shirt should be available for ordering 2-3 times a year - the design will not change. 

PS - We will still be offering a new Battleground shirt and the art is almost finalized. 

Sabre Class
Coach Ngolab has been offering sabre classes at 1 pm on Sundays in the small studio and has shown her ability to lead and supervise the group. I would like to encourage others who may be thinking about sabre to take a look at her class. I think it’s an excellent opportunity - especially for the musketeer age group who want to pick up a second weapon. Fence Fence Fence!!!

DISCIPLINE IN THE CLUB- 

THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORAL IMPROVES!

Coach Lee

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