SAINTS

FENCING

saints sport

PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME

OURVISION

Our vision is to provide the most attractive university fencing programme in Scotland and one

of the best-supported programmes in the UK.

We aim to inspire our students and actively encourage every fencer to work hard, develop, improve and enjoy their fencing experience at university whether it be playing, coaching,

refereeing, volunteering or socially. The University is committed to the pursuit of excellence and our goal is for all our fencers to compete at the highest-level possible and to achieve short, medium and

long-term goals set by the club and themselves.

Fencing is a challenging sport requiring lightning quick reflexes, subtle tactical problem solving and gritty determination and was one of the first sports to be included in the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

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THECLUB

The University of St Andrews has developed one of the most advanced fencing programmes in Scotland that fosters a healthy relationship between athlete and student.

The programme offers student fencers high-level coaching, training and support opportunities, allowing them to excel in both their academic and sporting achievements. Our athletes graduate with a world-class education and a great sporting experience.

The club is very friendly and inclusive, committed to providing members of all abilities, from absolute beginners to experienced internationalists, with an opportunity to explore the sport of fencing to their own individual needs.

The Fencing Club is a truly multicultural environment where students get to meet and make friends with others from all over the world.

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THEPROGRAMME

Saints Fencing is one of the University’s high performance clubs and offers structured class sessions in all three

weapons – Foil, Epee and Sabre.

The University of St Andrews Fencing Club has a long and successful history within Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS). The club currently fields two Women’s teams and two Men’s teams in the BUCS Championship, with the Men’s A Team competing in the

Premier Division.

Team selections are based upon individual performance within the club’s team try-out events and other external tournaments. A holistic integrated approach to training is constantly being developed, monitored

and evaluated in order to increase the effectiveness of our programme. Players on each of the squads are supported by a multidisciplinary team and have access to:

- Squad training once a week - Individual coaching sessions with the Director of Fencing

- Fencing specific Strength and Conditioning sessions supervised by accredited S&C coaches- Sports science, nutritionists, massage therapists, physiotherapists and sports psychologists- Regular video analysis throughout the season

- Competitive fixtures throughout the season, with team matches typically being fought on a Wednesday afternoon

- One week of full time pre-season training camp

Players set their own performance goals with the help of the Director of Fencing and are encouraged to enter individual tournaments regionally, nationally and where appropriate internationally – Saints Fencers have opportunities to travel and train in Hungarian, Italian and American fencing camps and clubs.

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SPORTINGFACILITIES

The University Sports Centre has recently undergone a major £14 million refurbishment and now provides some of the best sports facilities in Scotland.

St Andrews is currently the best fencing equipped University Salle in Scotland with six earthed pistes and international standard FIE electronic scoring apparatus that are used for matches and team training.

As a Performance Sport, the Fencing Club also gains access to full S&C support, including supervised sport-specific lifting sessions twice a week from accredited coaches. Our Strength & Conditioning Suite is dedicated to elite teams and athletes, providing a private space in which to train undisturbed. Featuring five lifting stations, a three-lane plyometric track, a throws wall and a designated ‘rehab zone’, the new strength and conditioning suite also offers video analysis technology.

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DIRECTOR OF FENCING Stan Stoodley BA

The programme is run by the Director of Fencing, Stan Stoodley, who holds an International Hungarian three weapon Fencing Master

Diploma, is a former Scottish Individual Foil Champion, a Commonwealth Team member and the Director of Coaching for Scottish Fencing.

Stan has been coaching the University Fencing Team since 2009 and was appointed as part-time Director in 2014. He has coached St Andrews fencers to first and second places at the Scottish Open, individual finalists in the BUCS

Premier Division championships, the Men’s A Team to the 2011 BUCS Premier Division final and the 2014 Women’s Team to victory in the Scottish Conference.

Stan is a coach educator for Scottish Fencing and has helped coach Junior and Senior Scottish Squads and the Scottish Saltires Pentathlon fencers.

While living in the USA he was a finalist in the Arizona Open and in 2002 was awarded ‘Teacher of the Year’ from Wichita State University’s Department of Kinesiology. In his role as a Director for Scottish Fencing he helped set up workshops for the coaching of wheelchair fencing and has organised courses for refereeing.

In recent years Stan has been regularly travelling to Italy to study the teaching methodologies of one of the world’s leading fencing nations.

THEDIRECTOR

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LEADERSHIP &

DEVELOPMENTThe Saints Leaders training and education programme provides opportunities for student athletes studying at St Andrews to add value to their university education, by supporting personal development, enhancing leadership qualities and equipping students with transferable skills and qualifications that will serve them well beyond the world of academia.

Sessions are delivered throughout the year and include topics such as thinking styles, mind-set and leadership. In addition to these sessions, individuals are able to reflect on and critically analyse their own performance as leaders with the support of their sport-specific Director and help promote a positive, progressive and ambitious culture within sports clubs.

Students also have a variety of opportunities to gain National Governing Body Qualifications by becoming involved with one of our student pathways.

- Student Performance Pathway - Student Coaching Pathway- Student Refereeing Pathway- Student Armourer

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OPPORTUNITIES

The University provides many opportunities for students to gain coaching qualifications

during their time at St Andrews, running subsidised courses each year.

Our coach education programme is setup to allow students to develop their coaching and teaching skills in various training environments

throughout the year. Students are encouraged to take the next level when appropriate and the University can offer considerable subsidies towards

course fees.

Once students have developed their skills they can begin to work within the club and help coach less experienced members ; and as part of the Club’s

Community Engagement & Volunteering programme, coach at schools in the local neighbourhood.

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THE ST ANDREWSEXPERIENCEFor more than 600 years, the University of St Andrews has

established a reputation as one of the world’s leading research and teaching centres.

Today, the University offers a flexible degree structure based on your choice of subject specialism or research, creating an environment which nurtures inquisitive minds and a culture of sharing.

St Andrews provides a unique location for a very special university. Wherever you walk you are reminded of its rich and colourful history with buildings both ancient and modern. The beautiful unspoilt beaches with fresh clean air and wide expanse of sky provide the perfect antidote to the classroom or laboratory.

Programmes are available at undergraduate and postgraduate level; there are currently over 900 undergraduate degree programmes and over 100 Masters opportunities across our academic Schools. Each School offers supervised PhD and MPhil research with input from leading academic staff.

There are plenty of opportunities to meet the University staff, both in St Andrews and elsewhere. Whether you have questions about your application or student life, you can do so no matter where you live.

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GET INTOUCH

FIND US ONLINE AT:E: fencing@st-andrews.ac.uk

www.saints-fencing.com @UStAFencing

Stan StoodleyDirector of Fencing

University Sports CentreSt Leonards Road St Andrews, Fife

KY16 9DY, ScotlandUnited Kingdom

E: ss206@st-andrews.ac.ukT: +44(0)7720 860461

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Saints SportUniversity Sports CentreSt Leonards RoadFife, Scotland, UKKY16 9DY

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sportE: sport@st-andrews.ac.ukT: +44(0)1334 462190

@SaintsSport

Produced by Print & Design, University of St Andrews, January 2020.Printed by Winter & Simpson on a 100% recycled paper.Photographs by India Basagni, Harry Gunning, Gabrielle Levey, Natalie Griff iths Van Der Mscht, Maddie Tarr and Oli Walker. The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532.