United States Fencing Association

Application Process for USFA RYC Regional Coordinator

 The USFA National Office must receive all applications for the 12 RYC Regional Coordinator positions by Friday February 3^rd 2006

 Include full contact information, the specific region applying for and information supporting your ability to perform the job, as described below.

 MAIL:  United States Fencing Association

            Andrea Lagan

1 Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

 FAX:   (719) 632 5737

 EMAIL: [email protected]

The YDC and the USFA and the USFA Manager of Youth Programs will review all applications.  The final decision will be made by the YDC.  All applicants will be notified by February 15^th as to the decision of the YDC.  An official announcement will be posted on www.USFARYC.org no later than February 17^th 2006.

 All applicants are subject to a background check.

 Regional Youth Coordinator – Job Description

Regional Youth Circuit Coordinators (“Coordinators”) represent a volunteer position reporting to the USFA Manager of Youth Programs.  The Youth Development Committee (“YDC”) in conjunction with the USFA Manager of Youth Programs is responsible for selecting one Coordinator for each Region.  This is a 2-year commitment.

The role of the Coordinator is outlined below.  The YDC will consider a number of different criteria when selecting a Coordinator.  Two of the most important include:  knowledge of clubs in the Region and their capability to host a RYC tournament; and the ability to act in an unbiased and independent fashion with respect to selecting tournament hosts and administering the RYC program in the Region.  The YDC reserves the right to replace a Coordinator who does not act in the best interests of youth fencers in their Region as determined by the YDC.

There are four main requirements of a Coordinator. 

1. The Coordinator must provide a schedule of RYC tournaments in their Region.  That schedule must consider the USFA calendar and any Super Youth Circuit tournaments that have been previously scheduled. 

2. The Coordinator must provide the YDC with the results of every RYC held in their Region, within two weeks of its completion.  The YDC will provide report forms for RYC events.

3. The Coordinator and all clubs hosting a RYC tournament must be current members of the USFA.

4. The Coordinator is the point of contact for Regions.  All schedule information and updates must come from the Coordinator.

The YDC understands that the USFA and its Regions are comprised of clubs and Coordinators with different levels of resources and different numbers of fencers within their Region.  These guidelines are intended to provide Coordinators with the flexibility to schedule and administer their Region in a way that best serves the needs of their youth fencers.  These guidelines, however, are also intended to provide a minimum level of quality for RYC programs established in each Region, and the Coordinator is expected to carefully consider them.

There should be a minimum of four RYC tournaments in each Region.  If a different number of RYC tournaments are needed for the Region, the Coordinator must request approval from the YDC before completing the RYC schedule for the Region. 

As part of the process of establishing the regional RYC calendar, the Coordinator should identify other tournaments in the Region that might conflict with each RYC, if any.

The Coordinator should consider soliciting bids from clubs asking to host a RYC tournament.  This will depend upon the Coordinator’s familiarity with all the clubs in the Region, and the number of clubs interested in becoming a host.  If there are many clubs interesting in hosting a RYC, it might be necessary to establish a rotating schedule of clubs so that all those interested and capable of hosting a RYC have an opportunity to do so.  Clubs that perform poorly as RYC tournament hosts should not be asked to host future events until the Coordinator feels they are ready to do so again.

In selecting clubs to host a RYC tournament, the quality of referees is an important consideration.  The availability of qualified and/or rated referees varies greatly from one Region to another.  A host club might need assistance from the Coordinator in locating qualified referees.  In addition, the Coordinator and host club should consider contacting the Fencing Officials Commission (“FOC”) and arrange referee training and/or testing during the RYC tournament.  While many youth fencers will be too young to take the referees test, adults and others can take the opportunity to do so, and the youth fencers can benefit from training by learning the correct rules as part of their development in the sport.

The facilities used to host a RYC tournament are important to their smooth conduct, and to the quality of experience provided to the competitors.  While that is important in every tournament, it is especially important at a RYC tournament since a significant number of fencers are competing for the first time.  An enjoyable experience for fencers and their parents plays a critical role in their continuation in the sport, and attendance in other RYC tournaments in the Region.  Consideration should be given to the number of strips, but also to room for fencers’ equipment and families, adequate space between strips and at the end of strips.  RYC Guidelines will be provided by the YDC.

The Coordinator should communicate with host clubs throughout the fencing season.  It is suggested that Coordinators create a web site for their Regions with a calendar, regional point standings and other information that would likely be important to the youth fencers and their families.  The Coordinator should provide every RYC host club a copy of RYC Guidelines.  The Coordinator should be available to discuss, and help resolve, any problems or conflicts that arise related to a RYC that is held in their Region.

To the extent possible, the Coordinator should attend each RYC in their Region.  If they cannot attend, arrangements should be made for another person to attend and provide a report or comments related to the organization and operation of the RYC.

The YDC values your comments and suggestions.  Please do not hesitate to contact the YDC throughout the season.  Contact information is available on the Youth Development Committee’s web site at www.usfaryc.org

 2006-2008 Regions