Steve Symons has been coaching fencing for over 30 years. He first received his coaching certification in England while working with Maitre Mike Law. After relocating to Canada in 1983, he worked with Maitre Claude Seguin in Saskatoon, where he assisted in the Saskatoon Fencing Club. After moving to Ottawa in 1985, he developed his coaching skills with Maitre Manuel Guittet in the Excalibur Fencing Club and was concurrently the head coach for Carleton University Fencing Club. Moving back to western Canada in 1988, Steve took a break from coaching and some years later took up residence with Excalibur Fencing Club, Winnipeg as head coach. When Excalibur fencing club split into foil and epee groups, Steve took the foil group and established Phoenix Fencing Club, Winnipeg where he now coaches foil.
Steve is a fully certified experienced NCCP level III coach in foil with many modules of the NCCP level IV masters course completed. Steve also has coaching certification in epee and sabre, although he prefers to focus on the one weapon. He is also a certified coaching course conductor and a certified examiner.
Steve has also been involved over the last 20 years in the Manitoba Fencing Association where he has held many positions including President, V Technical and VP Finance.
For the last 5 years Steve has been the President of the Canadian Fencing Federation, a position he currently continues to hold.
Steve holds an FIE international licence as a referee and is nationally qualified as a foil referee.
Our Club Coaches:
Phoenix Fencing Club prides itself on a full rounded set of programmes where we develop coaches and referees concurrently with our athletes. Currently, our developing coaches are:
Marlies Tibbs
Marlies is developing her skills both as a coach and a referee in foil. Working towards her certification at the aide moniteur level, Marlies has been coaching for two years and is mentored by the provincial coach Ayach Bounachada. Marlies will be delivering a 'Learn to Fence' programme targeted towards young athletes.
Adrian Symons
Adrian is currently an aide-moniteur coach and a member of the Manitoba High Performance programme in foil. Adrian assists one evening per week and covers if Steve is absent.