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Instructor Standards

Instructors at Steel Crown Historical Fencing are entrusted with the safety, development, and long-term growth of both students and the organization. Teaching is not treated as status or authority, but as responsibility and service to the club and its members.

All instructors are expected to uphold the following standards.

1. Student-Centered Instruction

Instructors are expected to prioritize the growth, safety, and development of students above personal ego, status, or recognition.

Instruction should:

  • Encourage learning and curiosity
  • Create a productive training environment
  • Support students at all skill levels
  • Maintain professionalism during classes and events

An instructor's role is to develop capable fencers and future contributors to the club.

2. Technical Competence and Continued Growth

Instructors should demonstrate:

  • A strong understanding of the material they teach
  • The ability to safely demonstrate techniques
  • A willingness to continue learning and improving

No instructor is expected to know everything. However, instructors are expected to remain open to study, discussion, and continued development in both historical understanding and practical application.

3. Integrity in Teaching

Instructors should teach with honesty, humility, and clarity.

Historical source material, interpretation, competitive application, and personal opinion should be communicated responsibly and without misrepresentation. Instructors should avoid presenting speculation or personal interpretation as unquestionable fact.

Competitive experience, experimentation, and pressure testing are encouraged as part of the learning process. Instructors should remain open to discussion, continued study, and refinement of both their teaching and fencing.

4. Professionalism and Conduct

Instructors are expected to:

  • Treat students and fellow instructors with respect
  • Avoid abusive, demeaning, or hostile behavior
  • Maintain composure during disagreements
  • Represent the club professionally both in and out of training environments

Instructors should contribute to a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and sportsmanship.

5. Safety Responsibility

Safety is a core responsibility of every instructor.

Instructors are expected to:

  • Enforce equipment standards
  • Calibrate intensity appropriately
  • Stop unsafe behavior immediately
  • Prioritize student wellbeing over competitive intensity

Unsafe conduct, reckless behavior, or habitual disregard for safety standards is unacceptable.

6. Leadership Through Example

Instructors should model the behavior expected of students through:

  • Humility
  • Discipline
  • Preparedness
  • Sportsmanship
  • Consistent effort

Leadership is earned through conduct and contribution, not titles alone.

7. Stewardship of the Club

Instructors are expected to positively contribute to the long-term health of the organization by:

  • Supporting fellow instructors
  • Helping develop future leaders
  • Sharing knowledge openly
  • Prioritizing the success of the club over personal politics or influence

The strength of the organization is built collectively.