Arkady Burdan Foundation

US Fencing Referee Development Committee presents a series of educational free online sessions on SIDE by SIDE, every Saturday, at Noon ET

Our Instructors, DEREK COTTON:

PROFILE
 Started fencing in 1983 with coach Ralph Faulkner.
 Co-founder of San Diego State University’s fencing team.
 Long-time student of Ed Richards, Hezaburo Okawa, and Cole Harkness.
 Lived and trained with Hungarian National Foil Coach Sandor Beliczay in Budapest Hungary for 13 months.

PROFESSIONAL/COACHING
 Manager of Talent Acquisition with Capital Group
 Previous experience with Farmers Insurance, Egon Zehnder International, Robert Half International, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers
 Passed the moniteur d’escrime level exam for all three weapons, 1997.
 Assistant National Coach for Cadet women’s foil, 1999.
 Coach of the third place Women’s Foil Team at US National Championships, 1999.

REFEREEING AND COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE
 Received US Fencing referee’s license in 1988.
 Refereed many national finals in all three weapons.
 Received International referee’s license in 1995.
 US referee to Pan American Games, World University Games, Jr. World Championships and Senior World Championships, 1998 – 2003.
 Only US referee selected to go to Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 for the Olympic Games.
 Referee selected for the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, 1996.
 Internationally rated B referee in all three weapons.
 Member of the Fencing Officials Commission, 2001 to 2020 where:
1. Served as chair of Referee Development Committee.
2. Act as an observer and assigner at US selection tournaments.
3. Actively work to teach, train and mentor referees.
 Member of the Wheelchair Fencing Committee, 1999 – 2003.
 Member of the FIE Arbitrage Commission 2008 – 2012
 Vice Chairman of the Southern California Division, US Fencing, 2001 – 2004.
 Treasurer of US Fencing Association, 2004 – 2008
COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE
 Three-time US National finalist.
 Member of the US Men’s Foil National Championship Team, 1995.
 Five-time member of US Olympic Festival Team, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995.
 Two-time winner of Pacific Coast Sabre Circuit, 1994 – 1995.