Endūre Mentality Announced as Official Mental Fitness Partner of USA Fencing Referees and Support Staff

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fencing referees work under pressure to keep athletes safe and matches fair. But they know that the most stressful moments in life don’t always happen on the strip. Referees and other tournament officials face unique challenges before, during and after competitions. 

Now, thanks to a new partnership with Endūre Mentality, USA Fencing referees will have access to a game-changing resource to support their mental fitness.

USA Fencing is proud to announce Endūre Mentality as its Official Mental Fitness Partner for Referees. This partnership, part of our commitment to support referees both on and off the strip, will offer free mental fitness services to all registered USA Fencing referees.

On top of serving our referees, USA Fencing is also happy to offer the same to others who serve support functions in our sport, including armorers, sports medicine professionals, bout committee members and coaches. (For coaches, the service is offered to coaches who have also passed a referee exam in at least one weapon.)

Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, underscored the importance of this initiative.

“Referees play an essential role in the success of every bout, and they often carry the weight of those tough, high-pressure moments,” Andrews says. “Partnering with Endūre Mentality gives us a meaningful way to prioritize their mental fitness, ensuring that our referees feel supported not just during competitions, but every step in between.”

Endūre Mentality specializes in helping individuals develop mental strength to meet the demands of sports and life. Their services include therapy and coaching to address stress, anxiety, and mental blocks, as well as specialized support for sports injuries and high-stakes performance moments.

“We are pleased to be partnering with USA Fencing to provide this critical service for referees and other support staff,” says Shannon Noe, Licensed Professional Counselor at Endūre Mentality. “We have always valued the important role that referee’s play and recognize how challenging it can be to have to make difficult decisions in such high stakes situations. Our goal is to create a space for you to feel seen, heard, and appreciated as well as offer strategies to strengthen your mental fitness in the moments before, during and after competition.”   

This free service is available to USA Fencing registered referees. Additionally, Endūre Mentality’s services will be available for coaches (who have passed a referee exam in at least one weapon), armorers, sports medicine staff and bout committee members in recognition of the vital roles they serve.

Endūre Mentality provides a range of services tailored to athletes, coaches, and teams. Their offerings include individual and small group sessions to build mental resilience, presentations on team mental fitness, and specialized support for athletes recovering from injury or navigating high-pressure performance environments.

For more information or to take advantage of these services, visit this link and click on the “Coaches & Referee Access” button on the top right hand corner.