IABA’s first coaching conference of 2025 has drawn to a close – and was strongly attended by clubs from throughout the Association.
Organised by IABA Education and Training Officer Nikki Foley, this conference was aimed at empowering coaches with performance and planning up-skilling, information on nutrition and performance mindset and providing coaches with an opportunity to explore continued development in support of boxer success.
Members of Gorey, Enniscorthy, Tredagh, Lucan, Arbour Hill, Setanta, Ballybrack, Cloncastle, Tralee, Monivea, Galway, Smithfield, Ballymun, Donore, Ballymote, St. Matthew’s, Spartan, Glasnevin, Rochfortbridge, Crumlin, Knockmore/Foxford, Cherry Orchard, Cavan, Cove and Castleblaney boxing clubs attended.
The conference, held at the Conference Centre on the Sport Ireland campus, was opened by National Development Manager, James Geraghty, who also hosted a Sports Psychology session as part of the event. Education & Training Officer, Nikki Foley, gave a presentation on the Coaching Pathway, and it’s rationale, from Fundamentals to High Performance.
Sport Ireland Institute nutritionist, Eoghan Hickey, gave an extensive presentation on fuelling, recovery, maintenance and making weight and Q&A (below, left). Eoghan works directly with Boxing High Performance, and was previously Lead Performance Nutritionist with Leinster Rugby, and Team Wales HQ Nutritionist during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Sport Ireland’s Director of Coaching, Micheal McGeehin, addressed the conference on the goals of SIC, and how it supports IABA in providing high quality coaching qualifications and learning. Sport Ireland Coaching is responsible for the development of coaches at all levels of sport in Ireland in cooperation with sporting bodies. It’s vision is ‘Good coaching makes THE difference’. It’s mission includes:
- A trained and qualified coach for every participant, player or athlete
- Relevant and accessible education, training, qualifications and support for every coach
- Common national standards for coach education, training and awards.
High Performance Manager, Sean Crowley, gave the fourth presentation of the day, on planning and periodisation.. Sean, of Erne BC, is also a Sport Ireland Doping Control Officer and has been Anti-Doping Station Master for Boxing at two Olympic Games – Rio and Tokyo. He previously worked in the Irish Judo Federation. Sean, using HP’s preparations for Paris 2024 as an example, outlined how the unit plans its annual calendar of training and competition, how that calendar relates to boxers on an individual basis, and how this form of planning is transferrable to a club setting.
The fifth presentation of the day was delivered by Ciaran Ward. A two time Olympian, Ciaran is an International Judo Federation Master Coach, the former High Performance Director of Judo and is the first Sport Ireland Head of High Performance Coaching. His focus is activating initiatives within High Performance Programmes which lead to the improved recruitment and retention of talented coaches. He outlined programmes including the Pursuit of Excellence Programme, the IABA’s Paris Pool Coach programme, and Women in High Performance programme and how these projects seek to support and continue to upskill coaches throughout their professional careers. Ciaran also spoke of the vital importance of “brilliant basics” – that 90% of all coaching work is the fundamentals of boxing
National Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, gave the final presenation of the day. Zauri is in his 21st year working with Irish Boxing. During that period, 9 Irish boxers have won 10 Olympic medals, as well as numerous World and European medals. He spoke of his personal coaching philosophy, which includes that he must continue to learn, daily, in order to be able to support and develop IABA boxers at the highest level.
IABA Education and Training Officer, Nikki Foley, says “This was an important conference, and we’re delighted by how many clubs attended, and how engaged participants were throughout the day. Questions were insightful and perceptive, and really spoke to the drive for knowlege in clubs throughout the Association. “On the Front Foot” was built on the results of a Coach Assessment of Training Need survey conducted among clubs in December – coaches shared what they wanted to learn to best support their boxers, and how they wanted to access that learing. Using this information, I hope today is the first of many coaching conferences. Thanks to all of today’s speakers for sharing their time and their expertise – Eoghan, James, Sean, Michaeal, Ciaran and Zauri were superb, and really showed the breadth of knowledge that coaching requires”
