IABA has taken part today in the first workshop of Student Sport Ireland’s Women’s Coaching Academy.
The Women’s Student Coaching Academy is a collaborative programme between Sport Ireland, Student Sport Ireland, 27 Third Level Institution Campuses and 17 National Sporting Bodies. The programme provides one year of support to female students who wish to develop to be a top coach in their sport. The aim of the programme is to provide a support system around the female student coach enabling them to develop and reach their coaching potential. Furthermore, the programmes aims to increase the number and visibility, of female coaches in third level institutions and create female role models to inspire other female students to progress into coaching.
While the programme is in it’s 4th year, this is the first time that boxing has been available as an option for participants to chose to coach as part of the academy.
Two students have been selected by their universities for a place on the academy to become boxing coaches: Laura Kidd McEntee (TU Dublin Tallaght Campus) and Giada Franzolini (TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus). Both women will take the first step on their coaching pathway by sitting the IABA’s Fundamentals: Assistant Coach course in November. Both are planning to set up and run women’s only boxing classes on their respective campuses.
IABA’s Women in Sport Lead, Sophie Doolan – who is a graduate of the Academy, and IABA National Development Manager James Geraghty, attended today’s first workshop.