Over 60 people have qualified as boxing coaches at two separate FUNdamentals: Assistant Coach course run this weekend, in counties Wexford and Roscommon.
The Fundamentals Assistant Coach qualification, when paired with Garda Vetting/Access NI and relevant safeguarding training, will enable club coaching, acting as first corner in club, county, or provincial bouts. Fundamentals qualified coaches can sit at second corner in National Championships.
The FUNdamentals course has been developed in a collaboration between the Officer Board of Central Council, IABA Staff and veteran club coaches as members of the IABA Coach Education Committee. Members include National Secretary, Antoinette Fay McClean, IABA National Club Development Manager, James Geraghty, Committee Chairperson, Michael Hawkins of Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Belfast, Coach Tutor, Gus Farrell of Monivea Boxing Club and IABA’s Bridget Scott. The Coach Education Committee is tasked with assisting and advising the IABA’s Board of Directors in its functions relating to the development of coaching and coaches.
The inaugural Fundamentals-Assistant Coach course took place on November 12th at the National Stadium. Two more courses, on November 26th, have taken place at the home of Irish Boxing, and a fourth course was staged at Holy Trinity BC, Belfast on November 19th. Over 80 coaches qualified in these courses.
This weekend, course were held at Sacre Coeur BC, Wexford (pictured) at which 30+ Wexford based coaches qualified, and at the Hub, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, at which over 30 people became boxing caches.
The re-launched IABA Coach Education Pathway has three levels.
- Fundamentals of Coaching Boxing-Assistant Coach – This course is for people wishing to begin their coaching career and gain an excellent grounding in fundamental technical aspects of boxing. Assistant coaches may sit at second corner in championship bouts.
- Level 1 Club Coach –This course provides the minimum certification required for coaches to act as first corner in championship bouts and provides the technical grounding to enable coaches to bring boxers to competitive.
- Level 2 Performance Coach–This course provides advanced technical skills and coaching techniques to Level 1 qualified coaches.
The re-launched IABA Coach Education Pathway will follow this timetable:
Quarter Three, 2022: Fundamentals of Coaching Boxing -Assistant Coach courses will be made available.
Quarter Three, 2022-Quarter Two, 2023: Development of Level 1 Club Coach course.
Quarter Two, 2023: Level 1 Club Coach will be made available
Quarter Two, 2023-Quarter Three, 2023: Development of Level 2 Performance Coach course
Quarter Three, 2023: Level 2 Performance Coach course will be made available.