Register now: Fueling Success.

20/01/2025IABA NewsIABA

IABA’s Women in Sport Officer Sophie Doolan is hosting a keynote event focusing on nutrition on Sunday, January 26^th, Fuelling Success. This event is open to boxers, coaches and parents.

This panel discussion will be MC’d by Paris Olympian Grainne Walsh, of St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, and follows on from her participation in the Sport Ireland’s Body Composition: More than a Number Campaign, which you can watch here:

The panel will be composed of Paris Olympians and will be discussing how they make weight and manage eating for performance and how this has evolved for them throughout their careers.

The panel will be followed by a presentation on key nutrition points by Dr. Sharon Madigan, Head of Performance Nutrition at Sport Ireland Institute – Sharon has worked with boxing for 20 years, through 5 Olympic Games, and numerous World and European campaigns.

Date: January 26^th

Time: 2.30pm

Location: the Carlton Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Booking: https://shout.com/s/imRYFHdI

For more information, contact WIS Lead, Sophie Doolan via sophie@iaba.ie

Closing soon: Texaco Support for Sport Awards.

20/01/2025IABA NewsIABA

Boxing clubs are being invited to apply to the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.

The Texaco Support for Sport initiative is designed to recognise the important contribution that sports clubs make within Irish society by supporting them in a manner that can benefit them most, through the presentation of a cash prize. It offers 1 (one) sports club based in each county within the Republic of Ireland an opportunity to win a cash prize of €5,000 (Five thousand euros).

Click here to view promotional terms and conditions.

Who is eligible to enter?

Sporting bodies who have been granted tax exemption under Section 235 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and are featured on a list published by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners on 30th June 2024 are eligible to apply. Click here for details.

Can Northern Ireland sport clubs apply for an award?

Unfortunately, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is only open to sports clubs based in the Republic of Ireland and entry is not available to clubs that are based in Northern Ireland.

What could my Club win?

There will be a prize available for every county in the Republic of Ireland. One sports club per county will win a cash prize of €5,000 (Five thousand euros) once the initiative’s entrance criteria are fully met.

How many prizes are available to be won?

There will be 1 (one) prize available per county in the Republic of Ireland. The total amount of prizes available is 26 (twenty-six).

What should I be aware of before making an application on behalf of my Club?

Sports clubs that are based in the Republic of Ireland, affiliated to a sporting association or federation in the Republic of Ireland and are represented by a duly authorised individual are eligible to apply.

Applications from sports clubs who have previously applied for or received a Texaco Sportstars Bursary are permitted but those received from clubs who have previously been awarded a Texaco Support for Sport award will not be accepted.

Applicants must hold a valid GS Exemption Number (Games and Sports Exemption Number) issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in respect of sports bodies who have been granted tax exemption under Section 235 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Sports clubs must feature on the list published by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners on the 30th June 2024. Click here for details.

Work in Boxing: Regional Performance Head Coach.

20/01/2025IABA NewsIABA

IABA has a vacancy for a Regional Head Performance Coach for the Ulster High Performance (UHP), who will lead the regional performance programme and support the National High-Performance Programme when required.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has a proud tradition of success, being Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport and Northern Ireland’s most successful Commonwealth Games sport. The Regional Head Performance Coach will play a pivotal role in leading the NI team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow delivering on continued success for NI and the IABA.

The Ulster High Performance unit is located at the Ulster University Sport Village, in collaboration with Sport Institute Northern Ireland (SINI).The Regional Head Performance Coach will be experienced coach that will take a leadership role in the day-to-day coaching of athletes, assuring national alignment working across both programmes as needed. They will play a pivotal role in developing quadrennial and annual training and competition plans for elite, transitional, and youth boxers, ensuring the programme at Ulster High Performance is fully aligned with the national programme.

The Regional Head Performance Coach will support the National Boxing programme on a negotiated basis, working at the High-Performance Unit (HPU) at the Sport Institute Ireland.

Job Description and Personal Specification
Role Purpose:	The Head Coach, in partnership with the Regional Performance Manager, will lead and manage all aspects of the Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) Medals & More Programme (MMP). They will also serve as Head Performance Coach for the Commonwealth Games, overseeing the quadrennial and specific competition plans to ensure the Ulster High Performance (UHP) programme meets MMP targets. Additionally, they will assume the Head Coach role or mentor Ulster coaches for competitions where Northern Ireland or Ulster competes independently.
Location:	Ulster University Sports Village, Jordanstown, BT37 0QB with travel domestic and overseas.
Hours of work:	The successful candidate is expected to work 40 hours per week. Given the nature of the position, flexible working arrangements are necessary. Such arrangements will be discussed and approved with the line manager. The employee will not receive any additional payment for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week but may be permitted to take time off in lieu of such excess hours worked, if agreed with the line manager.
Contract:	2 Years Fix Term with the possibility of 2-year extension depending on funding. Six-month period of probation will apply.
Salary	Negotiable depending on qualification/experience

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Training, Planning, and Development

Oversee quadrennial planning and execution of UHP training programs and competitions, including the development of schedules for domestic and international camps. Collaborate with High-Performance Unit Managers and the National Head Coach to manage athlete welfare, logistical arrangements, and support planning for benchmark events like the Olympic Games and World Championships.
National Alignment: Ensure alignment of practices in Ulster with the national program by collaborating with the National Head Coach and performance coaches.
Athlete Development & Profiling: Work with National and Regional Performance Managers to create an athlete profiling matrix for selection and development, focusing on technical, tactical, physical, and psychological growth.
Competition Leadership: Assume the role of Head Coach for the Commonwealth Games and other competitions, including appointing support coaches.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Collaboration: Lead and coordinate with SINI practitioners to provide comprehensive Sports Science and Medicine support for UHP athletes, ensuring optimal delivery within the Daily Performance Environment.
Coach Development: Support coach development initiatives, such as the Paris Pool Coach Programme and Ulster Pool Coach Programme, by identifying key themes for progression.
National Team Support: Assist the national team under the direction of the Performance Director and National Head Coach during daily training or international competitions.

Programme Management and Development

Programme Management: Work with the Regional Performance Manager to design programme plans, set KPIs, and manage the budget and resources for High Performance in Ulster.
Performance Pathway Alignment: Collaborate with the National programme to ensure alignment between Ulster and national programmes, working simultaneously to enhance overall athlete performance across both programmes.

Partnership and Networking

Work harmoniously with IABA staff, Ulster Boxing Council, Sport Northern Ireland, Sport Ireland, and Ulster University on both high-performance matters and broader organisational initiatives.
Support the National Performance Director in strengthening the relationships with the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland, NI Commonwealth Games Association and other key partners who support the Ulster programme and athletes
Take the lead role in developing and mentoring coaches who are working with identified athletes and emerging talent, and contribute to planning and coach development initiatives when required by the National Performance Director
Adhere to existing policies and contribute to the development of organisational and operational frameworks and processes that deliver a high level of duty of care to athletes and drive adherence to Irish Athletic Boxing Association’s principles of athlete/staff welfare and well-being
Assist (when required) in the recruitment of staff aligned to the Ulster programme
Support colleagues who have a lead role in the organisation, promotion and development of a coach, parent and/or athlete education programme through workshops, seminars and camps.

Miscellaneous

Attend all necessary IABA meetings as requested by the National Performance Director
Engage positively in a personal performance development plan, actively identifying new areas for learning and committing to a culture of continual improvement
Work cooperatively with IABA and Ulster office staff, primary partners and sponsors to support marketing and promotional activities and media requirements
Any other reasonable duties as required by the National Performance Director.

Personal Specification

Essential Criteria

Have gained a 2 Star Coaching Qualification or higher
5 years’ experience working within High Performance Programmes that contributed to international performance at major competitions such as Olympics, Worlds, Europeans and Commonwealth Games.
Experience of leading at competitions which includes periodisation planning for athletes to maximise their performances at a grade A higher competition.
Demonstrate high level of knowledge for amateur boxing with specific regard coaching technical and tactical development, Performance Pathway and Periodisation Planning.
Ability to lead and collaborate with a performance team that includer Sports Science and Sports Medicine
Proficient in Microsoft and Other Software Packages
Understanding and knowledge of funding systems in Northern Ireland and Ireland including programme and athlete

Desirable Criteria

Experience of contributing to the development of performance pathway that aids sustainable performances
Experience of mentoring and developing coaches throughout the coaching pathway including workshops, seminars and 1-1s.
Experience in developing funding submissions including athlete funding and programme funding.

Application Process

Interested persons are invited to submit the following by email to hr@iaba.ie:

Resume including 2 referees
Cover letter outlining how they meet the essential skills and qualifications by providing examples of how they have previously fulfilled the duties and responsibilities of this type of role

Application closing date: Monday 20^th January 2025 at 1pm

Anticipated Interview Dates: Between 27^th January – 7^th February 2025

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post holder is required to undergo Safeguarding Training, to be agreed with the Head of Safeguarding. The successful candidate will be required to complete the necessary Access NI checks prior to appointment. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is an equal opportunities employer.

http://iaba.ie/site3/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IABA-Regional-Head-Performance-Coach-10-1-2025.pdf

Drum roll, please: St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin, will be the subject of the IABA Seconds Out film

19/01/2025IABA NewsIABA

Filming of Seconds Out: The Story of YOUR Club will take place at St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin, following two phases of voting, open to all clubs, units and members of the public.

IABA has produced and published a series of films in 2024, sharing the stories of Irish boxing, called Seconds Out. This has included profiles of Connacht’s Gus Farrell, Munster’s Anna Moore, Ulster’s Eugene Duffy, a peak inside High Performance, a profile on the work of R&Js at National Championships, a Day in the Life snapshot of High Performance athlete, Niamh Fay and profiles of the Paris 2024 team. You can watch all of the pieces HERE

Now, IABA wishes to profile and platform a successfully affiliated club within the Association. Given the sheer number of incredible clubs, clubs and their members will, themselves, vote for the club to be profiled. In Phase One, votes could be cast for any club. In Phase Two, the top five clubs would go forward for a second round of voting, and the club with the most votes would be the subject of the final Seconds Out film.

1,696 votes were cast for 83 clubs in Phase One, between December 23rd and January 3rd. 70 clubs received under 10 votes; 5 clubs received between 10 and 80 votes; 7 clubs received over 80 votes.

The top five clubs were: Churchlands Golden Gloves, Ballinacor BC, Marble City, Monivea and St. Catherine’s. Ballinacor BC unfortunately, had withdrawn from the process as its clubhouse is undergoing renovations on the filming dates. In consultation with the Officer Board of Central Council, the club with the 6th highest number of votes took 5th place – Smithfield BC.

Phase Two voting, after which the film would be awarded, opened on January 15th and closed at midday today. A staggering 7,591 votes were cast. The winning club, St. Catherine’s secured 2,379 votes – or 31.3% of the total.