A provisional calendar of Fundamentals: Assistant Coach course, up to October, is being shared. Provision of coaching course is dependent on the availability of Coach Tutors, who deliver the course. As provision of coaching course is dependent on the availability of Coach Tutors, this calendar will be up-dated as availability is confirmed.

Upon completion, Assistant Coaches:

• Are eligible to assist any level 1 coach or above in their boxing club.
• Are insured to coach within their boxing club.
• Can sit as number one in the corner for club, county and provincial competition.
• Can sit as number two to Level 1 coaches and above at national competition.
• Are eligible to assist in delivering schools boxing programmes.

Month	Course 1	Location	Course 2	Location
February	25th	Ulster
March	23rd	Munster
April	13th	Leinster	20th	Leinster
May	19th	Connacht	25th	Munster
June	30th	Connacht
July
August	25th	Connacht
September
October	27th	Connacht
November
December

Any member of any successfully affiliated club who wishes to qualify as a Fundamentals: Assistant Coach course can express their interest here. All coaches are required to be Garda Vetted/Access NI checked. All coaches are also required to undergo Safeguarding training.

With regard to the roll-out of Level One coaching courses, the content remains under review by the applicable Sport Ireland committee. This is the same process that all coaching courses in all sports undergo before release to their respective sporting communities. A calendar of Level One coaching courses will be released as soon as the content of the course has completed it’s Sport Ireland review period.

Those with Fundamentals: Assistant Coaching courses must gain at least 6 months of experience before applying to undertake IABA Level 1 (Club Coach) certification, on it’s release

As provision of coaching course is dependent on the availability of Coach Tutors, IABA’s Coach Education Committee is seeking nominations from Provincial Units for Coach Tutors; the selection policy is below and any queries can be directed to National Development Manager, James Geraghty, James@iaba.ie

Robbie O’Sullivan and Joseph Lowe have attained IBA 1 Star R&J qualifications.

Robbie and Joe completed a 7-day certification course in La Nucia, Spain from 29 January to 3 February
last. Their certification was confirmed this week.

IBA 1 Star R&Js may officiate at U22, U14 and Junior continental competitions. IBA 2 Star R&Js may officiate at Youth continental competitions and any qualifying event for World event, while IBA 3 Star R&Js may officiate at the European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games in addition to IBA World tournaments.

The Officer Board of the Central Council would like to extend congratulations to Barry on his qualification.

To reduce the workload on clubs and coaches in arranging printing, completion and return of competition waivers and codes of conduct, and the workload on weigh-in officials in managing collection of these documents, both documents have been converted to an online process.

Please share this link with parents/guardians of all boxers contesting the 2024 National BG4 Championships. It is shareable by email, text message or WhatsApp.

https://shout.com/s/xQMaPYqB

Please ask parents/guardians to complete the link by February 29^th. Review and signing takes under 3 minutes. It is a condition of competition that these documents are digitally signed by parents/guardians and boxers. Hardcopy of the waiver and code of conduct have been attached, for your information.

For queries or comments on this process, please contact IABA National Safeguarding Manager, Stephen Flynn – stephen@iaba.ie

IABA intends to live-stream this competition, with our partners StreamSport and JW Player, and completion of waiver/consent forms for both boxers in a given bout is required for streaming to occur.

Competition Arrangements

These were communicated by National Secretary, Antoinette Fay McClean, to all provincial units on February 2^nd.

Boxing: March 01^st, 02^nd, 3^rd.  Boy/Girl 4. Dates are subject to change, dependent on entries.

Venue: Castlerea Boxing Club – precise location here

Weigh-In & Medical: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9am to 12pm Boxers will weigh in each day they box

Draw:  Tuesday 27^th February. The draw will be viewable by Zoom, and the applicable link will issue to all clubs on February 26^th. Following the live draw, the footage will be up-loaded to IABA’s YouTube channel

Male Weights:

Boy 4:  27kg; 29kg; 31kg; 33kg; 36kg; 39kg; 42kg; 44kg; 46kg; 48kg; 50kg; 52kg; 54kg; 57kg; 60kg; 63kg; 66kg; 70kg; 75kg; 80kg; 85kg; 91kg; 91+kg.

Female Weights:

Girl 4: 25kg, 27kg, 29kg, 31kg, 33kg, 35kg, 37kg, 39kg, 41kg, 43Kg, 45kg, 47kg, 49kg, 51kg, 53kg, 55kg, 57kg, 59kg, 61kg, 63kg, 66kg, 68kg, 70kg, 72kg, 75kg, 75+kg.

Rounds: Boxing will be 3 x 1 ½ minute rounds for Boy/Girl 4

Entry Fee: A €15 entry fee applies. This fee will be collected from all boxers at the weigh-in on their first day of boxing. Boxers must also give their Boxing Record Book to National Registrar and Chief Official Phillip Rooney at their initial weigh-in.

Anti-Doping: Boxers must provide details of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the competition.

Attention is called to the stipulation in the IABA Rule book that each boxer presented by his/her club shall be fit to box. This is the responsibility of the club.

Attire:   Coaches must wear tracksuits and runners in their corners at all sessions and endeavour to set a high standard of hygiene. No Shorts, Caps or Hats are allowed.

N.B. It is a condition of entry that all boxers and their clubs have signed and submitted the Members Acknowledgement Form and it is the responsibility of the entering unit that this stipulation is complied with. 

Gumshields: Red/Orange/Pink or variations of these colours are not allowed. Hair must be tied back, and swimming hats or hairnets should be worn under the headgear for boxers with long hair. 

Sportsmanship: All decisions must be accepted in a sporting manner. Any complaints must be addressed to the Chief Official, Mr. Philip Rooney. Please show respect to all Ringside Officials   

Kellie Harrington’s training and preparation for her second Olympic Games, at which she will seek to retain her lightweight title, is intense. Here, she shares the vital role self-care plays in striking the balance that best benefits her and her boxing.

“I actually started up a walking group just after Covid, there. And there’s a group of people from all over, all over Dublin, really, and sometimes they come from different counties. We’ll all meet up and go for a hike somewhere. Sometimes we don’t even go for a hike, we just meet up and have breakfast and just chat about anything, really. And I find that that’s is actually really helpful because they’re not people that you see every day. They’re not strangers, either, but it’s actually easier to talk to people who you don’t see every day. So it’s really nice – a nice way of letting off a bit of steam. And I also bring the dogs with me – they’re getting a walk in, as well. And, you know, going home and having me dogs there all the time, it’s the best thing in the world, because they listen to you all the time.”

Kellie, after her semi-final in Tokyo, said “The last mile is never crowded and that’s the way it does feel sometimes. It does feel very lonely, but I suppose that’s the difference to be able to hold on in there and keep it going.” It is that instinct, that perseverance and drive, that brought her gold. And, she added before her Olympic final “I’ve had heartbreak. I know what it is to fail and I know how hard it is to pick yourself back up after that. This is why I am who I am, and why I am here today, because I’m not afraid of failure. I know what it is. I’m Kellie Harrington. I’m myself and I make my own pathway.”

Kellie became a double Olympian during the 2023 European Games – where she qualified for Paris and came home with lightweight gold. Throughout this series, as Kellie prepares for the Paris Games, she will share the habits she has built, in the ring, in training and in life, that set her apart.

This includes how she stays motivated, how she uses nutrition, S&C and roadwork to make the most of her boxing skills, how she plans her training within the High Performance framework, supported by Sport Ireland, how she balances a demanding training schedule, her self-care and mental health practices.

Motivation

In the first episode of The Last Mile, Kellie shared how she finds her motivation at this stage in her career “My motivation comes from the fact I have a target on my back at the moment – and I really need to work hard, as I am the target. I just wanna be better, every day. Not by a long mile, but by a very, very small percent; not even one percent, smaller than that. And, as long as I keep making those little small adjustments, then, I’ll be happy – but, if I can’t make the adjustments, then we have to go back and we have to wonder why and try and fix that problem but my motivation is that I am the target and I’ll have to keep getting better, keep improving. Bit by bit. Day by day.”

Roadwork

And in the second episode, Kellie shared her experience of roadwork, an element of her training she finds difficult “Honestly, roadwork, its not my cup of tea, at all. But, I know – actually, before I have a running session; if we have a running session on Wednesday, before on Tuesday, the night before, I’ll be tossing and turning with the anxiety of having roadwork on a Wednesday morning. It really isn’t my cup of tea. I’m not the worst at it but I get so – I get a knot in my tummy before I do it. But I also know that it’s so beneficial and I feel if I’m doing roadwork, it’s specific roadwork – I’m not going out and pounding the pavements. Everything is specific to what we are doing. Our (S&C) Coach, John Cleary, he would have our running programme sorted for us before we even turn up. So, it could be three 3 minutes – and you’ve to, not go all out because it’s impossible to do that, but go fast, maybe 90% of your pace for the three minutes. Other times, then, we’ll do 3 800s. So, we should be getting them under 3 minutes by the time it comes around to doing 3 800s. So, when I’m finished, after all that anxiety the night before and turning up and absolutely dreading it, I’m just so happy and relieved that it’s been and its done. But I also use it when I’m running – it’s a mindset thing, because running, for me, is extremely hard. So, I feel like, if I’m able to get up, drag myself to the running track and do that session then I can totally get up, drag myself to that ring and fight anyone in the world.”

Mindset

In the third episode, Kellie spoke about mindset “Mindset is a really, really big thing in boxing because, at the end of the day, when you step in between those ropes, it’s just you and your opponent. The way I work with getting my mind right, and set, and straight before I get in in between the ropes – for instance, I spoke about running there and, I’m not gonna say I don’t like it, but how it really isn’t my cup of tea, and I use that, when I’m getting in to the ring. I’m like – I’ve done that, I’ve done the hard work; I’ve gone on to the running track when I know it’s something I struggle with and that isn’t my cup of tea. And, I wasn’t actually too bad on the track when I did it, so that’s money in the bank for my mindset. It’s about being in the gym, and doing the uncomfortable things to make yourself feel comfortable. Then mindset, then, is really really strong when it needs to be strong. When you need that to be strong and at its finest is just before you step in those ropes. 45 minutes before you get in there, you need to have a really solid mindset – and I find that my training backs up my mindset”

Strength and Conditioning

In the fourth episode, Kellie shared her love of Strength and Conditioning – “S&C has played a massive role in my journey – we do S&C all year round, but, particularly before a big tournament, we will start a bloc, staring 9 or 10 weeks out. And what I really like about it is that you start to see the difference in your body and the impact that strength and conditioning is having on your body and on your performances. There is strength work, which makes you stronger, and there is conditioning work which gives you better endurance. And then you also have explosive work, as well, which you also do in your strength and conditioning sessions, and that’s just making you more. The sessions aren’t overly long or anything like that, but it is smart training. They are compacted, get in, get out, get it done…And I LOVE strength and conditioning”. Kellie’s S&C programmes are designed, delivered and monitored by Sport Ireland Sport Institute S&C Specialist, John Cleary, who has over 20 years experience in working with Elite boxers.

Nutrition

In the fifth episode, Kellie focused on nutrition – “Nutrition plays a massive role in every athlete’s sporting career, especially with boxing having to make weight and maintain the weight over a period of days in the competition” – Olympic champion and double Olympian, Kellie Harrington, is highlighting the vital role nutrition will play in her #RoadToParis.

“I always find the better food that you eat, the more energy you have. It’s not that I always find that – it’s true. It’s the actual truth. The better food that you eat – if you’re snacking on chocolates and biscuits and stuff; it’s just a quick release energy and then you crash. Whereas, if you have a longer period of cutting weight and eating correctly, then your energy levels start to restore themselves and get better. It makes it a lot better for you, making weight when you need to make weight. You’re not doing that three weeks before a competition, trying to lose four or five kilos, which is absolutely crazy”

Kellie’s nutrition programmes are designed, delivered and monitored by Sport Ireland Sport Institute Dr. Sharon Madigan, who has over 20 years experience in working with Elite boxers.

“I always take advice from the Nutritionists out in the Institute and Sharon Madigan – I’ve worked with Sharon for many years now at this stage. She has always given me good sound advice, and I believe in what she is telling me. And it works. “

Planning

In the sixth episode, Kellie talked about the vital importance of planning, by the High Performance Unit, Kellie and her club

“Most of the time, at the start of the year, there will be a plan done out for the High Performance Unit and for the boxers. We kind of gauge ourselves off that plan. I’m smart enough now – I know meself, I know my own body and I know what I can put myself through.

“Sometimes the plan may not work for me, but it may work for others in the gym. The reason why the (over-aching plan) may not work for me is because I’m a little bit older – so, I mind what I’m doing. Its trying to keep meself right for the big competitions. But that’s all done way in advance. Planning gets done by myself, my coach, the High Performance Coaches and the High Performance Director. We all sit down and go over it all together. After that, I go away on my own and I sit down and look at it and say right, I’m gonna tweak this, this and this. I bring it back, and everyone talks about it again – when everyone is happy, that’s the plan and we move forward.”

Planning is absolutely crucial to what you’re gonna do for the year. It’s not just for what’s going to happen in the year …every week, I’ll make a plan out of I’m gonna do. Every week, I will make a plan out of what I’m gonna to do. On the Sunday, I’ll make out what my week is going to look like from the next Monday to the next Sunday and I’ll have that planned out way ahead of the week that’s coming because you don’t want to be overtraining or undercooked, so you gotta think smart. Sometimes, less is more.”

Two key members of boxing clubs have been named County Award Recipients in the Federation of Irish Sport’s 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards

They are Mick Duddy of Ring Boxing Club, Derry and Amanda Spencer of Jobstown Boxing Club, Dublin – both were nominated through the public process underway between November 13th and December 18th, for their commitment to their clubs and local communities.

Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these dedicated volunteers will be celebrated at a national awards ceremony in Dublin on Thursday 29^th February 2024. The invited special guest speaker is Minister Thomas Byrne, Minster of State with responsibility for Sport and Physical Education, which is testament to the commitment at government level to supporting and recognising the vital role of volunteers in advancing sports participation and community development.

With a record-breaking number of entries, the 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards have seen nominations from over 50 different sporting disciplines, highlighting the widespread impact of volunteering ranging from mass participation sports to new and emerging sports. The 32 county awards will be presented, honouring outstanding volunteers from every corner of the country who have demonstrated commitment and dedication, serving as role models within their communities and inspiring others to get involved in sports volunteering.

FULL LIST OF 2023 VOLUNTEERS IN SPORT AWARDS COUNTY RECIPIENTS

County	First	Surname	Club
Antrim	Cathryn	Watson	Ballymoney Hockey Club
Armagh	Ciarán	Maguire	O’Hanlon’s LGFA
Carlow	Stephen	Dargan	Carlow FC
Cavan	Fidelma	Sheridan	Cumman Na mBunscol Co. Cavan & Erne Eagles Rounders Club
Clare	Claire	Cuddihy	Clare Comets Basketball Club and Ennis Raptors basketball Club
Cork	Eoin	Kelly	Beech Hill Table Tennis Club
Derry	Micky	Duddy	Ring Boxing Club
Donegal	Damien	Devine	Deele Community Anglers
Down	Arnold	Morgan	Banbridge Table Tennis Club
Dublin City	Henry	Gillanders	Mount Pleasant LTC
Dublin DLR	Matt	Hanlon	Dalkey Devils Volleyball Club
Dublin Fingal	Nuala	Garrihy	Fencing Ireland
Active Dublin South	Amanda	Spencer	Jobstown Boxing Club
Fermanagh	Ian	Ross	Enniskillen Rugby Club
Galway	Tony	Stephens	Claregalway GAA Club
Kerry	Lorcan	Murphy	Iveragh Athletics Club
Kildare	Roy	Baker	Irish Martial Arts & Kickboxing Ireland
Kilkenny	Ashley	Godden	Kilkenny Swimming Club
Laois	Jackie	Byrne	Mountrath St. Fintan’s GAA
Leitrim	Mary	McMorrow	Manorhamilton Community Tennis Club
Limerick	Wanda	Dwane	Mungret St Paul’s GAA Club
Longford	Ben	McCormack	Ballymahon Vocational School
Louth	Fintan	Cooper	Glen Magic Soccer Club
Mayo	Phelim	Halligan	Claremorris Ultimate Kickboxing Club
Meath	David	Quinn	Dunshaughlin Youths Football Club
Monaghan	Una	Forde	Monaghan Harps GAA
Offaly	John	Corboy	Birr Town FC
Roscommon	Philip	Gordan	Lough Ree Angling hub
Sligo	Simon	Cavanagh	GAA Handball
Tipperary	Paddy	Doyle	Moyne Athletic Club
Tyrone	Rachel	McBride	Riding For Disabled Omagh
Waterford	Sally	Kavanagh	Waterford Hockey Club
Westmeath	Nuala	Lawlor	Shoot ‘n Stars Special Olympics
Wexford	Martin	Moylan	Dunbrody Archers
Wicklow	Ruth	McDonagh	Bray Hockey Club

The economic significance of volunteering in sport cannot be overstated, it has an estimated value of €1.5 billion annually to the Irish economy. This figure underscores the immense social and economic benefits derived from the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the Irish sporting landscape.

In addition to the county individuals being recognised, anticipation will be high as one exceptional individual will be awarded with the overall Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Federation CEO Mary O’Connor commented; “We are looking forward to celebrating the exceptional contributions made by volunteers in sport from all over the country. Working behind the scenes volunteers play a crucial role in fostering community engagement, promoting physical activity, and driving the success of sporting events nationwide, they are truly #DedicatedToTheDedicated. The awards promise to be yet again another remarkable event acknowledging the time and passion of those involved in sport locally and to say, ‘thank you’ for their dedication.”