Entries are now open for the 2024 National U18 Championship. Entries are open for a period of 22 days and will close at 5pm on January 5^th.

Please find attached the Competition Circular, Waiver/Member Acknowledgement Form and the 2024 National Youth Championships Code of Conduct. These two documents must be signed by the boxer and their parent/guardian and presented at the boxer’s first weigh-in. This is a condition of entry.

Competition Arrangements:

The 2024 National U18s Championship may be considered as an element in any potential selection process utilised in anticipation of contesting the EUBC Youth Championships, April 2^nd to April 15^th.

Dates:                                              January 11^th,12^th,13^th,14^th and 18^th, 19^th, 20^th, 21^st.    

Entries:                                            A non–refundable, non-transferrable entry fee of €20 applies, including in the event of a boxer withdrawal.  Online entry, via the Blocworx portal, is open until 5pm sharp, on Friday, January 5th. Entries will not be accepted without the payment of entry fees. All fees must be paid by 5pm on January 5th. Only boxers for whom entries have been completed and entry fees have been received will be allowed box. No late entries will be accepted.

Entry Form:                                    Affiliated clubs wishing to enter boxers into the championships must log-in to their Blocworx portal, using their unique username and password. Clubs who have not retained their username or password following the completion of their affiliation for the 2023/2024 season can contact IABA staff, Sally Ann Kinch sally@iaba.ie, James Geraghty, James@iaba.ie or Ciara Plunkett, ciara@iaba.ie

Draws:                                             Tuesday, 9^th January, 1pm in the National Stadium.  Only boxers entered through the Blocworx portal for whom fees are fully paid will be included in the draw.

Weigh-in and Medical:                

Boxers will weigh in each day they box. Individual weigh-in times may be given to participants, but this will be decided and made known prior to the event.  A medical examination will be performed on each boxer on their first day of competition. Boxing Record books to be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in.  

Weigh-in dates:

January 11^th – 14^th                 8.00am – 10.00am & 11.00am – 1.00pm

January 18^th – 21st          8.00am – 9.00am & 12.00pm – 1.00pm

Above times and dates will be dependent on entry and could change.

Boxing:               Times will be contingent on entries and shall be announced after the draw.

Duration:           Duration of rounds: Men & Women 3×3 Minutes

Weights:            

Men: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg,  92+kg

Women: 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg, 81+kg

Age Requirements:  Boxers born between 2006 and 2007, inclusive.

It is a condition of entry that all competitors and officials have a signed Waiver/Members Acknowledgement Form and adhere to any agreement made with the Association sponsors. For underage competitions, this Waiver/Members Acknowledgement form must be co-signed by the boxer’s parent/guardian. It is a condition of entry that the Code of Conduct for Young People with respect to this competition is signed by the boxer, and their parent/guardian. The fully completed Waiver/Members Acknowledgement and the Code of Conduct for Young People must be presented at the boxer’s first weigh-in.

Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the championships and all boxers must advise the doctor of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. It is imperative that all boxers adhere to the Anti-Doping Rules and Regulations. For any queries regarding this matter, boxers/coaches should contact Mr Larry Morrison, IBA Anti-Doping Officer on 086-0292476.

Non Pregnancy Declaration forms must be signed.

Attire: Boxers shall have one red and one blue vest. In accordance the IBA Technical and Competition Rule 48.7, boxers may wear form-fitting arm and/or leg coverings. Hair must be tied back and swimming hats or hairnets should be worn under the headgear for boxers with long hair. No red, orange or pink gum shields are allowed A Boxer can have a beard and moustache, but either must not cover the neck and must not be longer that 10cms, in accordance with the IBA Technical and Competition Rule 4.2.5.2.2

Coaches: They must wear track suitsandrunners at all sessions and endeavour to set a high standard of hygiene in the corners. No shorts, caps or hats are allowed.

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. A document stipulating requirements in relation to conduct, and the use of social media must be signed by all boxers and coaches at their initial weigh-in. Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be reported to the Disciplinary Officer

Please note: 

• The U18s Championship will be run under IBA Technical & Competition rules, as adopted on September 1st, 2022.  
• Referees & Judges for the U18s Championships will not be allowed enter the field of play as a coach with their club boxer.
• All Referee & Judges must bring their record books.

Competition Circular:

Waiver/Member Acknowledgement Form

Code of Conduct: 2024 National U18 Championship

Work is continuing on revising the rules which govern boxing and the governance structure of the IABA. This includes review of the IABA’s Rulebook. The existing rulebook, adopted in 2019, is below and is also published here

The members of the Rules Committee undertaking this work are:

• Art O’Brien
• Fiona Hennigan
• Tom Geraghty
• Stephen Connolly.

The committee is seeking submissions from clubs and members on any proposed changes or amendments to the existing rulebook – and these can be communicated to rules@iaba.ie.

Submissions are sought until December 21^st.

After this date, the rules@iaba.ie address will remain open for general queries and comments on all rules related matters.

IABA Rulebook – 2019

IABA-Rulebook-2019

Following the unanimous decision by clubs at IABA’s AGM on November 18th to increase the number of independent Directors on the Board of Directors from 2 (two) to 4 (four) to appoint gender representative Board, nominations are now open for the appointment of a female Member Director.

This appointment will be the third Member Director on the IABA’s Board, following on from the election of Fiona Hennigan and Darren O’Neil in December 2022. The current membership of IABA’s Board of Directors is:

• Chair (Independent): Niall O’Carroll
• President’s representative: Neil Gough
• Ulster Provincial Council representative: Charlie Toland
• Connacht Provincial Council representative: Tom Geraghty
• Munster Provincial Council representative: Ted Barry, President
• Leinster Provincial Council representative: Art O’Brien
• Directly Elected Member: Fiona Hennigan
• Directly Elected Member: Darren O’Neill

The IABA now seeks to appoint a new female board member, to ensure we have the capacity and skills to oversee the next phase of our work; to include an individual who possesses one or more of the following skills and competencies:

Experience of Finance at a senior level

Corporate Governance

Human Resources

Public Relations

Former Irish Champion Boxer with extensive major international competition/experience.

This role is an unpaid voluntary position. Board members are expected to attend between 6 and 8 board meetings per year, and to participate in the life of the organisation between board meetings. Board meetings are generally on weekday evenings in the National Stadium, or by Zoom, or in other locations as the Board elects. Positions are advertised for a period of 2 years (term may be renewed).

Please email completed nomination forms to the Nominations Committee nominations@iaba.ie by 5pm on Sunday, December 31st, 2023.

All nominations must be accompanied by:

• Cover Letter
• CV
• Completed Nominations Form:

The IABA Ulster Branch has created this new post through external funding through the Rank Foundation’s Start Here Programme and are looking for a dynamic individual to join our

team as a Female Participation Coach to deliver high quality non-contact boxing sessions in schools and community settings for women and girls in various locations across Northern Ireland

A key focus of this role is the creation of transition pathways for women and girls, linking schools, community settings and boxing clubs. This pathway has two goals: to increase the

number of women and girls taking part in boxing and increase the number of female members in local boxing clubs. The postholder will work with boxing clubs and boards across Ulster to organise and deliver activities such as ‘Try It’ for women and girls International Women’s Week.

The successful candidate w be highly organised with the ability to multi-task and manage their time in the most efficient way possible. They will also have a high level of verbal and written communication skills. This post is an initial Fixed Term Contract up to October 2025, with the possibility of extension, subject to continuation of funding.

To Apply

To apply please send your CV and a Cover Letter to HR@iaba.ie.

The closing date is 1pm 2nd January, 2024.

The IABA is an Equal Opportunities employer.

Role Description:

Officials at the 2024 National Elite Championship Finals, all of whom are volunteers. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

• Nominations open from 13^th November – 18^th December 2023
• Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships
• To nominate volunteers visit www.volunteersinsport.ie
• #dedicatedtothededicated

Boxing clubs are being invited to nominate their members for the Federation of Irish Sport’s 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards.

The accolades recognise the unsung heroes who breathe life into sports in every corner of the country. Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, these dedicated volunteers are the backbone of sporting communities, and it’s time to celebrate their unwavering commitment.

Nominations for the awards are now open, and you can submit your entries at the dedicated awards website, www.volunteersinsport.ie. Under the banner of #DedicatedToTheDedicated, these awards are more than just a ceremony; they are a celebration of the remarkable individuals who pour their hearts into sports in every county across Ireland.

The 2023 awards will culminate in a spectacular in-person awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on Thursday 29^th February 2024. Nominations opened today Monday, November 13th, and the window for entries will close on Monday December 18^th, 2023. The nominations received will be meticulously shortlisted and thoughtfully considered by our Judging Panel. This prestigious event will see 32 county awards presented, and one exceptional individual will be crowned with the coveted Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of sporting activities in clubs and communities nationwide. They generously invest their time, energy, and passion, dedicating themselves to the development of their chosen sport. Over 450,000 dedicated volunteers are needed on a weekly basis to fuel club activities. Their collective efforts translate into an astonishing estimated economic value of €1.5 billion, showcasing the immeasurable impact of their contributions. Without these volunteers, the very existence of sports clubs would hang in the balance.

There were two winners from Boxing in 2022 – Churchlands Golden Gloves BC’s Micky Fleming and Carmel O’Neill of Paulstown BC Kilkenny

Speaking at the launch Federation CEO Mary O’Connor commented;

“The Federation of Irish Sport is once again delighted to host these awards with the support of the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. The awards recognise dedicated club members and celebrate the impact they’re having not just to their sports club but to the wider community. Recognising our volunteers in sport is hugely important and acknowledging them in this way serves as an important reminder of the significant economic and social value of volunteering in Ireland. We want to ensure that volunteers in sport know their dedication doesn’t go unnoticed and inspire more volunteers in sport.”

The 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards are more than just an event; they are a tribute to the unsung heroes who make sports happen in our communities. We encourage everyone to participate in this celebration by nominating the dedicated volunteers who deserve to be recognised for their exceptional contributions.

For more information and to submit your nominations, please visit www.volunteersinsport.ie