IABA is moving forward in developing the Safeguarding learning opportunities available to clubs and their members.

IABA is in the process of training four Safeguarding Tutors – former National Safeguarding Manager, Paul Hayes of Olympic BC, Gabe Cronnelly, Children’s Officer Monivea BC & Galway Sports Partnership, Cork Boxing Development Officer Kristian Bunici of Clonard BC, Wexford and Sligo Boxing Development Officer Maeve Clarke of Ballinacarrow BC. In the New Year, all four Safeguarding Tutors will be able to deliver Safeguarding 1 training.

An indicative calendar of Safeguarding training will be made available in the coming weeks.

All boxing coaches must complete Safeguarding 1 as part of their certification. Non-coaching adult members of clubs who require Garda Vetting should also complete Safeguarding 1. Safeguarding Two is required for all club Child Protection Officers, while Safeguarding Three is for club, county board or provincial unit Designated Liaison Officers.

IABA is also advanced in the process of recruiting a new National Safeguarding Manager.

Safeguarding Committee

Following expressions of interest earlier this year, the IABA’s Safeguarding Committee is in being, and includes:

• Darren McGavin
• Paddy McLaverty
• Padraig McCullough

They will be joined by the IABA Safeguarding Manager on this committee.

Vetting:

Vetting is required for all coaches, and for all non-coaching club members who come in to contact with children and young people. Sally Ann Kinch is IABA’s Garda Vetting Liaison Person, assisting with GV applications.

IABA Garda Vetting staff completed 673 vetting applications, between January and November of this year. The Garda National Vetting Bureau has changed its systems and, on submission of the initial forms, a link will issue to the applicant. Unfortunately, in over 180 cases this year, the applicant did not complete the link, and it expired – this requires re-issue, which can take some time. Everyone submitting a vetting application should be watchful for this link.

All IABA Vetting documentation is published here and anyone with a query about vetting can contact vetting@iaba.ie.

You can also access our Garda Vetting tutorial here:

IABA Annual Safeguarding Report – delivered at IABA’s AGM on November 18th:

National Safeguarding Report 2023

At the IABA AGM on Saturday, November 18th, additional financial information on income and expenditure in 2022 was shared with the 34 clubs present.

This information was subsequently shared with all clubs:

Expenditure by Central Council, detailed by competition, and related costs

Central Council Year2022Review

IABA expenditure, detailed by area:

Expenditure2022

IABA income, detailed by source:

Income2022Pie

Appendix One:

Appendix1LegalProfessionalStaffCosts

In an historic ballot, clubs attending the IABA AGM have voted, unanimously, to expand the Board of Directors to increase in the number of independent Directors from 2 (two) to 4 (four) to assist in having 40% female representation on the Board of Directors.

Chair, Niall O’Carroll, says “ Clubs are united in their desire for a gender representative board; women are a force throughout every part of our sport – in the ring, as coaches, as officials, as elected representatives. Its right that women’s voices are a prominent part of the decision making for our sport as members of the Board of Directors. Voting delegates here today can be proud of their decision, and can know every part of our sport and our community will be made better for having more women’s voices in decision-making”.

34 clubs were presented at today’s AGM. 29 clubs voted, and all 29 clubs voted in favour of the Ordinary Resolution: “That, subject to consent of the Revenue Commissioners, the Constitution of the Company in the redline tracked form attached and marked with the letter’s“ Proposed Revised Constitution” be adopted as the revised agreed Constitution of the Company.”

IABA’s current board, of 10 people, is has 10% female membership. The Board is comprised of Independent Chair, Niall O’Carroll, President’s Nominee, Neil Gough, Munster President, Ted Barry, Connacht Representative, Tom Geraghty, Ulster Representative, Charlie Toland, and directly elected Member Representatives Darren O’Neill and Fiona Hennigan. There are two vacant independent seats, and recruitment to fill those vacancies is underway.

Today’s decision means 1 additional member representative, to be a woman, will be recruited, and an additional skill-based independent member will be recruited. The Board of Directors will issue further communications in the short term on the manner of election of the additional member representative.

The IABA constitution allows the increase of Directors by Ordinary Resolution by virtue of Object 46 – this amendment to the Constitution is intended to permanently incorporate the increased number of Directors by way of constitutional amendment.  The Ordinary Resolution has passed and an EGM will be required to enshrine the Ordinary Resolution in the IABA constitution. This will take place in due course.

IABA also shared with clubs present at the AGM, and subsequently by email, additional information on expenditure in 2022:

Expenditure by Central Council, detailed by competition, and related costs

Central Council Year2022Review

IABA expenditure, detailed by area:

Expenditure2022

IABA income, detailed by source:

Income2022Pie

Appendix One:

Appendix1LegalProfessionalStaffCosts

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

The first step on the IABA’s reformed coach education pathway, Fundamentals: Assistant Coach, celebrates its first anniversary this month.

The coach qualification course was launched in November of 2022. Since then, 23 courses have been delivered, and over 482 people have qualified through Fundamentals.

Course have taken place in every Province in the association, and have been delivered by IABA’s 10 currently active Coach Developers.

Fundamentals was developed by the IABA’s Coach Education Committee, on which sits chair Mickey Hawkins, Antoinette Fay McClean, Gus Farrell and IABA staff, Bridget Scott

Mickey Hawkins, Chair of the IABA’s Coach Education Committee, says “Fundamentals of Coaching Boxing has gone quite well so far. We have a long way to go with our pathway and overall education and training of our coaches but this is a good first step. As the Coach Education Committee Chair, I am happy with how our committee are operating. There is positive progress being made with our Coach Developers, Sport Ireland Coaching and everyone working tirelessly to get the Level 1 course up and running.”

IABA National Development Manager, James Geraghty, says “I’m very pleased with the 23 Fundamentals courses we have run in the course’s first year. Creating new coaching qualification methods is a steep learning curve, including new context, new forms of delivery, and course review. The way our members have adapted is commendable, especially our IABA Coach Developers. The thirst for knowledge and demand for Fundamentals coaching courses has been incredible, as well as the coaching talent coming through is very exciting. We are working extremely hard to put in place the next stages of the coaching pathway and appreciate everyone’s patience while we do that. We have no doubt that what comes next will advance the coaching development of all those that take part.”

The 23 Fundamentals Coaching Courses have been delivered by IABA’s Coach Developers, who are to the forefront of ensuring this newest generation of coaches is of the highest standard. They are:

Derek Ahern, DCU BC, Dublin
Gus Farrell, Monivea BC, Galway
Antoinette Faye McLean, Dungarvan BC, Waterford
Jeff Fitzgerald, Corpus Christi BC, Cork
Nikki Foley, Tralee Boxing Club, Kerry
Neil Gough, St. Paul’s BC, Waterford
Micky Hawkins, Holy Trinity, Belfast
Billy McLean, Dungarvan BC, Waterford
Malachy Scott, Glengormley BC, Antrim.

Three of the coaches who’ve begun their coaching career through Fundamentals have shared their experiences.

Kaci Rock, of Enniskerry BC in Wicklow, is the reigning National U22 Champion – she says has helped her in her boxing career

Martine Tate is of Phoenix BC in Lurgan, and is a former competitive boxer

Tracey Duggan is of Treaty BC, Limerick.

The Fundamentals: Assistance Coach course is open to any adult member of any affiliated club – you can register here