Boxing coaches have a profound impact on the lives of boxers, and within their club community. Boxing Ireland is home to almost 3,000 coaches.
In 2022, Boxing Ireland reformed the Coach Education Pathway, in collaboration with Sport Ireland, the Officer Board of Central Council, Boxing IReland staff and veteran club coaches. The pathway now contains three qualification stages: Fundamentals, Level One: Club Coach and Level Two: Performance Coach.
Over 900 people have taken the first step in their coaching career by qualifying through Fundamentals: Assistant Coach. Level One: Club Coach was launched in Q2, 2024.
Coach Ed Pathway
Fundamentals of Coaching Boxing Assistant Coach – This course is for those wishing to begin their coaching career and gain an excellent grounding in fundamental technical aspects of boxing. Assistant coaches may sit at second corner at club, county, provincial and national level 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 competition.
Level 2 Performance Coach – This course provides advanced technical skills and coaching techniques to Level 1 qualified coaches
Criteria
Any member of any successfully affiliated club is, with the support of their club, welcome to begin their coaching career. Coaching Education applications are submitted by the club, and must meet the following criteria for Fundamentals: Assistant Coach qualification:
*The appropriate fee of must be paid, in full, in advance. The fee is non-refundable in the event the applicant does not attend the relevant course.
*Be a member of a Boxing Ireland approved affiliated club.
*Aged 18 or over.
*Valid Garda Vetting/Access NI Check or proof of submission of Garda Vetting application/Access NI Check
*Have completed the required safeguarding training and produce evidence of same.
Applications for Coaching Courses
A club must submit an application to it’s County Board for any member the club wishes to undergo any level of Coach Education.
Should the County Board approve this application, it will be submitted to the relevant Provincial Council
Should the relevant Provincial Council, it will be permitted to Central Council
Should Central Council approve the application, the club will be advised and any pre-course requirements for Garda Vetting/Access NI checks, Safeguarding learning and fee payment will be made at this juncture.
Coaches wishing to undertake Level One: Club Coach training must have completed Fundamentals: Assistant Coach qualification, and have spent a minimum of 6 months, post-qualification, coaching in their clubs.
Coach Education Committee
The Coach Education Committee is comprised of elected and appointed members
Chair, Anthony White of Na Fianna Boxing Club, Wexford. Anthony is a directly elected Ordinary Member of Central Council
Secretary, Brian Barry of Riverside Boxing Club, Cork. Brian is also the directly elected Secretary of Munster Provincial Counciltor
Member, Gus Farrell, Monivea Boxing Club, Galway and directly elected Interim President of Connacht Provincial Council
Member, Philip Keogh, Dublin Docklands Boxing Club. Philip is a directly elected member of Central Council.
Member, Pat Ryan, of Portloaise Boxing Club. Pat is a former President of Boxing Ireland