Boxing Ireland is sharing the results of the member consultation as part of the development of the Pathway Strategy by Pathway Development Lead, Daithi McCabe.
In August 2026, Boxing Ireland invited all adult members of every affiliated club to participate in this consultation process. 116 people clubs took part, of whom 20 expressed interest in participating in follow-on workshops to further explore their views.
The Pathway is a development framework designed to create a clear progression from grassroots club boxing to the High Performance Unit. It aims to:
- Reduce the significant athlete drop-off that typically occurs between the U19 and U23 age groups.
- Help talented athletes transition successfully into senior elite boxing.
- Ensure athlete development is based on long-term potential rather than short-term result
The strategy will also include key elements to promote and facilitate coach development.
Top 3 Priorities | Boxer Development | Club Level
Participants were asked to rank their top 3 priorities for Boxer Development within their clubs.
Top priorities:
- Access to quality competition(s)
- Keeping talented young boxers in the sport
- Having a clear pathway for boxers to progress
Top 3 Priorities | Boxer Development | Elite Pathway
Participants were asked to rank their top 3 priorities for Boxer Development within the Elite Pathway
Top priorities:
Helping talented boxers balance sport with personal life, education, and work/career.
International experience
Opportunities for non-champions
Provincial development squads/programs
Top 3 Priorities | Coach Development | Elite Pathway
Participants were asked to rank their top three priorities for coach development within the Elite Pathway.
Top priorities:
- A clear pathway for coaches to progress from club to provincial/national level
- A national coaching conference, run over one weekend each year
- Opportunities for international/coaching courses
Top 3 Priorities | Coach Development | Athlete Exit
Participants where asked to share the top three reasons why, in their view, athletes leave boxing
Top priorities:
- Balancing education/work commitments
- Personal life and relationships
- Lack of opportunities for competition
- Lack of a clear pathway to develop and progress
Additional Insights | Open Responses
Q. What else, do you feel, is most important for us to consider when developing a pathway for Boxing Ireland?
Pooled responses highlight six recurrent themes:
Theme 1. Inclusive Selection & Opportunities
- Talent Identification Over Winning: Shift from only selecting the national champions to identifying boxers with potential (e.g., runners-up, number 2’s and number 3’s).
- International & High-Performance (HP) Exposure: Development squads, multi-nation camps, and international travel opportunities for non-champion boxers to prevent talent drop-off.
- Clear Selection Policies: Need for clear, transparent, and effective selection criteria for international competition and high-performance entry rather than perceived favoritism (“who knows who”).
Theme 2. Competition
- The U19-to-U23 Gap: Need for an Under-21 competition to bridge the step up from U19 to U23/Elite, helping to keep more young boxers engaged and involved in the sport.
- Novice & Adult Beginner Pathways: A need for more entry-level competition structures for novice and less experienced boxers who want to compete beyond club exhibition.
- Domestic Calendar: Structured county, provincial, and regional league systems to support development and provide regular competition activity for boxers throughout the year.
Theme 3. Grassroots & High-Performance Alignment
- Coach-to-HP Collaboration: Improve thelink between national high-performance coaches and club coaches (e.g., shared athlete development plans, joint training sessions).
- Coach Education & Workshops: Regular regional/in-person workshops, seminars with past champions/coaches, and clear pathways for club coaches to transition into provincial and national coaching roles.
Theme 4. Referee and Judging – Fairness and Standards
- Domestic Officiating: The need for consistent standards and fairness with domestic judging/refereeing. Highlighted as a factor causing boxers to leave the sport.
- Governance & Accountability: Calls for independent oversight and transparent complaint processes to maintain trust in local and national tournaments.
Theme 5. Female Athlete Pathways & Support
- Tailored support for female boxers: Female-focuseddevelopment and sparring opportunities combined with specific support e.g. weight management
Theme 6. Athlete Well-Being, Weight Management & Burnout
- Well-being: Highlighting the mental toll on young boxers, specifically surrounding weight management pressures, balancing social/school life, and intense training loads at early ages.
Next Steps
Boxing Ireland will create a Strategy Development Working Group, which will be comprised of between 6 and 8 people of relevant experience and perspectives across Irish Boxing. This group will create the Strategic Plan for the Boxing Ireland Pathway. The Working Group is expected to be in situ before the end of Q4 2026.