IABA's Paris Wave – Next Gen initiative to benefit 16 Mayo boxing clubs

IABA is rolling-out its Paris 2024 Olympic Games response programme, Paris Wave, to 350 clubs throughout the association this week, marking the return of Team Ireland Boxing.

Paris Wave is designed to support boxers, coaches and clubs, and capitalise on the post-Games renewed interest in boxing created by the team and Kellie Harrington’s historic second Olympic gold.

Paris Wave has five pillars, encompassing participation growth, safeguarding, women in sport, coach education, and boxer wellbeing.

The list of Mayo boxing clubs that will beneifit from the initiative includes: Achill Boxing Club; Aglish Boxing Club, Breaffy, Castlebar; Ardagh Crossmolina Boxing Club; Ardnaree Boxing Club, Ballina; Ballina Boxing Club; Ballinrobe Boxing Club; Ballyhaunis Boxing Club; Castlebar Boxing Club; Charlestown Boxing Club; Claremorris Boxing Club; Eagle Boxing Club, Westport; Geesala Boxing Club; Golden Gloves Boxing Club, Belmullet; Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club; St. Anne's Boxing Club, Westport; and Swinford Boxing Club.

This programme will support clubs financially in responding to growth in member numbers. IABA will provide a total of €80 for the provision of four training sessions for new members over a six week period, beginning in September.

All clubs offer training to multiple age groups and clubs are welcome to make Paris Wave – Next Gen applications for several training groups. Early adopters of the programme will also receive funding support towards equipment.

Commenting Paris Wave – Next Gen, IABA national development manager, James Geraghty, said: “This programme aims to capture the imagination and interest of boxing communities throughout the association. IABA’s Next Gen programme offers support in attracting and including all members of society within what is already a hugely diverse melting pot – the local boxing club. Unleashing the future of boxing, Next Gen is where tomorrow’s champions begin their journey today.”

Paris Wave – Women in Sport (WIS) conference will take place on August 31, encompassing workshops on coaching teenage girls, S&C for female combat athletes, and safeguarding essentials – a practical session on managing and reporting concerns. This also marks the beginning of a six-month-long arc of WIS learning at in-person events in every province.

Paris Wave – Women in Sport will culminate with a conference on International Women’s Day 2025.

IABA Women in Sport lead, Sophie Doolan, commented: “Given the incredible performances of IABA’s women and girl boxers on the international stage, we need to support clubs in building their knowledge base in areas including perceived barriers to participation, the menstrual cycle, individualisation of training, and themes such as body image and maturation.

“This process begins with our August 31 conference, and will continue with a minimum of 10 WIS-related workshops and learning opportunities leading up to our keynote conference on March 8 next year.”

Paris Wave – Safeguarding, launched on Tuesday, augments IABA’s existing 2024 safeguarding learning programme. IABA is providing 20 Safeguarding 1 workshops throughout 2024, and under Paris Wave has added Safeguarding 2 learning in Q4.

Through Paris Wave – Boxer Wellbeing, the IABA will hold roadshows in every province in September and October. These will include workshops on athlete injury and awareness, safeguarding, from a practical perspective, and workshops providing coaches with a mental health tool box for boxers.

IABA national safeguarding manager Stephen Flynn said: “Safeguarding is as much about empowering coaches with tools to support boxers as it is aimed at keeping children and young people safe. Providing additional Safeguarding learning opportunities to club coaches, officials and non-coaching volunteers is vital, and IABA has significantly ramped-up its service provision in this area in 2024.

“Our Boxer Wellbeing roadshows take a whole-of-athlete approach to safeguarding, from physical, sport specific, practical and mental health perspectives.”