setting up a club

[dave.b]

I'm looking into setting up a club in my area but have no qualifications, although i boxed for 6years as a junior and young senior. is this possible without coaching badges or do i need too gain assistant and full coaching qualifications with another local club. also i already have a child protection certificate and have had crb clearance, but this is through the lancashire football association, are these valid for boxing coaches or do i have to reapply to the aba. thanks.

[Darren]

You can train anyone to box, if that's what you want to do, but you can't put them into a competition unless you are an ABA Qualified Coach.

To start a club you need to buy bags, gloves, protectors, skipping ropes, pads. You need a venue where you can hang the bags up too and decent supports for the bags. You need a first-aider, showers, changing rooms. I'm sure there's lots more too. I think you would need some help.

Is there a reason why you don't just join a local club and help out there? They would be the best people to get you your coaching qualifications.

Good luck whatever you decide. Let us know how you get on.

[dave.b]

Thanks for the reply Darren, I have a friend who is an ex forces boxer who is going to run a club with me, we were just a bit unsure about how to go about it. We have located a local gym near stockport with adequate facilities and hope to secure some funding from both the local council and local businesses. Do you know of any goverment incentives we might be intitled to.?
i did try to get involved with my local club(leigh abc) but was informed they already had enough help and without a coaching badge i wasn't much use to them. So as my friend lives in woodley, near stockport, and their aren't any boxing clubs close by, we decided this was probably our best option. also there seems to be a large amount of youngsters with very little for them to do.
If we are successful in our venture would i still have to be recommended for my coaching badge by another coach or can i contact theABA myself.? thanks.

[Darren]

I'm not sure exactly what you need to do to get on the coaching course. You could try talking to some other clubs or contact the ABA directly to find out. Your best bet is to find a friendly coach who has been there and done it to ask questions.

Funding is always tricky, but you might be entitled to a lottery grant...I'm not sure (again) how you go about finding out. There are some people who are very good at fund raising. People who know other people who give money to good causes in sponsorship or purely in donations. It's not so much a case of what you know as it is who you know in the boxing game.

[dave.b]

thanks again for your advice, i'll keep you informed of our progress for the sake of anyone in a similar position.

[markluker]

Dave,

Hows the club going?

[dave.b]

hi, quick update on my club venture. i have started training at a local club and had a chat with the head coach about gaining my coaching badge. he was very helpful and suggested i train with them untill i became a familar face and then perhaps get involved in some coaching. this could take up to 6/12 months, and then he would put me forward for my coaching badge. meanwhile my freind and myself plan to go ahead with opening a club, but untill i have my qualifications we will probably offer a wider range of sports, i.e football,basketball,table tennis,circuit training,etc as well as boxing, and will probably call it a sports club or acadamy (sounds posher). by taking this route, hopefully we can gain an insight into boxings popularity in the area and also some valuable coaching experience. all this wont happen untill the new year, but i'll keep you posted. we've a mountain of red tape to get through yet. ANY ADVICE OR TIPS FROM ANYONE WHOSE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. thanks again.

[Martino The Saint]

Hello Dave

Did you go ahead with your club? If so hows it going?

[ultra boxing]

I actually set up a boxing club with no qualifications in boxing. Firstly you need to apply to the aba. They will come and check out your gym to see if everything is safe. Once your club has been registered you can apply for the assistant coaching badge.