Contact & Partner Work Policy

Purpose

Moulescoomb Boxing Academy (MBA) is a structured seven-level youth boxing development programme for young people aged 8-15.

Our aim is to teach boxing progressively in a safe, supportive and controlled environment. As well as fitness and technical skills, this includes teaching young boxers how to work safely with a partner, defend themselves, control their punches and respond appropriately to contact.

Introduction of Contact

Contact is introduced progressively as a boxer develops the necessary skills, confidence and control.

Children first develop fundamental skills including stance, footwork, punching technique, defence and movement through activities such as shadow boxing, pad work, bag work and non-contact partner drills.

As their skills, confidence and control develop, controlled contact is gradually introduced as part of their progression through the Academy.

This is an important part of learning to box and allows young people to develop skills that cannot be fully replicated through pads and bags alone, including:

• Distance and timing
• Defence and reactions
• Movement under pressure
• Accuracy
• Confidence
• Punch control
• Respect for a training partner

Control and Supervision

The purpose of contact work at MBA is technical development, not to hurt a training partner or to see who can punch the hardest.

Children are expected to demonstrate control, listen to coaching instructions and respect their training partner at all times.

Coaches consider factors including a child's age, size, experience, ability, confidence and level of control when deciding appropriate partner work and pairings.

Contact work is supervised by the coaching team. Coaches may change a pairing, reduce the level of contact or stop an activity at any point if they believe appropriate control is not being demonstrated.

Contact to the Head and Face

As a child progresses in boxing, controlled contact to legitimate boxing target areas, including the head and face, may form part of their training.

Children are not instructed or encouraged to hit one another as hard as possible. The emphasis is on controlled, technical boxing and developing both attacking and defensive skills.

However, boxing is a contact sport. While MBA takes reasonable steps to manage risk through progressive training, supervision and appropriate matching, the possibility of being struck and the risk of injury cannot be completely removed from contact boxing activities.

Progression Through the Academy

MBA's seven-level pathway is designed so that the demands placed on a boxer increase progressively as their skills and experience develop.

As children progress to higher levels, they will be expected to demonstrate not only improved punching technique and fitness, but also defence, movement, control, discipline, partner skills and the ability to follow coaching instructions.

Controlled partner/contact work therefore forms part of the Academy's progression pathway.

No child will be progressed simply because of how hard they can punch. Control and the ability to work safely with another boxer are essential boxing skills and important considerations when assessing progression.

Individual Readiness

Children develop at different rates.

Coaches will use their judgement when deciding whether a child is ready for particular partner or contact activities. A child's confidence, technical ability and ability to demonstrate control will be considered alongside their Academy level.

If a coach believes a child is not ready for a particular activity, the activity can be adapted while they continue developing the necessary skills.

Protective Equipment

Children must use the protective equipment specified by the coaching team for the activity being undertaken.

Children must follow coaches' instructions regarding equipment and must not participate in contact activities without the protective equipment specified for that activity.

Behaviour and Safety

Deliberately using excessive force, ignoring instructions or attempting to hurt another boxer is not acceptable at MBA.

If a child fails to demonstrate the required control, coaches may immediately stop their participation in the activity, change their pairing or remove them from contact work. Repeated or deliberate misuse of contact may result in their participation in future contact activities being reviewed.

Any injury or concern arising during contact work will be responded to by the coaching team and communicated to the parent or carer where appropriate.

Parents and Carers

We recognise that parents and carers may have questions about contact, particularly as their child progresses beyond the introductory stages of boxing.

We encourage parents to speak directly with Hayley or Nick if they would like to discuss their child's training or have any concerns about contact.

We want families to understand both the benefits and the inherent risks associated with learning a contact sport so that they can make an informed decision about their child's continued participation.