NEWSLETTER NUMBER FOUR – BOXING TASMANIA INC

This is our fourth newsletter and we hope that everyone will read and digest its contents. For that purpose we will try to keep it short. This approach is being used because it is clear that most people did not bother reading the last one. From now one we will try to get a copy to all boxers and coaches as well as referees and judges.

Because of the new National Requirements for training imposed by the Australian Sports Commission and Boxing Australia we now have a number of deadlines to meet. All coaches need to complete the online course before the end of April. That course is not difficult and there are now trained people to help you if you don’t have a high degree of computer literacy or you struggle with exams. It is simply a matter of accessing the ASC website through Google and then clicking on courses. There is only one course available and that is the COACHING PRINCIPLES COURSE. This is the one you are required to do. IT IS FREE AND ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF HOURS.

If you have any difficulty with this contact Ralph Belbin or Ian Beadle and they will direct you to your nearest mentor who will assist or guide you through it.

The next course is the practical Boxing Specific Course which covers the newer methods of coaching and instruction. It is a one day course which culminates in an open book exam. (You read the answer then write it down) after a days practical instruction. Both courses and exams are about training, NOT testing you and once again mentors will be available to help you if you require it.

Some things we need to fix have emerged from recent tournaments and they are mentioned here briefly for your information:

1 No criticism of or argument with judges or referees will be tolerated.

Any dispute as to any decision must be submitted in writing together with a $100 deposit within 35 minutes of the end of the bout in question, and a decision will be made by the jury. The deposit may be lost if your objection is not accepted.

2 All coaches will wear their Tasmania cloth patches to ringside, WORN IN A VISIBLE POSITION ON THE BREAST OF THEIR SHIRT OF JACKET or they will not be allowed to officiate.

3 ALL REFEREES AND JUDGES WILL WEAR THEIR TASMANIAN CLOTH PATCH TO RINGSIDE OR THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OFFICIATE. These patches are not only for the benefit of the officials but also the media, Police and others who may question our credibility.

4 Boxers must be prepared and ready to come to ringside at the commencement of the bout preceding their own so that they can be presented if there is a stoppage or premature end to that bout.

5 Judges are allocated certain bouts prior to the tournament by the Chairman of Referees and Judges. They must only judge in those allocated bouts unless they are asked to do otherwise by the Referee who is officiating.

6 Unregistered boxers should not be nominated for competition and any boxer wishing to compete needs to be fully registered at least seven days before the tournament he wishes to fight in.

None of these rules are invented by us to make your life difficult. They reflect the Boxing Australia Competition Rules which we are obliged to comply with and I shouldn’t need to remind you that we are constantly under scrutiny.

The Tasmanian Novice Titles will be held at the Sorell Memorial Hall on Saturday the 26^th of April and it will be promoted by Ralph Belbin on behalf of his Sorell PCYC Boxing Club. Nominations for that tournament are required as soon as possible and matchings will be considered by the Executive for approval by coaches. Match bouts will also be held on that night.

We hope to run and Referee and Judges Course on the Sunday following the tournament at the Sorell PCYC and hopefully the RSL club. The course will run from 10 am to four pm with a light lunch provided.

The Tasmanian Titles will be held at the end of June and boxers should have three nominations for the year to allow them to compete for a championship. As always we want Tasmania to be represented by the strongest possible team and our early championship last year allowed us to train for longer as a team and produce our best result for some years. We plan to do even better this year for the same reasons.

Any Club or Coach with difficulties, problems or questions should contact the Treasurer Ian Beadle in the first instance and he will deal with them or pass them on to the appropriate Executive Member. All registrations and financial matters must be handled by the Secretary/Treasurer, not by the President.

Finally, most Coaches, Judges and Referees never attend the regular meetings held by the association, and therefore miss out on their opportunity to comment on matters which concern them.

New instructions, Rules and procedures from Boxing Australia are often discussed at these meetings and we feel it important that as many members as possible attend, so that they are brought up to date as soon as possible, and also to play a role in the running of Boxing Tasmania. A case in hand is the conduct of training sessions for Coaches, and the need to train more Referees and Judges. We also need to identify people willing to fill other roles at tournaments, such as Time Keepers, Glove Stewards etc.

Remember, it’s your association, and we need you to be involved, so please make an effort to attend the meetings which are held at the Hobart PCYC, 300 Liverpool Street, Hobart, on the second Tuesday of each month. If it would suit a majority of members to hold the meetings at a different time or day, we’re more than willing to consider it.

For our northern members, we’re trying to arrange a suitable day/time to meet with the coaches etc at Campbell Town. Please let me know ASAP of the most suitable day/time so we can cater for the majority.

Ian