How to Coach Boxing

The brute force of boxing often overshadows the technical prowess and athleticism required of its participants. As a boxing coach, you need to instruct talented boxers to fight smarter and not harder. Some of the best boxers in the sport's history played outstanding defense and punched selectively.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Speak with your corner man about supplies you will need during every boxing match. A corner man needs to think about every possible contingency from the warm-up before a fight to first-aid after the fight. Use the Ring Side equipment checklist to help your corner man get prepared (see Resources below).
2. Cultivate a boxer's hand speed by using a speed bag. This small bag can be placed anywhere in a gym and provides a simple way to coach boxers how to quicken reaction times.
3. Keep your boxers moving out of harm's way by using a strict regimen of jump roping. Jump ropes are inexpensive tools that help a boxer build endurance while increasing foot speed. Turn jump roping into a competition between boxers by rewarding the athlete with the longest time of continuous activity.
4. Team your boxers with comparable sparring partners to help develop the right skills for success. Lighter boxers should be pitted with other lightweights to help increase their defensive skills and ability to avoid punches. Middleweights and heavyweights should face off against fighters in their class to improve punch speed and agility.
5. Build a boxer's endurance for long bouts with long-distance running. Most boxing coaches use exercise bikes and jogging around a track to prepare their fighters.
6. Allow your corner man to run practice occasionally to build a relationship with your boxers. Corner men typically provide advice and first-aid assistance during fights. You should trust your corner man to coach your boxers effectively in order to build a trusting atmosphere on fight night.
7. Score practice rounds to simulate conditions during a fight. You can coach boxers better by keeping track of punches thrown and landed along with the type of punches used.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent undue injuries during practice with the proper precautions. Give your boxers head gear to protect them from concussions and serious physiological effects caused by repeated punching. Use punching mitts to simulate the speed and contact of a fight without harm to sparring partners.

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