Boxing coaches deliver insightful lectures as pugilists continue trek to Brazil 2016

Jul 21, 2013 Sports

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Local boxing administrators are adamant that one or more of their affiliates could clinch that elusive Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Brazil Olympiad and in keeping with this belief those administrators continue to forge ahead with programmes and competitions to enhance the fortunes of local pugilists.
Consequently, top amateur coach, Terrence Poole joined Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, Albouystown, and hosted a refresher coaches’ seminar and theoretical lectures for the boxers that will conclude this afternoon.

Yesterday’s activities were conducted in two phases and Poole took charge of the morning sessions where he sought to bring local coaches up to date on the new rules and implementations as adopted by the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) as those officials prepare to introduce its affiliates to the professional aspect of the sport in time for the summer games 2016.
Mr Roldan took charge of the afternoon sessions which dealt specifically with boxing techniques.
Mr Poole said that new rules will be enacted and the current ‘referee stop contest’ decision will be replaced by ‘knockout.’ He said that whereas fights were decided by the computer system and boxers awarded points according to the quantity of punches landed, those boxers will now be judged on a 10 point must system as is the case in professional fights.
The boxers will also be permitted to have three handlers, an additional one than currently obtains. Mr Poole said that at the end of the sessions the coaches would be acquainted with the new rules and adaptations and they in turn will be required to share this knowledge with their respective charges. Poole ended with a refresher session of the rules before the officials broke for lunch.
Mr Roldan facilitated the afternoon session and underlined the importance of constant medical checks in order that the boxers keep stringent track of their health. The Cuban coach told his local counterparts that it is important to know of their charges’ health status before they are accepted as members of the respective gyms. “You are the coaches and you must be aware of your boxer’s health history,” Roldan exhorted while advocating monthly visits to the doctor to stay abreast of the boxer’s medical status. He said that any coach worth his salt will ensure that his charge refrains from use of substances like alcohol and drugs while paying keen attention to his eating and sleeping habits.
Roldon also dealt expansively with several important aspects of the sport and his audience listened raptly. He touched briefly on warm up exercises while underlining its importance; “The body must be prepared for the ensuing activity and the objective of warm up exercises is to transport blood and oxygen around the body to increase its efficiency,” affirmed Rolden. He said that many persons have touted the notion that warm up exercises contribute to the boxer becoming tired very early in the bout. “This is not so but on the contrary; such activity enhances the boxer’s performance while negating injuries,” assured Rolden.
During the 90 minutes session, the Cuban coach dealt with defensive tactics, proper use of the legs, hands and shoulders in tandem even as he exposed his audience to the intricacies of attack, counter attack and defence.
Meanwhile, at yesterday’s opening ceremony, which saw two female coaches in Paulette Nurse and Pamela London, amongst the 19 participants, GBA President Steve Ninvalle said it was heartening to see the response shown by the coaches from around the country, in supporting the initiative, while calling on them to tap into Roldan’s knowledge.
“You being here tells me that you are quiet serious of taking amateur boxing in Guyana to another level. Mr. Roldan our Cuban coach has been here for quiet sometime and we are actually trying to use this as a medium to maximize whatever knowledge he can pass onto you.
We do not know how long we will have him and it is better we use whatever knowledge he has, so that when the time comes for him to leave us, we can have more competent coaches here in Guyana, serving the amateur boxing community to the best of your ability.”
Ninvalle urged the participants to grasp as much as possible from Roldan, who in his own rights is a Master Specialist in Boxing for the sport of high performance, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sport, bringing with him 23 years experience as a Coach in a Centre for High Performance and an additional 12 years experience as a boxer.
“You will be leaving here with more knowledge than you came here with, so I urge you to grasp as much as you can and take this back to your respective gyms, making your gyms and boxers much better” said Ninvalle.
He applauded the two females present amongst the participants, adding that the GBA is trying their utmost best to put amateur boxing on the pedestal where it needs to be, saying it is not an easy task, but they are not giving up the fight to do so, while he thanked Roldan for his presence and willingness to impart his knowledge to the participants.
Activities conclude today and will commence at 11:00hrs whereupon at the end of sessions participants will receive certificates.  (Michael Benjamin)

 

 

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