Boxing in schools?

FIGHTING IN SCHOOLS - A NEW APPROACH?

It has been 50 years since boxing was last a common place sport taught in schools across the UK. In 1962 there was great debate about whether it was actually beneficial for the youth to learn how to box, as many claimed it was just legitimising of an already over glamorised and often turbulent sport.

The ‘British Medical Association’ have a very negative view on the subject of children under the age of 16 boxing, they believe at that age “children have little awareness of risk” and also state that “there is no place in contemporary society for a youth sport which has as its primary goal, the infliction of acute brain damage on an opponent”. 

Boxing as a ‘youth sport’ is often defended as a legitimate and controlled way of relinquishing pent up anger and instilling discipline amount young people, but is this the case?

I spoke to Ron Tulley, who in November was appointed as ‘Head of Development’ at the ‘Amateur British Boxing Association’. I asked Mr. Tulley a number of questions regarding the subject; when I asked him whether he thought boxing in school was benefiting children he said “of course they are, if it’s being done properly”, I went on to ask Mr. Tulley if boxing promotes self control at a young age or actually has the inverse effect, to this he replied “it does promote self-control...like most sports, if your abiding by the rules and playing in the ethos of the sport then it can have a wonderful effect on young people”. To conclude I asked him about the study done by the British Medical Association, and their claims that boxing causes brain damage, he said “far be it for me to contradict the BMA” he went on to say that other sports such as “equestrianism” were more likely to cause injury and that amateur boxing is so “well regulated” that injuries are few and far between, my final question was regarding te recent headlines based on the events between David Haye and Derik Chisora, to which he replied that “it’s not up to the amateur boxing association to make a judgement” however he did state that “it doesn’t make my job any easier” when trying to promote the sport to children and their parents.

Clearly then, there are two very contrasting opinions on this matter and research suggests that yes, boxing is a dangerous sport, but that is always going to be the case when you have 16 stone heavyweights going blow for blow. However Mr. Tulley did emphasise the distinction between professional boxing and amateur; amateur boxing regulations state it is mandatory for a boxer to use head protection at all times while sparring and there are only fights of three rounds compared to the professional twelve, he went on to state that amateur boxing is very well regulated.

If you were to remove the confrontational aspect of the sport, it is undeniable the cardio-vascular benefits a sport such as boxing can have; getting children strong and fit can only be seen in a positive light. The problems arise when the confrontational aspect is re-introduced, as there is no way to hide the fact that the aim of a sport like boxing is to hurt your opponent, and I’m not sure you can justify that. Having said all this, regardless of the recent headlines, boxing throughout the history of this country has been a cornerstone to the youth; boxing halls were set up virtually on every corner in the 1950’s and it was the perfect way to get the children fit as well as keeping them off the street and out of trouble. Perhaps this will be the case again in the coming years, as the youth are taking a lot of bad press and perhaps learning to box could be the solution?

I think the distinction between professional and amateur boxing is the key, as they are two very different disciplines in many aspects. To be seriously injured in professional boxing is rare; however it is even rarer in the amateur ranks. Going back to my original point, I think it would be best to think of the situation of boxing I schools like this; in a supervised environment, with safety gear on, just how much damage could a 10 year old inflict upon another? The sport has been victimized by the media on a number of occasions for the events in the professional ranks and this in turn has impacted the amateur sport.

Whichever way you spin it, boxing in schools and in amateur clubs is once again on the rise, and even with negative press it’s going to continue to do so, the only way that boxing is going to recess once again is if a minor was to be seriously injured while boxing, which would create a media storm that would once again cripple the sport in amateur terms.

  

FIGHTING IN SCHOOLS - A NEW APPROACH?

It has been 50 years since boxing was last a common place sport taught in schools across the UK. In 1962 there was great debate about whether it was actually beneficial for the youth to learn how to box, as many claimed it was just legitimising of an already over glamorised and often turbulent sport.

The ‘British Medical Association’ have a very negative view on the subject of children under the age of 16 boxing, they believe at that age “children have little awareness of risk” and also state that “there is no place in contemporary society for a youth sport which has as its primary goal, the infliction of acute brain damage on an opponent”. 

Boxing as a ‘youth sport’ is often defended as a legitimate and controlled way of relinquishing pent up anger and instilling discipline amount young people, but is this the case?

I spoke to Ron Tulley, who in November was appointed as ‘Head of Development’ at the ‘Amateur British Boxing Association’. I asked Mr. Tulley a number of questions regarding the subject; when I asked him whether he thought boxing in school was benefiting children he said “of course they are, if it’s being done properly”, I went on to ask Mr. Tulley if boxing promotes self control at a young age or actually has the inverse effect, to this he replied “it does promote self-control...like most sports, if your abiding by the rules and playing in the ethos of the sport then it can have a wonderful effect on young people”. To conclude I asked him about the study done by the British Medical Association, and their claims that boxing causes brain damage, he said “far be it for me to contradict the BMA” he went on to say that other sports such as “equestrianism” were more likely to cause injury and that amateur boxing is so “well regulated” that injuries are few and far between, my final question was regarding te recent headlines based on the events between David Haye and Derik Chisora, to which he replied that “it’s not up to the amateur boxing association to make a judgement” however he did state that “it doesn’t make my job any easier” when trying to promote the sport to children and their parents.

Clearly then, there are two very contrasting opinions on this matter and research suggests that yes, boxing is a dangerous sport, but that is always going to be the case when you have 16 stone heavyweights going blow for blow. However Mr. Tulley did emphasise the distinction between professional boxing and amateur; amateur boxing regulations state it is mandatory for a boxer to use head protection at all times while sparring and there are only fights of three rounds compared to the professional twelve, he went on to state that amateur boxing is very well regulated.

If you were to remove the confrontational aspect of the sport, it is undeniable the cardio-vascular benefits a sport such as boxing can have; getting children strong and fit can only be seen in a positive light. The problems arise when the confrontational aspect is re-introduced, as there is no way to hide the fact that the aim of a sport like boxing is to hurt your opponent, and I’m not sure you can justify that. Having said all this, regardless of the recent headlines, boxing throughout the history of this country has been a cornerstone to the youth; boxing halls were set up virtually on every corner in the 1950’s and it was the perfect way to get the children fit as well as keeping them off the street and out of trouble. Perhaps this will be the case again in the coming years, as the youth are taking a lot of bad press and perhaps learning to box could be the solution?

I think the distinction between professional and amateur boxing is the key, as they are two very different disciplines in many aspects. To be seriously injured in professional boxing is rare; however it is even rarer in the amateur ranks. Going back to my original point, I think it would be best to think of the situation of boxing I schools like this; in a supervised environment, with safety gear on, just how much damage could a 10 year old inflict upon another? The sport has been victimized by the media on a number of occasions for the events in the professional ranks and this in turn has impacted the amateur sport.

Whichever way you spin it, boxing in schools and in amateur clubs is once again on the rise, and even with negative press it’s going to continue to do so, the only way that boxing is going to recess once again is if a minor was to be seriously injured while boxing, which would create a media storm that would once again cripple the sport in amateur terms.