Routes onto England Boxing’s Talent Programme for 2019 confirmed
January 1, 2019 | by Matt Halfpenny
England Boxing’s Talent Programme has today clarified the routes onto its 2019 programmes ahead of the upcoming round of National Championships at various age categories.
It follows last year’s successful changes to talent recruitment that were introduced after taking into account feedback from boxers and coaches.
From the National Youth Championships Finals onwards, there will be three entry points for a boxer to get onto the Talent Programme:
National Championships – the national champion at every weight from Schools to Youths (excluding minors and cadets) automatically earns a place on the programme. The England coaches will assess semi-finalists for Juniors and Youths and bring boxers onto the programme who are of the requisite standard. For elites, the finalists will be brought onto the programme.
Open Talent Days – After the Youth National Championships in February and Junior National Championships in March, Open Talent Days will be held for eligible boxers to be assessed by the England coaches.
The Youth Open Day will be held on Sunday 3rd March and the Junior Open Day on Sunday 7th April, both at Tamworth Boxing Club in the Midlands Region. Registration information for those days will be announced soon.
Wildcard Assessments – England coaches will be able to scout and assess boxers around the country and recommend a boxer is brought onto the programme.
Head of Talent and Competitions David Thorley said: “After the huge success of England Boxing’s Talent programme last year, with a record haul of 34 medals, we’re keen to build on that in 2019.
“We believe the changes that were put in place last year now makes the way a boxer enters and exits the programme clearer, putting more emphasis on a boxer’s achievements.
“Once on the programme, boxers will enjoy a number of benefits including being monitored by our England Boxing coaches, being guaranteed approximately 12 months on the programme, receiving an induction and having potential competition opportunities outlined to them.
“In order for this approach to be effective, there must be a clear exit point from the pathway and it has been decided that all boxers in their age category will be removed ahead of their respective National Championships.
“For example, all current youth boxers on programme will be officially removed from the programme on 14th February, ahead of the final stages of the National Youth Championships starting on 15th February. Youth boxers will then have the chance to get onto the Talent Programme through the opportunities outlined above.
“The only exception to this will be for boxers that were selected for a major international competition in the preceding calendar year.”
England Boxing Talent will be contacting all programme boxers to outline the above in more detail and to highlight the opportunities in 2019 for them.
All of the above can be found in the updated selection policy documents that is published on the England Boxing website here.
