Squad training with a twist!

What a Difference a Grant Makes

In the autumn of 2009 Western Counties ABA made a successful bid to the Sport England “Small Grants” team to fund the purchase of computer scoring equipment and more importantly, the training of teams of operatives who would, in turn, expose the boxers, coaches and officials to this important scoring system at Divisional level.

By the end of this month our four divisions will each have their own set of equipment and the training of operators is now moving on at a rapid pace. We already have 5 qualified national computer scorers (thank you Reg Alsop) and these are being put to work to spread the knowledge far and wide.

On Sunday 7th February the programme to educate our boxers, coaches and officials began in earnest at a full day’s workshop at the Riverside Youth Project in Bristol. Fifty of the Western Counties junior and senior boxers together with seventeen coaches attended the workshop and participated fully in a very practical days work.

Boxers and coaches alike now have a different perspective on judging and appreciate the need to leave no doubt in the mind of any judge that a point has been scored!

Here are a series of photographs to illustrate the concentration and commitment from our members:

The work has only just begun and Des Charnock from Launceston (and Divisional Secretary for Cornwall & Dorset) has taken on the mantle of Computer scoring Guru for Western Counties. Des realises that the real challenge is to produce teams of confident operators who can handle a few moments of stress but already the volunteers are coming forward.

Des Charnock, has boundless energy and an excellent working knowledge of the system. Western Counties has the technology, the drive and energy to train operators and the desire to see its boxers no longer handicapped by non-exposure to this international scoring system.

Our thanks must go to Sport England for their financial support of our mission and we plan to repay their foresight with a twenty first century judging system for all who participate in the sport.
Roger Eady
Development Officer

Captions for photo's below accepted(within reason)!