Boxing Scotland

Promoting and Developing Boxing In Scotland

Paul Coleman

Keep Your Guard Up – Version 20 of the Boxing Scotland COVID-20 Guidance

By

Dear Members,

Dear Club COVID Co-ordinators,

We hope you are all continuing to stay safe and well.

We continue to stress that a Club COVID Co-ordinator is a mandatory requirement for affiliated clubs in the current climate and beyond into the new season.  For Clubs that have updated or changed their COVID Coordinator since the start of the season or recently, please contact your Regional Development Officer so the Club details can be updated.

Please see the attached updated guidance approved by Public Health Scotland.  As you will all be aware changes will come into force Monday 19th July 2021 as part of the Government continuing easing of COVID restriction.

The First Minister announced on Tuesday, “That means that while Scotland will move to level 0 from next Monday, we will do so with certain modifications to our original indicative plans.  This is intended to ensure that our pace of easing restrictions is sensible in light of the challenge we continue to face from the Delta variant.  The Scottish Government understands, I understand, the temptation to lift more restrictions more quickly – of course, we understand that.  But in our view, and in line with clinical advice and modeling, a gradual approach stands the best chance of minimising further health harm and loss of life and also because a gradual approach stands the best chance of being a sustainable approach, it will be better in the long term for the economy as well.  So we will continue to ease restrictions, we are not slamming on the breaks, but we will do so carefully.”

The mainland areas will not move to the lowest level zero restrictions until 19 July.  Then the hope is that the remaining rules will be lifted on 9 August.

Changes to Covid restrictions will come into effect from Monday 19th July.  Boxing Scotland will continue to monitor the current situation and update guidance and advise the membership when these changes happen.

Please continue to follow the last guidance issued which is version 20 link can be found below which has not changed.

BSL-COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-20-Final

Please continue to familiarise yourself with the Guidance document.  So that their respective clubs continue following the guidance ensuring that clubs and gyms remain a safe environment for individuals to participate in physical activity.  Therefore, we kindly ask that you take the time to familiarise yourself with our updated guidance document.  Updates are in red highlighted in Yellow.

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact your Regional Club Development Officer.

The Boxing Scotland Regional Development Team;

North District – Ben Holme, ben.holme@boxingscotland.org 07702 866135

East District – Stewart Ferguson, stewart.ferguson@boxingscotland.org 07944 598755

West District – Paul Coleman, paul.coleman@boxingscotland.org 07803 513699

Keep your Guard up!

Boxing Scotland

First Ministers Announcement Tuesday 13th July 2021

By

Dear Members,

Following on from today’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.  Boxing Scotland now awaits sport-specific guidance from the government which will be issued through sportscotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the lockdown easing will continue for Scotland on the 19th of July with Scotland moving to level 0 next week but there will be “modifications” which the FM will outline in due course.  Ms Sturgeon says “she hopes that it will still be possible for most legal restrictions to end on 9 August in Scotland”

We will continue to work and liaise closely with the Scottish Government and sportscotland to update necessary guidance documents in line with today’s announcement.
key to this now is working within the guidelines, whilst pursuing the gradual return of the Competitive element of our sport.

Once the details of yesterday’s announcement have been fully considered, we will ensure that the updated guidance documents are made available to our members.

In the meantime, please continue to stay safe and well.  Keep your Guard up.

Boxing Scotland

Boxing Scotland – Officials Committee Advertisement

By

An exciting new volunteering initiative that will help support the Boxing Scotland Officials Pathway is set to be launched this month.

Boxing Scotland is seeking a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Appointments Officer and a Working Committee of six active members, including a student representative to lead and drive the new Officials Pathway and future development workstrands.

The long-term strategy for the sport in Scotland is owned by Boxing Scotland. In 2019, Boxing Scotland issued a new strategy, On the Front Foot. Our vision to Influence, Include and Inspire is representing a new era of collaboration. Our four primary roles are: governance of the sport, increasing and developing athletes, coaches and officials to achieve success on the world stage.

With a clear focus on continued growth and increased members, the Chair and Officials Committee will be responsible to the CEO for the leadership of training development and the educational pathway for all officials within Scotland.

The positions require experienced leaders, natural team workers and individuals that are already used to operating with volunteers in a sporting environment.

The Chair’s position will inspire and motivate a highly regarded Officials Committee to deliver education, training and individual CPD to new and existing Volunteer Officials within a wide variety of roles/positions. The post holder will be part of and will work alongside a supportive, strong and dynamic team of Boxing Scotland Staff which will lead to organisational success.

The various roles of the committee will involve evening and occasional full weekend working commitments. Subject matter experience in officiating and the sport of boxing is desirable.

Boxing is changing, participation is growing, more clubs are developing, and athletes are getting faster and stronger. High-quality officiating at all levels is now more essential than ever in helping us achieve our vision. Boxing Scotland aspires support at all levels of officiating, from grassroots, right the way through to the highest accolade at international level.

The new pathway will be strengthened further, thanks to a dedicated Officials Committee who will assist and support our volunteers through the pathway. Volunteering will widen your circle of friendships, assist you in learning new skills, and advance your career as an official. With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous.

Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer.

If you feel you have what it takes to be an Officials Committee member, to assist and contribute to a strong and dynamic team at Boxing Scotland, please send a CV, annotating your preferred position, with a covering letter to Marianne.Crichton@boxingscotland.org no later than midday Monday 9th August 2021. Contract type: Volunteer (Part-time) Unremunerated – expenses covered.

The organisation is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all job applicants and aims to select people for employment on the basis of their skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and, where appropriate, qualifications and training. However, the organisation requires job applicants for this post to give the organisation permission to apply via Disclosure Scotland for a relevant disclosure under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

It is a legal requirement for the role that the successful applicant is a member of the PVG scheme and any subsequent employment offered will be on the condition that the requirement is successfully met.

#AIBA #boxingscotland #sportscotland #powerofsport

NATIONAL FEDERATIONS – INTERNATIONAL BOXING DAY – CHANGE OF DATE

By

Dear Members,

We wish to inform our membership that from this year onwards International Boxing Day will be celebrated on August 27, as opposed to July 22, which has been the date in previous years.

The newly-agreed date corresponds to a historic milestone in AIBA’s history: the first AIBA World Boxing Championships, which was held between August 17 and August 30th, 1974, in Havana, Cuba.

As you know, International Boxing Day originated in Russia, in 2017, following the initiative of AIBA President Umar Kremlev in his role as Secretary-General of the Russian Boxing Federation.

In 2019, AIBA recognized and designated International Boxing Day to be celebrated every year and encouraged the global boxing family, fans, partners, and stakeholders to join forces in celebrating. In 2020, World Boxing Association (WBA) officially recognised
International Boxing Day.

This year will be the third time that International Boxing Day is celebrated globally.

Latest update on COVID-19 Restrictions

By

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland can confirm that there will be no changes to the Covid-19 rules and regulations in amateur boxing following the government’s decision to delay the final easing of restrictions until the 19th of July.

Nicola Sturgeon was speaking as she confirmed lockdown easing would be paused for three weeks to allow more time for people to be vaccinated.

A surge in cases caused by the dominant Delta variant is the reason the FM announced this will now not happen until Monday 19th July at the earliest.

It means mainland areas will not move to the lowest level zero restrictions until 19 July. Then the hope is that the remaining rules will be lifted on 9 August.

Some “minor” changes to COVID restrictions will be made in the coming weeks.  Boxing Scotland will continue to monitor the current situation and update guidance and advise the membership when these changes happen.

The new daily case rate in Scotland is seven times higher than it was in early May and 40% higher than last week, with Ms Sturgeon saying the faster-transmitting Delta variant is “now dominant”.

But the first minister said the vaccination programme was breaking the link between the number of positive cases and the number of people being hospitalised.

Please continue to follow the last guidance issued which is version 19 link can be found below.

BSL-COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-19

We continue to draw your attention to the Travel restrictions which still have restrictions on Car and Minibus sharing travel guidance in section 7 pages 17 and 18 in the Version 19 Guidance which has not changed.

Keep Your Guard Up – Version 19 of the Boxing Scotland COVID-19 Guidance

  • Clubs must ensure that their Risk Assessments are up to date considering all of the recent easing of restrictions and that Boxing Scotland holds a copy for all coaching activities. Contact Regional Development officers for information. Failure to follow these guidelines will void the club insurance policy.

Although a little disappointing we are continuing to see light at the end of the tunnel. A reminder that we continue to be monitored as an organisation and a membership.  Please continue to follow the latest guidance.

Keep your guard up!

Boxing Scotland

Keep Your Guard Up – Version 19 of the Boxing Scotland COVID-19 Guidance

By

Dear Members,

Please find the latest guidance which will come into force immediately. A copy was sent to Cub COVID Coordinators yesterday to scrutinize and report back to clubs.

The Government has eased a small number of restrictions that have had a minor knock-on effect with our guidance.

The minor amend now allows for Inter-Club sparring for clubs in close proximity to one another. Again this is a step in the right direction.

I wish to draw your attention to the Travel restrictions which still have restrictions on Car and Minibus sharing.

Could I please draw your attention to the Travel guidance in section 7 in the Version 19 Guidance.

Page 17

  • Under 18s only – Inter-Club sparring is only permitted in Levels 0-2.  No Inter-Club sparring is permitted at Clubs in levels 3-4.
  • Clubs from level 3-4 areas and not permitted to travel outside their own Local Authority area and should not travel to other clubs within their LA area no matter how close.

Page 18 Car And Vehicle sharing

You should not share a vehicle with anyone from another household unless you absolutely have to in exceptional circumstances. It is recognised that people with additional support needs may need to car share and in these circumstances, they should also follow the appropriate measures, steps, and precautions where possible.

Page 30/31

  • Inter-Club Sparring is permitted at this time for under 18s from areas 0-2 however clubs must follow travel restrictions.  No Car, Minibus sharing is permitted due to restrictions currently still in place. Local Clubs within walking distance or individuals that can be dropped off by parents/carers in levels 0-2 are allowed.

 No Inter-Club sessions are permitted with activity from different local clubs and authorities in protection level areas 3-4

  • Clubs must ensure that their Risk Assessments are up to date considering all of the recent easing of restrictions and that Boxing Scotland holds a copy for all coaching activities. Contact Regional Development officers for information. Failure to follow these guidelines will void the club insurance policy.

BSL-COVID-19-OVERVIEW-GUIDANCE-v-19

We have been pushing to have this eased at the next review.  However; as you will be aware that Glasgow remains in Level 3, and the current data has both East Renfrewshire, Clackmannan, and  N/S Lanarkshire increasing in numbers and perhaps in due course may a return to level 3.  Please ensure that all COVID-19 Coordinators monitor their Local authority Protection Levels closely to adopt any changes.

We must also continue to wear the correct PPE during Pad work and or in close proximity to those conducting training in the facility.  Allowances exist for Exceptional circumstances listed below.

Section 7.Outdoor Training Guide

(Coaches MUST wear a face shield or mask and goggles for all pad, paddles, body protectors when conducting sessions with athletes)

 Section 9.Outdoor Training Guide

It is mandatory for BS registered coaches to wear a face shield or mask and goggles for all pad sessions with athletes. This should be on a one-to-one basis and not as a group activity.

Please continue to follow the guidance issued.  As we could find the return to Boxing pathway pushed further right of what has already been an extremely difficult period for clubs, and the good work that has been achieved by clubs being undone by those not who do not follow the issued guidance.

Face coverings must be worn by coaches when indoors, except where an exemption applies. For instance.

  • where an individual has a health condition or is disabled, including hidden disabilities, for example, autism, dementia, or a learning disability.

or if there is a reasonable excuse not to wear a face-covering such as.

  • where there is difficulty in communicating with participants who may not be close by and safety is an issue, in a swimming lesson. In such cases, alternative measures should be considered such as the use of a face visor.
  • Face coverings do not need to be worn by the Participant when undertaking physical activity, exercise.
  • The Coronavirus-(COVID-19)-public-use-of-face-coverings/ provides guidance on general use and exemptions.
  • Face Covering and eye Protection is mandatory for Coaches conducting indoor and outdoor Pads, Paddles, Noodle’s sessions, Body Protection being physically active or exercising as part of the coached session.

We are finally beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, although gradually. We continue to be monitored as an organisation and a membership and could find the return to Boxing pathway pushed further right of what has already been an extremely difficult period for member clubs, and the good work that has been achieved by all the member clubs could end up being undone at the last minute.

Keep your guard up!

Boxing Scotland