Working with young boxers ?

[Hugo]

I got two young boxers ages 9 and 11 they trained all year, run 1 mile 5 days a week and fought about twice a month , they are good little boxers and I don't want to burn them up so was thinking on 2 weeks break. I would like to hear what other coaches with young boxers do about breaks or days off, how many fights do they have in a month period, running routines,etc...? I'm looking forward to hear your comments, Thanks.

[415BOXING]

I got two young boxers ages 9 and 11 they trained all year, run 1 mile 5 days a week and fought about twice a month , they are good little boxers and I don't want to burn them up so was thinking on 2 weeks break. I would like to hear what other coaches with young boxers do about breaks or days off, how many fights do they have in a month period, running routines,etc...? I'm looking forward to hear your comments, Thanks.

I TRAIN 4 KIDS AND 3 SENIOR BOXERS,MY KIDS 8,10,10,AND 11YRS OLD.I USUALLY RUN THEM 2-2 1/2 MILES 3 DAYS A WEEK,AND SPRINTS(FLAT GROUND AND UPHILL) 2 TIMES A WEEK.THEY TRAIN 4-5 TIMES A WEEK IN THE GYM,I'LL GIVE THEM A MONTH TO A MONTH AND A HALF OFF DURING THE YEAR,DEPENDING HOW FAR THEY ADVANCE IN THE SILVER GLOVES TOURNAMENT,COMPETITION WISE,AS LONG AS THEY ARE COMING TO THE GYM AND GETTING THEIR CARDIO IN, I LIKE THEM TO COMPETE 10-20 TIMES A YEAR IF THEIR READY,ALSO WE GO TO A TRACK AND I MAKE THEM DO INTERVALS,WHAT THEY DO IN THE BEGINNING IS 3/4 OF THE TRACK THEY JOG AT A NORMAL PACE,THEN ON 1 STRAIGHT AWAY THEY SPRINT,DO 8 LAPS FOR A BEGINNER(2 MILES),THEN ADVANCE THEM TO 12 LAPS(3 MILES),THEN DROP THEM BACK TO 8 LAPS,BUT MAKE THEM SPRINT BOTH STRAIGHT AWAYS,THEN ADVANCE THEM TO 12 LAPS

[squarering]

First off I commend you for working with the little guys. a lot of new coaches tend to want to work with older boxers. The ones that really want to have the best chance for thier kids to be succesfull understand that you need to work with the younger ones. I have about 15 between the ages of 8 and 14 and then the older kids. I have had to tweak individuals training in an attemto to make sue I didn't burn them out of loose them. 2 of the 12 years olds are on a medication that can cause them to come in the gym ornery,lazy, and uncooperative. and these are good kids that have good skills. I went to both kids individually and sugestted that they come only 3 days a wee instead of 5 in hopes that the energy on the 3 days would be better. After about 3 weeks one came back and asked if he could come all five days. I said asl long as you are able to stay focused and keep a good attitude. He has been very good so far. The other is almost to the same point as I pick his little brother up every day and he does not like watching his brother roll out with his gear all five days. I see a change in him as well and believe he will soon be back t9 5 days. That was a specific issue. Normally the kids will work as hard as you want then too as long as the energy of the group stays up and you continue to bring in new kids that try to keep up. This makes the first ones feel like they are leaders and the new kids have something to shoot for. Then energy builds and continues to create a strong program that is fun for the kids. Remember that word FUN. We also try to do a number of things outside the gym and make it a place they would not want to leave. We take the kids Bowling twice a year. and to a go cart track in the summer. We take a trip to the beach, but then we are only 30 minutes away. We had a big Christmas party, and every month we have on birthday party for all the kids who are born in that month. You'd be surprised how many get very little recognition at home. It might not sound like boxing. but over twenty tears we have evolved our program into what works and the kids that are in the program work hard and don't want to leave. A week break hear and there is ok as long as you call them a couple times and say hey whats up and they don't start to think about laying around the house for good. In over twenty some years I have witnessed a lot of young kids that boxed as much as once a week and went on to be very good, turned pro and quit.a couple wound up incarserated, right Jmac. In most cases these were parent boxer relationships. You are smart to pose the question. I am sure you will make the right adjustments.

[Hugo]

Thank you coaches for your input. Keep up the good work.

[Dennis]

First off I commend you for working with the little guys. a lot of new coaches tend to want to work with older boxers. The ones that really want to have the best chance for thier kids to be succesfull understand that you need to work with the younger ones. I have about 15 between the ages of 8 and 14 and then the older kids. I have had to tweak individuals training in an attemto to make sue I didn't burn them out of loose them. 2 of the 12 years olds are on a medication that can cause them to come in the gym ornery,lazy, and uncooperative. and these are good kids that have good skills. I went to both kids individually and sugestted that they come only 3 days a wee instead of 5 in hopes that the energy on the 3 days would be better. After about 3 weeks one came back and asked if he could come all five days. I said asl long as you are able to stay focused and keep a good attitude. He has been very good so far. The other is almost to the same point as I pick his little brother up every day and he does not like watching his brother roll out with his gear all five days. I see a change in him as well and believe he will soon be back t9 5 days. That was a specific issue. Normally the kids will work as hard as you want then too as long as the energy of the group stays up and you continue to bring in new kids that try to keep up. This makes the first ones feel like they are leaders and the new kids have something to shoot for. Then energy builds and continues to create a strong program that is fun for the kids. Remember that word FUN. We also try to do a number of things outside the gym and make it a place they would not want to leave. We take the kids Bowling twice a year. and to a go cart track in the summer. We take a trip to the beach, but then we are only 30 minutes away. We had a big Christmas party, and every month we have on birthday party for all the kids who are born in that month. You'd be surprised how many get very little recognition at home. It might not sound like boxing. but over twenty tears we have evolved our program into what works and the kids that are in the program work hard and don't want to leave. A week break hear and there is ok as long as you call them a couple times and say hey whats up and they don't start to think about laying around the house for good. In over twenty some years I have witnessed a lot of young kids that boxed as much as once a week and went on to be very good, turned pro and quit.a couple wound up incarserated, right Jmac. In most cases these were parent boxer relationships. You are smart to pose the question. I am sure you will make the right adjustments.

Hal, can I come and box for your gym? It sounds great. You are making some of us lesser coaches look BAD. Thanks a lot. D

[squarering]

Sure Dennis , You can come, but you should know first that you are too old for the birthday party and I heard Lawyers don't bowl. and if you are from MI you would probably burn at the beach, Then , Lord knows what you would do behind the wheel of a go cart. but come on down

[Dennis]

Sure Dennis , You can come, but you should know first that you are too old for the birthday party and I heard Lawyers don't bowl. and if you are from MI you would probably burn at the beach, Then , Lord knows what you would do behind the wheel of a go cart. but come on down

I'm too old for a lot of things. I do bowl on occasion, but I have yet to break 200 for a game. I've come close a few times. I am usually in the 140's to 150's so you can see I'm not good at it.
Frying at the beach - you bet. We do have beaches here in West MI plus I'm out on boats all summer long so I know how to deal with the sun.
Go Karts. I love em as long as my big body will fit. I'm a big kid Hal and really want to join. In the meantime, I'll keep training the kids at our gym in Grand Rapids.

[squarering]

Come on..........but in all seriousness, you gotta give at least 30 pins.

[Dennis]

If I have to give 30 pins, you must be used to bumper bowling.

[squarering]

You mean those things aren't normally up all the time.

[Dennis]

Maybe they are in Maryland.