Article about USA Boxing CEO Jim Millman

[byrdman66]

very true!!

[hbomb2]

The "old school" tactics, i.e. the "drill sergeant" mentality does not work in today's society. Kids are brought up without discipline and structure. It is a situation where the boxers have to trust the coach and have faith and belief in him. The coach gains that trust, respect and dedication of the boxer over time. If the coach is knowledgeable and successful, the athlete will realize it and want to listen and work hard. It is certainly not easy, contrary to popular belief.

Dennis I disagree with you, just because one is brought up without discipline and stucture does not mean that we should allow them to continue in that destructive manner. All coaches and athletes alike should automatically be given trust and respect until they show otherwise. I am very disappointed at the final result of a majority of boxers as they end up broke in the end because everyone exploits their talents to make them champions in the ring but fail to teach how to becoma a champion in life. Some things simple as when you get money save in and invest rather than buy multi cars and mansions that have to be kept up even after the boxing is over.

The drill sergeant mentality back in the day was too extreme as the drill sergeant were allowed to put hands on and give wall to wall council. The lack of discipline and structure is preventing our boxers from winning at the Olympic Games along with a few other things. We have the most talented boxers in the world but we must do better by them by making them accountable and teaching them to be disciplined in all that they do.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

It is a situation where the boxers have to trust the coach and have faith and belief in him. The coach gains that trust, respect and dedication of the boxer over time. If the coach is knowledgeable and successful, the athlete will realize it and want to listen and work hard. It is certainly not easy, contrary to popular belief.

I couldn't agree more, Dennis.

All coaches and athletes alike should automatically be given trust and respect until they show otherwise.

I couldn't disagree, more. I wouldn't expect a young boxer to trust me until I earned it. Sure, there is a certain amount of trust just by coming into the gym and asking a coach to train you in a sport where you can get seriously injured, but that trust isn't 100% initially. That must happen over time and after a coach has demonstrated that he has the boxer's best interest in mind and that he is on the same page with how to help that boxer reach his or her goals. The respect comes with that part too-but over time. I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm not saying that a boxer can be disrepectful, but what I am saying is that I expect a boxer to ask questions to understand what is being asked of them - especially in the beginning. A boxer has to be comfortable with that boxer-coach relationship and a lot of that comfort lays the foundation for trust and respect.

Also, a coach being able to trust and respect the boxer comes with time as you grow to learn what kind of person they are and the kind of decisions that you can "trust" them with. That trust may have to do with training, behavior, communication - but again it has to happen over time. I'm not saying that I don't trust or respect anyone that comes into the gym, I am saying that the level of trust and respect that I would like to have for all boxers isn't the level of trust and respect we start with. That is my opinion.

[Dennis]

hbomb2 - there is a difference in being a coach that yells & screams and one who gains respect but still doesn't put up with crap. Just because I said that the drill sergeant mentallity doesn't work like it did 30+ years ago, doesn't mean that coaches should put up with disrespectful boxers. There is just a different way of handling it. I have personally kicked several boxers out of the gym over the years. We don't put up with fighting outside of the ring, any threats, touching a coach or referee, etc. I also won't deal with boxers who aren't reliable. If they say they are going to box, then they better do so unless they have a very good reason why not. I know coaches who let their boxers embarass them frequently by pulling out of scheduled bouts. My boxers know that I will watch out for them, but I expect/demand certain things in return.

DC - I think you understand what I'm saying.

[hbomb2]

It is a situation where the boxers have to trust the coach and have faith and belief in him. The coach gains that trust, respect and dedication of the boxer over time. If the coach is knowledgeable and successful, the athlete will realize it and want to listen and work hard. It is certainly not easy, contrary to popular belief.

I couldn't agree more, Dennis.

All coaches and athletes alike should automatically be given trust and respect until they show otherwise.

I couldn't disagree, more. I wouldn't expect a young boxer to trust me until I earned it. Sure, there is a certain amount of trust just by coming into the gym and asking a coach to train you in a sport where you can get seriously injured, but that trust isn't 100% initially. That must happen over time and after a coach has demonstrated that he has the boxer's best interest in mind and that he is on the same page with how to help that boxer reach his or her goals. The respect comes with that part too-but over time. I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm not saying that a boxer can be disrepectful, but what I am saying is that I expect a boxer to ask questions to understand what is being asked of them - especially in the beginning. A boxer has to be comfortable with that boxer-coach relationship and a lot of that comfort lays the foundation for trust and respect.

Also, a coach being able to trust and respect the boxer comes with time as you grow to learn what kind of person they are and the kind of decisions that you can "trust" them with. That trust may have to do with training, behavior, communication - but again it has to happen over time. I'm not saying that I don't trust or respect anyone that comes into the gym, I am saying that the level of trust and respect that I would like to have for all boxers isn't the level of trust and respect we start with. That is my opinion.

If an we can not trust and respect one another in sport we will never advance to the higher echelon of winning. There has to be trust and respect from the initial setting. The level of trust and respect may increase or decrease over time. The type of attitude of no trust and respect until one earns it has already caused a problem from the onset. Optimism is what we should have while unfortunately we are very pesimistic(spelling) as a people which is a barrier.

Dennis I understand you and you are doing a great job. It just seems that society is looking at the word discipline as if it is a bad word and that is what we all need.