USA Sr/JO Nationals

[Coach Bob]

Well, as usual, the coaches of boxers going to Nationals are being hosed. USA Boxing did not even try to find a facility large enough to allow boxers coaches (who are not on the regional roster) to stay, train, eat, etc. (even if they chose to pay) with their boxers. This is an absolute outrage. They responded to me with a completely indifferent attitude. We need to ban together and get this BS practise stopped immediately, and I mean this year. You can't tell me there isn't a facility large enough in Denver to handle this. The underlying tone is to completely eliminate coaches who are not on the Regional Rosters. It is time for USA Boxing to wake up. It isn't any wonder they have problems. Decisions like this are completely out of touch and self-centered. Coaches in this predicament: RISE UP. WRITE TO MADIGAN AND TELL HIM HOW STUPID AND ILLOGICAL THIS IS!!!

[boxmel]

Coaches in this predicament: RISE UP. WRITE TO MADIGAN AND TELL HIM HOW STUPID AND ILLOGICAL THIS IS!!!

I would write directly to Jim Millman and copy the BOD AND Andrew Madigan. I have had suspicisions since last year that the volunteers who are the backbone of the sport are being pushed aside in favor of staff taking over. Doesn't look to me like it's working, either.

[Slythex]

Just want to make sure I understand the specifics:
All athletes, coaches (and regional coordinators) are being housed at Regis University, correct?

There isn't enough room here for individual coaches?
Or USA Boxing hasn't made provisions for individual coaches to stay here?

One would think that a university dorm would have plenty of space, and then some, but who knows.

[jasonbox]

Coach Bob, would you prefer that none of the costs for your athlete are covered as in every other sport or even better that there are extensive registration fees as in every sport. Then you and your athlete would have the opportunity to stay and eat wherever you pleased.

[boxmel]

Is it my understanding that USA Boxing was given a total of 500 rooms to house delegations and staff. 500 rooms is, trust me, not a lot when you are talking about the numbers that USA Boxing IS taking care of. Even the officials are not being housed at the University.

Again, may I suggest, that you email Andrew Madigan directly or address any concerns to USA Boxing. At least you can find out the whys from the direct source - whether you like the answers or not.

Coach Bob, would you prefer that none of the costs for your athlete are covered as in every other sport or even better that there are extensive registration fees as in every sport. Then you and your athlete would have the opportunity to stay and eat wherever you pleased.

You are definitely correct. No other NGB pays for the athletes to attend the U.S. Championships and USA Boxing's membership fees are the lowest of all the NGBs.

[Slythex]

Hmm, they were talking about in excess of 500 athletes alone.
Doesn't sound like too much extra space to me.

Just out of curiosity, do they typically assume double occupancy of lodging?
(for athletes, coaches, AND officials?)

[Coach Bob]

Coach Bob, would you prefer that none of the costs for your athlete are covered as in every other sport or even better that there are extensive registration fees as in every sport. Then you and your athlete would have the opportunity to stay and eat wherever you pleased.

You missed the point. I did not say anything about USA boxing paying for a coach or athlete that is NOT on the regional roster. I have absolutely no problem paying, but NOT ACROSS TOWN! I am saying that we as coaches that are not on that roster DO NOT COUNT! We are told to go stay somewhere else, possibly not even remotely close to our athletes. You tell me a sport that takes an athlete(s) to a national championship and then changes coaches at the championship? Only in amateur boxing. I wrote to Andrew Madigan and received no indication that we were even remotely thought about. It appears that they, (USA Boxing), did not even try to find a location that would allow us (non-rostered coaches) the chance to pay and stay with our athletes. I called Regis to see if there were guest rooms I could pay for. NONE! USA Boxing has every available room on that campus (ALL 500 of them) and according to Andrew, every room will be used. If you went to nationals in Co. Springs when they stayed at the University, that was an exceptionally good location. Everyone, including coaches could stay there (but we paid to do it and that was not a problem). We are now, steadily going backwards. There is no need to increase any fee. We just want to stay with our athletes and not have to commute around Denver to be in their corner.

[Coach Bob]

I LOVE IT!!!

[boxmel]

Maybe USA Boxing did the University once in Colorado Springs - I really don't know. I do know that when the Championships have been hosted in COS, some athletes, delegation coaches and officials, and staff have been housed at the OTC in limited dorm space; others have been housed in the Doubletree (I stayed there last year as a staff member and it was about 10 minutes, or so, from the OTC - yes, I rented a car so I could get around easier), and others have stayed in other accommodations in COS. I really don't understand what you want in Denver. Maybe you should just count your blessings that your athlete(s) made it to that level and be satisfied with whatever accommodations you have to make to insure you are in Denver and in your boxers' corner.

[Dennis]

If he really wants to, I'm sure he can have his athlete stay with him off site. I didn't have a problem staying at a separate hotel from my boxers. Last year the NGG were held in Grand Rapids. Some of our out-of-town boxers stayed at a hotel. The local boxers stayed at their homes. The local coaches stayed at their homes. The head coach had to drive 10-15 miles to get to the hotel and then another couple miles to get to the venue. It wasn't ideal, but it worked.

[boxmel]

Just out of curiosity, do they typically assume double occupancy of lodging? (for athletes, coaches, AND officials?)

Yes - when they are taking care of the housing.

[JMac]

Maybe USA Boxing did the University once in Colorado Springs - I really don't know. I do know that when the Championships have been hosted in COS, some athletes, delegation coaches and officials, and staff have been housed at the OTC in limited dorm space; others have been housed in the Doubletree (I stayed there last year as a staff member and it was about 10 minutes, or so, from the OTC - yes, I rented a car so I could get around easier), and others have stayed in other accommodations in COS. I really don't understand what you want in Denver. Maybe you should just count your blessings that your athlete(s) made it to that level and be satisfied with whatever accommodations you have to make to insure you are in Denver and in your boxers' corner.

The US Championships were held at Collorado College in '07. It was when the top 8 qualified for the Olympic Trials. The setup was nice. Nice dorms, good food, good venue. I think the finals were held at a hotel in town.
I will be speaking to Patrick tomorrow and I'll ask if they have talked with any hotels in Denver to get a decent rate for coaches, family, officials who are not part of the regional teams. I know this is a big tournament with 3 tournaments at once. They are going to need a lot of officials, etc. I have never been to the Ringside tournament. How do they handel all of the people who box there? Do they use several hotels or one big one?

[JMac]

Coach Bob,

I spoke with Patrick and Jim Milman today and brought up your concern. I have to say that in the past, personal coaches were not able to stay at the Olympic Traning center with their boxers. They have stayed off complex in local hotels with their boxers if they wanted to.
I told them it would be a good idea to make arrangements with a few hotels for reduced rates for those who are coming but not part of the regional team like personal coaches, extra officials, parents, etc. They agreed it was a good idea and hopefully will make it happen and get the word out to the membership.

Cheers,

Jim McNally
Coaches/International Task Force

[Dennis]

Hopefully, they make it happen. In these times, all coaches could use the cost savings.

[boxmel]

I told them it would be a good idea to make arrangements with a few hotels for reduced rates for those who are coming but not part of the regional team like personal coaches, extra officials, parents, etc. They agreed it was a good idea and hopefully will make it happen and get the word out to the membership.

Jim, thank you for taking the initiative to make the phone call and see what could be arranged. I'm just disappointed that this had not been thought out and planned for at the time the fact sheet was released.