IABA release statement outlining return to training protocols

The IABA today released statement outlining return to training protocols.

Boxing clubs throughout the country have been closed since lockdown was imposed, but have be given the green light to open from August 1, although there will be a special July 20th dispensation for the Elite squad.

There will be no overseas travel or National Championships until October at the earliest and the affiliation fee will be halved for 2020/21.

Read the statement below:

Dear Members,

The Board of Directors IABA, recently met by Teleconference to agree a final draft of the Return to training protocols for boxing clubs throughout the Country. The Board reflected on all of the recommendations received by the Units, many of which have been incorporated into the agreed protocols which have since went in front of the Return to Sport Medical Expert Group for their on-going guidance. The protocols will be emailed to the clubs and Units today and then posted on the IABA website to assist in the preparation of our return to training.

The Board also discussed the timeline mapped out in the Revised Roadmap for Reopening Ireland. It was decided that in the interest of solidarity our clubs would not resume until the 1st of August 2020 in order to hopefully facilitate a coordinated resumption to training for all our clubs throughout the length and breadth of the Country and in both jurisdictions. The intervening time will also allow for our clubs to put in place all safety measures and ensure a safe return to sport for all our members.

In any event, all National Championships or International travel for clubs will not be sanctioned by the IABA until at least the start of October 2020 to ensure that all our clubs have an adequate time to prepare for future All- Ireland competition. This date may change subject to relevant health service guidelines.

In an effort to facilitate our Elite Team in their preparation for next year’s Olympic Games, our High-Performance boxers will be given special dispensation and allowed to resume training in the Abbotstown facility from the 20th of July 2020. The team will be closely monitored and checked by a team of medical professionals and subject to strict protocols in their return to preparations for qualification events scheduled for Feb/March 2021.

The IABA Board broadly welcomed the Governments €70m Emergency Sports fund for National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and sports clubs in response to the Covid-19 crisis. We will provide further information on accessing this funding to our clubs as it becomes available as this will hopefully assist our clubs in getting through this very difficult period.

The Board acknowledges the worry and fear that many of our clubs are experiencing at this time and the Chairman, President & CEO have agreed as such we will not be running the process of affiliation for the 2020/21 season until November 2020. This is being done to give our members adequate time to get back to their clubs and some sense of normality before being asked to enter the affiliation process. All clubs that were affiliated to the IABA in 2019/20 will remain affiliated members and Insured until the next round of affiliations.

The fee for affiliation 2020/21 will be just under half of last year’s figure (final figures to be provided nearer to the time) in order to assist clubs to get back to training and competition with as little further financial burden as possible.

This reduction will only be made possible through the good work of staff and volunteer members and by utilising current spend and reserve funds that have been accumulated by the organisation through prudent financial management over several years.

The Board of the IABA will continue to monitor the situation and follow the guidance issued by the health services and other applicable governmental departments. We encourage all members to do likewise (please see links below):

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Members who have specific concerns relating to the coronavirus should contact the HSE helpline to seek further advice/guidance Tel: 1850 24 1850 or in Northern Ireland contact Tel: 111.
The Board would like to thank all of our members for the concern they have shown for their communities in abiding by these directives.

Yours Sincerely,

Chairman Ciaran Kirwan, President Dominic O’Rourke, Chief Executive Fergal Carruth

For and on behalf of the Board of Directors, IABA.