“Boxing Clever” is the title of the new Strategic Plan for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to be implemented over the next four years.
The Plan sets out key objectives for Irish boxing with clear deliverable goals supported by defined actions in each of five specific areas to ensure boxing in Ireland achieves its potential.
In the ring the intention is to develop and support the sport of boxing to ensure growth and success at all levels. The Association currently has 16,500 members, three quarters of them under the age of 18. The intention is to grow participation numbers by 15% between now and the next Olympic Games cycle in Tokyo 2020.
The report takes heed of a significant programme of focus groups and interviews undertaken by Lisa Clancy of Clansult and Sarah O’Shea of SOS Sports Consult, both of whom have extensive experience across senior management in the GAA and FAI.
Improvements in governance and decision making as well as communication will be an important part of the programme of change. They have been welcomed by Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy who had run ins with the Association in recent years but was there to strongly support the new approach when it was launched at the National Stadium.
That venue will feature as one strand of looking to increase commercial revenues and sponsorship into the sport, both of which have been lacking despite the Olympic success and high profile of boxing.
The aim there is to move from own revenue streams of 15% in 2015 towards 25% within four years. It’s a bold ambition but it could be achieved and would lessen the present over reliance of Government and local authority funding.
That currently comes from Sport Ireland (43%) The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (22%), Sport Northern Ireland (13%) and Dublin City Council (7%)
All in there are 146 action points, each one with a timetable for delivery and a commitment to be worked on from the word go.
These include creating significantly improved storytelling and communication both within the sport and externally, the appointment of a commercial manager next year, establishing a national database and appointing a new High Performance Director.
“This plan charts the way forward for the Association,” said IABA President Pat Ryan.
“It is now time to come together, to listen to each other so we can ensure a very positive future for Irish boxing. Everybody involved in Irish boxing now has a sense of what we are about and what we are working towards.”
“Our members are the lifeblood of the Association and the Strategic Plan recognises the hard work and dedication of all those who contribute to Irish boxing and sets out clear actions to improve how we support all within the boxing family,” added Chairman of the IABA Joe Christle.
“We are proud of our past but as we look forward we need to continuously improve and operate as a modern day fit for purpose national sporting body,” said CEO Fergal Carruth whose responsibility it will be to deliver the plan.
“We now have a clear pathway for implementing the changes necessary to deliver on all our goals.”
The 2017-2020 Strategic Plan will be rolled out to IABA members through a nationwide roadshow in 2017. A copy of the plan can be downloaded here.
