Boxing, like any sport, relies on a healthy pool of young talent coming through to keep the sport thriving. While a select few talented children may well climb the rank and represent their country at the Olympics or even turn professional, the large majority attend boxing lessons for kids because it is fun.
Anyone who has ever watched a boxing match, regardless of level, will know how dangerous the sport can be. That is why before even considering allowing children to start boxing, safety has to come first. As a combat sport, without the correct procedures in place, there is a serious risk of injury.
Basic Equipment
Before letting children loose on a punchbag, they need to be wearing the proper equipment. Boxing gloves are obvious, but underneath the child must be wearing fitted wrist/hand wraps to avoid injury caused by the jarring when landing a punch. No qualified coach will allow anyone under their supervision to throw punches without this protection.
Boxing gloves are not just boxing gloves, as they come in a range of different sizes. Adult boxers will commonly wear boxing gloves weighing at least 16oz for training and sparring sessions because the extra padding softens the blow, reducing the risk of injury. For competitive action, adults will wear much lighter gloves, either 8oz or 10oz, with firmer padding and, thus, will pack a faster and harder punch.
The recommended weight for a junior boxer will depend largely on their size and the comfort of fit. A 10-year-old weighing anywhere between five and six stone will likely wear gloves weighing around 6oz to 8oz, while a 16-year-old weighing 10 stone may be recommended to wear gloves around the 14-16oz mark. Junior boxing gloves should always leave enough room for hand wraps and fit comfortably when doing so, therefore it is recommended to try gloves on with hand wraps on.
For training, it is common for boxers to wear normal gym/running trainers rather than specialised boxing trainers. When training for competition at any level, wearing boxing trainers in training is recommended to wear the footwear and adjust to how it feels. The last thing you want is to step into the ring and find that your trainers aren’t comfortable.
Sparring Equipment
Hand wraps and boxing gloves will always be essentials but, when it comes to sparring there is more equipment needed to safeguard both boxers. Unless competing as a professional, all boxers wear headguards and all professional fighters will wear headguards when sparring.
Headguards should fit the head tight enough so as not to displace during the session, but not too tight so as it is uncomfortable. For juniors, a Velcro headguard is recommended for ease of use and the trainer should always check the fit of the headguard before sparring to ensure it will not move out of place.
Mouthguards are to be always worn during contact sessions as it protects teeth, gums, lips, tongue, and jaw, as well as help to cushion any blow to the face. Properly fitted mouthguards will sit comfortably in the mouth and remain securely in place without the need for the person wearing them to clench their teeth. If the mouthguard is making it difficult for the person wearing it to breathe, makes them gag or is completely unable to speak, a different size mouthguard should be worn.
Groin protectors must always be worn in sparring and competition. Protectors not only protect the private area but also extends above the lower torso marking the beltline. While these are normally worn underneath boxing shorts in competition, they can be worn over the shorts in training to easily take off and put on as required.
What is the Best Age for Children to Start Boxing?
While children often begin playing other sports, such as football, cricket, and rugby, at a relatively young age it isn’t quite as common for boxing. Most gyms only begin to offer sessions to children aged eight and up, although some fun sessions that introduce basic concepts do make for a good introduction to boxing for younger kids.
Children so young won’t be taking part in sparring sessions with light sparring first happening at around 12 to 13 years of age. Before any minor is allowed to take part in even light sparring, a parent or guardian must sign a consent form and no student should be forced to participate in sparring if they do not want to do so. It is important to reinforce that sparring is to work on technique, rather than aiming to hurt your opponent, and boxers should always be matched up as evenly as possible.
Boxing for Kids at Home
Away from the gym and organised sessions, children should be encouraged to practice their skills at home. Many homes may not have a punching bag installed but there is still plenty that young boxers can do – both with and without their parents’ participation.
Shadowboxing in the garden or bedroom (space permitting) is always encouraged and investing in a set of pads that a parent or sibling can hold is another good way of keeping children engaged at home. A skipping rope that children can use in the garden, or any other outside area, can be great fun for them, as well as to provide an excellent workout on their footwork.
A full-length mirror is a fantastic addition to any home boxing workout that can be used as part of any shadow boxing session. The mirror also provides a first-hand view of techniques, such as footwork, movement, dodging, and blocking. It becomes easier to notice nuances in movement and vulnerabilities, such as openings that an opponent could easily exploit when shadowboxing in the mirror.
Boxing Games for Kids
Boxing lessons for younger kids should be made up of pads, bags, shadowboxing, and plenty of footwork exercises whilst making it fun for all. Young children will love letting loose on the pads, throwing punches at a target, and working up a sweat. As time goes on, the trick is to refine that pure enthusiasm and work on fundamentals of how to punch, shield and combinations.
One fun game that focuses on footwork and defensive movement is an activity often referred to as the sock drill. A sock is hung out of the collar of each boxer’s shirt and the object of the game is to try and steal the other person’s sock. This is a non-contact game, so perfectly fine for young kids to play, and focus on footwork, movement, and blocking – dodging the other person’s attempts to grab the sock. This game is fantastic for adding a competitive element without any contact, replicating the same movements used in boxing that will keep children occupied and engaged.
Shadow sparring is as close as junior boxers can get to full-blown boxing and is a game that forms part of even world champions’ training camps. No equipment is needed for this as there is no contact. The premise is like shadow boxing, only that they will be doing this with a partner. They will practice their technique and self-control while working on footwork and balance.
If you are looking for a fun game to mix things up, punching to the beat is a great one. Boxing is all about rhythm and there is no better way to learn that than throwing punches to the music. Select either a slow or fast song and get your class to throw combinations in time with the beat. You can mix this up by asking the kids to focus on one or two types of punches (i.e. jabs and hooks) to form combinations, or encourage them to throw punches in whatever order their heart desires! Start with something slow to warm them up (and grasp the concept of the game) and then up the tempo so as they are working hard!
Make sure to reward their efforts, keeping them motivated and engaged. Boxing, as an individual sport, can sometimes feel lonely and isolated compared to team sports, so recognising any achievement and development is important. There are fewer opportunities to win trophies and medals in comparison with football, so making those chances will go a long way to keeping their interest.
Here at Fen Regis Trophies, we are proud to have supplied boxing trophies and awards for over 40 years. If you would like some more information on our service, please get in contact with a member of our team today.