by Shane Tucker

Created on: June 19, 2009   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

Boxing is an extremely popular sport for people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether they are attempting to get into top physical shape or to fight for a world title, anyone who boxes wants to make sure that they are getting quality training from a knowledgeable coach. But what responsibilities does a boxing coach have? That is a difficult question to answer because it really depends on the person that is being coached. One fighter may have entirely different needs than another. So, while some responsibilities toward students are universal, there are also some that may occur only once in a coach's lifetime.

The absolute most important aspect of a coach's job is to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the athlete. This applies to every student the coach has. Strict guidelines should be put into place to include issues such as how much weight a boxer should be allowed to cut, the number of days per week a training regimen will run to eliminate overtraining and injury, and what condition and skill level the boxer must reach before ever being allowed to step into the ring. This last point is a very important one. The coach should make sure that a very high level of conditioning has been achieved and the fighter has learned proper techniques for punching, blocking, parrying, and foot movement. Far too many people are tossed into the ring on their first night of training in order to "see what they've got." This is an idiotic practice that can lead to serious injury. Coaches also need to determine safe limits for how much damage a fighter can absorb during a bout. Boxers are notorious for not knowing when to quit. Many bouts that have required a stoppage by the referee should have actually been stopped by the coach. While one can't expect a coach to step in as soon as his fighter begins taking a barrage of punches, there must be a level of expertise that allows proper judgment to be used.

Coaches also have the job of preparing their fighters for bouts. It is the coach's job to assess a fighter's skills and determine what needs to be improved. The coach must also scout the opponents in order to know what weaknesses can be exploited during the match. All of these things go into formulating a game plan to score a victory. Anything that is overlooked could cost a fighter the bout, so the coach must be diligent in preparation. This also includes the actual coaching during the bout, because as the coach looks on from the corner during

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