While parents are often happy to help their children choose a sport to participate in, when their child expresses an interest in amateur boxing, sometimes the concern for the child's safety becomes a roadblock.
But, amateur boxing is really like any other sport as far as safety goes. With proper safety equipment, the right instruction and careful supervision by well-trained instructors and coaches, this activity offers a good positive learning environment and much of the potential for risk of injury can be significantly reduced.
With those things in mind and in place, the risk of injury in amateur boxing is not any higher than it would be in any of the other popular sports that you child might participate in such as hockey, track, gymnastics or football.
The biggest component to ensuring that your child participates safely in amateur boxing, or any other sport for that matter, is being an informed parent, a prepared parent and an involved parent. The boxing activity itself is a great athletic endeavor. It is in the execution of the rules and regulations that is the determining factor in keeping the sport safe.
And, you should keep in mind that the benefits your child will receive from participating in a amateur boxing program will far outweigh the risks to them, if safety is indeed taken seriously by the child, the instructor and the parent.
Amateur boxing helps to instill confidence and self-esteem in the child, which many consider to be the most important benefit. It can also instill a high degree of self-discipline. All three of these benefits can be carried forward into other aspects of a child's life and have a great impact not only during their schooling years but into their adult careers and lives.
When children are committed to a regular training schedule, especially one that is supervised and structured, kids have an opportunity to work out their frustrations and aggressions. They are also able to learn about self-management and determination, which are other characteristics which will serve them well throughout life.
The training that your child will go through in amateur boxing will also helps them to see the definite correlation that exists between the hard work they put in and the noticeable results they achieve.
Amateur boxing training has also been shown to be a very effective activity for kids that have been identified as being "at-risk" for behavioral problems. By giving such children a ready outlet to vent their aggressions and by giving them a consistent schedule, they are able to enjoy the feelings of pride as they see the results of their hard work and in turn, start believing in themselves.
When searching for a amateur boxing program for your child, it is important to seek out a good coach who emphasizes sportsmanship and self-development over competitiveness. Also, an establishment that is reputable and one that deserves your patronage will be certified by the state in which they operate. They will also require that you have proper health insurance coverage for your child and will insist on the use of proper gear.
There is no doubt that amateur boxing can be a terrific experience for your child. This sport can build sportsmanship and athleticism and it also serves to increase self-worth. Even with some of the concerns parents have, it does continue to be one of the best ways to build confidence.
For the latest boxing news, events from the UK four nations amateur boxing clubs plus a free newsletter visit the Amateur Boxing Forum's website.
Source: www.isnare.com
