Feedback

“We changed from a boxer
to a boxer/puncher and now
I think we are only punchers
who cant work the computer-
ized scoring system.” SG

“It seems we fight so HARD
while the other countries are
just boxing smarter. I feel
local judging could also use
some help on scoring bouts
with consistency.” LM

“I see the coaches drop their
standards to reflect a genera-
tion of youth that is lacking
motivation and wants a short
cut for results.” FB

“We were the best in the
world for many years
because of our philosophy
and coaches who worked
together . . .” KW

i
August 1st, 2009
1,108 days until
XXX Olympiad ends
Also in this edition:
Workout #1, General Conditioning
Building a Solid Foundation of Coaches & Officials

This issue comes out exactly three years and thirteen days from August 13th,
2012, the day after the Games of the XXX Olympiad end.  Our goal is not to
simply get to the Olympics but rather, go THROUGH the Olympics,
dominating the sport of boxing and winning “9 and 4”. 

Thank-you for supporting the vision of 9 Medals, 4 GOLD for USA
boxers at the 2012 Summer games in London, England.  Many of you have
received an introduction letter (located on the Home page of www.9and4.org) within the last month asking for feedback and suggestions.  A few of those comments have been included in the sidebar to the left.  The theme of many of the letters received was “consistency”.  Our American Boxing Community is starving for consistency in training and in scoring.  We get to be a complete team of boxers, coaches, officials and administrators that respect each others unique and necessary position, each is a pillar to our success of winning medals at the next Olympic Summer Games.  Without even one of those support systems these dreams may crash down around us.

Starting with the coaches and officials on the frontline (the ones that make it
possible for the local shows and regional tournaments to go on), and
creating a solid foundation of consistency with the application to the rules
is the key to our success.  The way to win any game is to know the rules,
the facts and not the interpretations.  Winning competition strategies should be
based on the facts, not interpretations.  For example, “body shots don’t score”
is an interpretation.  The fact is body shots will score if they are landed in the
view of three judges who score the shot simultaneously.  Yes, this may be a
challenge but “body shots do not score” is a misconception.  Below are the
definitions for scoring a point as referenced from the rules of USA Boxing
and AIBA. 

USA Boxing: 107.7 “Each hit to have scoring value must, without being blocked
or guarded, land directly with the knuckle part of the closed glove of either
hand on any part of the front or sides of the head or body above the belt”.

AIBA:  Rule 11.1.4.  “Scoring points are when at least three (3) of the five (5)
Judges simultaneously record a punch that in their opinion has been
delivered correctly on the ‘target area’.”  (for complete rules to these examples see Appendix)

Both rules read similar and say the same thing.  That means the interpretation of
“American boxing is different than international boxing” is an excuse we do not
get to use anymore.  Three judges must see a scoring shot on the target area at
the same time.  As a coach, the strategy built from this rule is to keep the
boxer’s scoring target away from as many judges as possible, which will in turn
keep the opponent’s scoring target facing the judges.  Take a look at the off-
icial set up of a ring by AIBA guidelines (dia. 1.1).  There are two judges, to the
right of the blue corner, that sit approximately ten feet apart from each other on
one side (#3, #4), and single judges on the remaining three sides (#1, #2, #5). 
Right-click on the fictional cover page below, save it to your computer and print.  You can place it in your wallet, tape it to the inside of your gym locker door or keep it on your computer desk top. Every time you see it,
BELIEVE we will accomplish!
The advantageous position is for the boxer to face away from the two judges,
placing his/her back towards the ropes.  Realize that TOWARDS the ropes and
AGAINST the ropes are two different things.  The opponent should be controlled
to stay near the center so as many judges as possible see the opponent’s scoring
target cleanly.  (See dia. 1.2 with picture view of judge #4 on the STRONG side)
Suggestion:

Print a copy of the ring dia. 1-1 and take it to
your club shows. 
Encourage the officials to set up the ring in
accordance to AIBA. 
Consistency throughout
American boxing is the key to our success on
the world’s stage. 
Pros and Amateurs

really aren’t that different.
With 3 judges instead of 5
there will still be a STRONG
side, a WEAK side and two
NEUTRAL sides with the
judges’ views in relation to
the ring. That means a similar positioning strategy as
presented in this article may
still be applied to a 3 judge
ring as much as a 5 judge ring. As many judges as possible
get to see the clean blows.
LBC Tip:

You have a choice! 
Chief Officials are now
elected, not appointed.  Vote for the member that you believe will best represent con-sistency in your area. 
(new rule:107.3 (1)(c)(i))
Workout #1
Basic
Beginner Conditioning

Purpose:
I believe that the majority
of the first month and a
half in the gym should be
on skill introduction and
development.  After all,
most people walk into a
boxing gym to learn how
to box.  They still get to do
resistance training to
strengthen muscles and
tendons. This workout can
be done at the end of
training, before stretching
and cooling down.

Do each exercise for 30
seconds and immediately
move to the next exercise. 
3 minutes/set.  Overhead
press can be done with
medicine ball or any other
“odd shape object” (ex.
gallon water bottle filled
with water or sand). 

Each
exercise is for reps until
failure or time runs out. 3
circuits total with 1 minute
rest between. 

Pull ups
Jump jacks
Overhead press
Squats
Pushups
Sit-ups/crunches

Rest 1 minute

Repeat for a total of 3 sets

dia. 1.2
pic. 1.1
Judge's view #4
A common inappropriate practice is for a coach to use their view and perspective
to base an evaluation of how the match is progressing, even though this may not
be an accurate measure.  For example, the coach in the red corner is opposite of
judges #3 and #4.  Chances are much of what the red coach observes as scoring
shots won’t make it to the score boards.  This may result in poor scoring
accusations from the coaches.  The old scoring system was based on “judging”
clean punches, aggressive offenses and ring control (ring generalship).  The new scoring is based on a “tally” of clean punches.  Even if clickers are used instead of computers, clean punches are the only criteria for a scoring shot (an exception to this rule is infighting where “judging” is the standard - AIBA rule 11.1.2. “The value of hits scored in a rally of infighting shall be assessed at the end of such rally and shall be credited to the boxer who has had the better of the exchanges according to the degree of his superiority).  It does not matter what tool a judge is using, a computer button or a clicker, the judge still decides what clean shots are.  From the old system of ”judging”, officials have a huge burden to watch and record a match accurately and may even have their score card questioned if it does not match up the same as all the other score cards from that competition (As you can see by the diagram below, the same shot looks different from each of the judging positions.  Only judge #5 can accurately see the punch does not meet the target).     
Judge view #1
Judge view #2
Judge view #3
Judge view #4
Judge view #5
Competition Tip

Dress the boxer in a
uniform that matches the corner he/she is competing from.  Make it as easy as you can for the judges to score for them.
Video Tip

for truest
observation  of
scoring, set
your video
behind #4 & #3
NOTE:
The spectators sitting
behind judges 3 & 4 are
the only ones witnessing
the true competition as
scored.  That means 75%
of fans may not understand why the score is what it is. 
The point scoring system, as stated in the rules, actually relieves the judges of this heavy weight on their shoulders.  Score cards cannot be accurately compared to with a conclusion of unfair scoring if they don’t all match.  They actually should not match.  Look at dia. 1.2 and imagine a scenario where red and blue stay in these two positions for the duration of a round.  Both boxers land 15 clean punches each.  The score cards will be Judge1-Red15, Blue0; Judge2-Red15, Blue15; Judge3-Red0, Blue15; Judge4-Red0, Blue15; Judge5-Red15, Blue15.  Because of superior positioning Blue corner wins and not all the judges’ cards will reflect that.  Judge #1 is opposite of Judges #3 & #4 and Judges #2 & #5 are similar and somewhere in the middle.
 
In conclusion, we get to make this a team effort with officials scoring what they see, and coaches teaching boxers to engage in high view areas.  The next edition of 9 Medals, 4 GOLD! will discuss drills for coaches to teach positioning for their boxers and drills for themselves to practice “coaching from the judge’s perspective”.

This is just the beginning.  Understanding position strategies may seem like a small step but it is the first step of many.  Every step gets to be stable before the next one takes place.  There are many issues that get to be addressed with scoring consistency all the way up to the international levels.  First we get to practice consistency before we can ask it of others.  Let’s show’em how it’s done.  Every one of us in the American Boxing Community gets to realize the importance of the person next to us.  We need to keep our entire team of thousands strong and confident; boxers, coaches, officials and administrators.  The Olympics are three years away.  Believe it is possible.

See you on the podium in 2012,

Chadrick Wigle
USA Boxing certified coach and official

Appendix  

Scoring Points

AIBA RULE 11. SCORING POINTS
11.1. Valid Scoring Points
11.1.1. During each round, a Judge shall assess the respective scores of each boxer according to the number of hits obtained by each.
Each hit to have scoring value must, without being blocked or guarded, land directly with the knuckle part of the closed glove of
either hand on any part of the front or sides of the head or body above the belt. Swings landing as above described are scoring hits.
11.1.2. The value of hits scored in a rally of infighting shall be assessed at the end of such rally and shall be credited to the boxer who
has had the better of the exchanges according to the degree of his superiority.
11.1.3. The awarding of points shall follow the principles: one point for every correct hit.
11.1.4. Scoring points are when at least three (3) of the five (5) Judges simultaneously record a punch that in their opinion has been
delivered correctly on the ‘target area’.
11.2. Non-Valid Scoring Point No extra points shall be awarded for a knock-down.

USA Boxing 107.7 Awarding of points
(1) Directives. In awarding points, the following directives shall be observed.
(a) Concerning blows.
i. Scoring blows. During each round, a judge shall assess the respective scores of each boxer according to the number of blows obtained
by each. In order to have scoring value, each blow must have the force of the body behind it, and without being blocked or guarded,
land directly with the knuckle part of the closed glove of either hand on any part of the front or sides of the head or body above the belt.
Blows landing as described above are scoring blows. Any blow landing as a result of a foul will not count as a scoring blow. The value
of blows scored in a rally of infighting shall be assessed at the end of such rally and shall be credited to the boxer who has had the better
of the exchanges according to the degree of said boxer’s superiority.

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Consult your physician before starting any exercise program.  Boxing is a contact sport.  The information given here is for educational instruction.  Participant assumes all risks in practical application.

(c) 2009   All text, images and content copyright Chadrick Wigle