Boxing sessions offered to young people

YOUNGSTERS are being given the chance to box clever as part of a free new police-run project.

Sport FX South Yorkshire is expanding its football and dancing sessions to now offer boxing classes for ten to 19 year-olds.

Police Community Support Officer Craig Butcher, who manages Sport FX SY, said: “The whole aim of Sport FX SY is to encourage young people to steer away from anti-social behaviour and channel their energy into sport, fitness and control.

“We now have trained coaches in place so whether you’ve done some boxing before, or are a complete beginner we’d love you to get involved.”

The sessions are non-contact and feature shadow boxing, skipping, pad-work and general fitness.

The boxing sessions will take place at:

• Outwood Academy in Doncaster every Tuesday, from 4pm to 5pm (years 6 to 8) and 6pm to 7pm (year 9 and above).

• Dearne ALC in Goldthorpe every Thursday from 6pm to 7pm, (years 6 to 8), and 7 to 8pm (year 9 and above).

• Swinton School, Rotherham, every Friday from 6pm to 7pm (years 6 to 8) and 7pm to 8pm (year 9 and above).

Young people will learn about health and safety, warm up and cool down sessions and techniques used by Olympic boxers.

South Yorkshire Police is also working alongside local boxing clubs to help signpost young people who decide to take the sport further.

There is an additional pot of funding available for individuals who show natural ability to progress.

The launch has been welcomed by former undefeated Light Middleweight World Champion, Paul ‘Silky’ Jones, who is an ambassador for Sport FX SY.

The Sheffield boxer retired in 2002 after a fight career that spanned almost 20 years accumulating five championship titles.

Silky said: “Boxing is a unique sport and doesn’t discriminate against size or strength, colour or race.

“It’s more about how hard you work and how hard you try and brings us together because of the fight to achieve.

“This is a great opportunity for young people in South Yorkshire and I encourage anyone thinking about it to have a go.”

South Yorkshire Police officers recently gained qualifications to work alongside the coaches from England Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing.

England Boxing, an official partner of Sport FX SY, has also provided £5,000 funding for the sessions.

Sport FX SY was originally launched in 2010 in Goldthorpe, Barnsley.

The football sessions were so successful, contributing to a 50 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour in the first year, then in 2013 the scheme was expanded across the county.

To find out more visit www.southyorkshire.police.uk and click on About Us or follow @sportfxsy on Twitter.