USA Boxing. Best Practices. Training Manual-V-01-1. Confidence. Competition. Humility

Grassroots Task Force., — 2014. — 188 p. The Training Pillar of the Grassroots Manual is dedicated to the coaches who helped contribute to USA Boxing’s success. It is our humble hope that our work helps in some small way to contribute to the continuance of the storied legacy of USA Boxing. Amateur boxing is advancing by returning the practices that made boxing one of the biggest sports in the world. Scoring will be determined by the familiar 10 point must system and headgear will no longer be a requirement for experienced fighters. The last time Team USA fought for Gold without headgear was the 1976 Montreal Olympics where they earned 7 medals- 5 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. We hope this change portends even greater success for Team USA as they again fight for Gold. This time in 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The United States amateur boxing community received a devastating blow on March 14, 1980 when 14 boxers, along with their coaches and administrative staff, perished in a plane crash on the outskirts of the Warsaw International Airport in Poland. Lost among them was Coach Thomas “Sarge” Johnson (pictured with the 1976 Olympic team, front, middle right). Commenting on the loss, “Sugar” Ray Leonard said, “He was one of the kindest, fairest men I’ve known. He was just beginning to get the recognition he deserved. He was really the one who put together those five gold medals.” While this manual is dedicated to all the coaches that have built USA Boxing, the Grassroots team would like to extend special recognition to Coach Sarge Johnson. May his shining example inspire you, the future makers of champions, to even greater success and glory for Team USA