Cornering with Confidence: WCDP Coaches Step Up to the Ring
November 4, 2024 | by Nabillah Akhtar
On Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, the ladies of the Women’s Coach Development Programme (WCDP) gathered at the English Institute of Sport for the latest session in their programme.
Assigned to specific boxers they’d never met, each coach had to quickly identify their boxer and begin building rapport and trust—a vital part of the coach-boxer relationship—before stepping up to the ring for gym-style bouts. Session lead Laura Sargeant explained, “This is a major part of their development journey. Lots have taken corners already and some are new or have only handed up in competitions, so to take a corner of a boxer who you have just met is a major challenge. It really puts them outside their comfort zone!
Each coach’s confidence grew throughout the day, and it was great to see this and the improvements that came once they had relaxed a little.”
The day was made even more realistic with the help of North West regions referees Chantelle Trumpet and Jed Cheema. “Having the officials there makes the experience even more authentic,” Laura noted, “and it benefits everyone, helping boxers handle scenarios like standing counts. I can’t thank them enough for giving up their Sunday to support us.” Special thanks also went to Kara, who managed timekeeping superbly.
Recognition was given to the boxers from Mikey’s Gym, Ipswich, Telford, Leigh Park, and East Middlesbrough. They embraced the experience, provided honest feedback, and displayed outstanding sportsmanship, representing their clubs with pride.
Lastly, Laura expressed her gratitude to her team of dedicated mentors—Kerry Chalk, Kate Newton, Rachel Bower, Kara Mikolajczyk, Donna Harvey-Arnell, and Lindsey Jarrett—who went above and beyond to support both the session and the coaches’ development journey.
