Women’s Coach Development Programme Spotlight: Helena Richards

Helena Richards of Bolsover Boxing Club in the East Midlands hopes the Women’s Coach Development Programme (WCDP) will inspire her to implement her thoughts and ideas moving forward.

How did you first get involved in boxing?

About eight years ago, I signed up for a Women’s Introduction to Boxing programme, which provided an inclusive space for women to learn the basics over an eight-week period. At the end of the programme, we were offered the opportunity to sign up for a club, and I couldn’t wait to!

Six years later, when I moved from London to Derbyshire, the first thing I did was look for a boxing club and I was lucky to find Bolsover on my doorstep. They’ve given me a boxing family to be part of and, since becoming a coach, they’ve supported me in developing myself and my skills.

How pleased are you to be involved in a programme that actively aims to push women’s and girls’ boxing forward?

I’m delighted – boxing can be such an inclusive sport; we just need to equip gyms and coaches with the tools to do it. I train and coach so I know the benefits it can have for women at every stage of their lives.

I also know how intimidating it can be to walk into a predominantly male space and how much more we need to do to ensure women feel supported and included in these spaces.

Programmes like this will open the doors for more girls and women and it’ll spotlight them, allowing others with aspirations to box, coach or simply train and see what they might be able to achieve.

What do you hope to get out of the WCDP that can improve you as a coach?

I’ve honestly gotten so much out of it already. I love coaching and I’ve got lots of great ideas that are often a big jumble in my head! I applied to the WCDP hoping to get mentoring and advice and learn from the experience of others so that I can apply all thoughts and ideas in a useful way.

For me, I want to get more experience in coaching in a safe space so that I can feel more confident and give good advice in all areas, including those I’m not so comfortable with.

How much does attending the WCDP help you in your club environment?

It has already given my boxers some great opportunities, and I think the club would say it has given me confidence. We’re trying new drills and new ways of doing things and it’s empowered me to take part in discussions that I might have shied away from before.

It’s also helping me identify networks for our female boxers and broaden their experiences and knowledge base.

Who are your biggest boxing inspirations?

My first coach Kevin Parker is my biggest inspiration. I am forever grateful for the inclusive learning space he created for us, where we could learn the basics of boxing in a female-only group. He built our confidence and passed on his passion and enthusiasm, but he’s also fair and has an amazing way of coaching regardless of background and quality levels – making everyone included and valued.

He introduced me to my first boxing family and that has stuck with me and I want to model his values and work ethic myself.