Light contact with gloves
Ready when: Stance and footwork (b1), Shadow punches at the air (b2) and Mirror footwork (b5) done; the age the national federation sets for light contact; a coach qualified in light-contact boxing.
What the coach teaches
The rules and habits first (gloves on before anyone moves, a touch of gloves, the start and stop words), then soft touches to the allowed targets with a partner who agrees, always controlled.
At home, safe only
Mirror footwork (b5) to Skip and shadow warm-up (b8); no punching a person.
Ask the club
Whether the coach is qualified for light contact; the federation's minimum age; whether helmet and mouthguard are worn for any form with touches to the head; how gloves and wraps are provided and cleaned.
What you can see from the side
The child stops at once on the stop word and the partner's head does not move on a touch.
Self-check what the coach confirms
In a light-contact round the partner reports no touch as too hard.
Stop and get a coach when
The head snaps back, a touch is heard from across the room, or any headache after a session.
Basic is done when the child can do the self-checks on b1, b2, b5 and b7 and a club offers coached sessions.
awiseathlete.com/sports/boxing/boxing-b9