Silver Gloves is a youth amateur boxing tournament for boxers ages 8–16, run by the National Silver Gloves Association since 1967. These answers come from the association’s own tournament information and results. Rules can change from year to year, so confirm the details with your state representative or regional director before you enter.
Who can enter Silver Gloves?
Silver Gloves is for youth amateur boxers ages 8 to 16. Boxers compete at state, regional and national level, and the eight Silver Gloves regions cover all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
Start by contacting the Silver Gloves representative for your state, who can tell you when and where your state or regional tournament is held: find your state’s Silver Gloves representative.
What are the age divisions and weight classes?
Silver Gloves currently has six divisions: PeeWee 8, PeeWee, Bantam, Intermediate, Junior and Youth, with separate brackets for girls and boys. The table lists the weight classes in each division. A weight with a plus sign, such as 176+, is an open class with no upper limit.
| Division | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| PeeWee 8 | 40, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 | 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 95, 106, 119 |
| PeeWee | 55, 60, 70, 80, 85, 90 | 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 106, 110 |
| Bantam | 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 119, 145, 176, 176+ | 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 110, 114, 119, 125, 132, 138, 145, 154, 165, 176 |
| Intermediate | 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 110, 114, 119, 125, 132, 145, 154, 176+ | 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 110, 114, 119, 125, 132, 138, 145, 154, 165, 176, 176+ |
| Junior | 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 110, 114, 119, 125, 132, 138, 145, 154, 165, 176, 176+ | 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 101, 106, 110, 114, 119, 125, 132, 138, 145, 154, 165, 176, 176+ |
| Youth | 106, 112, 119, 125, 132, 143, 154, 165, 176, 176+ | 110, 121, 132, 143, 154, 165, 176, 198, 198+ |
Other weight classes may be offered. Your regional director can confirm the full list and the ages each division covers. Every champion is listed in the latest National Silver Gloves results.
Do boxers need a USA Boxing membership and passbook?
Boxers need their boxing passbook. Coaches and boxers must bring passbooks to nationals: at check-in, coaches turn in the passbooks for every boxer in the tournament to their Regional Director and receive wrist bands.
Coaches who want to work a corner must be current USA Boxing registered and certified coaches, with current Safe Sport and Green Level coach certification, and must pre-register before the tournament. A coach who has not pre-registered is charged $50 to register on site.
Ask your state representative how to get a passbook if your boxer does not have one.
How do you qualify for nationals?
Silver Gloves runs tournaments at state, regional and national level, and national results are recorded by region. Each region organizes its own path to the national championships, so qualifying rules, dates and entry details come from your Silver Gloves regional director.
At nationals, boxers and coaches check in with their Regional Director before the tournament starts. A boxer who is unopposed in their bracket does not need to attend: their medal is mailed.
What safety equipment is required?
Every boxer scheduled to box on a given day must weigh in and pass a physical that morning. At nationals:
- Weigh-ins and physicals start at 6:00 am and take place by region. Boxers who arrive late are disqualified.
- Each boxer is allowed only two steps on the official scale to make weight. A boxer over their division’s weight limit is disqualified, and no weight changes are allowed.
- Only weigh-in staff and Regional Directors are allowed in the weigh-in area.
- Red and blue uniforms are not mandatory.
Ask your coach or regional director which protective equipment your boxer must wear before the tournament.
When are the next national championships?
Dates for the next National Silver Gloves have not been announced yet. They will be posted on the Silver Gloves news page as soon as they are. The most recent tournament is covered in the latest National Silver Gloves recap.