Beyond Boxing: Strengthening an Internal Locus of Control in Teens

Too many people assume that the way to help teens is by controlling them. They think rules, restrictions, and constant supervision will keep them in line. But if control actually worked, we wouldn’t have so many young people struggling with anxiety, disengagement, and self doubt.

The truth? When teens feel powerless, they stop trying. When they think success is all about luck, other people’s opinions, or unfair circumstances, they either shut down or lash out. And that’s where Beyond Boxing comes in. We don’t control teens, we teach them to take control of themselves.

Locus of Control: Why It Matters

Psychologists have been talking about this for decades. People with an internal locus of control believe their actions shape their future. People with an external locus of control believe life just happens to them. The research is undeniable: Teens who take ownership of their lives do better in school, have stronger mental health, and handle challenges without falling apart (Rotter, 1966; Nowicki & Duke, 1974).

Beyond Boxing at Geelong Boxing Club is built to shift that mindset. It’s about effort, decision making, and accountability. When young people step into this space, they quickly learn that excuses don’t hold up here, only action does.

Jake, 14: From "Life’s Unfair" to "I Can Fix This"

Take Jake, a 14-year-old who walked into Beyond Boxing full of blame and excuses. Every bad grade? The teacher’s fault. Every social issue? Unfair people out to get him. Nothing was ever in his control, at least, that’s what he believed.

Then boxing changed everything.

✅ Set Goals, See Results Jake learned that if he wanted to improve, he had to set goals and put in the work. Unlike school, where he felt powerless, boxing showed him direct cause and effect: Train harder, get better. No excuses.

✅ Instant Feedback, No Escape  If he wasn’t focused, he got called out on it. If he worked on his footwork, he moved faster. If he didn’t put in effort, it showed. Boxing didn’t care about his excuses, it just gave him the truth. And for the first time, he realised his choices actually mattered.

✅ Mentorship That Calls It How It Is  Instead of saying, "I lost because the other guy was better," Jake learned to say, "I need to work on my defense." That shift, from blaming the world to taking ownership, was a game-changer.

Boxing is the Perfect Wake-Up Call

Most sports let you hide. Maybe your team carries you. Maybe luck plays a role. But in boxing? It’s just you and your effort.

🥊 Repetition Builds Resilience There’s no magic. You get better because you keep showing up. No shortcuts. No handouts.

🥊 Pressure Creates Power  Training forces you to handle stress, make decisions, and stay composed under pressure. That skill translates far beyond the gym.

🥊 Accountability is Everything  This is a place where teens own their wins and their losses. No one is coming to save them, and that’s the best thing they can learn.

This Isn’t Just About Boxing, It’s About Life

This mindset shift doesn’t stop when they leave the gym. Research proves it, when teens believe they have control over their future, they step up instead of shutting down (Findley & Cooper, 1983; Gale et al., 2008). They perform better academically, they make smarter choices, and they stop waiting for life to change because they know they can change it themselves.

For Jake, this was everything. He stopped blaming teachers. He started studying. He handled social problems without feeling like the world was against him. The same lessons that helped him in the ring started shaping the way he tackled life.

Bottom Line: Teens Don’t Need Control, They Need to Learn How to Take It

Beyond Boxing isn’t about throwing punches, it’s about throwing out the bullshit narratives that keep young people stuck.

It’s about proving, without a doubt, that their effort dictates their future. No more blaming. No more waiting. No more excuses.

So, if you’re still out here trying to control teens, good luck. Because all the research (and reality) says you’re just setting them up to resist, shut down, or give up. If you actually want to see them thrive? Give them the space, the challenge, and the proof that they’re in charge of their own life.

That’s what Beyond Boxing does. And that’s why it works.