Topic: Getting kids interested in the Sport AND retaining them

[Pete_Stewart]

Hello,

I am trying to help write a 4 year strategic plan for Irish Weightlifting.  One point I am mulling over is how to increase our membership and specifically with kids.  One of the best American lifters, Kendrick Farris, for example started when he was 11-12 I think. 

In the past the most success we have had is with a club that was situated in a densely populated area and therefore kids could easily walk to the club and train.  The club invested in a kids bar, the plastic 2.5 and 5 kilo weights and also added small heels to the kids shoes so as to have a cheap pair of weightlifting shoes.  Most kids came to the club through word of mouth from their buddies.  Unfortunately this club has to relocate when the land was bought for housing.

One area that has never been developed is trying to get a weightlifting programme started in schools.  I have noticed a number of news articles on this forum which have dealt with high school competitions.  So if there is anyone with any good information on how to get kids successfully involved I would appreciate their advice or people who know how the sport was developed in USA schools..  Some of the questions I would have:

1. Is the weightlifting in schools state wide or on a school by school basis.
2. How did it all begin, did one coach approach a school and then given permission to coach some kids during/after school?
3. Who now funds the sport/programme in schools.  Is it through grants, USAW, local clubs or the school.
4. What age do they start lifting at and do they get marked just on total lifted or is there marks for technique?
5. Is the sport in schools 'independent' or is it to a degree dictated to by American Football coaches.

[Paul LaDuke]

1. Is the weightlifting in schools state wide or on a school by school basis.

It is on a school by school basis.  In the US school system, the football program usually rules the weightroom. 

2. How did it all begin, did one coach approach a school and then given permission to coach some kids during/after school?

Historically, weightrooms have been added to the hs because the football team wanted to lift (starting in the late 70s and early 80s).  Theculture has grown to include most athletes now, including the female athletes.  For the most part football players make up 75% of the users of the weightroom in any given week.  This varies widely from school to school and state to state.  It depends on the success of certain programs and their coaches knowledge.  It depends on the state.  Texas is a football state, Indiana is a basketball state, Iowa is a wrestling state.  So traditionally those programs in those states get what they want more since they have more interest and therefore more money.


3. Who now funds the sport/programme in schools.  Is it through grants, USAW, local clubs or the school.

Each situation is different but I would say for the most part funding for weightroom expenses comes from booster clubs and the athletic department at the individual school.  Some schools are starting to fund weightroom improvements through state and national education grants for the PE departments.  I have never seen the USAW do anything on high school level as far as grants.  Werksan barbell is just now starting a high school emphasis to be developed over the next few months and years.


4. What age do they start lifting at and ...

Most programs don't start until 9th grade.  There has become a huge market in my area to train JH and elementary aged athletes, but this is largely done be personal trainers who really don't know anything about the sport of weightlifting. 

...do they get marked just on total lifted or is there marks for technique?

Americans are obsessed with numbers and results, especially their kids.  As such we have begun to develop a win at all cost mentality clear down to the lowest level of competition.  Because of this we sacrifice athletic and player development for wins.  We sacrifice practice and skill development for competition.  It is not healthy nor is it in the players long term best interest, but the machine is in motion and it is hard to stop.  So to simply answer the question, no there are no marks for technique.  We just want to see huge numbers, form be damned.

5. Is the sport in schools 'independent' or is it to a degree dictated to by American Football coaches.

The sport is independent.  But due to the history of weightlifting and Americans love affair with football, weightlifting and football must go hand in hand in America.  Football players will be better players if they become better at weightlifting.  Weightlifting will get more exposure and have a bigger talent pool if they can enlist football players to participate in their sport in the off-season.  According to the National Federation of High Schools, just over 1,000,000 athletes participate in the sport of high school football every year.  Thats a big talent pool, we just need to tap it.  I think we are starting too.



I am not sure that a weightlifter can be internationally competitive if he/she starts weightlifting in HS.  It should start earlier, but currently that is not possible in the US.  But we need to start somewhere and starting at the HS is the place to start currently, in my opinion.  It may take 20-30 years to see this type of strategy pay off, but it is better than no strategy at all.  I just don't see any other way to reach the younger population given today's current sports culture in the US.

[Shaun Le Conte]

I don't have a lot to say about the subject a few scatterbrained ideas.

To help retain kids, make sure the workouts aren't just workouts, they need to have a social aspect as well. Maybe if you have music, rotate who gets to choose it, include others in conversations when you can, and so on.

And if somebody doesn't show up for a while, call that person on the phone and say that the club misses them, where have they been.. I know for a fact that for some people a simple phone call would be enough to get some people interested again.

Weightlifting is a great sport, and it can also be promoted hard as a way to improve other sports, but really the ones that will stick around are those that actually like weightlifting for what it is, have good memories and future goals, and also good times at the gym.

Just my 2 cents.

[Pete_Stewart]

Paul,

Cheers for the comments to date, some of them have been very informative.

So with regard to the high school competitions who runs these? 

The high school competitions are a mix between powerlifting and weightlifting?

Are these competitions held outside of the football season (if in states where football is the predominant sport)?

Shaun,

Yes from my observations the kids we got in one with particular club seemed to be heavily dependent on their friends being there and having a fun time.

[Paul LaDuke]

So with regard to the high school competitions who runs these? 

I only know of  states that have an good, organized weightlifting program - Florida and Minnesota.  There may be more, but I do not know of them.  Florida's program is regulated by the State HS Athletic Association, the same association that sanctions all the other traditional HS sports.  As such, rules of elligibility through grades, conduct, attendance, etc. are fairly stricly adhered to.  Minnesota's program is not run by the state hs athletic association.  It is independant and therefore considered a club sport in the US.

The high school competitions are a mix between powerlifting and weightlifting?


Minnesota's program is a good model as it is purely weightlifting as we know it.  Their website is http://www.mnweightlifting.org/ 

Florida's program is the hybrid of the bench press and the clean and jerk. 


Are these competitions held outside of the football season (if in states where football is the predominant sport)?

Both states run their programs during the winter sports season.