Topic: News: 2009 USA Sr Nationals Combined with Pan Am Champs

[Roger Sadecki]

Sure Chris, here is the addendum with the old as strikethrough and the new:

Addendum 5.3.12
Strikethrough in parantheses: (The bodyweight category may be changed to the next highest category for lifters who do not make weight at all nationals if qualified. These lifters may participate, but not for team points, medals, or rankings.) 
New: No extra lifters will be allowed in USAW national meets, with the exception of athletes allowed by action of the BOD, of by the competition  secretary due to official’s error.

Now addendums refer to technical rules and show deviations that USAW will follow. Since tech rule 5.3.12 refers to not making bodyweight the addendum refers to not making bodyweight. The BOG voted for this addendum with that in mind. It was only later that the BOD said it also referred to non citizens as some members of the BOD had an agenda against non citizens and the exec dir before DS being simply a yes man to the former board did what he was told and eliminated non citizens from national meets.

But the by laws that discuss non citizens were not touched and here it is:

 320.3   For Non-Residents. For this section the term non-resident is applied to any weightlifter that is not a U.S. citizen and normally resides outside of the United States.
     1)    Any weightlifter, not a resident of the United States, desiring to compete in any USAW/LWC sanctioned event under the rules of USAW, must submit to the Federation a certificate from National Federation of the country wherein he/she resides that he/she is an athlete in good standing and eligible to compete in any competition. During his/her temporary stay, he shall compete only as certified in his/her permit and cannot compete for any club or other member organization domestic or foreign.
     2)     Such non-resident athlete shall apply to USA Weightlifting for authority to compete, stating the place or places where he/she proposes to compete or exhibit, and the financial or other made for such appearance. The athlete can compete only at such times and places which the permit provides
     3)     Non-citizens may compete in national level events as extra lifters as stipulated in event entry forms.  The athlete must hold a valid “Green Card” and have the intent to become a citizen of the USA within five years of the date of the “Green Card.”  If the athlete has not obtained his/her citizenship within the five-year period, he/she will forfeit his/her eligibility to compete at the end of the five-year period.  Athletes without a valid “Green Card” will not be permitted to compete in any national level events.

So the current by laws state that non citizens may compete in national level events.

Your other point about sending the grievance to the exec dir is correct. That is stated in the current by laws. But do we even have an exec dir? DS told me months ago he was only "interim" and that he will not continue beyond the Olympics and that he simply wants to get back to his local club.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Roger,

Thanks. Great information.

New: No extra lifters will be allowed in USAW national meets, with the exception of athletes allowed by action of the BOD, of by the competition  secretary due to official’s error.

The except by action of the BOD part pretty much blows my current grievance. I honestly never expected to win this one on the rules though. My only real hope is that they would rather just meet my demand to schedule an extra session for my weight class than deal with me in the hearing, which I would make as painful as possible for them. It really would be wise on their part. Of course, having the best 56 in the country compete probably doesn't motivate them and I know that since the USAW has never once called me in my entire career to see how I am doing or if there is anything they could do to help me. Pathetic really. That is my issue with the reform as well. It seems to have nothing to do with athletes, as originally promised. I lost interest.

DS told me months ago he was only "interim" and that he will not continue beyond the Olympics and that he simply wants to get back to his local club.

Can't say I blame him, and if you recall, I actually predicted that one when he took the job. No one will get any kudos in our sport in that position. As soon as one ED leaves, no matter who takes their place, they will rapidly become the devil. It makes Wes' demands for massive salary understandable if you look at it in that light. Still, I think I would be perfect for the job, and would certainly handle it very differently than everyone that came before. But, I wouldn't take it of course. Its a loose-loose position.

[Pete_Stewart]

As someone over in the USA at the moment on a visa (not a green card) I find the laws regarding US competitions to be a little over the top, if not rather insular.  After finally finding somewhere to train I enjoyed the opportunity to travel and compete at the Arnolds and to watch both American and foreign lifters.  The standard of lifting was high and helped push me in training beforehand.  Furthermore sitting in the warm up room after my session had been completed and watching Manuel being coached by Coffa was a treat in itself.  Now the Arnolds has become an American only competition.  I don't see why America would not want to allow their lifters to be exposed to top class lifting (I don't include myself in this class!) from Peter Yukio and Manuel or from Pan Am lifters.  One common complaint I have heard over recent months from Americans is they do not perform in international competitions yet it seems to me they discourage up and coming American lifters to compete against international lifters on their own doorstep.

Prior to this work visa when I was in Ireland I helped encourage and plan an Open (in the true sense of Open - why is it called American Open?) competition and get lifters from other countries to travel so our lifters would have exposure to different lifters, more competition and also deal with having to wait between lifts (some top lifters were miles better so were following themselves at competition).

I am not here to create arguments, I am just trying to understand the American lifters current stance on this.

[Eamonn Flanagan]

Pete, I dont think the Arnold is an "American only" competition now. I believe that was just a once off last year as they were hosting the national championships. I think the Arnold is again a true "open" next year. If so, are you going? Drop me an email.

[Matt Erdman]

I agree with Eamonn about the Arnold. I think the American Open is a good idea. However to mix the American championship with an international competition is ridiculous. It's really going to be mental slap if you get beaten by one or more competitors, but still get a gold for nationals. The winner should get to feel like a winner. Not to lose to someone else, but then be called a winner on a technicality.

Mikes argument is equally valid. How do you choose which competition to compete in?

It really cheapens our most exciting national event to throw it in as an afterthought.

[Eamonn Flanagan]

Matt,

I completely agree. In Ireland our national committee recently passed a rule of no "non-Irish" competitors in National championships for this very reason. It would be a bit ridiculous if the "best lifter" didnt actually lift the most in competition (a guest lifter did).

USA should definitely keep its national championships American only. It is your flagship competition and needs to be kept straightforward and meaningful. How absurd and confusing would it look to first time viewers who came to the event? It would be very difficult to figure out what was going on in each weight class with multiple titles on offer (USA senior title and PanAm title) and some lifters potentially competing for both. If ESPN or somebody came along and offered to broadcast this years Nationals, it would be an embarrassment to USAW in terms of confusion and ambiguity to potentially new television viewers.

However I also agree with Pete about including foreign lifters in some other competitions for the motivation and experience of USA lifters. It seemed pointless to call the American Open such, when in the last few years only USAW lifters were allowed to compete. Having it as a "true" open would be a lot better, although I think this year there are countries involved which is a good step. (can someone confirm this?).

[Roger Sadecki]

The entry blank for the meet is on the USAW web site

http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/2336/2008_NORTH_AMERICAN_OPEN_revised_by_Deb_and_Joe_corrected.doc

But it is called the NORTH AMERICAN OPEN contrary to the USAW by laws.

The eligibility states that it is only for USAW registered athletes and must be US citizens.
No other meet within a meet or combined with another meet is stated; so I guess it is not combined or attached to another meet.
Also it does not state that this is a qualifier for the 2009 Pan Am Chps; so I guess it is not a qualifier.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

But it is called the NORTH AMERICAN OPEN contrary to the USAW by laws.

The eligibility states that it is only for USAW registered athletes and must be US citizens.

Roger,

Can you cite the bylaw please? I could use that in my grievance...I really want to lift in nationals of course. No national meets all year....Its bizarre. Another question, if I somehow got WADA to test me at the Joe Dube Classic (which I am pretty sure I could arrange), there were all national level referees at the meet judging my session (which I think I could arrange), and a certified scale (which I think I could arrange), could I set a Sr American Record?

Thanks