Topic: USAW Participation Numbers

[Paul LaDuke]

I took some time this evening while watching football to gather data from the USAW Hangastar membership website.  I input data to a spreadsheet from each male weight class for the years of 2005-2009.  The 2009 data is incomplete so I didn't analyze those numbers completely yet.  I also did 2 separate data charts: 1 chart input all the data regardless of age, the 2nd chard input all the data for only the Jr. and Sr. aged athletes (18-35).  The numbers tell me what I have been thinking is correct - the USAW participation is growing.

Lets first look at the first chart with all age groups, 10 years old to 85+.  Total participation over the 4 years (2005 to 2008) is up 23%!  Almost 600 more athletes competed in 2008 than did in 2005.  Interestingly, there is a drop in participation from 2005-2006, but a huge jump the very next year.   

The second chart uses only the participation information of athletes aged 18-35 for that reporting year.  This represents the IWF Jr. and Sr. age groups and the age group that will be competing for national, international and Olympic medals.  This participation group has grown at a greater rate than the general membership, which is good news.  This participation group grew by 35% with the same peculiar jump between the 2006 and the 2007 participation year.  2008 was an Olympic year so I would think that the participation would be highest during the year.  I also find it interesting that the participation in the 56kg and the 105+ kg weight classes stayed very consistent showing that almost all the growth occurred at the classes between the lightest and heaviest weight classes.


Conclusions
The data doesn't support the idea that weightlifting is a dying sport in the US.  As a member of the NSCA, I find a lot of lectures and materials written about the lifts and the benefits of the lifts for use by athletes.  Crossfit is also a huge proponent of the lifts so the exposure of the sport is growing by leaps and bounds.  Further, the internet aids in instant communication between weightlifters and even allows very cheap and often free broadcast of weightlifting meets.  The weightlifting exchange and other lesser forums are great places for weightlifters to exchange information, get coaching tips and ideas, to post video and get critiqued, etc.  Additionally, youtube has become a great place to promote the sport by storing archives of past weightlifting events, current highlights of events and athletes., etc.  I don't think that weightlifting is a dying sport, the data bears the truth, weightlifting is growing!  If the current growth rate continues, the participation numbers for the Jr. and Sr. level age groups should double from 2005 to 2012. 

What do you think?

[Dave Chiu]

I think it is 90+% due to the lifts themselves.

Our competition rules and format SQUANDER

the opportunity for growth/popularity

that the lifts/athletes deserve.

It's almost like the IWF wants Americans to

be easily discouraged/frustrated

and turned-off by the sport,

and US leadership is not up

to taking it where it could go

w/o permission from their "betters".

[Paul LaDuke]

I think it is 90+% due to the lifts themselves.

Our competition rules and format SQUANDER the opportunity for growth/popularity that the lifts/athletes deserve.  It's almost like the IWF wants Americans to be easily discouraged/frustrated and turned-off by the sport, and US leadership is not up to taking it where it could go w/o permission from their "betters".

I agree that the increase in weightlifting is due to the lifts themselves.  It is a beautiful sport that is fun to watch.  Most Americans who get a chance to watch the sport enjoy the lifts.  So far, the sport has only grown by the lifts themselves.  It certainly isn't due to any brilliant marketing campaign.  I see that as a good thing because now with a new CEO and a new board who really seems to  be interested in the betterment of the sport in the USA, this sport could really grow.


I don't know what you mean that the competition rules squander growth.  Are you refering to the press out rule, the Olympic qualifying method, the 1kg rule, the 2 changes per lift rules?  I would really like to know what you are referring to.

Thanks.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

The rules are too subjective (press-out, oscillation, drug testing) and the competitions move too slowly and too quietly- no music, alcohol, and gambling, and too many stoppages for blood on bar (use long singlets), etc. And, 4th attempts for records should be allowed, despite slowing the meet down. They add excitement.

[DAVE PETERSON]

      Chris , being an official for over 25 years I can agree with a lot of your views ! The so-called further "engineering of the bar" probably contributes quite a bit to the ossillation of the bar or fast rotation and one can't blame the lifters for taking advantage of it. I think that getting rid of the 4th attempts did take some excitement out of the meets . Everyone likes to see a new record set , but of course the powers to be (IWF) just wanted to make the contest run faster . Not everything they've done in the last 10 or more years has been met with approval or popularity ! That does also include changing the weight classes and reducing the number of them,too. I do know that they did have some pressure from the IOC and that was mostly to make the time of the competition go faster,but also insert some "Non-Athletic" sports into the Olympics !

 
                            There,you did get me going !

                             Dave Peterson,the Prez of the Michigan LWC
   

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I should have also mentioned prize money for national championships and real American records would add excitement, rather than the subsistence based (welfare-like) reward system we have now.

[Matt Erdman]

I technically joined USAW in 2007, but I was working on the lifts for over a year before that. Oddly enough I got turned on to weightlifting through bodybuilding.com and of course the infamous Pyrros Dimas training footage from Ironmind.

The internet is invaluable for not only exposing people to the sport, but also for registering for competitions and with the USAW. I'm sure that is why you see a recent increase.

[Paul LaDuke]

I should have also mentioned prize money for national championships and real American records would add excitement, rather than the subsistence based (welfare-like) reward system we have now.

I couldn't agree with you more!  Won of the greatest things about pro golf is when a golfer knows that if he makes a putt on the 18th green he will make a huge amount of money.  If he misses, he will make considerably less money.  That amount of pressure and reward creates great drama.  The same would be true on the platform.  A lifter needs to make his last clean and jerk at x kgs to win the contest and make several thousands of dollars.  That would make for great drama adding to the excitement of the meet.