Topic: USAW Participation Numbers

[Mike Wittmer]

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.

Chris, how do you figure it is "welfare-like"?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I'm speaking of subsistence payments doled out monthly or semi-monthly, as if the money isn't really the athlete's but still the bureaucrats, as if the athlete couldn't be trusted with the lump sum up front because they might blow it. The subsistence systems suck big time compared to prize money in numerous ways, but primarily because it is a less effective motivator to be on the dole than win a nice bag of money. Its also less useful to the athlete to get payments, and IMO the system insulates the athletes from competition rather than increasing competition for the loot.

[Mike Wittmer]

I think the major reason that the stipend has been monthly is because of ongoing drug testing.  The stipend is pulled upon a failed drug test.

I guess you favor a one time payment rather than a monthly payment for six months?  I'm not sure this will continue anyway, dependent, at least for now, on USOC funding.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Right, the money isn't really yours in the subsistence system, until the check is cashed. You are subject to whatever new requirements and restrictions they place on you while in the program. They might tell you when and where to compete to keep getting the money, what total you have to hit at a certain contest, whether you have to work or go to school, etc, etc. Just life welfare, in the sense that by accepting it you limit your own freedom. Put up a nice lump sum, and you will get more elite lifters competing immediately.

[Erik Blekeberg]

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.

Did the 4th attempt rule ever exist? I know it is around in many powerlifting federations but, I wasn't sure if it was ever in weightlifting.

I am glad the numbers suggest weightlifting is picking up. Maybe I can get a competition or two happening in San Diego again instead of driving 3 hours.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

If the USAW was a youth recreation league, these numbers might mean something. But, higher participation in youth age groups, which I am assuming this is based on (please correct if wrong), is not equivalent to more elite lifters down the road. Our problem IMO is not recruitment but retention, and more specifically the lack of a long range plan, which is caused by a lack of a philosophy guiding the USAW's decisions.

[Paul LaDuke]

I have linked the abstract of an article in the November Journal of Strength and Conditioning.  The research surveyed American high school strength coaches.  Of the 30 or so strength coaches that responded, all but one use the Olympic lifts in their programs.  This represents 97% of the coaches who respond.

NSCA Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Abstract

This is a great thing for the USAW for the following reasons:
1.  Hundreds of thousands of high school and middle school athletes are getting exposed to the lifts.  The NFHS report shows that over 1 million student athletes participate in high school football.
2.  Many high school athletic departments have very nice weightlifting facilities including quality platforms, bumpers and bars.
3.  There is a strong desire among strength coaches to teach the Olympic lifts knowing that these lifts aid in athletic development.
4.  There is a strong desire among high school student athletes to be a better athlete.  Their coaches are telling them the Olympic lifts will improve their athletic ability.

The reality of the situation though is that many strength coaches can't teach nor demonstrate the Olympic lifts correctly.  Many neglect the snatch and focus solely on the hang power clean.  Many athletes will perform the lifts very poorly, using light weights for reps, etc.  So, while the potential for a great feeder system for the USAW, the reality is that we are seeing very little interest in USAW competitions from this age group.

What can the USAW to tap into this huge population?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

What can the USAW to tap into this huge population?

Start putting the athlete first, especially our elite athletes, rather than the bureaucrats. Athlete controls and regulations must be decentralized (ie., subsistence money converted to prize money, more spending on local clubs and less on centralized programs like international contests for sub-elite lifters still in development). And, most importantly, the USAW needs to become independent of the USOC- find their own revenue sources.

Sorry to be skeptical, but I don't think any of the factors you mention will have a significant impact on the USAW's depth or top performances. Florida high school weightlifting has been prospering for decades now with very little effort overall to drain talent from it or even get involved. I don't see anything changing without a long term plan, which means it won't change without a philosophical change of great magnitude. I don't see this happening either. I see the USAW operating on a purely pragmatic basis, dealing only with range of the moment issues.