Topic: High School Weightlifting

[Terry Thompson]

~~~ You wanna get NUMBERS? ... With those numbers would come MUCH MORE publicity/ popularity/ fans/ World-Class athletes/ Televised WL/ revenues/ etc.!

~~~ You get WL started as a High School Intramural (varsity) Sport in the lower 48 States!  That's all it would take!  Unfortunately, that is NOT on USAW's List of Priorities!  As I see it, USAW (our NGB), has to CHANGE!!!

[Scott Safe]

In Minnesota, we do weightlifting as a high school sport. (check www.mnweightlifting.org)  It is not recognized by the State of Minnesota, although we have considered that.  We do not want to lose control of the organization, which would probably happen if we did apply for recognition.  We have worked closely with the state chapter of the NSCA, which gets out to many of the high schools.  We regularly have 200+ kids compete in a series of meets leading up to our state championships, which is normally about 4 weeks before juniors.  Any state can start doing this at any time.  They just have to do it.  We suggest coaches do club coach before getting involved.  Most of the time the school district will pay for it.  200 lifters x 50 states = 10,000 new lifters!!!!!!!

Scott

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

My feeling is that high school weightlifting is the key to our future. While I think it is impossible to try and get it started in every state right away since we do not have the resources, I believe strongly that we should support high school weightlifting in the states where we already have it. In Florida, there is room for improvement. We are not getting hardly any of the great talent that is flowing through this natural feeder system.  First, we must help improve the organization of Florida high school weightlifting, train more coaches, and work toward the eventual addition of the snatch. I think having the states high school athletic association including the sport as an official sport is the way to go, but, it is true that "our" coaching presence within these organizations must remain strong to keep things on track. In Florida, we need more weightlifting coaches to come teach and/or coach in our high schools. It is a way for them to get paid to coach weightlifting, and it will bring knowledge, momentum, and political influence to the high school organization where the improvements we desire can be made to happen.

I think we should also continue to build on the beginning that the BOD undertook at this years Florida high school state championship. The presence of high-level coaches recruiting the best of the kids was a great start. Next year, I think we should increase our investment and presence. We need a list of every qualified coach in the state, membership papers, competition schedules, USAW magazines, merchandise, all at a nice booth on-site with a few nice chairs for sit-downs and some soda and/or snacks for the recruits.

When we start tapping the enormous talent here and in the other states where there is a beginning of high school weightlifting, then we should sell those programs as examples to one state at a time, picking states where we have a beginning of a coaching base to help build the sport, by training and certifying coaches, hosting contests, recruiting, training, etc. We have to have gyms and coaches to send recruits to in order for a high school sport to succeed in a state. Without that minimal base, we would be throwing money down an empty drain, in my opinion. But, there is great potential right here in Florida. So, I think even the slow approach will yield fast results in terms of numbers and depth.

[Anthony Tridico]

I think Scot and Terry make great points.  There are alot of people out there who will teach and encourage weightlifting in many states with a little help.  I do not think you only want to focus on one state because alot of young lifters will not choose this as there only career at the age of eighteen.  I think it will be important to have clubs at the college level as well so that the kids who go to college can continue weightlifting while they get a degree.  After 4 years of college, and some continued good coaching, they may be better suited to pursue weightlifting as a career.
I know I have a student now that is interested.  He cleans 280lbs from the floor at 175 lbs.  This may not be great by many of your standards but he did not struggle with this at all coming out of the hole.  He is just not comfortable on his pull yet.  I think he could be great if he had a place to train in college.  Just something to think about.

Tony Tridico CSCS.
Titusville High School
Titusville, PA

[Terry Thompson]

:o  :shock: :?   . . The BIG QUESTION is:

 ~~ How do you get the USAW Brass interested?  Here are some thoughts that crossed my mind...

(1) Money is always a MAJOR issue with them.  USAW could make money by selling these "Official" products:  singlets, shoes, bars, plates, platforms, scoreboards, medals, DVDs, etc.
 ~~ The DVDs could include INSTRUCTIONAL DVDs to teach training/ coaching/ refereeing to H.S. Coaches.
(2) There is no National H.S.A.A., (High School Athletic Association) specifically for the sport of WL.  USAW could establish/ operate/ control this!    They would then be the NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED Sanctioning Body for H.S. Intramural WL in the U.S.
(3) The USAW Staff would have some NEW responsibilities:  Start a HOTLINE for Coaches' specific problems & concerns.   ALSO a special  Email address.   Make Scoring sheets available.  Assist with Qualifying Totals, and arranging Competitions & State Championships.
(4) There would be an advantage to having the "Regular Season"  start at the beginning of the school year, and the State Championships held in Late Fall or early Winter.  In the "warm weather" States, schools could train & hold meets OUTSIDE, on the Football Field,  for several months!
 ~~  Use the CHEAP bars with cast-iron plates.  These 300# sets retail, locally, for around $100-$125.  This lets the SMALL-ENROLLMENT schools (with SMALL budgets), get involved!  Okay, these are really just "training" bars & plates, but iron or steel plates would destroy an expensive  platform!  
 ~~ To make a CHEAP outdoors platform, simply anchor a 4'x8' plywood sheet (maybe 3/4" thick), to the ground and you're in business.  All you'd eventually have to replace is the sheet of plywood.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

The BIG QUESTION is:  How do you get the USAW Brass interested?

They are interested. Several BOD members came to the Florida high school state weightlifting championships this year to recruit, analyze, give input and feedback to the FHSAA, etc. I think the USAW will be building dramatically on this presence next year.

(2) There is no National H.S.A.A., (High School Athletic Association) specifically for the sport of WL. USAW could establish/ operate/ control this! They would then be the NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED Sanctioning Body for H.S. Intramural WL in the U.S.

This sounds like a great long term goal, but may be impossible. The state high school athletic associations would have to buy in.

(3) The USAW Staff would have some NEW responsibilities: Start a HOTLINE for Coaches' specific problems & concerns. ALSO a special Email address. Make Scoring sheets available. Assist with Qualifying Totals, and arranging Competitions & State Championships.

Actually, the USAW already assists with most of these things, at least in Florida. But, the Florida high school association and is only willing to give us so much control, at his point.

(4) There would be an advantage to having the "Regular Season" start at the beginning of the school year, and the State Championships held in Late Fall or early Winter. In the "warm weather" States, schools could train & hold meets OUTSIDE, on the Football Field, for several months!

I disagree. I think we would want weightlifting season at a different time than football, as it is here in Florida, as football will draw way too many of the athletes away. If its done at a different time, you can sell weightlifting as a tool for football. I think it works well here in Florida, in terms of season timing.

I do not think you only want to focus on one state...

I didn't say to focus on one state, just focus on the states that already have high school weightlifting. There is still much work to be done in these three states. Next, I would say try to get it started in another state where we already have some weightlifting clubs. If you don't already have coaches and weightlifting gyms in the area where you want to start it, then it becomes FAR more difficult. Then we should start in another state, and another. But, again, trying to start it in every state at once is SO FAR beyond our current capabilities and resources that you might as well be talking about the USAW landing on the moon. Just starting it in one new state is a HUGE project!

[Scott Safe]

Hi Guys;

I really don't think it needs to be very complicated.  Every LWC can see to it that they run one or two high school only events a year, including a state championships.  I definately think it should be during football's off season.  As it develops, changes can and will be made.  One observation I have in regards to the Florida program is that once you include the bench press, you'll play hell to get rid of it.  We just decided to do conventional weightlifting, do our best to educate(the state NSCA members helped in this area and also the club coaches course) and start running meets.  Establishment of state high school records is important, along with the state championships.  It is just a matter of coaches and LWC's choosing to do this.  USAW does not necesarily have to dump a bunch of money in to get this accomplished.  it still is going to come down to the local weightlifting committees to get things done.  On the upside, your group of volunteer labor grows immensely.  Any of you at Juniors saw many different loading teams from local high school clubs.  Also a great help for set up and take down.  Just my two cents.

Scott

[Terry Thompson]

~ REPLIES: to Chris & Scott...

Chris:  I must agree that Weightlifting SEASON should follow Football SEASON.  I can see that so many BIG, STRONG kids would WANT to play football!  As you said: "football will draw way too many of the athletes away."  ..RIGHT!  That's common sense.
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Scott: I agree with EVERYTHING you've said!  I copied it!  ..You said:

I really don't think it needs to be very complicated. Every LWC can see to it that they run one or two high school only events a year, including a state championships. I definately think it should be during football's off season. As it develops, changes can and will be made. One observation I have in regards to the Florida program is that once you include the bench press, you'll play hell to get rid of it. We just decided to do conventional weightlifting, do our best to educate(the state NSCA members helped in this area and also the club coaches course) and start running meets. Establishment of state high school records is important, along with the state championships. It is just a matter of coaches and LWC's choosing to do this. USAW does not necesarily have to dump a bunch of money in to get this accomplished. it still is going to come down to the local weightlifting committees to get things done. On the upside, your group of volunteer labor grows immensely. Any of you at Juniors saw many different loading teams from local high school clubs. Also a great help for set up and take down. Just my two cents.

(1) Let the LWCs run the State Championships - Brilliant!
(2) USAW does NOT have to dump a bunch of money in...  Not a direct quote, but TRUE!
(3) Florida Program:  once you include the BP, you'll play hell to get rid of it!  Absolutely True!  ..Needs to be strictly WL!