Topic: New WL Organization

[Andy Dick]

So after my 2 years of toiling something may finally be coming to a head.  We not have about 5 seriously interested schools in the state in making a HS WL organization.  We are looking to have it be outside the USAW and the thoughts are to have it under the umbrella of AAU.  Nothing is set in stone yet however as the planning metting will be in June.  The move is mainly because we will be covered under the AAU's insurance, some like it because AAU will administer drug tests, and it is not as expensive as being a part of USAW.  This also gives us room to set our own meet schedule as we want to make a set season for WL (possibly the spring).  A minor note is that will allow us to adjust any rules that we think a futile, pressout rule.  The interest is starting to grow because more coaches are seeing the benefit of Oly lifting.
What are your thoughts, suggestions?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Sounds good Andy. Avoid the USAW like the plague!

[eli]

Try to follow the IWF rulebook or else you lose the credibility of contesting an olympic sport, as well as a sport with programs at four or five different domestic universities.   At the youth level, sports should be about skill acquisition.  No pressouts unless the IWF changes the rules. 

Have a boys and girls league, but consider combined team scoring with girl point placings counting equally with boy placings.  That will make people want to recruit girls.  You can run dual platform meets if need be.

[Matt Erdman]

That's pretty cool Andy. If the AAU thing works out it may be a good thing to spread around. I think dropping the pressout rule only in the jerk would be good. It does have purpose in the snatch though. Anybody who makes it to national level, or has the potential, should be educated that the rule exists.


Does the AAU ban sponsorship and setups like Cal Strength?

[Andy Dick]

Not 100% sure what AAU all entails, the representative is going to meet with us in June at our meeting.  Good points on keeping it close to IWF.  It will be something to discuss.  Although it would not be the first time rules change as the level of competition changes.  Look at how wrestling changes from high school to college, and from college and beyond notibly the dropping of folkstlye to freestyle and greco.  I will keep you all posted on how it progresses the meeting is slated for June 27th.

[eli]

Sloppy lockouts and fighting to press out the bar can place a lot more stress on the rotator cuff.  Also, when lifters fight the lockout with the bar in front of them, they tend to hyperextend their lumbar spine like the old press, which caused a lot of back problems.  Follow the IWF technical rules and your rear is covered.  Do things differently and you open yourself to criticism in the face of an overhead injury, even if the relationship to your rule modifications is minimal.

Any rule change can cause undue risk for you.  For example, the elbow touch rule is kind of self-evident and unnecessary, but don't eliminate the rule.  Someone will definitely break a wrist sooner or later, it will happen whether the rule is in place or not. However, in the absence of the rule, as soon as someone breaks a wrist they will point fingers at you for not having the IWF rules.  That's just the way things work.

Also, do everything in kilograms, no exceptions.  Let the kids learn some math.

You don't need a jury and certified equipment and that sort of thing, just basic IWF rules so you can have quality weightlifting here in sconnie.

[Andy Dick]

I have to agree with all points.  Thank you for the insight.

[Matt Erdman]

Sloppy lockouts and fighting to press out the bar can place a lot more stress on the rotator cuff.  Also, when lifters fight the lockout with the bar in front of them, they tend to hyperextend their lumbar spine like the old press, which caused a lot of back problems.  Follow the IWF technical rules and your rear is covered.  Do things differently and you open yourself to criticism in the face of an overhead injury, even if the relationship to your rule modifications is minimal.

This isn't personal, as I hear it from different people, but this argument simply doesn't hold up. Lifters don't intentionally pressout, it just happens. When it does happen, I've never seen a lifter drop it immediately. He is naturally going to fight to save the lift. The rule book doesn't matter in the heat of the moment. If a lifter wants to exploit the pressout, then he will likely adopt a push-press. He isn't anymore likely to get injured that way, just more likely to get beat by a good split jerk. I just hate to see a meet get ruined for a kid (or several) who are new to the sport because of this pointless rule. And it happens every time.