|
Robert Keller
IPF Cat I Referee
Member, IPF Tech.Comm.
|
Dear friends and colleagues:
I hope and trust that this report finds everyone doing well. In this month's technical report, I shall discuss the following topics that include: Referee nomination to international and World championships; USAPL Technical Committee (TC) and TC webpage; Referee preparation prior to championships; and several IPF Rule Changes that were made by the IPF Executive at the World Games provided to me by John Stephenson.
Referee Nominations to International and World Championships
Recently, there have been questions as to how referees are selected to attend International and World Championships. As it stands now, the process is fairly simple and straightforward. All referees are selected by the respective national team HEAD coach in collaboration with the technical, referee and coaching committees. I would recommend and suggest that international officials that are interested in participating as a referee at future world and international championships should contact Bill Clayton or me directly and make your request in writing. If at all possible, please make your request, no less than ninety [90] days prior to the respective championship that you wish to attend. In turn, we shall contact the coach of the national team to see if they approve. Please, requests made through internet forums, and the like will not be acknowledged. Your direct written communication -- preferably via e-mail -- to either Bill or me, in writing is absolutely necessary. This should resolve any misunderstandings or miscommunications in being able to attend a championship. Questions regarding this process, please contact me directly either via e-mail: rhk@verizon.net or by telephone: 954.790.2249.
USAPL Technical Committee/Technical Committee Webpage
One of the mandates in serving as the interim technical director for USA Powerlifting, while PJ is recovering from his illness, is to develop a Technical Committee for USA Powerlifting. The committee shall have several distinct and important responsibilities. These responsibilities are as follows:
1) The USAPL TC shall serve as a resource to assist local, state, national, and international meet directors for technical questions regarding their championships. The committee shall assist national, international, and world championship meet directors in appointing a technical secretary to assist with the coordination of referees and to oversee the championship.
2) Shall certify and carry out international category I & II referee examinations.
3) Shall assist US Team Coaches at International and World Championships by appointing and designating a technical advisor to assist the head coach. This official shall assist the team coach will disputes and/or technical interpretations of the rules.
4) Assist the meet directors in carrying out and overseeing doping control procedures.
5) The Chairperson for the USAPL TC shall also serve as technical advisor to the Coaches Committee.
6) When necessary, shall hold and conduct technical rules clinics.
7) Propose rule changes to the IPF TC.
A committee webpage shall be developed and placed on the USA Powerlifitng website. The page shall include selected USAPL TC members and their specific responsibilities.
Overall, the objectives of our committee are to expand the scope and responsibilities of our officials than to just refereeing championships. Key and important, in the future, referees will be called on to become more involved with the direction of our national and international championships as marshals, scoring managers, expeditors, announcers, doping control, etc. They shall also be called upon to assist in the direction of coaching clinics and to assist our US Nationals Teams. Overall, the USAPL TC will be charged with ensuring a higher level and standard of technical expertise, whilst minimizing, to our best effort, technical mistakes, with the goal to increase the level of performance of our lifters and coaches at the state, national and international level.
Referee Preparation
I would like to request that prior to all championships that each referee take some time to review the IPF technical rules. More importantly, it is essential and important that each referee bring with them, to every championship, a copy of the updated technical rules, and their referee's card. All referees are required to be members of USA Powerlifting. If your membership has expired, please renew it. It is essential and extremely important that as a referee, we are current with the technical rules. In doing so, we raise the standard of officiating, which in turn, makes our championships all that much better. Moreover, a high degree of technical knowledge reduces the chances of error in the direction of our championships, which may cause lifters not to be able to achieve their best performance on the platform.
IPF Rule Changes/Proposals
The following are respective rule [modifications] that were sent to me by John Stephenson. These changes were made by the IPF Executive Committee most recently at the World Games in Germany. They are as follows:
Suits/Shirts
At the most recent meeting of the IPF Executive Committee supportive suits/shirts and their future was discussed. The outcome is the following:
1. As from the 15th July 2005 for a period of 90 days (ending on 13th October) our approved manufacturers - namely; Inzer Advance Designs, Titan Support Systems Inc.; Crain Muscle World; and, Metal Shop Gym have the opportunity to forward to the Technical Committee any new product for inspection under the current system.
2. The system for approval will change after this period in as much as that the suit and more so the shirt will need to be tested for safety by designated, totally unbiased lifters.
3. A moratorium on new supportive gear (wraps have not been questioned) other than that which is in the "pipeline" will come into force. Approvals will take place bi-annually -- Next time at the IPF Congress 2007.
COSTUME AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
T. Shirt / Supportive Shirt
A T-Shirt or Support Shirt (the support shirt shall be of one ply stretch material) of any color or colors… (e) Remove the words…but must cover the deltoids.
* Although not specifically mentioned under the title, it has always been considered that material for the shirt will follow that of the suit.
ORDER OF COMPETITION
Responsibilities of the Officials are:
(a) …When the bar is loaded and the platform cleared for lifting, the Chief Referee will indicate the fact to the Speaker. When the Speaker announces that the bar is ready and calls the lifter to the platform, the clock will begin. To clarify, when the Speaker…
* Reason: Reverting to the old rule is because the Chief Referee is unaware of the change in weight that maybe made in the third round of the deadlift and that of the single lift bench press.
JURY AND TECHNCIAL COMMITTEE
13. If music accompanies the lifting, the Jury will determine the volume. The music will terminate when the lifter takes the weight of the bar in the squat and bench press or begins the pull in the deadlift.
CARPET
A proposal that the platform must be covered with carpet will be put to Congress 2005. As has been recommended for several years, this has proved to be the most effective covering in terms of grip especially when performing sumo style deadlift. Several accidents have occurred on rubber and painted surfaces, one lifter even pursuing for compensation.
RECORDS
A proposal that records for 0/60 Women and 0/70 Men be officially registered will be put to Congress 2005 in Miami.
OPEN OR SENIOR
A suggestion that the term "Open" be changed to "Senior" did not meet with Executive Committee approval. The term "Open" has always been recognized within the IPF from 14 years of age to infinity. "Senior" would exclude juniors.
All of these changes and notations will be noted in Technical Newsletter No: 4, which can be found on the IPF Webpage: http://www.powerlifting-ipf.com
Final Thoughts
USA Powerlifting will hold and direct several major national and international championships that shall take place prior to the end of the year -- The IPF World Sub-junior/Junior Championships in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, the USAPL National Bench Press Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, the IPF Men's World Powerlifting Championships in Miami, Florida and the American Open in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please make plans to attend one or more of these championships, especially, if you have not been able to attend a competition this year. Opportunities for state, national and international referees exist to assist with all of these championships.
On a final note, I would like to close this technical report on a positive note by saying that there has been a great deal of improvement with our officiating over the past eighteen [18] months. Overall, we are becoming more consistent with our officiating with the exception of a very few minor errors, which is expected. Overall, from my perspective, the officiating at our local, state, national and international championships has been excellent and very professional with very few complaints from the lifters and coaches, which is a testament to your hard work to ensure that the officiating is in the proper standard. On this note, on behalf of the organization, I would like to take this opportunity to say, "thank you" to each of you in your efforts to achieve excellence in your skills - our lifters appreciate this a great deal! Let's keep up the good work!
I look forward to seeing and working with you at one of our future championships!
Kind and sincere regards,
Robert H. Keller
IPF Category I Referee
Member, IPF Technical Committee
Member, IPF Doping Commission
Interim Technical Chair - USA Powerlifting
|
