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Robert Keller
IPF Cat I Referee
Member, IPF Tech.Comm.
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Technical Report -- Powerlines #35
Dear members of USA Powerlifting:
We are nearly at mid-year and quite a bit has taken place since my last article. First and foremost is our acceptance into the Arnold Classic Sports Festival. If you're not familiar with this event, it is one of the premier multi-sport Sports Festivals in the country, and a must see if you're a true powerlifting fan. Special thanks go to the Dr. Larry Maile, Priscilla Ribic and Brad Gillingham for making this a reality for our organization to gain access to this very prestigious international event. They have done the majority of the work and deserve our heartfelt thanks!
Second item on the agenda for this report, is that I would like to send my earnest and sincere thanks to our corps of state, national and international officials that have unselfishly volunteered to work the many long hours to ensure the high standards of technical direction at our local, state and national championships. Additionally, I would like personally congratulate and thank our hardworking national competition organizers -- Paul Fletcher [Women's Nationals]; John Pena {Military Nationals]; Duane Urbina [High School Nationals]; and Johnny Graham [Collegiate Nationals] for directing some our best national championships ever. Not only did they direct a well-organized event, they ensured their respective corps of volunteers and officials were taken care of in terms of meals, refreshments and hotel rooms - Much appreciated and thank you!
Thirdly, we are now preparing for the Men's National Championships that will take place in St. Louis, Missouri! Harold Gaines, backed up by an army of volunteers, and Rick Fowler, the Missouri State Chairman, are ensuring that our 25th anniversary event is going to be a great show! It is my understanding that the traditional St. Louis "Bus Ride" has been resurrected and will be an installment at this year's championship. This sightseeing tour takes you to the many landmarks and tourist sights that highlight the great city of St. Louis! I am encouraging everyone to attend this year's championship as I am sure it will be one of the landmark events in Men's National Championship history. Also, annually at this event, we hold the annual NGB meeting. Plan to attend and take part in the democratic processes [No en bloc voting allowed] of the organization in determining the future goals and vision of the organization.
In this issue of Powerlines, I plan to address the following issues. They are:
1. Raw/Unequipped Lifting - Update
2. Developmental Meets
3. ER Equipment Safety Stands for the Bench Press
4. Referee Testing Procedures/Guidelines
5. Referee Credentials/Patch
6. Raising the Bar: A review of some technical rules/standards
7. IPF Referee Certification 2008
8. Elbow Impairment: The loss of full extension of the elbow[s]
9. Standardized Competition Results
10. Final Comments
Raw/Unequipped Lifting
There have been continued requests by our members toward the development of raw/unequipped lifting at our local and state championships. As the popularity of this form of lifting grows in our organization, there has been a call to increase the opportunities to include unequipped/raw records, as well as a National Championship for this form/style of lifting. To answer this call, the AC Committee mandated that a raw/unequipped event will be offered at the Arnold Classic Sports Festival. Also, I have placed onto the NGB Agenda for this year to establish a set of American Records for this form of lifting.
Questions and "positive" discussion are still taking place as to what exactly and how raw/unequipped lifting should be defined. The definition and designation determined by the 2000 and 2006 resolutions reached by the USAPL NGB, allows for the following to be used when lifting raw at our championships: Singlet, belt, knee and wrist wraps. Knee sleeves/warmers are also allowed as well. Again, I would like to comment that this form of lifting should take part at the [local and state level] as a means of development to encourage novice and first time lifters to take part in our great sport. State chairman should encourage their meet directors to include this division on contest application forms.
At the NGB, the definition of this form of lifting will be discussed once more. There are officials that would like to see the removal of both wrist and knee wraps. So, this suggestion should bring about some lively and positive discussion.
Developmental Meets
Another concept that is beginning to emerge is the establishment of Developmental Powerlifting Meets. This particular concept is being utilized by Mike Womelsdorf, the California State Chairman to revitalize and rejuvenate lifting within his state. A standardized format has yet to be established; however, currently, Mike and I are discussing the various different formats to determine the best way to move forward with this type of competitions. If you would like to add your comments, I am forming a "discussion group" to exchange ideas, etc, to begin formalizing this concept to present to the USAPL EC. The obvious benefits of this program is to create access to potential members that may have never been exposed to powerlifting in a formalized level, and are interested in learning more about training and competing in a more relaxed and comfortable setting. This will be added to my report that I will give at the NGB.
ER Equipment Safety Stands for the Bench Press
The ER Safety racks for the Bench Press will now be in use at all of our National Championships for the remainder of this year and mandatory at the beginning of 2008. It is encouraged that our other meet directors at the local and state level use them as well. If you're a local or state level director, and do not have access them, contact your state director to see about borrowing or obtaining a set for your rack. I realize that all may not have access to the necessary resources; however, I would ask that those that have access to them, to share them with other directors that desire to use them. If you're a National Director for 2008 and have not obtained a set yet, please let me know, and we'll arrange to have them at your championship.
More information pertaining to the ER Safety Stands can be found in my Powerlines Technical Committee article #32 - CLICK HERE
Referee Testing Procedures/Guidelines:
As a reminder, if you would like to test for either your State or National referee card, please contact your state chairman first. Once you have been approved by your state chairman, your request should then be sent onto Bill Clayton, the USAPL Referee Chairman. Bill can be reached at: clayton@ptd.net [This is a new email address].
Key and important, all applications and requests should be accompanied by a resume/CV of all referee experience and the date certified as a state referee. Once a Bill is contacted, he will, in collaboration with your state chairman, and the referee committee, schedule an examination for you. Once again, please come to your examination professionally prepared and dressed in the appropriate uniform. Also, to the best of your ability, come prepared to take both the practical and written examinations on the same day. Also, ensure that you have with the most up-to-date IPF Technical Rules. The IPF Technical rules can be easily downloaded from the IPF Website
If you desire to take the IPF Cat I or II examination, please let Bill Clayton and me know at least four [4] months in advance, so that we may approve your credentials and schedule your examination with the IPF. The IPF Technical rules require us, for IPF Cat I examinations, to notify the IPF Technical Chairman and Referee Registrar at least three [3] months in advance. Approved candidates for the IPF Category II examination, require that we give them at least two [2] weeks notice. However, this is the minimum, and we desire to give them more advance notice.
USAPL Referee Patch & Referee Credentials
All referees should bring with them to each championship, their referee credentials that were issued to you by the National Office after the passing of your examination. More importantly, it is very important to have your referee book signed by the technical secretary or chief referee immediately at the end of each championship. This is to ensure that if there is ever a dispute as to which, or how many competitions you have officiated, the credentials with respective signatures will be requested to verify your officiating activity. Also, it is important that each referee have a patch to signify the grade/level of certification. This is to be displayed on your blazer at each championship. If you do not have either a patch/or misplaced your referee booklet, please contact Barb at the National Office so that one may be sent to you. Thank you in advance.
Raising the Bar: A review of some technical rules/standards
In this section of my report, I would like to bring to the attention of the lifters three [3] technical issues/matters that have emerged during the first five [5] months of the year that I wish to bring to the attention of the lifters, trainers, and coaches.
1. The first matter concerns the raising of the head off of the bench press during the execution of the lift. The IPF Technical rule changes for 2007 do not allow this, so please make the necessary adjustments, during your training sessions, prior to your next championship.
2. Secondly, there are still lifters coming to national level competitions without shin-length socks for the deadlift. Interestingly enough, in some cases, when a lifter is notified by the assigned technical controller, prior to stepping on the platform, the lifter ultimately tries to pull their mid-calf socks to the bottom of the knee, which often times leads to tears and holes appearing in the sock, which actually defeats the purpose of wearing them. A lifter is then left to forage and hunt for another pair of legal socks before his/her next attempt - not good! Below, I have enclosed an illustration of the standard we are looking for [See illustration 1 below]. The purpose and significance of wearing shin-length socks is to prevent tears to the skin, and to avoid the potential of transmission of bio-infectious diseases to other lifters. Thank you for your compliance and assistance with this safety standard.
3. It has been noted that some bench press specialists are coming to the platform with over-sized singlets on. For example, at a recent competition, during equipment check at a national championship, I believe a lifter taking part in the 75kg class attempted to check a XXL singlet. The IPF technical rule regarding the wearing of a singlet calls for it to be "form fitting". In some cases, a lifter may attempt to gain an advantage by wearing such a garment. Please take note of this particular rule, when checking in your gear, as your singlet may not be accepted. Ensure that it is [form fitting] to avoid any difficulties, when checking in your gear.
Illustration I: Correct use of shin-length socks
IPF Referee Certification 2008
As a kind and gentle reminder, if you're an international referee, in order for you to renew your IPF Category I and II credentials, referees are required to have at the minimum, at least four [4] National or International Powerlifting Championships between 2004 - 2007. Please contact either Bill Clayton or myself, if you have any questions regarding re-certification of your credentials. Bill and I would like to have all of the applications to the referee registrar by October 01, 2007.
Elbow Impairment: The loss of full extension of the elbow[s]
The updated IPF Technical Rules for 2007 require that "If anatomically, the arm/arms cannot be fully extended the lifter must produce a certificate issued by the Medical Committee." Now, on this issue, if you're a lifter heading to either a national, or especially a world championship, I would recommend applying for this waiver. Also, I am going to request that referees and meet directors to use some forethought when applying this rule, especially at the local, state and at the national level. If a lifter presents their anatomical impairment to you, and is not aware of the new rule, please advise them accordingly, and allow them to lift. In some cases, especially at the local level, the lifter may not yet be aware of this new rule. CLICK HERE to view the form.
Standardized Competition Results
There has been discussion as of late on standardizing competition results from the local to the national level for USAPL championships. Needless to say, I am in total agreement with this. Mike Armstrong spends many hours with data entry on competition results that come to him in disarray. Therefore, I am encouraging that all meet directors utilize an Excel based scoring program to tally their results either at the championship or afterwards, and before sending in their results to the National Office. Information that should be included is the lifters name [first and last], weight class, bodyweight, division[s], all nine attempts, sub-total, total, Wilks Score, and most importantly their placing in each division. If you're a contest director, please make the extra effort for our respective members, by providing complete and accurate results. Along with the standard data previously mentioned, here in Florida, I have now started to add the name of the club, where each lifter trains at, to assist them in their efforts to gain sponsor/donor monies, by publicizing their training center. I am enclosing an example of the score sheet that I use at all of my local, state and regional championships. CLICK HERE
A copy of this excel scoresheet can be downloaded free off of the IPF Webpage. Please take advantage of it and use it at your next championship. For National and International Championships, I prefer to use Joe Marksteiner's program, which is clearly the best in the world right now. Both are excel database programs and are easy to work with. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Final Comments
In closing, if there are ever any questions or comments that you wish to share with me regarding my report, I would ask that you please contact me directly at: rhk@verizon.net Please allow me several days to send a response, as I am away sometimes for a period of sometime over a week or so, traveling to different championships. In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families an enjoyable summer. See you at the next championship!
Sincere and kind regards,
Robert Keller
IPF Category I Referee
Chairman
USA Powerlifting Technical Committee
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