Weightlifting Clubs & CrossFit Gyms across the world listen up!
Over at UK Olympic Weightlifting Giles Greenwood (@GreenwoodWL, 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist) wrote a post about how to make weightlifting more competitive.
Right now lifters that have not reached the level to qualify for nationals have only their regional championships to look forward to.
So the plan is to give lifters of all standards a chance to compete more often.
I think that in order to widen participation and increase the motivation to perform well we need to develop club lifting, offering competition between clubs and diverting some of the funds used to send national teams abroad to providing exciting rewards for success at club level.
He suggests that each region will have its own league, whose winners would enter a national knockout cup. The winners of this knockout cup could win a trip to compete against a winner of another country.
The whole thing could be set up using a point system.
maybe 5 points for a first place, 3 for second, 1 for third and sort out prizes for the top 3 teams. Where are those 2012 Olympic weights? They’d be ideal prizes.
Sounds fantastic in my opinion.
Currently the London Lifting League (Facebook) is getting the ball rolling. Their guidelines provide a good start:
- Entry fee £50 per club.
- Points are earned for every week a club sits at the top of the ladder, at the end of the year, the winner is the club who has accumulated the most points.
- Matches are decided in one-on-one matches, lb-for-lb.
- 1 Month time limit to accept challenges from another club, or you forfeit.
- 1 Month before you can re-challenge a club after a loss to them.
- You can only challenge a club at most two positions above you in the ladder.
- If the challenger wins, they move up to the place above the losing club.
- Teams ideally to be made up of 5 men and 3 women, any other team is acceptable if your ideal team isn’t possible. Teams must be made up of at least 4 members, 8 maximum.
- Weigh in limited to 30 minutes, match should start 30 minutes after weigh-in. This is to try and make sure it doesn’t take too long to weigh-in and start the Match.
- If you want to challenge a club you need to register using the link below (or here). Once registered go to the Forum and post an entry challenging your chosen club!
lb for lb example:
A weighs 69kg, B weighs 70kg.
Therefore in order to beat A within a pairing B needs to lift a total which is 3kg+ above A’s total.
If B only lifts 2kg (1kg more in snatch, c+j) more than A – it’s a draw…
Update: Why top at weightlifting. This could also work for powerlifting.
Update: Giles has a follow up and writes about funding options.
Jake says
Giles is a great guy, an amazing athlete, and funny as hell. I was happy to learn how to lift with his instruction a few years back. Its nice to see hes starting to think of ways to grow the sport in the UK.
Damon Kelly says
Here in Queensland in Australia The Queensland Weightlifting Federation have a club challenge competition. It’s a good way to get more regular club competitions happening and more people lifting on the platform which is what we want. Limiting to the top 6 point scorers allows the bigger clubs not to dominate with mass participation. The details are here http://www.qwa.org/policies/QueenslandClubChallengerules.pdf
We also have a league competition which is divided up into 4 divisions based on % of world record. There are 4 rounds throughout the year and then a final. It’s based on a points system which allows people of different experience, weights and sexes to compete against each other. It’s a great competition especially for beginners because it rewards consistency, 6/6 lifts and lifting personal bests. The rules for that competition are here http://www.qwa.org/policies/QWA%20League%20rules.pdf
GregorATG says
That looks great! How is participation? Is it well adopted by clubs?
Damon Kelly says
The QWA League is the most popular as they are well run events and there is a chance for individual prize money in the final. Nothing huge only $500. Also there is a bit of prize money for the club for the club challenge.
Kawi says
What does happen to the weights and barbells from the 2012 Olympics? Are they property of the UK’s weightlifting governing body?
Chris Ganderton says
I think either the IOC or Eleiko still own them, along with all the other gear in the training hall such as the platforms and blocks etc.
Rob Anderson says
As far as I am aware the weights are being sold of by BWL/Pullum