TECHNICAL COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER NO: 4 2003

 

Jury - Red Ties

 

As mentioned in the Technical Committee report to Congress, we are continually receiving complaints from coaches that many juries fail to take action when appropriate.  Excessive zeal is not expected, but wearing of the Red Tie must be justified.  The Jury table is much more than a viewing gallery !  On the other hand, the Jury will not overturn every red light  felt unjustified by coaches - blatant and obvious YES - doubtful and subjective NO.

 

Record Discs

 

A much repeated request is that the referees/jury make sure that the record discs are readily available before the beginning of the championships.  Yet again, I witnessed a lifter ask for a 0. 5 KG increment for a World Record.  Where were the discs ?  At the meet hotel  " for safe keeping " !!

 

Head movement  (Bench Press)

 

"The letter of the rule says you cannot move your head once the lift has started.  If a decision has been made saying that you can, the rule needs to physical change in the rule book" .  So says a gentleman on his Powerlifting Website.  Then, he quotes from the rule book:-

    1. The lifter must lie on his back which shoulder and buttocks in contact

        with the bench surface . . . .

        Mention of the head was purposely deleted from the old rule in this

        respect.  The only reference in the new January 2001 Rule Book

        is that the head must be over and above the bench.

 

        In the rule interpretation - Bench Press 2. 

        This body position shall be maintained throughout the lift.  Referring

        to the " Torso " shoulders to buttocks. 

 

        Failure card 3

 

        Any change in the elected lift proper, i.e. any raising of the shoulders,

        buttocks or feet from their original points of contact with the bench or

        floor or lateral movement of the hands on the bar.  Slight or very minor

        foot movement is allowed.

 

THE HEAD MAY MOVE ( be raised ) BEFORE OR AT ANY TIME DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIFT.

 

Category 2 Referee Examination

 

Apparently there appears to be some question in regard to the written part of the Category 2 Referee Exam in as much " can the candidate write it in his / her language ? "  Yes, why not.  Of course, the examiner must understand the language, or someone of integrity to translate.

 

Proposals to Rules Congress 2004

 

As reported to Congress.  The Committe are already in receipt  of several proposals for change from member nations, Australia, Great Britain, Finland, Sweden and Republic of South Africa.  These will be discussed at the next full meeting of the Technical Committee.  Those acceptable  ( 13.2.1 of the Constitution) will be presented to Rules Congress 2004 and published on and in the appropriate media for the interest of delegates throughout the coming year.

 

Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation ?

 

Peter Fiore Director of Powerlifting for BWLA (British Weighlifting Association) has contacted me in regard to putting some feelers out to interested parties in forming a Commonwealth  Powerlifting Federation followed by a Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, possibly in Birmingham, England 2005.  He sees the Federation  being affilated to the IPF.   Peter can be contacted on e:mail p.j.fiore@nt/world.com and telephone/fax 44 01 252 653440.

 

Attempts

 

Should a lifter not wish to take a following attempt, the attempt slip must be handed to the marshall within the minute with a X in the particular space, otherwise the bar will be loaded with a 2 .5 KG increment should his last attempt  have been successful, or the same again, should the last attempt had been a failure.

At the recent World Master's a declared weight (that written on the attempt slip) was posted on the score board, then the lifter called that he would not make the attempt.  The speaker announced the following weight and lifter and the bar was immediately loaded.  This is incorrect.  If the weight is displayed on the scoreboard the bar must be loaded and the clock left to run its time.  It is unfair to the following lifters.  With the X displayed they are aware that there is less time to prepare.

 

Gamesmanship (the height of)

 

Many years ago a lifter approached me.  He was due to lift the following day.  His concern was that it was likely that he would be over-weight for his nominated  class 67.5 KG.  I told him that it was no problem as there was only one other 75 KG lifter from his Nation in this group, and he could move up.

Imagine my surprise when sitting at the Jury table the following morning, and glancing at the scoreboard, to notice that the concerned lifter had weighed in at 61.5 KG .  -  Something funny here -  ! ! !

His answer was that he had taken a large amount of dehydration "medicine" (Lasex was legal in those days) and had lost the weight overnight.  Approximately 7 Kilos, I ask you ? ? ?

What had really transpired, was that the referee who had weighed him in, had not put a distinguishable 7 on the speakers card and recorder sheet, and it was mistaken for a 1 and transferred to the scoreboard.

The lifter kept mum (said nothing) ending up collecting the best lifter of the meet award.

A  lesson to be learnt.  Always cross your  7's as so  -7-

 

Sub - Juniors

 

Having just recently returned from India and the World Sub-Junior Championships, it has strengthened the opinion of the T.C. that a proposal taken from the " floor " un-constitutionaly (not on the agenda at the 2000 Congress) to form a seperate 14 - 18 years championships was doubtful.

Seventy lifters over four days.  Five International Referees only, other than those from the host nation.

What had been sugggested by the Committee when a proposal to this effect was forwarded in the correct manner in 2000 was to consider a teenage 14 - 19 years contest within the Junior Championships.

To combine  Sub-Juniors with Juniors in 2004  is a step in this direction.

 

Nontheless, all credit must be given to Meet Director Subrata Dutta and the Indian Powerlifting Federation, for staging a most enjoyable competition.

 

2004 World Master's Delhi

 

The 2004 World Master's will be held in the Shah Auditorium as used for passed World Master's / World Juniors / and World Sub-Juniors.  It is fully air-conditioned, has a large stage, and one of the finest scoreboards seen Internationally.

The meet hotel will be the exceptional 5 star Le Merridian.  Has all

 amenities and serves an unbelievable breakfast buffet.

Transport to the venue by coach approx 25 - 35 minutes in Delhi trafffic will leave the hotel 1 hour before each weigh-in.

The warm up area is compact but hopefully adequate for the number of lifters expected.  Venue bathroom facilities are not  " Western " style.  The sampling room off stage is.

 

The whole Indian experience is fascinating.  The hospitality overwhelming.  I'm certainly looking forward to a 5th visit.

 

World Master's 2003

 

The Cormier/Butt duo have done it again. Produced another meet that should go down as one of the most memorable IPF Master's.  WELL DONE LADS. All the acolades you received were well deserved.

 

 MIKE ARMSTRONG - welcome back into the fold Mike. Great job on the computer.

 

European Union Cup

 

As France is only a stones throw  away from my Island home of Jersey, and Rennes just two hours by boat and car where this years Championships were being held, I travelled for the duration, not specifically to officiate but more as an observer.  Still, I stowed the "Uniform" just in case.

A beautfiul new sports hall,  and IPF approved equipment.  But, where were the competitors ? The Euro Union consists I believe  of fifteen Nations, only seven sent lifters and in two of the male classes only one in each.    Fifty lifters in all over four days.  Countries that are on the door step sent no lifters.  My sympathy goes with the Meet Director Michel Beaudoin who made every effort to put on a worthy competition.

Norway must be congratulated for their contribution, one lady from afar afield as just outside the Arctic Circle - Well done Inga.  And Great Britain, for the Scots who spent 24 hours travelling.

 

New  International Referees

 

Congratulations to the following:-

 

    Category One

 

    Lucien Gilles     

    Larry Maile

    Ruth Welding      )    USA

    Al Siegel

    Bill Clayton

   

    Ivan Karpisek

    Josef Svedja       )     CZECH REPUBLIC

 

    Category Two

 

    Pok Kom Won                HONG KONG

    Hanie Smith                   SOUTH AFRICA

    Huang Chia Ling             CHINESE TAIPEI

    Nestor Gregory 

    Fernando L'Baez Cruz     )    PUERTO RICO  

    Onix Rivera  

    Don Mcelravy                    

    Jennifer Maile                 )     USA

    Sandra Candido Conrado       

    Claudia Nagata                     BRAZIL

    Marek Kruszewski

    Roman Szymkowiak  

    Marian Ciemiega                )  POLAND

    Zygmunt Zawor

    Wlodzimierz Laskowski

    Boguslaw Podlasiewski

    Miroslaw Grzesiuk

 

JOHN STEPHENSON

T.C. CHAIRMAN