USAWA

By Dan Wagman

 

(This is a continuation of the series of suggestions by Dan Wagman that may be discussed at the national meeting after passing the Executive Board)

Send queries to Wagman2022Agenda@icloud.com (e-mail address active until Juli 1, 2022)

5. INCLUSION OF SENIOR DIVISION IN THE RECORDS LIST

The Rulebook recognizes the following age groups for males and females (§II.3): Junior (and their subgroups), Senior, Open, and Master (plus their subgroups). Records are kept, however, only in the following age groups (§V.9): Junior and Master and their respective subgroups and also “overall records…in all weight classes, which includes the best weight class lift of all age groups.”

This places Senior competitors at a severe disadvantage over all other age groups because they can only receive credit for an overall record—the greatest weight ever lifted in a particular lift—and no record for their age category whatsoever, i.e., 20-39 years old. All other age group lifters, however, can not only set a record within their age group, but also a second one for an overall record if their strength is sufficient. This has been termed by some “double-dipping” the records.

It seems inherently unfair, illogical, arbitrary, and capricious that all lifters in all age groups can set records in their respective age category (and double-dip) except a lifter aged 20-39. (The person who elects to compete in the Open Division is exempt from this argument because he/she freely elects to do so over selecting any other age category which they would naturally automatically belong to based on their current age.)

The life-blood of any organization is the next generation. The next generation does not only include Juniors but also people aged 20-39 years. In not recognizing their feats of strength via age-group records they are not only unfairly discriminated against, but it also begs the question as to why a person in the Senior age group would even compete if all he/she can accomplish is placing in a competition—unless he/she is so strong as to establish a “greatest weight ever lifted” record. This does not serve the organization well as Senior lifters have less incentive to compete in this sport as compared to other strength sports.

 

It is therefore proposed to include the Senior age group in the records list. No grandfathering in to this category is permitted.

 

Argument Against

This topic was discussed on the Forum. While all participants agreed that the omission of Senior age group records was unfair, a major concern was the additional work the Records Director might incur. While it is difficult to predict how much more work adding the Senior age group would actually entail, this would be easily addressed by placing another individual in charge of the Senior age group records (see 6.C.i.-ii. below).