Age Correction
By Al Myers
One of the unique aspects of the USAWA/IAWA is the use of age correction in calculating total scoring points. This is done after applying the Lynch Formula for bodyweight corrections in the total scoring points. The intent of the age correction is to provide, in a sense, a handicap to older lifters to “level the playing field” against younger lifters to provide a more fair comparison. I am not going to get into the debate here on whether this is totally fair or not, or the discussion if older lifters should even get a scoring advantage. This is just the way scoring has always been done since the beginning of the organization.
Right now as I am busy tabulating the scores from the IAWA World Postal Championships it got me thinking how confusing this age correction scoring adjustment can be. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the age correction is different between the USAWA and the IAWA-UK/IAWA. I hope to clarify this today!
USAWA AGE CORRECTION
Lifters at the age of 40 receive an added 1% per year (which includes year 40). This age correction applies to the total points after the Lynch Formula (bodyweight) correction is made.
IAWA/IAWA-UK AGE CORRECTION
Lifters at the age of 40 receive an added 1% per year (which includes the age 40) till the age of 66. At the age of 66 a lifter receives 2% per year (which includes the age 66). This age correction applies to the total points after the Lynch Formula (bodyweight) correction is made.
At the IAWA Annual World Council Meeting in 2009, this Age Correction was passed by the membership. Before this the IAWA-UK used an age correction of 1% starting at age 36, till age 66 where the added 2% was added. Also, at IAWA competitions before that either the USAWA age correction system or the IAWA-UK age correction system was used, depending on who was doing the scorekeeping. I remember being part of the motion to merge the two age correction systems in IAWA so that we would have scoring consistency in the future. Shortly after this the IAWA-UK adopted the IAWA Age Correction system, so it is just the USAWA that does things differently on this now. I thought at the time the USAWA would soon change to the IAWA Age Correction, but that has never been brought to the USAWA meeting floor.