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Re: Lifter Friendly?

Posted By: Jason Burnell
Date: Thursday, 24 November 2005, at 8:04 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Lifter Friendly? (Eliot Feldman)

" Are we competing for ribbons, or to set PRs and lift at a higher and higher level? Some meets give out over a hundred awards. The USAPL is not responsible for positive reenforcement. It is responsible for producing the highest level of competition possible. There will be winners and losers. Let's get used to having fewer "winners". Winning a division with one lifter is not a victory at all. Many lifters have left the USAPL for the sole purpose of breaking records or winning trophies in other federations. Lifters have told me that they compete in other feds because the trophies are better."

Elliot,
I hold the same opinion as you with regard to reducing divisions and have had many similar conversations. HOWEVER, I would urge you to rethink this and here is why. I've run that experiment in the real world. I went with the plan of reducing divisions to increase competition and the net result is reduced lifters. Out here there are several feds and the ones with the fewest division have the smallest meets. You are 100 correct that lifters will go to other meets for records/awards. While I agree that it SHOULD be about PRs and competition, that is not the current state nor do I see it changing.

We can not (and SHOULD not) compromise our judging standards but if we reduce the number of divisions we are going to lose members, period. It is sad but it is a fact. If we lose members and the meets shrink, we will lose meet directors as they start to lose money on meets. Nobody wants to rent a venue for XXX dollars and then have a meet with 10 lifters.

Furthermore, I've had lifters compliment me on the way our meets are run have told me that they wish (other directors, other feds) ran his meets like we did but that doesn't translate into more entries. Lifters will say they don't care about awards but actions will not follow words:

1) I was concerned about entry fee prices rising so at one meet I offered a division where you could enter for 20 bucks. The awards would be certificates. 2 lifters signed up. The rest paid for trophies.

2) Out here, it's not uncommon to see people pay 60-100 bucks per division to make sure they walk out with at least one first place trophy in other feds.

3) I've had lifters tell me they won't compete unless I offer a certain division. I've also had a lifter tell me that his buddy liked our meets but that someone else gave out better awards.

In short, I'm bring back juniors and submasters for my next meet and I've been emailing for info on SWORDS for best lifters!

Word.

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