Note: The following rules changes come from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and will affect all participating countries.
USA Weightlifting (USAW) has announced four new IWF rules that will take effect January 1st, 2017.
We’ve summarized them below, but to check out the official USAW press release regarding the new rules (which we highly recommend), visit this link.
1. Stationary Cards at National Competitions
This one is important for officials, coaches, and athletes alike: USAW will align with the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) methods of marshaling. This means that cards remain stationary on the Marshall table in order of start number.
If scoring equipment fails, then the competition will revert to a manual clock and shuffled cards after 3-minutes have elapsed to ensure competition continues.
2. New 90kg and +90kg Weight Classes (Plus 75kg and +75kg at Youth levels)
These weight classes were already in use at the 2016 American Open, but the 90kg and the +90kg category will become active with IWF rules in 2017.
International Youth competitions will replace the +69kg category with the newly established 75kg and +75kg weight classes. These weight classes are already contested domestically, so there will be no change at a national level.
3. Removal of The Bodyweight Advantage
From the TeamUSA.org release:
From January 1, 2017, the winner when two athletes take equal weight will be the athlete who successfully completed the lift first, rather than he or she who weighs less. The idea of the IWF is to encourage the athlete to take 1kg more for the win.
For example, if Jane Smith takes 100kg weighing 74.23kg and Julie Kilo takes 100kg weighing 73.42kg, and Smith takes it first she will win despite being heavier. Up until now, Kilo would have won because she was lighter.
4. 20/15kg Rules Becomes The 20/20kg Rule
Starting January 1, athletes at competitions must open within 20kg of their entry totals. Regardless of gender, an athlete’s opening snatch and clean & jerk must add up to within 20kg of the declared entry total.
Feature image USA Weightlifting on Instagram/Lifting Life
