SPF Nationals & Worlds to Require Qualification

THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, AND TO CAP IT AT 150 LIFTERS IS A GOOD IDEA, IT WAS CAPPED WITH 102 LIFTERS THIS YEAR, SO THIS IS BIG JUMP BUT NOT HUGE TAKE IT SLOW AND BUILD AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU WILL HAVE 300 LIFTERS FROM 3-4 COUNTRIES IT JUST TAKES TIME.

Where is the nationals and Worlds at in 2009

VERY COOL POST!!!

Im all for big competitive meets, but lets play devils advocate. If you got 102 people with no qualifications, then im going to guess that 15-20% would not meet qualifications. Heres my reasoning. If everyone there met a qualifying mark, then you wouldnt feel compelled to put one in.

To go from 80 lifters to 300 is a pretty big feat.

I AGREE WITH TAZ, AND DO UNDERSTAND TO ADD VALIDIITY TO THE COMPETITION SETTING QUALIFYING STANDARDS...BUT THAT WILL ELIMINATE MANY COMPETITORS, BOTH NEW TO THE SPORT AS WELL AS OLDER VETERANS ALIKE. I THOUGHT THAT THE SPF WAS A POWERLIFTING ORGANIZATION FOR THE PEOPLE, AND BY THE PEOPLE? POSSIBLY ESTABLISH A PRO DIVISION FOR THE SERIOUS HARD-CORE LIFTERS AND AN AMATEUR DIVISION FOR NEW LIFTERS AND WEEK-END WARRRIORS.

SPF is constantly striving to better itself on behalf of the lifters. Many non-SPF lifters in the past have questioned the no-qualification needed to the SPF Nationals and Worlds competition and now that there are qualifications put into effect to give the lifters a higher caliber platform and a goal to achieve, there should be no debate.

Over 95% of the lifters at this SPF Worlds had already placed in the top at a state, regional, or national meet at some point during the 2008 year and were simply participating in the 2008 Worlds to come back for more.

I disagree and don't believe it will eliminate many competitors. With the top 5 from city, state, and regional meets and top 3 from national and worlds meet, that leaves the door open for lifters to achieve World level status.

Now if there had been a qualifying total put into effect, maybe yes, that would be more limiting, but this way the lifters have a greater chance and can have great pride in knowing that they are truly part of a growing organization that has the lifters best interest in mind.

Not one SPF lifter has had anything negative to say on the upgrade made to the SPF World's competition.

I, myself, am in the same boat as all the other SPF lifters and have to make sure I qualify to compete and it just fires me up more to ensure I make it to compete at that caliber.

~Train Heavy~

A. Suter

First I would like to say that I like the idea of a qualify meet to enter a world championship. I believe that Jesse and the other members of the board have made a good decision by approving this. They have also set forth what I believe are fair steps to qualify for worlds. I know this is not everyones view and I respect that. I believe it is fair to require people to win or place in other meets. I believe this adds to the legitimacy of the SPF. I know that Jesse works hard to make the SPF a success and his efforts show at the meets. He is truly an ambassador for powerlifting and always wants to put on a great show.
James Williams

i understand that the SPF is still in it's growth stages, but when the qualifiers have less than 3 lifters per division what's the point of saying that the top 3 qualify. i think what you're trying to do here is great but if you're going to do something like this i'd rather see you do it in a way that will make it as competitive as you can and make it a qualifying total. even if you don't set a very high bar with a qulifying total it seems like a better way to do it to me and gives the lifters trying to qualify something to actually shoot for rather than just showing up and not bombing = you qualify. either way good luck with it.

The SPF is moving forward and not backwards. Qualifications have been set and can be changed in the years to come if deemed necessary as this change was. Also, the SPF is clearly moving past the south but it takes time. All in all there will be and are many positive things that the SPF brings to the table for the "people".

BRIAN BLANKENSHIP
Roanoke, VA

You can easily compete in the the SPF no matter where you are from. No one is excluded regardless of where they live or train. Just because no one has come from another country to compete does not mean that they are not invited. Please come and compete with us we would love to have someone from Russia or England to show up. Is that what it takes for the SPF to be taken seriously? Would you say that we are lesser powerlifters or athletes because we have not had someone from another country show up? I think not.

James Williams

SPF is open to all States and all countries, was the APF or any other federation all over the world the same day that they opened? I think not, because they were all over the World when you started don't mean anything, Erie Franz started with nothing just like everyone else and built an empire and a family of lifters in which most of us are also a part of. Now when we lift in the APF or the IPF we are great but the weeks in between we lift in the SPF we are lesser lifters. Doesn't make any since to the lifter, only to the one running it down. We are all lifters that is all that matters. No one lifter or federation is better than the next. Now many on here lift in multiple federations? Doesn't matter if Ernie built it or Joe Blow built it, just lift and enjoy the day in the sun, that's what we all train for.

Thanks Amber for the post great job getting the word out. Jesse Rodgers

James thanks for the post and thanks even more for being a part of the SPF. We are growing just as much as anyone else, maybe even more. The only reason for our growth is because the lifters like where they are and what they see. We are here to lift weights and have fun doing so. Anyone that wants to turn up the volume and have fun is always welcome. Jesse Rodgers

The APF does not hold a "worlds" meet, they are affiliated with the WPC which holds "Worlds" and the WPC and their affiliates hold meets all over the world.

Correct me if I'm wrong but is Mississippi as far southeast as you guys have expanded? Are there any plans to bring the SPF to Louisiana or Texas any time soon?

As far to the southwest, sorry, got my geography mixed up.

Yes we aim to be in both of those State this coming year. Joe Ladnier has as meet Nov. 1st on the Southern end of Mississippi and is also on the Louisiana border. I can't think of the name of the city in Louisiana a frien of mine now owns a Motel that we will be doing meets in 2009.