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Posted by Power Reporter on October 11, 2009, 10:21 pm
In a climate where more and more lifting organizations are conducting events, and telling the public that they are "powerlifting" meets, when in fact the performances that are executed at those events only mimic powerlifting, Job Hou-Seye, of Wisconsin Powerlifting, states that "It is time for the creation of a Guild, if you will, of Powerlifting Organizations that will only put its Seal on Powerlifting Meets that genuinely embrace TRUE Powerlifting, so that the 'Lifter-Consumer' will know whether or not they are entering a legitimate competition."
To that end, Hou-Seye suggests that the Powerlifting Federation Standards Association(PFSA) be created, to define for "Lifter-Consumers" which powerlifting meets embrace the bona fide rules of powerlifting, and set them apart from "backyard" meets.
Job began his association with powerlifting in 1994, when he entered Shawn Cain's Hudson House Natural Open(ADFPA/USAPL), the Nation's longest running "open" and drug tested, non-national meet. In 1996 Hou-Seye became the Wisconsin Powerlifting State Chairman for the Amateur Athletic Union(AAU), until he became the State Chairman for the Natural Athlete Strength Association(NASA) in late 2004. Over the last 15 years he has conducted, lifted in, or officiated at close to 100 powerlifting meets.
"The thing that I think sets NASA, the USAPL, and the AAU apart from other Powerlifting Organizations is their dedication to conduct Powerlifting Meets that are both Drug Tested, and conform to the Original Rules of Powerlifting," Hou-Seye said. "I have never held a Referee's Card in the USAPL, but all 3 Federations have a Standardized Referee's Exam you must pass to become a National Referee."
Job thinks that the almost 20 other powerlifting federations that exist today do a poor job of producing legitimate contests. "One of the things that is most upseting," Hou-Seye said, "is that a novice Lifter goes to one of those Meets thinking that their lifting passes the muster, and then they get mostly red lights when they later enter a Legitimate Meet. Often, the Lifter is so confused and upset, that they then leave the Sport."
Hou-Seye indicates that a PFSA would have codified ethics and rules pertaining to powerlifting, and that a Powerlifting Federation would not be allowed to join, and use the PFSA Seal of approval for their events, before the PFSA is satisfied that their meets will provide the lifter-consumer with the "real deal," in terms of a competition that is fair and genuine.
"I am embarking on this as a personal project," Job said. "This is not endorsed by NASA, the USAPL, nor the AAU. I intend to first draft the principles that I think the PFSA should embrace, and then invite officials from NASA, the USAPL, and the AAU to a Caucus, at my expense. There we will try to arrive at common ground, and codify the Standards of Powerlifting that all 3 Federations believe are important."
Hou-Seye concluded by saying, "This is not an attempt to 'unify' the Sport. So, people should not be mistaken about that. This is not an attempt to arrive at a 'Superbowl of Powerlifting.' Although something like that might be fun, this is not what this is about. This is about setting the standard, so that when the Lifter-Consumer sees the PFSA Seal, they will know they are competing in a genuine Meet, and not participating in one of the events that is making a laughinstock out of Powerlifting."
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