Masters Rules - GS cheat sheet

Coach,

Us masters spent some time over at DD sorting out the masters rules for GS with some of the guys from Russia. I think if you substitute 15lb clubell for 24kg kettlebell, and 25lb CB for 32kg KB, you could pretty much just graft them right in.

1) Masters compete with the 15lb CB. Masters OCS "records" would be recorded with regards to the 15lb CB. Ofcourse, a master could always choose to compete in the open class with 25lbs, but that would not be scored in the master's division. A master who chooses the 25s can't win the masters division and is simply competeing in the open.

2) In regerds to the ranking chart a master recieves no brakes or advantage. Masters are ranked by weight division like everyone. So if you compete as a master with the 15s you can "only" go up to CMS ranking. There is no MS with the 15s. If a master seeks MS status he has to jump to the 25s.

of course were not bound in any way to this - and in a completely selfish and self serving way, I'd like to be able to get MS with 15s - but that's the GS structure for what it's worth.

Bill

[Scott Sonnon]

Good suggestions, Bill. Please don't hesitate to throw in these suggestions or questions as they're very useful stimulation. We weren't considering a Masters Division for this upcoming championships but we may have to rethink that position.

At the recent philly meet we didn't have a seperate "division" per se as far as meet organization.

All the lifters were split by
first - the weight of the KB (12 or 16 for women and 24 or 32 for men)
second - their weight

Then the lifting went lightest to heaviest women 12 then 16kg, then lightest to heaviest guys with the 24s, then 32s.

At the end we looked at who the masters were and just awarded an overall winner. So I actually competed against all weight guys over 40, including a couple heavier.

Decided not enough guys to have weight class winners, so weight only used for lifting order and ranking charts.

I will say this - there was some brief dicussion of not having masters which was meet with some pretty intelligent opposition from some experienced competitors in other sports, particulerly power lifting and BJJ. It was noted that the more classes you have the more "inviting" and fun it is for the non semi-pro athlete to actually participate - which is what we need in order to get these new sports off the ground.

[Scott Sonnon]

Indeed, Bill, you pose strong arguments. I didn't mean to insinuate a separate division. In Sambo, it was a bit different since athletes wrestled off against their own age division. In solo sports like OCS and GS, athletes can be arranged freely by Clubbell Division when the organizers seat the schedule, with Masters Division scored against itself.