Competition Tactics in Weightlifting

Author: Ernesto Paz González, MS

yuri05031@vcl.jovenclub.cu 

Instituto Superior de Cultura Física “Manuel Alejandro” Facultad de Villa Clara, CUBA

Translated by: David Colón Arroyo

 “…In weightlifting, the sport challenge is performed upon the indirect action of the opponent. The organization of the trainings and the scheme of moves in the competition must respond to a determined tactic plan” (A. Vorobiov, 1981; p.74).

 In weightlifting (in Spanish: halterofilia) the main opponent for the lifter is the competition apparatus, this is, the barbell (combination of bar, discs and collars), which requires a great psychological and tactic condition, without disregarding the theoretical, technical and physical preparation.  In this particular sports discipline, not traditionally included among tactic sports, the proper tactics acquire great importance in order to obtain the expected results, not only as an individual, but collectively, being a decisive factor the conduction of such process by the coach, who has the main say in the planning, organization, execution and control of the tactics to follow during the competition.  The planning of such tactics in the preparation of the athlete is based upon, basically, in studying very carefully the opponents, the proper placing of the lifters in their weight classes where one can achieve the best results, establishing individual and collective expectations, and establishing the logical opening weights, among other factors.  On the other hand, some situations may arise during the competition that warrant fast and unexpected decisions that the coach and the athlete must make, taking into account the level of preparation that the lifters may have. 

The real competition time in weightlifting (from the moment the athlete raises the barbell from the floor to the full extension of his arms over his head) is very short, especially in the snatch the time is about 4-6 seconds, while in the clean and jerk(C&J) it could take between 8 and 10 seconds.  This competition time depends on the ability of the lifter, his special physical conditioning, the body weight category he is competing in, and the recovery time between one lift and the other, also between the snatch and the clean, among other aspects.  Therefore, we can calculate that the total net competition time in the snatch is about 12-18 seconds, while in the C&J it comes to 24-30 seconds.  All these numbers give us enough elements to stress the importance of reviewing the proper competition tactic by the coach with regard to his pupil and the overall tactic plan to be applied to a full team on an individual basis.  If this plan fails, you could come out with several medals less and a lower team placing, sending a full season of physical preparation, human efforts, time and financial support down the drain.   

An appropriate tactical follow-up in weightlifting will contribute to obtain optimum results and effectiveness in the athletes towards the completion of a goal, and the elimination of errors sometimes frequent in previous competitions.  Therefore, the author considers that it is of paramount importance to determine the competition tactics beforehand or any and all other considerations may be of little value. 

Too frequently do we see in weightlifting competitions at any level (from school age to international competition) repeated deficiencies in the competitions tactics by the coaches, among which we may mention: non application of the leveling coefficient; asking for too high an opening weight; application of a not so efficient competition warm up process; lack of observation and analysis of the progress of the competition; choosing  the wrong amount for the following attempt; mistake in calculating attempts to go; getting involved in the emotions of the athlete; do valuing the true possibilities of their athletes; disagreement between the athlete and the coach regarding the weight for the next attempt; failure to keep  an appropriate warm-up after a lift; asking for more weight even when the athlete failed his last attempt, and underestimating the opponent, among other deficiencies.

This exploratory study regarding the competition tactics in weightlifting takes into consideration the opinion of several authors, such as: Pavel Dobrev (1970 and 1983); Arcadio Vorobiov (1981); Augusto Rosell (1999); A.S. Medvedev (1998); and John Javier (2002).  They refer to specific and isolated aspects of such an important preparation that may even fail, given the array of circumstances that can interact and affect our planning.  In fact, in a next paper we would like to talk about a System of Actions to conduct the athlete’s competition tactics.

 Bibliography

 1- Cuervo Pérez, C.  Programa de preparación del deportista.  Levantamiento de Pesas / Carlos Cuervo Pérez;  Francisco Fernández González;  Marcelino del Frade Díaz;  Ramón Valdés Alonso. --  Ciudad de la Habana, 2000. -- p.  80. 

2- Dobrev, P. A.   La preparación táctica del pesista / Pavel A. Dobrev. -- Sofía: Base Impresora del ISCF “Jorge Dimitrov”, 1983. -- p.  223. 

3- Jaramillo Rodríguez, J. M.  Comportamiento táctico del equipo de Villa Clara de Levantamiento de Pesas en  campeonatos nacionales de primera categoría / José Miguel Jaramillo Rodríguez;  Idalberto García Valdez: Ernesto Paz González, Tutor. -- Trabajo de Diploma: ISCF (VC), 1992. -- p. 70. 

4-  Medvedev, A. S.  El sistema de entrenamiento a largo plazo en el Levantamiento de Pesas / A. S. Medvedev. -- Moscú: Editorial Cultura Física y Deporte, 1986. -- p.  280. 

5-  Paz González, E.  Estudio sobre la preparación táctica del pesista (hombres y mujeres) de alta calificación, en competencias importantes del período 1989 – 1990 / Ernesto Paz González: Pavel A. Dobrev, Tutor. --  Sofía, Bulgaria. -- Trabajo de Diploma:  ISCF “Jorge Dimitrov”, 1990. -- p.  84. 

6-  Vorobiov, A. N.  Metodología del entrenamiento / Arcadio N. Vorobiov. -- Moscú: Editorial Científico Técnica, 1981. -- p. 305.