A/BPU Volunteers: The real heavy lifters

That’s it.

Without volunteers there is no powerlifting. It is a niche sport that, despite its current growing popularity, would cease to exist without a whole host of people coming voluntarily to competitions to referee, spot and load, work the table, do weigh-ins, assemble tech and haul awkward objects to unlikely places. It is a sport sustaining itself on goodwill and passion of its coaches, officials, and athletes.

 At the same time, it is a testament to what like-minded people can achieve. Majority of powerlifting meets just two decades ago were bare bones: bar, racks, 3 spotters if you were lucky, few refs, qualified or not. The standard has grown exponentially and now includes the visuals and the backdrops, the advancing technology, top equipment, meets that run slick and fast. An experience that gets more well-rounded each passing year. These advances do not stem from mainstream sponsors nor ticket sales. They stem from more and more people willing to give their time to join in and create something unique.

For an outsider it may be hard to realise why people give up their time and go through immense effort for others to enjoy a sport. As a society we veer further from the collective ideal. With that one often loses the joy of helping, giving back, and being part of something. But once you do it with a like-minded crew, you understand.

Sitting at the break room in your sweaty shirt or your referee’s uniform, reliving the moments of the day’s meet. Getting the thank you from a lifter you have saved, or who got their lift because your advice. Seeing from front row seat the elation of a lifter’s success or the outpour of disappointment. The little jokes. The friendships. The unhealthy snacks and joint training sessions in the warmup room. Pushing through a meet that you, deep down, know was amazing.

These moments make it worth it.

This also goes further than powerlifting. Volunteering can be an incredible experience. Whether it is to run a local children’s story time or leading the Brownies, organising street patrols or gathering your close ones to tidy up the local beach, doing something that seemingly only benefits others often gives you the most.

As John Dunn said:

‘No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.’

I am not 100% sure, but in one of his essays I recall him also saying:

‘Spotting and loading is cool, and reffing is too

Moving kit in one hit and get it on in the table crew

Now go lift heavy shit, be a hero, its true.’

Want to referee? Want to help on the teams that travel the country and beyond? Then do get in touch HERE