Table 1.
Athlete safety and equipment/facility safety
| Panel a: Athlete Safety |
|---|
| Discipline and procedures |
| • Insist on good behavior |
| • Do not allow athletes to train unsupervised |
| • Insist on correct warm-up/ stretching/warm-down |
| • While not lifting, ensure athletes are aware of others who are active |
| • Instill correct spotting techniques |
| • Make sure that spotters are used correctly where/when required |
| • Allow no limit (maximum) attempts for early beginners |
| • Develop evidence-based methodology (periodization and programming) and ensure that the training program provided is being used |
| • Do not allow athletes to progress too quickly |
| Technique |
| • Be aware that weightlifting can be very tiring for beginners |
| • Be aware that familiarity with the barbell and other apparatus can be quite threatening for beginners |
| • Sound, mechanically correct lifting technique emphasizing proper “back position management” should be taught |
| • Instill correct breathing on all lifts |
| • Use light loads when new skills are being learned |
| • Teach beginners how to “miss” lifts correctly |
| • Progress loading at each individual’s rate using appropriate monitoring techniques |
| • Use a “progressive stages” strategy when teaching lifts |
| • Do not advance progressions too quickly so that beginners are continually failing |
| Panel b: Equipment/Facility Safety |
| Athlete—make sure the athletes: |
| • Use suitable footwear to facilitate a stable base |
| • Use correct, suitable clothing to allow movement |
| • Take care of their hands (ie, callouses, blisters, cracks) |
| Medical |
| • First-aid kit antiseptic and hand lotion should be available |
| • Disinfectants should be available for cleaning the bar, etc |
| • Ice should be available for treatment of sprains, strains, and general fatigue |
| • Have an established emergency withdrawal procedure |
| Equipment (ensure) |
| • Training platforms are well–spaced out (at least 1 m apart) |
| • Lifting surfaces are nonslip, firm, and level |
| • Barbells are evenly loaded and unloaded |
| • The use of collars with early beginners |
| • Squat racks and other apparatus are stable and pins in good working order |
| • There is an adequate supply of magnesium carbonate chalk and resin |
| • Discs are replaced in storage racks immediately after use |
| • The bar knurling is kept clean and disinfected |
| • Bars are straight and revolve easily |
| • The training environment has a reasonable temperature/humidity that is maintained and there are no drafts in the training area |