Not taking the IPF referee test today
Yesterday we had a load test at the gym. Everyone was called and we arranged the test according to the new IPF rules … precisely as an official competition. There were about 30 people. Gilson, our coach and my friend, was supposed to be referee and organizer … just that. He is injured, I am acting like a bitch to make sure he DOES NOT wrap knees or passes bars. His injury affects mainly the rhomboid and it’s a pretty old and nasty fibrosed thing. He needs to keep away from certain movements and do his physiotherapy. Most of us don’t know how to wrap ourselves … me included. I am somewhat ashamed to admit this, but not so much, considering that the first time I ever TOUCHED an Olympic bar was late July last year; that I became acquainted with powerlifting (through training forums) was just a few months earlier; and that my first championship was in August. It’s been six months since I even know this sport, let alone details, preparation and rules.
When I saw Gilson wrapping me, however, I was pissed off. With him, first, and then with myself. Before that, my workout buddy and good friend Renatinho was doing the job, but Renatinho had to prepare himself as well. I looked around and I saw Vanderlan. Vanderlan is a very good referee, an exceptional coach aid, knows all about powerlifting but: he is INJURED and cannot compete! He is the best knee wrapper I know. He was wrapping everyone … men and women alike. He was soaked in sweat and at a certain point he asked me if I had some kind of pain spray. I felt horrible. Vandinho was killing himself, spoiling weeks of physiotherapy because we were not realizing that the real need for our folks and the sport here is the SUPPORT TEAM. Much more than referees.
I revised the former translated copy of the IPF rules and updated the text, besides correcting translation mistakes. Supposedly, I know the rules quite well. The important ones, at least. It is hard for me to force myself to memorize things I believe are useless for a referee and should be technically checked by other staff, but it would be ok.
I thought and I thought: I thought about Vandinho wrapping knees all alone and how I should be there doing the job with him: I thought about selfish personal disputes that would be inevitably at play once I became a referee: I thought about my own doubts and criticisms towards the IPF: And I decided to leave it alone. At least for a while.
Later, when I feel I have fulfilled other much more pressing demands, when our powerlifting social program (www.paraisopolispower.org ) is well and strong, when there are enough hands to wrap knees, to fit support shirts and suits, to tighten belts and prepare athletes: then I may think of taking this test and becoming a referee.
