Ontario Powerlifting Association

Last update:

07/14/2008

Updated: September 10, 2006

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Ontario Powerlifting Association - Constitution

ARTICLE I - Name

1. The Ontario Powerlifting Association (O.P.A.) is the name given to this governing body for Powerlifting in Ontario.

ARTICLE II - Official Emblem

1. The official emblem is that of the letters O.P.A. inset in the centre of a barbell with the words "Ontario Powerlifting Association" beneath or to the side. It will be displayed on the cover of the constitution and on all official correspondence as well as at all championship contests in Ontario. The official O.P.A. colors shall be red, black and white.

ARTICLE III - Duration

1. The O.P.A. duration is indefinite.
2. A unanimous executive vote is needed to dissolve it.

ARTICLE IV - Objective

1. To work in accord with the Canadian Powerlifting Union.
2. To promote, control and develop powerlifting on a provincial scale.
3. To promote an interest in and a dedication to better health and fitness through weight training.
4. To help in the development of new training techniques involving weight training for other sports.
5. To develop Powerlifting as a competitive sport in a high school and university level.
6. To set up and enforce rules for competition in accordance with I.P.F. rules.
7. To appoint qualified referees.
8. To regulate and control provincial championships.
9. To set up a committee to discipline clubs and individuals that do not follow the constitution.
10. To honour individuals in the form of special awards for exceptional work and achievement.

ARTICLE V - General Provisions

1. The O.P.A. forbids distinctions between individuals, for reasons of race, color, religion or politics.
2. The O.P.A. headquarters is situated in the town where the President lives.
3. The official journal of the O.P.A. is the "Ontario Powerlifting News", which will be published throughout the year at intervals determined by the Board of Directors.
4. The O.P.A. forbids sexual harassment whether it be of a verbal or physical nature to any individual.

ARTICLE VI - Official Language

1. The official language of the O.P.A. is English. All  publications, meetings and correspondence of the O.P.A. will be in English.

ARTICLE VII - General Provincial Meetings

1. An O.P.A. general meeting will take place every year by the end of April. All requests by members to the O.P.A. Secretary must be included on the agenda.
2. The general meeting is open to any member registered with the O.P.A. All present will be allowed to vote. Voting by proxy is not allowed.
3. Proposals for the meeting must reach the office of the Secretary at least one month before the date fixed for the meeting. The agenda must be prepared two weeks before the meeting. The meeting will only discuss items on the agenda.  Proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws will be considered every second year in the odd numbered years.  However, a change that is deemed necessary by the executive in the operation of the Association can be made any year.
4. Candidatures to open posts of the executive council and committee must reach the office of the Chairperson one month before the fixed date of the meeting.
5. The election of members of the executive council will be carried out by secret ballot.
6. All items passed at the AGM will become effective upon publication, in the next Newsletter or OPA Magazine, of the  AGM minutes with the exception of yearly fees.
7. A tentative date of the following years AGM is to be set with the hosting club, location and actual date to follow.

ARTICLE VIII - Special Executive Meetings

1. If requested by one half or better of the executive, the executive must meet within one month of the request being received.

ARTICLE IX

OPA Executive Council 

a) President
b) Past-President
c) Vice- President
d) Secretary
e) Treasurer

 OPA Officers

a) Officiating Chairperson
b) Records Chairperson
c) Registration Chairperson
d) Regional Chairpersons
e) Newsletter Editor  

2. During the period between general meetings, the O.P.A. is administered by the Executive Council. Executive Council, including OPA Officers, and Board of Directors are one and the same, hereinafter referred to as Executive Council and or Board of Directors.
3. Any registered member of the O.P.A. is eligible for election on a position of the executive.
4. The Executive Council is elected for a term of two years. Retiring members are eligible for re-election.
5. Any members regularly absent from the meetings unless on account of valid reasons, may be suspended by a decision of absolute majority of the Executive Council and replaced at the next general meetings.

ARTICLE X - Duties of the President

1. The President directs the debate and keeps order at the general meetings according to the traditions and rules of parliamentary debate.
2. In case of equal voting on a motion, the President will have the deciding vote.
3. The President will set up a committee that will be responsible for taking disciplinary action against any member whose conduct is considered prejudicial to the O.P.A. or has violated the O.P.A. constitution and rules.
4. The President shall present all awards at Provincial meets. The President may delegate this duty to other officials.
5. The President will issue all official notices of all meetings.

ARTICLE X (i) - Duties of the Past-President

1. The Past President will be an Officer without Portfolio and will carry out duties assigned from time to time as deemed necessary by the Board of Director.

ARTICLE XI - Duties of the Vice-President

1. The Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the President, whenever the President ceases to hold office for any reason or is prevented from attending to his/her duties.
2. The Vice-President will preside at all meetings of the Association in the absence of the President. The Vice-President will be responsible for fundraising
3. The Vice President will be responsible for fundraising.

ARTICLE XII - Duties of the Secretary

1. To make proper arrangements for keeping the records of O.P.A.
2. To conduct all official correspondence of the O.P.A.
3. To keep a complete record of athletic events held under the auspices of the O.P.A. These records will include the results of the Provincial Championships, newsletters and magazines
4. Delegating the aforementioned duties to such assistants as may be provided by the O.P.A. to perform same
5. To serve as Secretary of the O.P.A. Congress and any special meetings or hearings of the O.P.A.

ARTICLE XIII - Duties of the Treasurer

1. The Treasurer will be responsible for all provincial matters, expenses and receipts. He or she must keep accounts which will be verified by the creditors once a year.
2. Fiscal year end will be January 1st to December 31. Any other organization requiring a different period, such as April 1 to March 31 period, will be provided with such financial statements reflecting that period.
3. To be completed by an auditor as appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
4. Financial statements will be completed on a monthly basis and these monthly financial statements will be distributed to the Board of Directors within the month following the month end.
5. The monthly financial statements will include a copy of the current bank balance and will include prior period comparatives.

ARTICLE XIV - Duties of the Officiating Chairperson

1. The Officiating Chairperson will be responsible for all testing of provincial referees.
2. The Officiating Chairperson will keep in constant communication with the national officiating Chairperson on rules and referees.
3. The Officiating Chairperson will provide written notification to referees, Referee Newsletter or update, structured Level 1 and Level 2 Referee Training Program, distribution of ties, badges and cards.
4. The unofficial position of Assistant Referee Chairperson is created to share and learn the duties of the Officiating Chairperson.
5. The Officiating Chairperson will be responsible for a yearly report to be given at the provincial general meeting.

ARTICLE XV - Duties of the Records Chairperson

1. The Records Chairperson will keep the Provincial Records up to date and will mail updated record lists to the National Records Chairperson as well as the National Secretary every three months, plus a list for the provincial and national general meetings.
2. The Records Chairperson will keep in constant communications with the National Records Chairperson as to the development or records.
3. The Records Chairperson will be responsible for a yearly report to be given at the Provincial General Meeting.
4. The Records Chairperson will prepare a top ten Ontario Men's and Women's list for publication once per year.
5. The Records Chairperson will issue Merit Badges.
6. Upon obtaining the applicable Merit Badge total, the lifter will complete the Merit Badge Application and submit to the Records Chairperson. Merit Badges are free to the lifter
7. A lifter may apply for all Merit Badges below an attained Class at no charge.

ARTICLE XVI - Duties of Registration Chairperson

1. The duties of the Registration Chairperson is to handle all registrations of powerlifters and clubs in Ontario.
2. The Registration Chairperson is responsible for all registration cards issued.
3. The Registration Chairperson will issue all contest sanctions, club affiliations and other O.P.A. documents.
4. The Registration Chairperson is to ensure that there is a reasonable time between meets as laid out in ARTICLE XXX - Sanctions
5. The Registrar Chairperson will identify each incoming cheque with the members CPU card number and/or name, if not already clearly marked on cheque.
6. All membership and any other fees paid with an NSF cheque immediately terminates OPA membership until the fees, including bank charges, and an OPA administration charge of $5.00 is paid in full.
7. The Treasurer is to receive a list of members in good standing, members on temporary suspension and permanent suspension on a regular basis.

ARTICLE XVII - Duties of the Regional Chairperson

1. The duty of the Regional Chairperson is to run two contests in their region per annum.
2. To hold one Category I referees' clinic per annum and at least one coaching clinic per annum.
3. Hold a coaching clinic when deemed necessary by the OPA executive.
4. When referees are being selected Regional Chairpersons will contact referees in their particular area and submit the names of referees who have committed to work the competition to the Referee Chairperson for approval, at least four (4) weeks prior to competition date.

ARTICLE XVIII - Provincial Championships

1. OPA will determine qualifying standards and dates for all Provincial Championships. Masters/Juniors/Bench Press Championships to be held annually on the first weekend of December. Senior Men's/Intermediate Men's/Senior Women's Championships to be held annually on the third weekend in September commencing 2001.

 ARTICLE XIX - Provincial Records

1. Standard application form has to be submitted no later than 30 Calendar days from the date of the supposed record.
2. a) The Chief Referee's seat and two side judges' seats must be occupied by at least a Provincial Category I card holder.
   b) I.P.F. rules must be followed.
3. The lifter is responsible for completion and submission of the application form.
4. To set an Ontario Record the lifter must be drug tested at the time the record is set and must pass the drug test.
5. Any lifter who registers a positive doping test shall have all previous OPA records that he/she may have held removed. Records will revert back to the previous record holder.
6. Record Certificate designed by H. Rai is the Official Record Certificate of the OPA. The certificate will be distributed by the Records Chair for a fee of $5.00 each.

INTERNATIONAL RECORDS

1. A lifter can apply for his/her record(s) if the paperwork to backup a record set internationally cannot be obtained and there is no dispute that the lifter was tested. The Records Chairperson, upon conferring with the OPA President or others as may be decided at this meeting, can consider the lift or lifts as official OPA records upon the results being published in the IPF Newsletter and the lifter supplying proof of a negative drug test and the lifter applying for his/her records.

 ARTICLE XX - Provincial Referees

1. OPA OFFICIALS CAN ONLY OFFICIATE AT I.P.F./C.P.U MEMBER SANCTIONED CONTESTS.
2. Category I Provincial Referee (eligibility)
   - must attend a referee's clinic
   - must pass a written test
   - must pass a practical test with two Category I Provincial Referees or higher
3. Duties of O.P.A. referees - must be active and willing to participate in O.P.A. activities.
4. Referee Uniform - the uniform shall consist of grey dress pants, light coloured shirt with collar, dark coloured shoes with socks and dark blue blazer or suit jacket.
5. Referees are required to join the Ontario Powerlifting Association annually, as an associate member or higher.
6. Provincial referees who do not attend mandatory referee Rule Change clinics within 6 months of the IPF Rule changes, be dropped one Class in their Provincial Category standing until such time as a test is passed on the new rule changes with a score of 90%.
7. A goal of the O.P.A. is to increase our National Referees by two and our International Referees by one. To assist, the OPA will fund Provincial Referees, the same amount as lifters when they travel to competitions to obtain their National or International Referee's badge.
8. Ontario will use a two level referee system. Level 1 referee's remain the same. Level II referee's are only permitted to referee as side judges. Those referee's who have passed the written exam but not the practical will be classified as Level II referees. Once the practical portion has been passed the referee becomes a Level I referee.
9. Referees are eligible for expense reimbursement as per the schedules listed in ARTICLE XXVI, 1, 3.
10. A provincial referee must officiate at least two meets per calendar year to maintain active status subject to the availability of meets within their region. No referee will be required to leave their region to complete this quota provided the referee has made every attempt to officiate two meets within the region. Failure to comply will result in the referee being dropped to inactive status. An inactive referee shall maintain all qualifications but may not be considered for the purposes of a club sanction.

ARTICLE XXI - Definition of a Team or Club

1. The Club must be registered under a Provincial Organization.
2. In order to represent a club, the lifter must train with that club on a regular basis (at least once a week).
3. If, for any reason, the lifter wishes to change clubs or is unable to follow the above recommendations, he must send written explanation to the provincial registration chairperson and approval by the O.P.A. executive.

ARTICLE XXII - Levels of Competition

1. In Ontario there are five levels of competition:

i. NOVICE - is a lifter who has never made Class 3 in a sanctioned competition.

ii. JUNIOR - a junior lifter is from 14 to and including 23 years of age. The lifter must have attained minimum age on the day of the competition.

iii. INTERMEDIATE - is a lifter who has never totaled a Class I rating in a sanctioned contest.

iv. SENIOR - is a lifter who has made a Class I rating or higher in a sanctioned contest.

v. MASTER - a master is from 40 years to and include 49 years of age and from 50 years of age and over.

2. A lifter may remain in a particular category throughout the calendar year in which he reaches the stated upper limit of that category

3. QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS:

i. To compete in an Ontario Championship, the lifter must hold a valid Ontario issued CPU card and be an Ontario resident. Proof of residency must be provided to the Registration Chair if required.

ii. All lifters intending to compete at a National Competition ARE REQUIRED TO COMPETE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

iii.  A lifter who has never made the qualifying total in order to compete in a particular Canadian Championships, and has not lifted at the respective Ontario Championships, can qualify for that Canadian Championships by making the qualifying total at one of the other Ontario Championships, prior to the Canadian Championships they wish to compete in.

Example: An open lifter who did not qualify for the open Canadian Championships and did not lift at the Ontario Open Championships. May qualify at one of the other Ontario Championships (Masters, Juniors, Sub-Juniors or Intermediate) according to age and provided they have made the total qualifications for these contests.

4. QUALIFYING TOTALS:

i. A contest for qualifying totals requires two qualified referees.

ii. Qualifying totals must be made at a sanctioned meet in front of two provincial level one or higher referees.

iii. Any lifter having competed at the World's or National's within the past 60 days or who will be competing within 60 days shall be exempt from the Ontario Championships and receive a "bye" to the next Nationals.

iv. MEN'S PROVINCIAL COMPETITION STANDARDS

v. WOMEN'S PROVINCIAL COMPETITION STANDARDS

Qualification Totals for Provincial and National Contests

NATIONAL

 
ONTARIO

Bench Press Qualifying Totals

vii. Additional Points to Remember:

a.       You must have qualified in the class in which you will compete in the previous 24 months from the date of the intended Provincials.

b.       The only exception to the above is if you lift in a lighter class you may use that lift or total to qualify for a heavier weight class. I.e. for an Open Class man competing in the 100kg weight class who records a total of 705kg he may then compete in the 110kg weight class if his bodyweight places him there on the day of the meet.

c.       If you lose weight and go down a class YOU MUST RE-QUALIFY at that lower class.

d.       A Master lifter must meet the minimum age requirement on the day of the meet, BUT must have previously qualified either as a MASTER, or within the 12 month period before meeting the minimum age requirement for the class they will compete in.

e.       A Junior lifter remains a Junior until December 31 of the year they turn 23 years.

5.    AWARDS:

a.       Meet Director's of Provincial Championships, namely: Intermediates, Senior and Masters/Junior/Bench Press, must award medals purchased from the OPA.

b.       The Ontario Bench Press Championship will have a separate medal from the 3 lift Championships.

c.       At all OPA competitions there must be a team award.  All teams include men and women with the exception of Ontario Senior Men’s and Ontario Senior Women’s.  At the Master and Junior Championships one team trophy will be awarded.

d.       Women competing will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in their respective weight classes. Wilks formula will only be used when determining best lifter.

6.    TEAM SCORING:

Team scoring for all OPA competitions shall be 12, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 for the first eight places in any body weight category.  Only the point scorers of the 6 best placed lifters of each club will count for the team competition at all OPA contests.

ARTICLE XXIII - Drug Testing

1. The OPA reserves the right to perform drug testing for banned IPF substances at any contest under its' jurisdiction.
2. Any person that is under a current suspension from any sport federation for the use of banned substances will not be permitted to join the OPA.
3. A list of banned OPA members to be kept current and published on a regular basis.
4. Requesting a Drug Test:

                     i.            Lifters requesting a drug test any contest other than a National or Provincial Championship meet must apply IN WRITING to the Meet Director indicating that they intend to attempt a national/provincial record TWO MONTHS prior to the competition.