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May 19th, 2020: Today the International Functional Fitness Federation announced their decision to cancel the 2020 iF3 World Championships scheduled to be held in November 2020 in British Columbia, Canada. The decision was made after the planning team received information that the reinstatement of large scale sporting events will not occur until stage 4 of British Columbia’s reopening plan; a stage  which will not begin until a vaccine or other treatment for Covid-19 is found. Additionally, international tourism is not set to restart until this stage. Based on British Columbia’s stated reopening plan, the iF3 felt that it would be inappropriate and potentially misleading to the athletes to continue to plan an event that the iF3 could not guarantee would be both legal and safe to hold in November of this year.

However, the cancellation of the 2020 World Championships does not mark the end of the 2020 season. Along with the cancellation, the iF3 also announced the addition of a live virtual Continental Cup to the 2020 season. The Continental Cup will feature the same individual and team athletes that would have attended the 2020 World Championships and will feature a preliminary and final round of competition held on subsequent weekends in December.

In the preliminary round of competition, athletes will compete against other athletes from their continent during a 2 hour live but virtual competition featuring 6 tests. Athletes will participate in the competition from their own gyms, but be logged into an online streaming platform during their designated timeslot in order to see their competitors and take them on head to head.

The top three athletes and teams from each continental preliminary session will move on to the final round of competition, which will take place the following weekend. The format of the final round will mimic the preliminary round, but with 6 new tests. The final will be “new life” meaning all scores will reset going into the final. Additional details about the Continental Cup will be released in the coming months

June 5, 2019: The USA Functional Fitness National Championships will include anti-doping education provided by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) thanks to a generous donation by OPEX Fitness.

USAFF Nationals will kick off on Friday June 14^th with anti-doping education seminars presented by USADA. It is USAFF’s belief that the foundation of a good anti-doping program starts with educating athletes on the rules they are required to abide by. Therefore, USAFF will be hosting two educational seminars on that Friday; one targeting athletes who have not received any anti-doping education before and a more in-depth seminar for athletes who were at Nationals last year where they received the basic education.

Last year’s educational session, also presented by USADA, was not only informative to the athletes but also provided useful insights to USAFF about the state of supplement use and suspected PED use in the sport. In a follow up report provided by USADA to USAFF, 30.77% of 2018 Nationals participants answered yes to the survey statement  “I know performance-enhancing drugs have been offered to others.” Additionally, 84.62% of respondents answered yes to using dietary supplements in the past. With dietary supplements being prevalent in functional fitness, USAFF wants to continue focusing efforts on educating athletes about the potential dangers of supplements to their body and their reputation as clean athletes.

“I want to play a part with increasing the education on what clean sport means” said James FitzGerald, Founder of OPEX Fitness. This year’s education is being funded through a donation from OPEX Fitness. Due to OPEX’s belief in the importance of clean sport, they have entered into an agreement with USAFF that donated funding that will be specifically earmarked for anti-doping education.

USAFF Director of Operations Kason Morris stated, “Our athletes deserve to know that when they step onto the competition floor there is a level playing field between the athletes. This all starts by developing the groundwork for a robust anti-doping program. Without the support of OPEX, we would not be able to offer this education to our athletes this year, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to clean sport.”

Competition at USA Functional Fitness Nationals will kick off on Saturday June 15^th and run through Sunday the 16^th at CrossFit Krypton in Chesapeake, Virginia. Top finishers in the Individual divisions will earn their spot to represent the USA at the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) World Championships in Malmo, Sweden on August 30-September 1^st. Master’s athletes at the event will also be fighting for qualification spots to the iF3 Masters World Championships which will be in Australia in October.

For Immediate Release

May 10th, 2018: USA Functional Fitness (USAFF) will be initiating its efforts in the realm of anti-doping this August during the USA Functional Fitness National Championships. These efforts will start with an athlete education session hosted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) which will take place on Friday August 24^th prior to the kick off of the weekend’s competition.

USAFF recognizes that athlete education is a vital component of a good anti-programing, and feels it is critical that anti-doping rules and policies be spelled out and clearly explained to participating athletes. During the in-person presentation, USADA will discuss the importance of clean competition and protecting the rights of athletes. In addition, USADA will cover global anti-doping standards, including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, as well as some tools that are publicly available to help athletes prepare themselves for future anti-doping efforts. .

USAFF President Josh Plosker stated, “USAFF is committed to not only maintaining a clean sport but also making sure that athletes understand the rules and are fully prepared to uphold those rules. It is vital to us that athletes receive appropriate education before any sort of anti-doping testing begins. That being said, once anti-doping education has been offered, athletes should fully expect that testing can occur.”

USAFF athletes that go on to represent the United States at the International Functional Fitness Federation World Championships in London in October can also expect to encounter anti-doping control efforts at that event, indicating the worldwide commitment of the functional fitness community to clean sport.

 

The 2018 USA Functional Fitness Rulebook is now publicly available on the USAFF website at https://usafunctionalfitness.org/sport/usaff-rulebook/. Any updates to the movement standards for the 2018 season will be released in the upcoming weeks.

While the majority of the rulebook remains the same as the 2017 season, some sections have been revised for clarity. The only major change to the rulebook for 2018 is the qualifying process for Nationals and the selection of the athletes which will compromise the National Team and get to travel to London to represent the US at the International Functional Fitness World Championships in October. This is located in section 3.2 of the rulebook. While all athletes should review the rulebook in its entirety to make sure they understand the competitive requirements for sanctioned USA Functional Fitness competitions, below is a summary of both the Nationals qualifying process and the selection process for Worlds.

Nationals Qualifying Process

There are 4 tracks through which an athlete can qualify to USAFF Nationals in 2018:

1. Automatic Invitation to Compete
   • All 2017 National Team Members receive an automatic invite to compete
2. Special Invitation to Compete
   • Athletes who showed exceptional performance at an Athlete Performance Camp or in other competitions, whether sanctioned or unsanctioned, throughout the year can be invited to compete by the National Team Coaching Staff
3. Online Qualification
   • The Official USAFF Online Qualifier will be held June 7th to June 18th 2018. The top 30 individual male and the top 30 individual female finishers in the qualifier will be invited to compete at Nationals.
4. Injury/Illness Appeal
   • In order to submit an injury or illness appeal for entry to Nationals you must have been unable to participate in both tracks 2 and 3 due to the injury or illness. Please contact USAFF directly if you believe you qualify for an injury or illness appeal.

Worlds Qualification

Since the US is not the host country for Worlds this year we are not allowed to send as many athletes to compete at Worlds as we did in 2017. This year, the USA is allowed to send 3 individual male athletes, 3 individual female athletes, and 1 team of 4 (made up of 2 males, and 2 females) to compete at Worlds.

• You must compete at USAFF Nationals on August 25th and 26th in Glen Jean, West Virginia in order to be considered to compete at Worlds.
• The top 3 male and top 3 female finishers at Nationals will automatically earn a spot on the National Team and the opportunity to travel to London to represent the United States at Worlds.
• Two additional men and two additional women who competed at Nationals will be selected by the National Team Coaching staff to be added to the National Team and represent the United States at Worlds.
• The National Team Coaching staff will decide which qualifiers to Worlds will compete as Individuals and which will compromise the team in the team competition.

Throughout the remainder of the season, the National Team Coaching staff may in their discretion add up to 5 additional men and 5 additional women to the National Team for inclusion in National Team Camps, Activities, or representation at other internationally sanctioned events.

 

April 6, 2018 – USA Functional Fitness is excited to announce Werksan Barbells as the official equipment provider for the 2018 USA Functional Fitness National Championships.

Werksan Barbells is known for its high quality barbells and plates and is one of only 5 equipment companies in the world to hold the prestigious IWF Certification, a testament to the precision and quality of Werksan’s equipment. Though famously known for their weightlifting equipment, Werksan will also be unveiling a new custom built pullup rig for USAFF Nationals.

Josh Plosker, President of USA Functional Fitness, stated “USA Functional Fitness couldn’t be more excited to work with Werksan as our equipment provider for Nationals. They offer an unparalleled quality of product, and now with their expansion of offerings to include pullup rigs, they offer the total package for equipment within the functional fitness space.”

Kenny Triboletti, President and General Manager of Werksan Barbells, commented “Werksan is thrilled to team up with USA Functional Fitness. USA Functional Fitness has been clearing a path to promote and grow functional fitness as a competitive sport in the US. Like Werksan, USAFF is proud to create opportunities for competitive athletes of all ages and abilities.”

USA Functional Fitness Nationals will be held August 25^th and 26^th at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia. The event will be a part of Spartan’s North American Championship weekend. USAFF Nationals will feature two days of competition with the top functional fitness athletes in the country vying for a spot on the USA Functional Fitness National Team as well as the crown of National Champion. The top finishers at the event will also qualifier to represent the US at the International Functional Fitness Federation National Championships October 5-7^th in London, England. Please visit https://usafunctionalfitness.org/2018-nationals/to learn how to qualify to compete at USAFF Nationals.

 

Learn More

Werksan

Werksan Barbells USA is based in Moorestown, NJ and produces high quality weightlifting and strength and conditioning equipment. They are known for producing the World’s Toughest Barbells and Bumper Plates. For more information on Werksan please visit werksanusa.com and follow them on facebook and instagram @werksanbarbells.

USAFF

USA Functional Fitness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the national governing body for competitive functional fitness in the United States. Their mission is to promote and grow the sport throughout the country by striving to improve fairness, safety, and integrity in the sport as well as increasing sporting opportunities for athletes, coaches, judges, and spectators. You can learn more about USAFF at usafunctionalfitness.org or follow them @usafunctionalfitness on facebook and instagram.

February 15, 2018: In a January 31st Board Meeting, USA Functional Fitness (USAFF) Chairman James Fitzgerald announced he would be stepping down as Chairman effective immediately in order to take on a larger role with the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3).

Josh Plosker was selected as the new President of USA Functional Fitness and Justin Cotler will move into the Vice President role, while remaining a National Team Coach. Mike Lee will retain his position as National Team Coach.

Fitzgerald expressed his excitement about the transition and confidence in the USAFF leadership team, “Internally, staff have been aware this transition would occur for awhile now, it was just a matter of making sure the timing was right. With the 2018 season just around the corner, the time has come to make this change. I have no doubts that there is a phenomenal team in place that will develop USA Functional Fitness into a strong and well-run organization. I look forward to shifting my focus to the international stage and helping to push the mission of the iF3 forward.”

Newly elected President Plosker commented, “I’m very excited to be beginning 2018 as the new President of USAFF. We already have a strategic plan in place for 2018, which will help to push the organization forward. Our focus for the year remains solely on the athletes and providing them with training opportunities, competitive opportunities, and the opportunity to represent their country in international competition.”

Plosker elaborated on the opportunities USAFF plans to provide to athletes in 2018, which include an Athlete Performance Camp in April, USAFF Nationals in August, and the iF3 World Championships in London in October.

The Athlete Performance Camp is up first on April 14-15th in Scottsdale, Arizona and is an opportunity for members of the National Team as well as interested members of the public to train together and test their abilities in each of the 6 test categories used in international competition. Athletes will face tests of Aerobic Capacity, Strength, Bodyweight Endurance, Bodyweight Skill, Mixed Modal, and Power over two days along with the several discussions and seminars throughout the weekend.

The Camp also provides an opportunity for athletes not on the National Team to earn a spot to compete at the USAFF Nationals in August. Current National Team members automatically earn a sport to compete at Nationals, but everyone else must qualify to compete in 2018. While most of the qualification spots will be decided through an online qualifier later in the year, USAFF coaching staff have additional invite spots that they will give away based on performance at camp.

More information on the USAFF Performance Camp and USAFF Nationals will be released in the coming weeks. Cotler will be going live on facebook in the next few weeks in order to talk about the goals of USAFF, the upcoming USAFF season, the performance camp, and answer questions from members.

September 16, 2017 Colorado Springs, CO: The results from the USA Functional Fitness Committee and Board member elections have been tabulated and the winners have been announced. National Team Training Staff was also announced prior to the beginning of USAFF Nationals last weekend.

Committee Elections

Four members were added to the Athletes’ Committee. The Athletes’ Committee is responsible for listening and responding to the comments and concerns of USAFF athletes, helping develop solutions for those concerns, and presenting them to the USAFF Board of Directors. Original committee members Sean Sweeney and Talayana Fortunato will be joined by new electees Matt Bever, Joseph Guesnier, Thomas Anderson, and Katie Dyke.

The two members elected to the Ethics Committee are Sean Dunston and David Roderick. The Ethics Committee is responsible for enforcing the USAFF Ethical Code of Conduct and investigating violations of the Code.

Moira Davenport, Vincent Shaw, and Eric Warne were elected to the Medical Committee. The Medical Committee is responsible for establishing conditions at USAFF sanctioned events which ensure the health and safety of all participants. The Medical Committee also controls Anti-doping policies and activities of USAFF; making sure that USAFF complies with the WADA code, USADA rules, and the IOC, USOC, and USAFF anti-doping rules.

Shawn Abell and Katie Dyke were elected to the Adaptive Committee. The Adaptive Committee is responsible for developing competition rules and conditions which are conducive to conducting fair competitions for adaptive athletes and are in line with IPC guidelines.

Board of Directors

Travis Pomposello has been added to the Board of Directors. Travis brings an extensive background in media and production to the USAFF team.

National Team Coaching Staff

In addition to the announcement of the Committee and Board Elections, the National Team Coaching Staff was announced last week during the Athlete Meeting prior to the USAFF National Championships. Mike Lee and Justin Cotler are the National Team Coaches and Josh Plosker is the National Team Coordinator for USA Functional Fitness. Combined, these three have a wealth a knowledge and experience coaching and developing athletes from beginners to elites. The trio have developed a solid plan to develop and prepare USAFF athletes for national and international competition.

Please join us in welcoming all new Committee members, Board members, and staff members to the USAFF team!