Masters

[Paulbfast]

USSF rules state that Masters are:

"Lifters who turn 40 years old during the calendar year in which the meet is
held"

How fun - I get to compete against athletes less than half my age. Better than when I play basketball when some are less than 1/3 my age!

[stef]

Since strength can be accumulated over long periods of time, someone 1/2 your age could make a complaint going the other direction.

At any rate, Masters at 40 is a long-time standard for strength-dependent lifts.

[Paulbfast]

I can't wait to be a centenarian!

[Mark Rippetoe]

The majority of competitive sports that have masters divisions start the first group at age 40.

[Karl Schudt]

Paul, it's fun to beat the children.

[Geoff Bischoff]

Paul, you're nearly 70, aren't you?

Sorry, mate. You're roped into competing with us young bucks who are only 40.

At least, that is, until USSF gets big enough to create Masters II, Masters III, Grandmaster, kind of separations. So the best solution is to tell all your friends, grow the brand, and get more folks competing!

[stef]

Paul, you do realize that where there aren't enough masters to break things up into smaller ranges and still have any sort of actual competition that masters are competing with each other by formula, right?

[Paulbfast]

Thanks everyone for the replies and clarification. I should have started "training" fifty years ago!

[Jordan Stanton]

I am late to the party. My apologies.

While Masters is 40 and beyond the Mcculloch coefficient is based up on your age. The older you are the better your coefficient. Competition will never be fair but this is as currently fair as we can make it. Its always a fine line between being stingy and providing nothing but participation trophies.

Hope to see you at a meet.