The time has come to address an important issue of gym etiquette: Dropping weights.
In CrossFit, being able to drop weights is a safety issue. We fully
understand that someone can really get hurt if they’re attempting a lift
and worrying about not being allowed to drop the weight if they fail.
The danger is that they may hold onto a heavy weight too long, or
perhaps try to catch it and brace the fall on their legs. Hyperextension
of the shoulders, joints and back are also common injury points when
heavy weights are not dumped at appropriate times. In any event, the
dropping of weights is often necessary. However, let’s talk about the
idea of a “necessary” dump, versus an “unnecessary”
one.
Believe it or not, dumping the weights is part of the technique for
Olympic Lifts. You can’t go to failure or a 1 rep max safely if you are
trained NOT to drop when necessary. Don’t feel badly if sometimes a
ditch is just what happens when you push yourself to complete failure.
Hence, this kind of a drop is necessary. However, that doesn’t mean you
need to drop the weights on every set, or purposely do it with force to
create a satisfying bounce. This is UNNECESSARY. Not only is it
unnecessary, it’s also harmful to our equipment and creates dangerous
surroundings in the gym. You may not be aware that in certain
exercises, dropping the weight rather than holding onto it in the
descent can actually take extra time. It isn’t always the faster
option, making it unnecessary.
One last point on unnecessary dumping and violent tossing of weights:
Please remember that at CrossFit you need to check your ego at the
door. Ask yourself why you’re unnecessarily tossing the weights, and
remember that everyone in the gym does not need to know how much weight
you just lifted. If you think you might be inadvertently alerting
people of your strength by crashing weights to the floor, this is not an
appropriate way to gain attention. You’ll impress everyone more with
your respectful and considerate behaviour!
The bottom line is this:
PLEASE RESPECT OUR EQUIPMENT WHEN DROPPING WEIGHTS.
If you really must drop, consider the following…
1. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS -Communicate with
those around you. If you think you need a spotter for
safety purposes, let people know and discuss how it’ll work. If you
think you might have to dump the bar, let people know. If you don’t
want them in your line of sight then let them know. Make friends. Talk
to people.
2. DO NOT DROP JUST THE BAR - Never drop an empty bar!
Also, try not to drop a bar with only the metal 2.5lb, 5lb, or 10lb
plates on it. But if you have to, then that’s ok! We’d rather dent a
plate or a bar than dent your skull. Barbells with rubber bumper plates
are designed to be dropped. Empty barbells are not, especially
the lighter ones. This also applies to the kettlebells. Please be
respectful of the equipment.
3. CONTROL YOUR BOUNCES - If you have to drop your bar,
do it in a safe and controlled manner. Bumper plates bounce, usually
sideways, especially the lighter ones. Never, ever drop your bar and
walk away! We would hate to see your bar smash the shins of your fellow
athlete beside you, or get underfoot of someone else mid-WOD. This can
easily happen, especially in a crowded gym. You MUST keep your hands in
contact with the bar as you drop and control where it goes.
4. PRACTICE SAFE AND PROPER DUMPING - When dropping the
bar, the athlete should keep his/her hands on the barbell or dumbbell
until it has passed the chest. There should be no dumping or “tossing”
the bar from overhead intentionally. Take time to practice safe dump
technique beforehand with a light weight. This sounds a bit silly, but
it is a necessary part of your lifting experience, and can save you from
serious injury. Do it.
Every time the coaches hear the clang of a mishandled barbell,
or the thud of an unnecessarily and violently tossed dumbbell, you will find yourself with a 25 burpee
penalty. We’re doing this because we care! Inappropriate
handling of the weights weakens the integrity of our equipment, creating
safety issues for our clients and causing costly damage. In addition,
we can only guarantee the safety of our clients to a certain point if
all you Zoners aren’t helping to keep our classes safe by using the
equipment respectfully and watching your surroundings carefully.
Let’s take care!
article provided by:
http://crossfitzone.ca/getting-dumped
