Stories

Functional Fitness Gets Official

June 8, 2017 by
bluemaize.net
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CATCH ME UP TO SPEED.

On Tuesday, the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) recognized USA Functional Fitness (USAFF) as the national governing body for competitive functional fitness in the USA, which means they’ll set the official movement standards for competitions as well as sanction competitions.

OK, BUT WHAT FOR?

The USAFF wants to get functional fitness into the Olympics, and the only way to do that is to have a non-profit governing body overseeing standards across the country that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the US Olympic Committee.
Think of USA Weightlifting. They’re the official governing body setting judging standards and sanctioning competitions in order to select who’s going to represent Team USA at international competitions. Same concept, different sport.

ISN’T THAT WHAT CROSSFIT DOES?

Yes and no. CrossFit is a brand, functional fitness is a sport. Only competitions organized by CrossFit are CrossFit competitions; sorry Wodapalooza and Granite Games. CrossFit determines their movement standards and certifies their own judges. Functional fitness competitions will now be able to apply to be a sanctioned event and eventually select from a pool of judges.

SO WILL THE U.S. HAVE A TEAM?

You betcha. The first “tryout” is September 8-10 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. They’ll select the top 12 male and female athletes to represent USA at the International Functional Fitness Federation’s World Championship in California this October. The three-day competition will be similar to what you’d expect at CrossFit Regional, Wodapalooza, or multi-day fitness competition, and this year it’s entirely open to anyone who registers.
P.S. Didn’t qualify for the Games but you’re thinking this could be cool? Well, if you make the team you’re on it for the entire year and the first international meet is in October in California.

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