What is the sponsorship program?

 The USPA Powerlifting Foundation Sponsorship Program provides support for athletes who demonstrate a financial need and a commitment to the sport of powerlifting. The program can provide the following:

• Mentorship
• In-person or online coaching fees
• Gym membership fees
• Meet entry fees
• USPA membership fee
• Powerlifting clothing/gear (e.g., wrist wraps, knee sleeves, straps, etc.)
• Travel and lodging expenses for competitions, if applicable
  

The program is open to all ages. If you are under the age of 18, you must have parent/guardian permission. We strongly encourage veterans, survivors, and anyone who has experienced mental, physical, or financial hardship to apply.
Note: This opportunity is exclusively for powerlifters competing in the USPA. It is not open for competitors outside of the United States.

What are the requirements?

We welcome applications from athletes who meet the following requirements:

• Financial hardship
• Commitment to the sport of powerlifting
  
• Desire to grow mentally, emotionally, and physically as an athlete
• Willingness to give back to the sport by completing volunteer hours
• Experience in powerlifting competition
• A recommendation from a USPA coach, affiliate gym, meet director, referee, or other USPA official. If you do not have a name of a recommender, you must specify how you heard about the sponsorship program. Lack of recommender may affect consideration of the sponsorship.

How does the program work?

• All sponsored athletes must 1) complete eight volunteer hours at a USPA meet or event, 2) demonstrate consistent training, and 3) complete athlete check-ins and surveys. Volunteer opportunities can also include assisting with meet set ups, cleaning/assisting at the athlete's home gym, etc.
  
• Throughout the sponsorship, you may be assigned to a USPA coach, and/or USPA affiliate gym. Coaches are expected to complete monthly surveys, send invoices, and demonstrate consistent communication via phone and email.
  
• All sponsored athletes will participate in routine monthly evaluations to determine continued need for sponsorship. Continued sponsorship is dependent upon the athlete's progress, commitment, and consistency in meeting guidelines as well as the coach's feedback, survey completions, training commitment, volunteer hours, and the coach's consistency in meeting guidelines.
  
• Lack of participating in volunteering opportunities, communication, feedback, inappropriate behavior per USPA rulebook guidelines, etc. may result in an immediate discontinuation of the program.
  
• The program can last up to one year from the start date. Applicants that have been discontinued cannot reapply for sponsorship.
  

What are additional expectations?

• The sponsored athlete must complete a minimum of 8 volunteer hours every two months while in the program. Of the 8 hours, at least 4 hours must be completed at a USPA sanctioned meet. Tasks can include spotting/loading, setting up or breaking down equipment, etc.
• The sponsored athlete must keep track of the volunteer hours. Hours are verified by the meet director of the event. 
• If the sponsored athlete lives in a location that does not have multiple meets, then other volunteer opportunities such as USPA events, or volunteering at your training facility may be considered. Volunteer hours are subject to change at the discretion of the board members, and can vary depending on financial coverage.
• When assisting at USPA sanctioned meets, the sponsored athlete must arrive on time and prepared to volunteer at the meet. In the event that volunteer hours are not met within a two month span, continued sponsorship may be withdrawn, or re-evaluated.
• The sponsored athlete must arrive on time and prepared for in-person training with his/her coach. For online coaches, the sponsored athlete must send video verification to his/her coach that the training was completed. Exceptions to training include serious needs, such as family illness, hospitalization/sickness, or injury.
• Cell Phone use is discouraged during training. Cell phones should only be used for recording purposes to document attendance for online coaches, or to review with the in-person coach. Posting on social media, casually texting or speaking on the phone, while training is prohibited. Exceptions can include a family or medical emergency.

What are reasons for disqualification?

• Failure to complete the minimum number of volunteer hours not due to serious illnesses, medical emergencies, or injuries.
• Failure to attend USPA meets. (e.g., no show, no cancellation, etc.)
• Failure to participate in training, not due to an illness or injury.
• Failure to demonstrate commitment, desire, and character to merit continued sponsorship
• Failure to communicate consistently, complete surveys, etc.
• Lack of coach communication, completion of surveys/check-ins, etc.
• Absence of a financial need.

The USPAPF reserves the right to discontinue athletes from the program, and upon termination, all funding of any gym fees, coaching fees, membership fees, meet entry fees, travel/lodging expenses will be terminated. In addition, the lifter must return all gear from the program, even if equipment is damaged. Once terminated, the former sponsored athlete cannot re-apply for sponsorship. The sponsored athlete has the right to discontinue the program, whereby the same termination guidelines will be followed.

I'm interested, what is the application process?

• Make sure that you meet ALL the requirements before applying
• Submit your application by answering all questions. (See "Apply Now" Button Below)
• For those 18 & under, your parent/guardian must provide consent and information in the application.
• After you apply, you or your parent/guardian (if under the age of 18) will be contacted within 2 weeks for any additional information. A final sponsorship decision can take 4-6 weeks, please be patient.
• Keep in mind, the level of sponsorship is determined by a variety of factors, such as financial need, training necessities, etc. Board members ultimately decide the extent of financial coverage. Regardless of financial assistance, volunteering may still be required at the discretion of the board members.
• The USPA Powerlifting Foundation reserves the right to evaluate each application on a case by case basis, determine financial coverage, and evaluate continuation in the program.

Disclosure

There will be no unlawful discrimination based upon a person’s sex, sexual orientation, age, race, color, creed, national origin, veteran status, marital status, religion, political affiliation, disability, perceived disability, personal appearance or any other legally protected characteristic.

Application

The USPA Powerlifting Foundation is currently restructuring the application process, and will accept new applicants on a quarterly basis. Check back for more information.