Most trophy companies need a two week lead time to complete any awards assembly and
engraving. Once the trophy count has been submitted the vendor may need to order parts. Two
weeks prior to the contest we meet with our trophy guy and give him the counts. We usually are
able to add to this list one or two days after the deadline. Each day that passes becomes more
difficult to add to the order.
Now imaging you make a last minute decision and decide to compete in our contest. You call and
ask if its OK. It's hard to say no, so we let you enter. Now the day of the contest another lifters
shows up & weighs in 4.Lbs heavier which puts him in the next class up. This leaves one trophy
short in one division and another trophy that will be given out with no tag in another division. To
add to the confusion, the two lifters who entered late & didn't make weight will each get a trophy in
perfect condition while another lifter may not even receive an award that day. And the biggest
problem we run into is when making the tags we like to have all the info on the award somewhere.
If we dont know what division you will enter (masters or open) we can only engrave a generic tag. If
we make out a tag for the lifter who entered on time, they may end up getting the generic tag
because you beat them in their class. Of course the lifter is not happy to receive a generic tag with
no weight class or division. Although this was not our fault it is a bad reflection on our federation.
The next business day we will have to travel to the trophy store and order the tag & the trophy.
Then mail them out.....
Now you know why we charge a late fee.
So please try to follow the rules and help us be more successful in hosting our contests.
Most people don't realize how much stress and confusion it can cause simply by mailing your entry
form after the deadline or misinforming us of your weight class or even showing up the day of the
contest and paying the a late fee to enter. The night before the contest I make out all the paper
work and weight class categories. Not having all this info usually make the contest start late.
So next time you fall into this situation, please understand why we charge a late fee.