Editor's note: This is a post written by Sean Waxman of Waxman's Gym. Sean has coached a World Team member, Pan Am Team member, two University World Team members, three National Champions, and 16 National Medalists within the past year. He knows a thing or two about weightlifting.

It's been a long time coming, but there is finally weight class equality in weightlifting. With the recent addition of the women's 90kg class, there are now eight men's and eight women's weight classes.

Now, coaches must decide whether the 90kg class right for their athletes.

The new class may be a worthwhile consideration for in-shape 75kgs who have a hard time maintaining that weigh or struggle with clean-and-jerks due to strength limitations. Light superheavyweights (within 10kg or so of 90kg) who have a hard time with clean-and-jerks in the higher weight classes may also be good candidates.

Here are the three main criteria coaches should consider to determine whether the new class would be a good fit:

1. Current bodyweight/fitness

Any athlete who walks around +/-10kg from 90kg may be a good candidate for this new class. If a lifter is near 80kg and holding between 12-17 percent body fat, an increase in bodyweight would be a reasonable option.

I recommend an increase of 0.5 -1kg per month by adding a few hundred calories a day and doing bodybuilding training until you see the desired weight gain. If you are near 100kg and have excessive body fat, then a decrease of 0.5 -1kg/mo should be planned.

Include 15-20 minutes of hard aerobic conditioning at the end of training (the prowler or sled is a good first choice) without reducing calories. If there is no reduction of bodyweight, reduce daily calorie intake by a few hundred calories. Pay attention to the rate of change in bodyweight and changes in body composition. These two criteria will dictate the efficacy of your bodyweight alteration strategy.

2. Strength reserve

If a lighter athlete has a large strength reserve (back-squatting in excess of 135 percent of clean-and-jerk max) or she feels an increase in bodyweight will result in a commensurate increase in squatting ability, she may be a good candidate for the new class. Lighter athletes need to improve their clean-and-jerk significantly to be competitive in this new class. Heavier athletes coming down in bodyweight will likely experience a decrease in their strength reserve. If they are squatting 135 percent or under before moving down, it may be difficult to maintain their clean-and-jerk ability with the weight loss.

3. Clean-and-jerk ability

This criterion is incredibly important. Athletes moving up from 75kg will have to clean-and-jerk at least 10 kilos more to place in the same position they do at 75kg. For example, an athlete who places fifth at Nationals with a clean-and-jerk of 110kg in the 75kg class will have to lift 120kg in the new 90kg class just to maintain a fifth-place finish. Athletes moving down to 90kg will have to, at a minimum, maintain their current clean-and-jerk max after the weight loss. With a possible reduction in strength reserve due to decreased bodyweight, their current clean-and-jerk ability may become challenging to maintain.

Where to start

Honestly evaluate your athlete. Being close in weight to the new class doesn't make the move right for everybody. If an out-of-shape 75kg lifter puts on 15 more kilograms, it will only make her an out-of-shape 90kg lifter. If an in-shape light super or a super is lifting at the limits of her strength reserve, coming down in weight may not make her more competitive.

Backed by the criteria listed above, having an honest conversation with your athlete and asking "What do you want to do?" can help you and your athlete make the best possible decision together.

By Sean Waxman