The Importance of Weighing Scales in Sports

From professional athletes to playing football with friends, sports are an integral part of society that allows us to socialise with the world around us.

This article will examine the importance of weighing scales in sports, including how scales are used to monitor a competitor’s weight in professional martial arts, and how they can be used as part of a daily training programme.

Why should I use a weighing scale?

For years, weighing scales have provided one of the easiest and most reliable measures of general fitness. Individuals can carefully monitor weight fluctuations simply by standing on a scale.

Weight checks are just one part of personal fitness. Most common weighing devices such as the standard bathroom scale cannot determine the health effects of weight changes. It may be the case that fat has been gained rather than muscle.

A basic scale cannot put weight values into context, whilst more professional medical and gym scales have built-in BMI calculations. This can precisely calculate weight in relation to height and body type to show if you are considered underweight or overweight.

What types of weighing scales are used in sports?

There are many varieties of scales that can be used for sports – from personal digital scales for everyday use (such as those found in kitchens and bathrooms) to more sophisticated ultrasonic scales with BMI calculation.

Personal scales

Personal scales are used for everyday activities, from portion control and dieting to basic weight monitoring. These products include health food scales, portioning scales and bathroom scales for use in the home. These scales are easy to operate and convenient for recreational use in home environments.

BMI (Body Mass Index) scales

BMI scales are sophisticated scales that provide detailed information about a user’s weight in relation to body mass. There are several types of scales with BMI calculation, from column or physician scales to wheelchair scales for measuring the BMI of users with limited mobility. These scales are typically found in public facilities such as gyms, spas, health centres and care homes.

Certified scales

Certified scales have been approved by an authorised, regulated body, such as the Food Standards Agency, the Medical Devices Directive, or a governmental agency. There are many types of approvals, depending on how the scale is used. For example, retail scales used to buy or sell goods by weight in the United Kingdom require EC type approval. Devices used for medical purposes require Class II or III approvals as specified by the Medical Devices Directive. In professional sports such as boxing, competitors are weighed on approved scales to ensure they compete in the correct weight class.

Why do athletes need to be weighed?

Athletes undergo rigorous training before they compete. Due to heavy training schedules, athletes require more energy than the rest of us. That means they need to consume larger quantities of food containing more calories. Scales help athletes check their weight when they’re on special diet programmes set by nutritionists and coaches. By monitoring weight, athletes stay at the optimum designated weight without any drastic fluctuations that might affect performance.

Types of sports that require weighing scales

Olympic sports

Many Olympic sports use certified weighing scales to adhere to competition rules and regulations. Some sports use equipment such as javelins, hammers and shot puts that must be weighed to verify consistency. To meet competition standards, men’s javelins must be at least 260cm long and weigh at least 800g, while women’s javelins need to be a minimum of 220cm long and weigh 600g.

Boxing

Certified boxing scales are required to measure the weight of boxing competitors, who are separated into weight classes specified by the World Boxing Association. Weight classes include heavyweight (200lb-unlimited), cruiserweight (176-200lb), lightweight (130-135lb), and featherweight (122-126lb). Most standard boxing scales are used to specify a weight class; however, the most common types are adjustable column or mechanical scales such as Adam Equipment’s MDW.

Horse racing

Jockeys are required to be within a certain weight range for professional competitions. This depends on the weight limit of their mount, which is established by racing authorities. In the United Kingdom, the Mounted Games Association of Great Britain refers to guidelines set by the International Mounted Games Association when examining a rider’s eligibility. Weighing scales certifed by the MGAGB and IMGA can be used for horse racing.

Archery

Archers may require archery scales (also called bow scales) in order to measure a bow's draw weight. Archery scales are essentially hand held hanging scales with a below hook attachment and a peak hold feature. The scale can be used to measure draw weight by placing the hook around the bow string and drawing back the bow string as if to let loose an arrow, once you have reached the sweet spot, the scales peak hold feature can record the weight value which can be used to calculate draw value. An alternative method for this would be to suspend the archery scale from a ceiling attachment, place the hook around the draw string and pull down towards the ground.

Fishing

In fishing competitions, fish species, size and weight determine competitors’ placements. Catches are weighed on certified fishing scales containing an under-scale hook attachment that can be hooked through a fish's gill plate for more secure weighing. See our blog post “Top Tips to Choosing the Best Fish Weighing Scale for Your Needs” for more information.

Formula 1/Motorsports

In Formula 1 racing, certified digital scales are used to weigh drivers, fuel and ballast, as well as by scrutineers to ascertain the overall vehicle weight meets established limits. Cars must weigh a minimum of 733kg (including safety equipment and driver), and the weight must remain the same throughout an event. Large platforms, truck scales and axle pads are commonly used to weigh vehicles and automobile parts. For more information on weight criteria in competitive racing, see the Formula 1 rules and regulations page.

Weightlifting

Certified weighing scales are required in weightlifting competitions. The International Weightlifting Federation specifies that scales must have a weighing capacity up to 200kg and be precise up to 10g. For the Olympics and other official world competitions, two identical scales must be placed side by side near the weigh-in room to assess competitors’ weights. Heavier dead-lift weights will typically use high-capacity platform scales or floor scales that have been approved to competition standard.

Weighing scale calibration

All weighing scales should be calibrated regularly to ensure accurate results. Scales used in competitions must adhere to competition guidelines for verification and calibration. For specific requirements, we recommend referring to the competition’s rules and regulations.

How are scales calibrated?

Scales and balances with internal calibration come with a built-in calibration feature. Externally calibrated devices require approved calibration weights. For large-capacity platform scales, test block weights are needed for calibration, while smaller bench and compact scales typically use M1 class calibration weights. For more information, see our article on calibration.

Inscale’s recommended weighing scales for sports