Performance of Lifts

THE RULES OF PERFORMANCE OF THE POWER LIFTS

Rules of the Squat

1. Facing the front of the platform, the lifter must assume an upright position with the top of the bar not more than six (6) cm. or two (2) in. below the top of the anterior deltoids. The bar should be held horizontally across the shoulders with the hands and/or fingers gripping the bar. The lifter shall not hold the collars, sleeves, or plates at anytime during the performance of the lift. The edge of the hands gripping the bar, however, may come in contact with the inner surface of the collar.
2. Should the set up of the bar or footing be incorrect the lifter has the opportunity to re-rack the weight and prepare again for the start of the lift. This may be done twice before the attempt is waived.
3. With the hooks of the rack are removed or after the lifter has stepped back from the rack, the lifter must establish their start position with knees locked. Once Head referee deems that the lifter has shown control of the bar, a verbal “Squat” command will be given. The lifter may commence the lift at their will.
4. The lifter must bend the knees and lower the body until the top of the thigh at the hip, NOT the hip joint, is lower than the top of the kneecap. Locking and unlocking of the knees after the squat command is not defined as a descent. Any reverse of direction during downward descent is considered an attempt. Only one descent per attempt is allowed.
5. The lifter must recover at will, from the deepest point of the squat, without double bouncing or any downward movement (stopping is allowed) to an upright position with the knees locked.
6. When the lifter demonstrates control after the returning to an upright position with the knees locked, the referee will give the signal to replace the bar on the rack. The signal to replace the bar will consist of a backward motion of the hand and an audible command “RACK”. If the lifter loses their footing and drops the weight after receiving the rack signal they will be granted the attempt. If the lifter deliberately drops or dumps the bar at any time during the lift the lifter will be disqualified from the competition.

Causes for Disqualification during the Squat

1. Failure to observe the center referee’s signals at the start and at the completion of the lift.
2. Holding the collars, sleeves, or plates at anytime during the performance of the lift.
3. Failure to assume an upright position with the knees locked at the start and completion of the lift.
4. Reversing the of direction during downward descent and then continuing the descent, double bouncing or more than one recovery attempt at the bottom of the lift, or any downward movement once the ascent from the bottom of the lifts begins.
5. Failure to lower the body until the surface of the thigh at the hip is lower than the top of the kneecap.
6. Contact with the bar by the lifter’s spotters between the beginning of the descent and the referee’s signal, except where a lifter’s safety is concerned.
7. Contact with the lifter by the lifter’s back spotter between the beginning of the descent and the referee’s signal, except where a lifter’s safety is concerned.
8. Contact of the elbows or upper arms with the legs.
9. Failure to make a bonafide effort to return the bar to the racks.
10. Intentionally dropping or dumping the bar.

Rules of the Bench Press

1. The lifter assumes a starting position on their back with upper body and buttocks in contact with the flat bench surface. Head movement is allowed including turning or raising the head. The buttocks must remain in contact with the flat bench surface during the entire range of motion. Any portion of the foot must be in contact with the floor and may move in any direction without penalty (i.e., slide or slip), but must stay in contact with the floor. The feet may not come in contact with the bench support for leverage or anchoring. Anchoring is also not allowed by means of strapping or tying a lifter to the bench. Objects may not be placed between the surface of the bench pad and the lifter, the only exception is a t-shirt, cloth or towel, laid completely flat in the instances of excessive sweating.
2. To achieve firm footing, the lifter may use plates or blocks (not exceeding 45 cm. x 45 cm.) to build up the surface of the platform. However, some part of the foot must remain in contact with the surface.
3. The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 cm. (or 32 inches), measured between the forefingers. A reverse grip is permissible, providing the distance between the little fingers does not exceed 81 cm. A false/thumbless grip is permissible, providing the distance between the forefingers does not exceed 81 cm.
4. Should the lifter choose to use a false/thumbless grip the lifter assumes all responsibility of any liability to him/herself or anyone on the platform as a result of using this grip. If the lifter cannot show safe control of the bar with a false/thumbless grip, they will be notified by any platform judge to change grip for any remaining attempts. If the lifter refuses to change grip from a false/thumbless grip to standard or reverse grip, they will forfeit any remaining attempts.
5. The lifter may enlist the help of the spotter/loaders in removing the bar from the racks. The lift-off must be released at arms length and NOT while moving down to the chest. If the lifter so wishes, he may utilize his own hand-off person. Once letting go of the bar the hand-off person must position themself to allow the head judge to be able to see the lifter in order to give the lift commands.
6. After receiving the bar at arms length the lifter must show locked control of the lift to receive the head judge’s verbal “Bench” command to commence the lift. Once the command is given the lifter, at will, shall lower the bar to his chest in a controlled manner and await the referee’s command. Any reverse of direction during downward descent is considered an attempt.
7. The vocal command of “PRESS” is given when the center of the bar touches the torso in a controlled manner.
8. After the command to resume the lift is given, the bar is pressed upward. During the ascent, the bar may stop in its upward motion, but is not allowed any downward movement. The bar is also allowed to extend unevenly (no more than 5 inches), but arms must extend to a locked-out position simultaneously and evenly at the completion of the lift. Once the bar is returned to straight arms length with elbows locked held under control the verbal “RACK” command is given by the head judge. The spotters will assist in returning the bar to the rack.

Causes for Disqualification for the Bench Press

1. Failure to observe any of the three referee’s commands during the lift.
2. Failure to wait or get the Bench Command may be deemed a “Soft Start” defined as follows:
   1. Lifter fails to start with arms in fully “Locked” position prior to lowering bar to torso.
   2. Lifter commences the lift with his handoff person’s hands still on the bar.
   3. Lifter’s handoff person assists in lowering the bar into a more advantageous starting position thus bypassing the “Locked” starting position.

   Upon the center referee witnessing a lifter committing one of these infractions, the Referee will “wave off” the lift, instruct the spotter to “take the bar,” and inform the scoring table of a “soft start” infraction. The attempt will be forfeited and the lifter can continue if they have any attempts remaining.

3. Raising the buttocks from the bench press surface or raising the foot completely off the floor.
4. Contact of the lifter’s feet with any part of the bench during the lift.
5. Downward movement by either hand once the “PRESS” command is given. This includes sinking, heaving or bouncing the bar off the chest.
6. Any uneven extension of the bar at the completion of the lift. An exception to this is if the lifter has provided documentation or demonstration a legitimate physical defect to the meet director and referees prior to the lift.
7. The bar may make incidental contact with the bench uprights and still be considered a good lift, however, deliberate use of the uprights for leverage is disallowed.
8. Lifting of the bar by the spotter/loaders between the referee’s PRESS and RACK signals.
9. It is the responsibility of the lifter to inform his hand-off person to clear the bench area in front of the referee. Failure to do so may be cause for disqualification of the lift.

Rules of the Dead Lift

1. Facing the front of the platform, the lifter grasps the bar laid horizontally at their feet with an optional grip in both hands and lifts upward in one movement until the lifter is standing erect. The bar is allowed to stop, but no downward movement is allowed. There is no start command for the deadlift.
2. Upon completion of the lift, the lifter shall be standing erect with hips and knees locked. The shoulders must be square and are not required to be thrust back past the erect position. If they are thrust back and all other criteria is acceptable, the lift will be considered good.
3. The lifter shall stay in this erect position with shoulders back and hips and knees locked until the center referee’s signal consisting of a downward motion of the hand and the verbal command “DOWN”. The signal will not be given until the bar is held under control and the lifter is in the finished position. The “DOWN” command will be given regardless if the lift is good or not; or prior to the completion of the lock out if an obvious infraction has been committed in an effort to save the energy of the lifter for any remaining attempts.
4. Any raising of the bar or deliberate bona fide attempt to break contact between the floor and the weights will be considered an attempt.

Causes for Disqualification for the Deadlift

1. Any downward movement of the bar during the upward movement during the lift.
2. Failure to stand erect with the shoulder and hips in an erect position.
3. Failure to lock the knee straight at the completion of the lift.
4. Supporting the bar on the thighs during the performance of the lift.
5. Lowering the bar before receiving the center referee’s signal.
6. Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands or deliberately dropping the bar after the referee’s signal.

GENERAL RULES DURING LIFTS

1. The lifter may utilize their own rear and side spotters for the squat if requested. If the lifter’s own spotter/s interfere with the judges’ ability to see the lift being performed and accurately judge the lift, the lift will be disqualified. If the spotter/s at fault for impeding the judges’ view are part of the platform personnel, the benefit of the lifter. However if the attempt is for an All-Time World Record the lifter will be given another attempt.

2. Incidental contact with the bar or lifter by the platform personnel during the lift is not deemed a disqualification. If the spotters end an attempt prior to notification by a referee, lifter themselves or lifter’s coach, the lifter will be given another attempt.