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🏛️Official — IPF
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Only disc barbells are permitted. Only bars and discs that meet all specifications may be used throughout the entire competition and for all lifts.
— Section 2.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that any barbell with a disc is acceptable, but in fact, only bars specifically designed as disc barbells are permitted under IPF rules for powerlifting, leading to confusion about which equipment is truly compliant.
Length not less than 1.22 m, flat and level.; Width not less than 29 cm and not more than 32 cm.; Height of the padded surface from the floor not less than 42 cm and not more than 45 cm.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the width requirement is about the barbell's diameter, leading them to argue over whether their bar fits within 29-32 cm. Actually, it’s about the space needed around the bar for safety and stability during the lift, not the bar itself.
Failure to observe the Chief Referee's signals at the commencement, during or completion of the lift.; Any change in the elected lifting position during the lift proper, i.e. any raising movement of the head, shoulders or buttocks from the bench, or lateral movement of the hands on the bar.; Sink...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that just moving their head slightly off the bench is enough of a signal for disqualification, when in fact it's about more than just minor head movements; they overlook the importance of maintaining strict alignment with the Chief Referee’s signals throughout the entire lift, including during transitions and changes in position.
Any downward movement of the bar before it reaches the final position.; Failure to stand erect with the shoulders back.; Failure to lock the knees straight at the completion of the lift.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that as long as they lock their knees at the top, they're good to go, forgetting about maintaining an upright posture with shoulders back throughout the lift. This confusion arises because Section 4.3.1 specifically mentions failing to stand erect with the shoulders back, which can happen even if knees are locked correctly.
Failure to observe the Chief Referee's signals at the commencement or completion of a lift.; Double bouncing at the bottom of the lift, or any downward movement during the ascent.; Failure to assume an upright position with the knees locked at the commencement or completion of the lift.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that failing to observe signals is just about getting a warning instead of disqualification, but in reality, it's treated as a serious offense leading directly to disqualification if ignored at lift start or end. Confusion arises because they might not realize the severity and immediate impact of signaling violations in powerlifting.
Timing clocks visible to all (venue, platform, warm-up area) must operate continuously for at least twenty minutes and display elapsed time. A clock showing the time left to enter next attempts should also be visible to the coach or lifter.; Each referee controls one white and one red light. Whit...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that having clocks visible in multiple areas is solely for spectators' convenience, forgetting that these clocks are crucial for ensuring fair timing of lifts, which can affect a lifter's performance strategy heavily. The confusion arises because they overlook how essential accurate and continuous timekeeping is to maintaining the integrity of powerlifting competitions.
During a lift on a platform or stage, only the lifter and one coach, Jury members, officiating referees, spotter/loaders and the Technical Controller may be around the platform. During the lift itself, only the lifter, spotter/loaders and referees may be on the platform.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that as long as they're in a designated area, they can be anywhere on the platform during lifts, but actually, only specified individuals like the lifter, spotter, loader, referees, and sometimes the controller are allowed to be there at any given moment. This rule is meant to ensure safety and fairness by limiting who's visible to judges, not just for privacy reasons.
Collars must always be used and must weigh 2.5 kg each.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the collars are just for show or decoration since they don't affect performance directly, but in reality, these collars are crucial as they ensure safety by preventing bar slippage during lifts and must meet specific weight requirements to be used legally.
In the bench press, a lifter may use flat-surfaced plates or blocks not exceeding 30 cm in total height, with a minimum dimension of 60 cm x 40 cm, to build up the platform surface for footing. Blocks of 5, 10, 20 and 30 cm should be available at international competitions.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the foot blocks can be any shape they want as long as their dimensions match the official requirements, which leads them to overlook the fact that these blocks must be flat-surfaced for safety and fairness in powerlifting competitions according to the IPF rules.
At World and Continental Championships, a Jury of three or five Category 1 referees presides over each session. The Jury ensures the technical rules are correctly applied.
— Section 8.1, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that only Category 1 referees are present at championships, forgetting they're joined by Jury members who oversee compliance with technical rules. This oversight is crucial but doesn't mean all competitions rely solely on these top-tier judges.
Section 3.14: lubricants on the body or equipment are strictly forbidden. Baby powder, resin, talc or magnesium carbonate may be added to the body and attire but not to the wraps.
— Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.7, Section 3.6, Section 3.8, Section 3.9, Section 3.14
Why people argue about this
People often assume that using baby powder is okay as long as it's applied to their skin, forgetting that Section 3.14 specifically bans adding it to "the body and attire" – meaning they can't use it on their wraps or anywhere else covered by their lifting gear.
Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each lift (Section 1(e)). Weigh-in (Section 5) takes place no earlier than two hours before the start of the competition for that category.
— Section 1, Section 5
Why people argue about this
People often assume that a competitor can only attempt once per lift in Powerlifting, forgetting about the official rule allowing three attempts on each lift. The confusion arises because they overlook Section 1(e) of the IPF rules, focusing instead on the weigh-in timing which is two hours before competition start for their category.
At weigh-in the lifter or coach declares a starting weight for all three lifts. After the first attempt, the next weight must be submitted within one minute of the lights being activated (Section 6.1(j)). If no weight is submitted, the lifter gets a 2.5 kg increase on the next attempt (or the bar...
— Section 6.1, Section 6.2, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that if they don't submit a weight within one minute after their first attempt, they're automatically disqualified, but actually, they get a 2.5 kg increase on their next lift to level the playing field and prevent unfair advantages from not having a second choice.
Speaker/Announcer: announces the weight and the lifter for each attempt. The clock begins when the Speaker announces that the bar is ready and calls the lifter to the platform.; Technical Secretary: prepares the score sheets, order of weigh-in and speaker cards.; Time Keeper: records the time bet...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the Time Keeper's role is solely about timing lifts during a competition, forgetting that they also have responsibilities like recording weight classes and preparing score sheets, leading to confusion about their overall duties in ensuring smooth operations.
Illegal equipment (Section 3.12(f)): if a lifter appears on the platform wearing or using an illegal item, other than something inadvertently passed by the examining referees, the lifter is disqualified from the competition. Under Section 7(7)(b), if the lifter was wearing an illegal item that wa...
— Section 3.12, Section 7, Section 6.2, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often argue that if a lifter is wearing an illegal item, they're automatically disqualified without having their equipment checked by officials first. But actually, Section 3.12(f) only disqualifies them if they appear on the platform with it still in place, not if they were wearing it inadvertently or after it was discovered and removed.
All lifts are carried out on a platform measuring between 2.5 m x 2.5 m minimum and 4.0 m x 4.0 m maximum. It must not exceed 10 cm in height from the surrounding stage or floor.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the platform's height doesn't matter as long as it fits within the size guidelines, but in fact, the 10 cm maximum height from the surrounding stage or floor is crucial for safety and stability during lifts, leading to misunderstandings about how close the platform can be to other structures.
When a lifter fails to complete a squat or bench press, the command is "Rack". Once the bar is replaced, the referees announce their decisions by lights, white for a good lift and red for a no lift, and raise cards to show the reasons (Section 7(4)).
— Section 7
Why people argue about this
People often assume that if a lifter doesn't complete their squat or bench press, the referee should immediately signal "Rack," but actually, it's only after the bar has been successfully replaced on the rack and the decision is made to call it a no-lift. This oversight leads to confusion about when exactly the "Rack" signal should be given.
There are three referees: the Chief (Center) Referee and two side referees (Section 7(1)).; The Chief Referee gives the signals for all three lifts (Section 7(2)).; Referees may sit in the positions they consider best for viewing, within 4 meters of the platform (Section 7(5)).
— Section 7
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the side referees are just there for backup and don't have their own responsibilities, which leads to misunderstanding. Actually, they're responsible for judging the legal completion of lifts from different angles and must be positioned within 4 meters of the platform to ensure fair play, not just observing the Chief Referee's signals.
Scales must be electronic digital and register to the second decimal place. They must be able to weigh up to 180 kg.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the scale's precision is solely about the second decimal place, forgetting that it also needs to be able to measure up to 180 kg accurately, which can lead to misunderstandings and arguments over whether a particular scale meets both criteria.
Equipment specifications are in Section 2 (Equipment and Specifications) and Section 3 (Personal Equipment) of the Technical Rulebook.
— Section 2, Section 3, Section 2.3, Section 2.4, Section 2.5, Section 2.6, Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.7, Section 3.6, Section 3.8, Section 3.9, Section 3.14
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the Technical Rulebook only covers equipment specifications in Section 2, when they should also look at Section 3 for details on their personal gear, leading to confusion about what's allowed or required during competitions.
All lifts are carried out on a platform measuring between 2.5 m x 2.5 m minimum and 4.0 m x 4.0 m maximum. It must not exceed 10 cm in height from the surrounding stage or floor.
— Section 2.2, Section 2.1, Section 4.2, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the 10 cm height limit is about safety, thinking it's to prevent injury from platform drops. However, the actual intent is to ensure a level playing field by keeping all lifts equally stable and predictable, regardless of where on the stage they're performed.
Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each lift (Section 1(e)). Weigh-in (Section 5) takes place no earlier than two hours before the start of the competition for that category.
— Section 1, Section 5, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the three attempts per lift are for different competitors in a multi-competitor event like Powerlifting, but actually, they're meant for each individual lifter within their own attempt sequence. The confusion arises because Section 4 doesn't specify if these attempts apply to multiple lifts or just one specific lift by an athlete.
When a lifter fails to complete a squat or bench press, the command is "Rack". Once the bar is replaced, the referees announce their decisions by lights, white for a good lift and red for a no lift, and raise cards to show the reasons (Section 7(4)).
— Section 7, Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 6.1, Section 6.2, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that if a lifter doesn't complete their squat or bench press, they should immediately rack the bar themselves rather than waiting for referee instructions, leading to confusion about when and how to replace the bar. The actual rule specifies that once the lift is deemed unsuccessful by the referees, it's their responsibility to replace the bar, not the lifter’s.
Section 1(e): the lifter's best valid attempt on each lift counts toward their competition total. The total is the sum of the best squat, bench press and deadlift.
— Section 1, Section 6.1, Section 7
Why people argue about this
People often assume that a lifter can choose which of their attempts counts for each lift, leading to debates about which lifts are best, but in reality, the official verdict specifies that only the best valid attempt on each lift (squat, bench press, deadlift) is considered, and these become part of the total score.
Section 2.9 sets out the numbered failure cards: 1 = red, 2 = blue, 3 = yellow. After the lights show, the referee raises the card showing the reason for failure.
— Section 2.9, Section 4.1.1, Section 4.2.1, Section 4.3.1, Section 3.12, Section 7, Section 6.2, Section 6.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the color of the failure card indicates which lift failed, leading to arguments about whether it was a deadlift, squat, or bench press issue. Actually, the color signifies only the order in which failures occurred during a set, not which specific lift caused the problem.
Spotter/loaders (Sections 6.2(g), 4.1(6)): between two and five spotter/loaders must be on the platform at all times. They may help remove the bar from the racks and replace it, but may not touch the lifter or the bar during the actual attempt. The only exception is when the lift is in jeopardy a...
— Section 2.6, Section 4.2, Section 6.3, Section 3.14, Section 3.11, Section 3.12
Why people argue about this
People often assume that spotter/loaders can touch the lifter or bar during a lift if it's in jeopardy, but the official rule clearly states they're only allowed to do so when the safety of the athlete is genuinely at risk and not for routine assistance. This leads to misunderstandings about their role and responsibilities on the platform.
Only squat racks from commercial manufacturers registered and approved by the Technical Committee may be used at International Powerlifting Championships. Racks must adjust from a minimum height of...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that any squat rack will do as long as it can adjust heights, which leads them to overlook the requirement for commercial manufacturers' approval from the Technical Committee. They fail to realize the importance of this specific regulation in ensuring safety and uniformity across all competitions.
The bench is placed on the platform with the head facing the front or angled up to 45 degrees. The lifter must not enter the rack from the head side of the bench press rack.; The lifter lies on their back with head, shoulders and buttocks in contact with the bench surface for the whole lift. The ...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that entering from the head side of the bench is okay as long as they're in contact with it by the end, but actually, the lifter must enter from the opposite side to ensure proper positioning and safety, which can lead to arguments about how exactly "from the head side" is defined.
The lifter faces the front of the platform with the bar laid horizontally in front of the feet, gripped in both hands (an optional grip may be used), and lifts until standing erect.; On completion, the knees must be locked straight and the front bundle of the deltoid muscle placed behind the imag...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that you can use an optional grip in a deadlift, which is true according to the official rules. However, they sometimes misunderstand what exactly constitutes "an optional grip," leading to arguments about whether certain grips are allowed or not. The rule doesn't specify all possible grips, leaving room for interpretation and debate among officials and competitors.
The lifter faces the front of the platform with the bar placed horizontally across the shoulders, at a height no lower than the posterior deltoid level. Hands, thumbs and fingers must remain in complete contact with the bar for the duration of the lift. Hands may be placed anywhere on the bar, in...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the bar placement at the shoulders is strictly about height, thinking it must be exactly level with the posterior deltoids. However, the key here is maintaining contact - the lifter might position the bar slightly lower or higher as long as their hands are securely gripping and touching the bar throughout the lift.