Section 5: Rules of Play
Referee signals (Section 7(3))
- Squat: commencement is a downward arm movement with the audible command "Squat". Completion is a backward arm movement with the audible command "Rack".
- Bench press: commencement is a downward arm movement with the audible command "Start". After the bar is motionless on the chest, the command is "Press" with an upward arm movement. Completion is "Rack" with a backward arm movement.
- Deadlift: no commencement signal is required. Completion is a downward arm movement with the audible command "Down".
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)).
The squat (Section 4.1)
- 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, inside or in contact with the inner collars.
- After removing the bar from the racks, the lifter moves backwards to establish the starting position. When motionless and erect with knees locked, the Chief Referee gives the "Squat" signal. If the lifter is not in the correct position after five seconds, they are asked to "Replace" the bar.
- On the signal, the lifter bends the knees and lowers the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees. Only one descent attempt is allowed.
- The lifter recovers at will to an upright position with knees locked. When motionless, the Chief Referee gives the "Rack" signal and the lifter returns the bar to the racks.
- The lifter may not walk out through the front of the rack after completion.
The bench press (Section 4.2)
- 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 feet must be flat on the floor. Foot movement is permissible but the feet must remain flat on the platform, and the lifter may not place their feet on the bench.
- Hands, thumbs and fingers must completely grip the bar with a thumb around grip. The hand spacing may not exceed 81 cm measured between the forefingers. Reverse grip is forbidden.
- After removing the bar, the lifter waits with straight arms and elbows locked for the "Start" signal.
- On "Start", the lifter lowers the bar to the chest or abdominal area so that the underside of both elbow joints is level with or below the top surface of each respective shoulder joint (the bar may not touch the belt), holds it motionless, then waits for "Press". The lifter returns the bar to straight arms' length with elbows locked and, when motionless, receives "Rack".
The deadlift (Section 4.3)
- 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 imaginary projection of the bar.
- The "Down" signal is not given until the bar is held motionless and the lifter is in the apparent finished position.
- Any rising of the bar or deliberate attempt to rise counts as an attempt. Once begun, no downward movement is allowed until the lifter reaches the erect position with locked knees. If the bar settles as the shoulders come back, this is not a reason to disqualify the lift.
Order of competition and attempts (Section 6.1)
- 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 is loaded to the failed weight, if the previous attempt failed).
- Each lifter takes their first attempt in the first round, second in the second round and third in the third round (Section 6.1(c)).
- The bar is loaded progressively during each round on the principle of a rising bar. Within a round, lifting order is decided by the weight chosen, and ties go to the lifter with the lowest lot number drawn at weigh-in (Section 6.1(e), (f)).
- A lifter may change the weight of the first attempt of each lift once (Section 6.1(i)). Second-round attempts on all three lifts and third-round attempts on the squat and bench cannot be changed once submitted (Section 6.1(k)). In the third round of the deadlift, two changes are permitted provided the lifter has not yet been called to the bar loaded to the submitted weight (Section 6.1(l)).
- The lifter has one minute to begin the attempt after the Speaker calls them to the bar. If the attempt is not started in that time, the lift is declared "no lift" and the attempt is forfeited (Section 6.2(d)).
- An interval of 20 minutes is allowed between lifts when a session is a single group of up to 14 lifters (Section 6.1(n)). With two or more groups on a platform, a 10-minute interval is given between disciplines (Section 6.1(o)).
- In IPF recognized competitions, the barbell weight must be a multiple of 2.5 kg, and progression must be at least 2.5 kg between attempts unless the attempt is for a record (Section 6.3(4)). A record attempt must be at least 0.5 kg above the current record.