Powerlifting Rules & Regulations

The event will be held at Harborside Atrium, 210 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ. Please be noted that Alcohol and tobacco are not permitted inside the facility.

• Participants may register online at www.IronRepublik.com . Participants may also register on-site the day of the event from 7AM to 7:30AM.
• Participants that pre-registered online must check-in using a valid state-issued photo ID. Anyone that wishes to register on-site must do so with a valid state-issued photo ID.
• Participants are required to arrive early so that they can observe the competition’s rules meeting.

• Lifters should feel free to wear any lifting attire of their choice as long as it conforms with international standards of Powerlifting.
• The use of any footwear, provided it conforms to the international standards is permitted.
• The use of any equipment which aids a lifter is prohibited; this includes lifting gloves, wrist straps and any other device used as an aid.
• Equipment used for the purpose of injury prevention is permitted; this includes chalk, a weight belt, and knee and wrist wraps.
• Lifters are encouraged to wear clothing that is well-fitted and is not too bulky. This makes judging form of the lifts easier. It is recommended that lifters wear t-shirts and shorts.
• Judges and IR Staff have the right to declare any equipment illegal.

• The order of lifts will be as follows: Squat; Bench Press; Dead-lift.
• Lifters will receive two attempts per lift. The highest of the successful attempts will count towards a lifter’s total.
• The order in which lifters make their attempts will be based upon their chosen weights for each attempt. 
• The lifter who requested the lightest weight will go first and the heat will proceed in ascending order until all lifters have made their first attempts.
• Following the completion of the first attempts the meet staff will reorder lifters based on the weight selected for a second attempt and the round will proceed the same as the first.
• Lifters will be judged by three judges. In order for a lift to be successful, at least two of the three judges must determine that the lift meets the rules explained in this rules document. After a missed attempt, lifters are allowed to ask the judges why an attempt was nullified.
• Each participant will have to receive a score in each of the three lifts within the 90-minute heat to be eligible for the individual championship.

Squat

• First, the lifter shall un-rack the weight and assume an upright position. The bar shall be held horizontally across the shoulders with the hands and fingers gripping the bar and the feet flat on the platform with the knees locked.
• After removing the bar from the racks, the lifter shall wait in this position for the Chief Referee’s signal. The signal shall be given as soon as the lifter is motionless. The Chief Referee’s signal shall consist of a downward movement of the arm and the audible command “squat.”
• Upon receiving the Chief Referee’s signal, the lifter must bend the knees and lower the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees.
• The lifter must recover at will without double bouncing or any downward movement to an upright position with the knees locked.
• When the lifter is motionless, the Chief Referee will give the signal to replace the bar with a backward motion of the hand and the audible command “rack.”
• The lifter shall face the front of the platform.

Causes for Disqualification of a Squat

• Failure to observe the Chief Referee’s signals at the commencement or completion of a lift.
• Double bouncing or more than one recovery attempt at the bottom of the lift.
• Failure to assume an upright position with the knees locked at the commencement and completion of the lift.
• Any shifting of the feet laterally, backwards or forwards, during the performance of the lift.  Rocking of the feet between the ball and the heel is permitted.
• Failure to bend the knees and lower the body until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees

Bench Press

• ​The lifter must lie on his/her back with shoulders and buttocks in contact with the flat bench surface.
• The lifter’s hands may grip the bar with a “thumbs around” grip.  Note: The use of the “reverse grip” or a thumb-less grip on the bench is strictly    prohibited.
• The lifter’s shoes must be in contact with the floor. This position shall be maintained throughout the attempt.
• The head may rise off the bench or move during the performance of the lift.
• To achieve firm footing, the lifter may use flat surfaced bumper plates to build up the surface of the platform.
• The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 centimeters between the forefingers. In other words, the index finger must completely cover the 81 cm. ring. 
• After receiving the bar at arm’s length, the lifter shall lower the bar to his/her chest and await the Chief Referee’s signal.
• The signal shall be the command: “PRESS” to press when the bar is motionless on the chest.
• After the signal to commence the lift has been given, the bar is pressed upwards to straight arm’s length and held motionless until the audible command “RACK” is given.

Causes for Disqualification of a Bench Press

• ​Failure to observe the Chief Referee’s signals at the commencement or completion of the lift.
• Any change in the elected lifting position during the performance of the lift (i.e., any raising of the shoulders, buttocks or movement or the feet from their original points of contact with the bench or the floor, or lateral movement of the hands on the bar).
• Failure to press the bar to full extension of the arms at the completion of the lift.
• Heaving or bouncing the bar off the chest.
• Allowing the bar to sink into the chest after receiving the Chief Referee’s signal.
• Any exaggerated uneven extension of the arms during the lift.
• Any downward movement of the bar in the course of being pressed out.

Deadlift

• ​​The lifter shall face the front of the platform.
• The bar must be laid horizontally in front of the lifter’s feet, gripped with an optional grip in both hands, and lifted without any downward movement until the lifter is standing erect.
• On completion of the lift, the knees shall be locked in a straight position and the shoulders square or back as seen in the figure below.
• The Chief Referee’s signal shall consist of a downward movement of the hand and the audible command “down.” The signal will not be given until the bar is held motionless and the lifter is in the apparent finished position.
• Any raising of the bar or any deliberate attempt to do so will count as an attempt.

Causes for Disqualification of a Deadlift

• ​Any downward movement of the bar before it reaches the final position.
• Failure to stand erect with the shoulders square or back.
• Failure to lock the knees straight at the completion of the lift.
• Supporting the bar on the thighs during the performance of the lift.
• Stepping backward or forward, although lateral movement of the sole or rocking feet between ball and heel is permitted.
• Lowering the bar before receiving the Chief Referee’s signal.
• Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands.
• Failure to comply with any of the requirements contained in the general description of the lift, which precedes this list of disqualifications.

• Upon arrival, lifters will check-in or register for a lifting heat (7AM to 7:30AM), be weighed-in while wearing their lifting attire, and submit their opening attempts for all three lifts.
• The rules meeting will be held 15 minutes prior to each heat. Lifters are required to arrive early to observe this meeting.
• Lifters should be warmed up for all the lifts at the start of their flights.  Lifters may warm-up additionally (time permitting) during their lifting flights. Lifters may warm-up anywhere in the venue, but a minimum of one platform, squat cage, and bench press will be reserved for competitor warm-ups.
• Upon being called, a lifter has 60 seconds to begin his/her lift. If the lifter is not present for the attempt or is unable to begin the lift within the allotted time, that attempt will be missed.
• Upon completing his/her first lifts, the lifter has 60 seconds to announce his/her second attempt weight to the head table.  The lifter order will be reassigned based on the weight requested.
• Upon the completion a second attempt, lifters should begin to warm-up for the next lift.